Football betting: weekend preview

Although it is unlikely the FA will risk burning their fingers with another native, the purists' clamour for Harry Redknapp is likely to grow louder this weekend when the Pompey boss guides his side to yet another away victory against Birmingham. Portsmouth have won their last five matches in a row and will have little to fear at St Andrew's on Saturday from a club in turmoil. Steve Bruce has jumped ship from the midlands club in a bid to join Wigan - a move which has stalled over a dispute over money - and well-regarded though his no2 Eric Black is, it's a big ask to build up his players, who have already had two weeks to mull over their derby defeat to Aston Villa. Snap up Paddy Power's 7/5 about away win no6 for Redknapp's men. The Premier League's three in-form sides Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea should break little sweat against bottom three Wigan, Bolton and Derby respectively, although as the Gunners are without Cesc Fabregas, Aleksandr Hleb, Gilberto and Abou Diaby the 1/6 hardly appeals. Paddy Power's 1/2 about United, who have won eight out of their last nine matches, overcoming Bolton makes for far better value. Chelsea, meanwhile, have won four of their last seven league matches and will have no problem at desperate Derby, who have managed one in 13 and are favourites to fall straight back out of the division this season. Paddy Power are best-priced at 2/7 and those of you fancying a first/last goalscorer, correct score or scorecast bet will get a refund if Frank Lampard scores the last goal of this match. Given that Didier Drogba and Lampard get the lion's share of Chelsea's goals why not place a small first goalscorer bet on the Frenchman to score first in the 17:15 live game at 11/4. If Lampard scores it's your money back. In Italy in-form Udinese can keep their impressive start to the season going against Siena. The Friulani inflicted a first defeat of the season on Fiorentina two weeks ago thanks to goals by Italian internationals Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella and that attack can make further in-roads into the three-points separating them from the Serie A summit on Sunday with a 4/7 price tag. In Spain, second-placed Villarreal can extend their winning sequence to six when they host an out of sorts Almeria side who have managed one win in five games. Villarreal have hit 16 goals in their last five matches, including victories against Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, and are just one point behind leaders Real Madrid. Take Paddy Power's 2/5. Verdict: 3pt treble on Portsmouth, Man Utd and Chelsea @ 3.4/1; 3pt fourfold on Portsmouth, Man Utd, Chelsea and Villarreal @ 4/1, 2pt fivefold on Portsmouth, Man Utd, Chelsea, Villarreal and Udinese @ 9.7/1; 1pt Didier Drogba to score first in Paddy Power's 'Lamps to the slaughter' cashback offer (all Paddy Power