Wizard Christmas tip backs Big Sam for Blackburn

Hoy spoiled a massive gambler on swimmer Becky Adlington who was backed down to 1/2 to win but only finished in third place.

This weekend another of our ante-post selections, Rachel Stevens, is dancing in the final of Strictly Come Dancing. Our 6/1 pre-event shot is now as short as 6/4 to twirl off with the title and providing the phonelines stay OK, so should we.

Another week and another Premier League manager has lost his job. To be fair it's no surprise to see Blackburn part company with the Guv'nor, Paul Ince.

Sam Allardyce is a certainty for the job, so my moles tell me, so if they don't appoint big Sam before this column is printed GET ON at the 7/2 available with the bookies.

Allardyce is so desperate for a job I understand even The Wharf received his letter for work experience over the festive period. He lives local to Blackburn after his stint at Bolton and looks the ideal person to take over a team desperate for results.

My moles tell me Sunderland don't fancy big Sam, so unless he wants to spend Christmas in the Wharf the Blackburn job is as good as his.

If things go to plan he could be in charge for Saturday's big match at home to Stoke, but whoever is in control the even money about Rovers is too big in this encounter.

Player power may have been an influence in the early departure of Ince and they have to show the board they mean business in a massive match for the club.

Last week's 3-0 defeat a Wigan was a low point for Rovers but Stoke come to Ewood on the back of some poor form which makes me feel they will be struggling towards the bottom of the table come May.

Just one win in their last six matches has seen Tony Pulis' men slide down the table and their main problem has been a lack of goals, just four in their last six games.

Blackburn aren't in the best form either, with no wins in 12 since September, but they do have goalscorers in their team in Roque Santa Cruz and Benni McCarthy.

With Stoke's non-potent attack coming to town, I fancy Rovers to return this weekend.

Looking through the TV guides from around the world I discovered Italian, Spanish and Danish TV have a live Premier League match on Saturday afternoon. Which delightful advert have they chosen to show their nations? Fulham v Middlesbrough.

I expect our European friends will be off Christmas shopping on Saturday.

If you fancy goals in this game, you might as well be carted of to the funny farm now. Fulham are the lowest scorers in the Premier League, with just 13, and three of their last four matches have finished 0-0 and the other game was 1-1.

But if it keeps them in the top flight the Fulham faithful will be delighted. Middlesbrough have been involved in 0-0 stalemates in the last two weeks and have only scored eight goals away from home.

Bookies haven't reacted strongly enough to the dire quality of football shown by both teams at the moment and under three goals in the game, which I think is a certainty, is 8/11 and no-goalscorer is 10/1 (always back no goalscorer rather than 0-0 as if an own-goal is scored it doesn't count for betting purposes).

I wish everybody a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2009.

RUNNING TOTAL: + £230

SUGGESTED BETS:

£40 @ 7/2 Sam Allardyce to be next Blackburn Manager

£30 @ evens Blackburn to beat Stoke

£45 @ 8/11 Under 3 goals Fulham v Middlesbrough

£15 @ 10/1 - No goalscorer - Fulham v Middlesbrough