Value Tips: Saturday 4th Feb

RECOMMENDED
Metz v Nancy, Nancy to win, 2/1 with Stan James
Nancy have won their last 3 away fixtures, inflicting the first home loss of the season on Lens, and the first bar Lyon on Auxerre (who have the best home record in the division). They are clearly a side capable of playing well and winning away from home. Metz are bottom of La Championnat and have lost their last 2 at home and indeed 6 overall in 11 home games this season. Nancy do seem to go through hot and cold periods (LLLWWLLLWWW is their away pattern this season) but to get them at 2/1 against the worst side in the division I think is cracking value and I recommend this bet is taken.

RECOMMENDED
Eintracht Frankfurt v Hertha Berlin, Frankfurt to win 1st half, 2/1 with Bet365
There is really not much to say about this one. EF have been leading at the break in their last 4 home games, and against decent sides too (Stuttgart and Dortmund most recently). Berlin have trailed at the break in 4 of their last 5 away fixtures and have managed 1 goal in the opening 45 away from home all season. Odds of 2/1 seem very generous indeed.

RECOMMENDED
Birmingham v Arsenal, Birmingham to win, 11/4 with Sporting Odds
Birmingham v Arsenal, Birmingham to win 1st half, 4/1 with Skybet
The situation is similar to Arsenal’s last away match, at Everton. Birmingham endured an awful start to the season (6 losses in their first 7 home matches) but appear to have turned things round. They have won 3 of their last 4 at home and only Man Utd have managed to score against them in those 4 games. Holding Liverpool at Anfield with only 10 men for the majority of the match will have done their confidence no harm either. Arsenal have now lost 3 out their last 5 away from home and have managed to score only one goal in that run.
Both Birmingham to be wininng at HT and at FT (as separate bets) look good value at the odds mentioned above and both are recommended.

RECOMMENDED
West Ham v Sunderland, Sunderland to score first, 12/5 with Coral
Sunderland, 9 points from 23 matches, must have already given up hope of surviving relagation, but I still think the 6/1 being offered by Bet365 is big against a West Ham side that has lost 4 from it’s last 5 at home. OK, those losses include games against Man Utd and Chelsea, but they also lost Newcastle in that run. Sunderland have put in some encouraging displays recently and in fact have lead in 3 of their last 4 away games, scoring the opening goals at Spurs, Fulham and, most recently, West Brom. They even held on for the win at West Brom. West Ham have also conceded the first goal in 3 of their last 4 at home, so there must be some value in taking Sunderland to score the first goal at 12/5 with Coral.