Buy Portsmouth win index and buy USA in Davis Cup
Top sporting tips by The Sportsman- 08/04/11

Portsmouth vs. Newcastle United (Premier League, 17:15 Saturday 12th April)

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp has been no stranger to the headlines, at times for all the right reasons, and occasionally being at the centre of controversy. Currently, the ginger twitcher can do no wrong. After guiding his side to the final of the FA Cup, three days later he returned to his old stomping ground and masterminded a victory over former club, West Ham. With Pompey now on a serial high, they prepare to host another side bang in form, Newcastle United. Earlier in the season, Redknapp was offered the vacant managerial position at St. James’s Park, which presented him with an almighty dilemma. Having arduously reached the decision Fratton Park was the place for him, he hasn’t looked back since. Not that the Geordie faithful will be wondering ‘what if’ any longer; Newcastle’s saviour, King Kev has finally started to deliver the goods as he promised. Having failed to win any of Keegan’s first nine matches in charge and only netting four times in them, the Magpies have undergone what seems like a monumental transformation, recording three comfortable victories on the bounce and notching up nine goals in the process. Newcastle are unbeaten in their last four, but now face the side that dismantled them on their own patch earlier in the season. The 4-1 win for Portsmouth in November was arguably their finest performance of the season, firing a series of spectacular first-half strikes past a frail Newcastle defense, much to the dismay of the Gallowgate.

This season’s FA Cup finalists have won their last four home matches in a row, owing much of this success to the superb goal-scoring form of January signing, Jermaine Defoe. The ex-Spurs marksman has hit 7 goals in his last 7 appearances, including scoring the opener in all five home games, so will fancy his chances of continuing his impressive run against a Newcastle side that have conceded 18 goals in their last 6 Premier League away games. Conversely, the south coast outfit have kept four clean sheets in their last five outings. The Toon Army may be on a roll, but having practically secured Premier League survival with last week’s win, the players may just take their eye off the ball following a long 350 mile trip down south.

“Buy” Portsmouth win index @ 14.5 (25 for a win, 10 for a draw, 0 for a defeat)
“Speculative buy” of ‘First-Last Blast Defoe’ @ 9 (25 for first goal, 25 for last goal)

USA vs. France (Davis Cup Tennis, 11th-13th April)

The USA, continuing the defence of their title, play host to a severely weakened French team on the hard court of Winston-Salem in North Carolina. France might have fancied their chances of causing an upset prior to the withdrawals of their two star players. Australian Open finalist and Muhammad Ali look-alike, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga has been forced to pull out of the quarter final tie with a knee injury. Tsonga had been in blistering form since the start of the season, including a memorable run to the final in Melbourne, demolishing world number 2, Rafael Nadal en route. The absence of the 22-year old is a major blow to France’s chances of progressing, having already lost their number 1, Richard Gasquet to injury.

Focusing on who is available for the French, Michael Llodra looks set to line up against the big-serving Andy Roddick, while the temperamental Paul Henri Mathieu will square off against James Blake. Roddick has picked up two titles this year and will be brimming with confidence, having last week finally got the better of nemesis, Roger Federer in a competitive match, after 11 straight defeats at the hands of the Swiss maestro. Blake too has had solid season and reached the quarter finals of the last two Masters Series events on American hard courts, before being ousted in tight tussles by Nadal in both. Blake has a positive 1-0 head-to-head record against Mathieu, and on home soil should make it two from two. In the tie’s doubles match, the formidable Bryan brothers are all but certain to win their rubber against Llodra and Arnaud Clement, effectively putting the Americans 1-0 in front before a ball has been struck. The US will be favourites to win the reverse singles as well; however coach, Patrick McEnroe will be aiming to have the tie sewn up by that stage. Sporting Index has set the spread in favour of the defending champions at 14-17 (10 for a win, 5 for each rubber the tie is won by). There is a very good chance the USA could seal the win 3-0, which would total 25 in terms of the spread; however, if the French do somehow manage to squeak a point, 20 would still yield positive returns.

“Buy” USA 10-5 @ 17.