Our two pundits are back for this week’s betting column, and one of them is backing Derby County. Oh dear…

The Don
Yet another bloody last minute concession – has any team ever lost quite so many points over the course of a season in this manner? And let me tell you, the fact this column backed the draw was no sort of consolation. However, that result, plus Palace’s victory on the same day, has boosted our profits back toward the one-hundred-and-fifty mark (£148.38 to be precise).

I’m not sure how my fellow pundit – the mysterious Mr Power – is doing in terms of his profit and loss account, but my perception is that he is also firmly in the black. So you see following the ‘Betting Preview’ is a wise investment decision equalled only by that of our dear friends Flavio and Little Bernie.

So what of this weekend’s sporting action?

Well, having just added Setanta to my satellite package, I’m very much looking forward to JOE CALZAGHE’s clash with Big Bernie (Hopkins). I considered backing the Welshman to triumph on points, but the price just wasn’t right. So instead can I suggest separate investments of £5 each on him stopping the ex jailbird in the 10th and 11th rounds taking the 33/1 on offer (for both eventualities) from Paddy Power.

At Loftus Road I expect one of those open ‘nothing to play for so let’s play some football’ end of term encounters. That may bring goals – so take £10 into your nearest ‘Betsson’ shop and back ‘ABOVE 3.5 GOALS’ at odds of 51/20.

Staying with football, and the Championship, have a fiver on WEST BROM to beat Norwich (6/5 with Coral) and another on STOKE to dispose of Bristol City (11/10 with Victor Chandler).

Finally a couple of £5 each way bets on the Scottish National. PHILSON RUN (22/1 with Partybet) and MON MOME (25/1 with ToteSport).

Best of British luck to you.

Previously advised:
Lucky 15 bet – remaining Neil Robertson in the World Snooker (Note: John Part winning the PDC World Darts Championship already guarantees a profit – but defeats for Bewley’s Berry and Adam ‘no, not in the fecking water’ Scott mean returns will be no more than modest)
Shaun Murphy and Stephen Maguire to win the World Snooker Championship
Mumbai to win the IPL
Delhi to win the IPL
Gillingham to be relegated

Brian Power
Three weeks to go and I am determined to get a winner this week. We play Charlton who although could still get a play off place but need the mother of all miracles. I think it will be a draw and I will go for a 2-2 draw. Lee Cook comes back home and he will get a good welcome and you can read the script that he will score so we will have a bet on him for first goal.

The Scottish National takes place on Saturday and the winner and runner up of the Welsh version lock horns again and we will go for Miko de Beauchene to repeat his victory at Ayr. Betting on football matches at this time of year can be tricky as some teams (Spurs and West Ham) are already sipping cocktails on the beach and it is for this reason that I am going for a big upset at Upton Park and Derby to get only their second win of the season at 9-1 with BET365. The Rams are rubbish but I think this is just too big.

This weeks random irritations are brought to you by a grumpy dad sitting at his PC in work on his wedding anniversary and clock watching as he wants to go home to his missus and baby:
Gobby women on the Apprentice
Paul Burrell - How has he made so much money and become a z list celeb. Next time he sets foot on British soil NICK HIM
The Credit Crunch - Someone somewhere is making cash out of this and it is probably the banking institutions or greetings card companies - £4.99 for an anniversary card - the girl at the counter might as well worn a stripy jumper and a mask.
Emile Heskey’s last minute goal on Monday night.
OK the last one is not an irritation unless you are a knuckle dragging, over tattooed, sweaty moron from SW6 and in that case Mr Mellor what are you doing reading this column

For the weekend
£5 QPR 2 Charlton 2 12/1 BET365
£7.50 Lee Cook to score first 16/1 BET365
£10 on Miko De Beauchene in the Scottish National 7/1 Ladbrokes
£10 on Derby to beat West Ham 9-1 Bet 365
£2.50 doubles and 2.50 treble on
Sunderland and Newcastle to Draw 5/2
Villa and Birmingham to Draw 23/10
Stockport and MK Dons to Draw 9/4

Photo: Action Images

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