Norwich v Ipswich
Championship – 12.00 noon
Sky Sports
There’s no love lost between these two. This is the East Anglian derby which kicks off my Sunday action. There is always a great atmosphere when these two meet. Earlier this season Ispwich and Norwich played out a 1-1 draw at Portman Road. But now it is home advantage to Norwich who moved to the top of the Championship table last weekend.
The Canaries have won only two of their last six though. But the bigger factor is that have only lost one game since early October. They also have a terrific W9 D2 L4 home record in the league this season. The Canaries are huge 4/11 odds-on favourites for this one. Adding weight to the favouritism of Norwich has been the demise of Ipswich this season.
The Tractor Boys are bottom of the table and they are eight points from safety. Their form has been so desperate with six defeats in their last seven. Overall this season home and away they have only won three matches. Ipswich have lost twelve of their fifteen road games (W1 D2). But this is a derby match. Form can be thrown out of the window on days like this. Team talks are easy. Can the visitors cause a massive upset as 15/2 underdogs?
Tottenham v Leicester
Premier League – 1.30 pm
Sky Sports
Just when Tottenham looked as if they were going to fall apart with team selections becoming a problem, they have risen again. They have actually done tremendously well lately in having put together a three-match winning streak in the top flight. All without Harry whatshisname? Granted they have won each of their last three league games all by a one-goal margin. But that doesn’t matter. Wins are wins and Spurs have managed to keep themselves in the title race. The Lilywhites start the weekend only five points off the top two of Man City and Liverpool.
Spurs get a chance to extend their streak in what is their third home game on the bounce. They face up to Leicester who they took a 2-0 away win against earlier this season. The Foxes are just one of those hit and miss teams. They have taken just one point from their last four league games and have won just one of their last six. But they are capable of big performances as seen in their recent 1-1 draw at Liverpool. Last weekend they were terribly unlucky to lose 1-0 at home to Man Utd. The Foxes are 9/2 underdogs for the trip to Wembley, but they know how to frustrate sides.
England v France
Six nations – 3.00 pm
ITV
England made a huge splash in their first outing in this season’s Six Nations. They fought their way, as underdogs, to victory out in Dublin against reigning champions Ireland. It was a mightily impressive performance all around from England who had a miserable 2018 by their high standards. Now it will be a question of them trying to repeat the levels of energy and intensity when they host France on Saturday at Twickenham. No doubt the home crowd will be fired up after the Red Rose’s big win last weekend.
France were beaten by Wales in Paris on the opening weekend of action. They threw away a huge 16 points advantage in the game as well. France though pulled off a win against England in last season’s Six Nations and are 9/2 with leading bookmakers to get one on the weekend in London. However, England are on a six-match winning streak at home against France in the tournament and it is they who are odds-on favourites. The bookmakers have a big -13 handicap on them at even money odds.
Manchester City v Chelsea
Premier League – 4.00 pm
Sky Sports
Here it is then. The headline act in my best bets of the day preview. Probably the highlight of the sporting weekend that many will be looking forward to. Earlier this season Chelsea collected a pretty comprehensive 2-0 home victory over Manchester City. That made the Blues the first ones to get a victory in the EPL over the reigning champions this season. What that also did at the time, is send Manchester City spiralling to a run of W1 L3 in four league matches.
Now the two meet again and once more it is City who are favourites, this time at 4/9 with leading bookies. But will the outcome be different? Manchester City have not found Chelsea the easiest of opponents over the past few seasons, but then they are back on home soil for this one. The Citizens have won all but one of their league home games at the Etihad this term, the only exception a shock defeat against Crystal Palace.
But now with six wins in their last seven league games, they are carrying form. Man City have scored at least two goals in every home game played. Chelsea have lost back to back league away games without scoring and this looks as if it may be an uphill struggle for them. But with them having handled City well this season, a new striker in Gonzalo Higuain, the Blues may have their appeal as 11/2 underdogs on the road.
