Match Companion recap: Live football in-play betting blog: Match commentary; odds, stats, and in play betting advice

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🔄 PLEASE REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE LATEST UPDATE 🔄

👋 THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!

It may have been a reduced Premier League programme due to the FA Cup but we were not short of drama! Plenty of goings on across the top flight, the evening's FA Cup games and the Sky Bet EFL - so stay with us for more.

We hope you enjoyed another Saturday afternoon with Match Companion, be sure to return after the international break when we enter the latter stages of the season.

Click the links below to read the relevant pieces and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Reviews

• Premier League
• Sky Bet Championship
• Sky Bet League One
• Sky Bet League Two to follow...
• Leeds 0-1 Sheff United report and reaction

Betting previews

• Wolves v Man City in the FA Cup
• Fulham v Liverpool
• Everton v Chelsea

📈 PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

• Newcastle's late equaliser leaves them seven points clear of the drop
• Huddersfield now 16 points adrift

Check it out here

🏆 PREMIER LEAGUE REVIEW 🏆

• Hammers comeback stuns Huddersfield
• Ten-man Leicester beat Burnley
• Richie steals point for Newcastle

Read it here

🎇 BETTING SUCCESS 🎇

Late goals for Leicester and Bournemouth gave us some nice in-play winners at 7/1 and 9/4 respectively. Martin was on them, were you? Let us know @SportingLifeFC!

🏆 FA CUP TIPS

The evening game comes from Swansea, where the Sky Bet Championship side host Man City at the Liberty Stadium.

Paul Higham previews the clash with an 11/4 tip - click the image below...

⚔️ WILDER ON BLADES WIN

FULL-TIME IN THE SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

• Aston Villa 3-0 Middlesbrough
• Brentford 0-1 West Brom
• Hull 2-2 QPR
• Ipswich 1-1 Nottingham Forest
• Preston 1-0 Birmingham
• Rotherham 1-2 Norwich
• Sheffield Wednesday 4-2 Blackburn
• Stoke 0-0 Reading
• Wigan 5-2 Bolton

View the table here as Norwich extend their lead at the top to four points while West Brom's win closes the gap on third to six points. Aston Villa enter the top six while Preston's late goal means they are outside the play-offs on goal difference. It's hotting up!

FULL-TIME IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

• Bournemouth 2-2 Newcastle
• Burnley 1-2 Leicester
• West Ham 4-3 Huddersfield

Plenty of late drama - and we only had three matches!

The Leicester goal also means our in-play tip at 7/1 came in for them to score next at Turf Moor. Did you back that?!

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• Bournemouth 2-2 Newcastle (Ritchie, 90+4')

Another late goal as Ritchie scores against his former employers!

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• West Ham 4-3 Huddersfield (Hernandez, 90+1')

What a comeback by the Hammers, who were 3-1 down after 65 minutes. Jan Siewert cannot be too impressed...

• Burnley 1-2 Leicester (Morgan, 90')

Ten-man Foxes snatch it at Turf Moor - can they hold on now?!

⏱️ FULL-TIME APPROACHING

• Can Newcastle equalise at Bournemouth?
• Will there be a winner at Turf Moor?
• West Ham to get a fourth?

We'll keep you updated!

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• West Ham 3-3 Huddersfield (Hernandez, 84) - The Hammers are now 5/2 to win the match
• Bournemouth 2-1 Newcastle (King, 81')
• Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Blackburn (Iorfa, 79')
• Wigan 4-2 Bolton (Ameobi, 80')
• Wigan 5-2 Bolton (Clarke, 81')
• Hull 2-2 QPR (Hemed, 88'

🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE FROM OUR SKY BET EFL EXPERT

Tom Carnduff says:

"A huge game at both ends of the Sky Bet Championship table as Ipswich take on Nottingham Forest - where it's currently 1-1. We've seen nine shots on target in that game though and both teams will be desperate for victory. Over 2.5 goals is available at 6/4 - which is well worth considering with over ten minutes of normal time left."

Back it here

🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE

They may be down to 10 men but they are making a good go of it. Leicester to score next at 7/1 looks too good to turn down for a small play

Back it here

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• West Ham 2-3 Huddersfield (Ogbonna, 75)
• Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 Blackburn (Conway, 72')
• Wigan 4-1 Bolton (Jacobs, 69')

🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE

Paul Dummett just cleared a goal off the line to deny Bournemouth, who are now 9/4 to score the game's next goal.

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• Wigan 3-1 Bolton (O'Neil, 62)

📊 STAT TIME

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• West Ham 1-3 Huddersfield (Grant, 66')
• Hull 2-1 QPR (Scowen, 62')
• Wigan 3-0 Bolton (Powell, 56')

🎇 WINNING TIP!

SEMI AJAYI! He levels things up for Rotherham and lands a 14/1 winner for Tom Carnduff in his Sky Bet EFL tips. Lovely stuff.

Norwich go and score pretty much straight away though. Still, we'll take the winner.

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• Brentford 0-1 West Brom

Look out for this from Kyle Edwards in the EFL highlights on Sporting Life tomorrow! Phwoar.

• Luton 1-1 Gillingham

Oh, hello! Gillingham upsetting the odds a bit here.

🌩 GOAL FLASH

• Bournemouth 1-1 Newcastle

Mike Dean's at it again (maybe) - Bournemouth have a penalty...which they score! 1-1 at the Vitality Stadium. Josh King with the goal.

• Peterborough 0-2 Coventry

Coventry have now doubled their lead at Peterborough. Bright Enobakhare makes it 2-0.

• Forest Green 1-1 Carlisle

Nathan Thomas equalises!

BACK UNDERWAY

No early goals in the second-half, that is unless you're backing Arbroath to beat East Fife, they've 2-1 up!

PRICE BOOST

Correct Score - West Ham to win 3-2, enhanced to 9/2!

Click here for more in-play West Ham v Huddersfield odds, Price Boosts and RequestABets

HALF-TIME SCORES IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

• Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle
• Burnley 1-1 Leicester
• West Ham 1-2 Huddersfield

Click here to see the latest scores in the Sky Bet Championship

Click here to see the latest scores in the Sky Bet League One

Click here to see the latest scores in the Sky Bet League Two

🚨 SKY BET PRICE BOOST

Jamie Vardy has already had two shots and you can back him to score the game's next goal at an enhanced 7/1!

Click here for more in-play Burnley v Leicester odds, Price Boosts and RequestABets

🌩 GOAL FLASH

AFC Bournemouth 0-1 Newcastle United (Rondon, 45+5')

🌩 GOAL FLASH

Hull 2-0 QPR (Bowen, 44')

Rotherham 0-1 Norwich (McLean, 45')

🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE

A nice price with Sky Bet - Jamie Vardy to have 2+ shots on target at evens. The forward has already registered one on target from two shots and 10-men Leicester will still have their fair share of chances in this game.

Back it here

🌩 GOAL FLASH

Burnley 1-1 Leicester (McNeil, 38')

That did not last long!

ℹ️ GOAL INFO

Ten men? No problem so far!

Maddison netted his sixth of the season, a fine free-kick from the edge of the box, to give Brendan Rodgers' side the lead against strugglers Burnley.

🌩 GOAL FLASH

Burnley 0-1 Leicester City (Maddison, 33')

Ipswich 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Nolan OG, 31')

🌩 GOAL FLASH

West Ham 1-2 Huddersifeld (Grant, 30)

🌩 GOAL FLASH

Aston Villa 1-0 Middlesbrough (El Ghazi, 28')

📸 ACTION SHOTS

🌩 GOAL FLASH - West Ham 1-1 Huddersfield (Bacuna, 17')

Great reaction from the Terriers, Bacuna with his first goal for the Terriers, steering home a free header. Game on in east London!

🌩 GOAL FLASH - West Ham 1-0 Huddersfield (Noble, 15' PEN)

Mark Noble makes no mistake from the penalty spot after debutant Aaron Rowe's foul on Manuel Lanzini. Hope you backed them to score next as we advised!

🌩 EARLY GOALS IN THE SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP

• Hull 1-0 QPR (Bowen, 7')
• Ipswich 1-0 Nottingham Forest (Quaner, 5')
• Wigan 1-0 Bolton (Garner, 4')
• Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Blackburn (Fletcher, 10)

🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE

West Ham have started well against Huddersfield at the London Stadium and Michail Antonio just hit the bar.

The hosts to score first, even at 4/9, is a good price to start the afternoon considering how Huddersfield struggle in front of goal.

Back it here

🔴 RED CARD in Burnley 0-0 Leicester - (Maguire)

Harry Maguire clips Johann Berg Gudmundsson who was through on goal, giving the referee no option but to dismiss him. His first red card in six years and that gives the Foxes an uphill task for the rest of the game - 86 minutes to be precise.

⏱️ KICK-OFF!

The 3 o'clock games are getting underway around the country. Good luck to your teams and with your bets!

Stay with us for goal updates and in-play advice throughout the afternoon.

🖊️ EARLY REPORTS

Click the links for more...

• Watford into FA Cup semi-finals
• Advantage Blades after Leeds win

🕵️‍♂️ MAN ON THE SPOT

📰 TEAM NEWS: Burnley v Leicester

📰 TEAM NEWS: West Ham v Huddersfield

📰 TEAM NEWS: AFC Bournemouth v Newcastle United

⏱️ FULL-TIME: LEEDS 0-1 SHEFF UNITED

A frantic final few minutes but a massive result for the Blades, who overtake the Whites to go second. Chris Basham's second-half strike wins it, Leeds now have to play without their suspended goalkeeper Casilla in the next few games.

Keep an eye on @SportingLifeFC on Twitter for reaction. We'll be looking at team news ahead of the 3pm games.

🔴 RED CARD

Goalkeeper Casilla has seen red here! After a mix-up in defence, Sharp was through on goal and brought down by the former Real Madrid goalkeeper. Leeds are out of subs and Jansson has gone between the sticks with five minutes of added time to play.

Not only a blow for this game but for Leeds' next few with Casilla now suspended.

😲 CHANCE FOR LEEDS

Jansson is still clearly struggling and he has been put up front by the Leeds team. An opportunity soon fell to him on the edge of the six yard box but he could not adjust his body and slotted wide of the post.

88 minutes on the clock.

🕵️‍♂️ MAN ON THE SPOT

Sky Bet EFL expert Tom Carnduff is at Elland Road:

"The storm conditions that had been present all week in West Yorkshire played their part throughout and it could have had an impact on the opening goal. Liam Cooper found the ball stuck between his feet when trying to dispossess Sharp. The Blades forward got the better of his man and teed up the on-rushing Basham, who slotted into the bottom corner from the edge of the area."

⏱️ FULL-TIME: WATFORD 2-1 CRYSTAL PALACE

Etienne Capoue and Andre Gray help the Hornets into the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Great scenes at Vicarage Road. Heurelho Gomes, who this week said he was likely to retire, is emotional and doing a lap of honour.

✅ A winning tip too after Paul Higham recommended backing over 2.5 total goals at 21/20

🏥 LEEDS BLOW

Jansson landed awkwardly and it looks like he cannot continue. And Leeds have used all of their substitutes. Eight minutes or so to go.

💡 TIPS REMINDER

It's hard to take your eyes off this game at Elland Road but kick-off for the 3pm games is fast approaching, so click the images below to read our betting previews...

🔍 IN PLAY BETTING ADVICE

The atmosphere has got a little nervy at Elland Road, but they are on top for now and preparing a double substitution. Considering their tendency to score, backing them to find the back of the net next at 13/8 is a good price.

Back it here

📽️ GOAL REPLAY

Slice?

A look at Gray's goal for Watford - what could prove to be the winner...

🌩 GOAL FLASH: LEEDS 0-1 SHEFF UNITED (BASHAM, 71')

Chris Wilder's decision to put Basham in midfield pays off. Sharp dispossesses Cooper and plays in Basham who coolly slots past Casilla. A BIG goal!

🌩 GOAL FLASH: WATFORD 2-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (A GRAY, 80)

Watford are one step closer to the semi-finals thanks to Andre Gray's goal. A volley which he appeared to slice past Guaita. Goal video to follow.

😲 CHANCE FOR LEEDS

📽️ GOAL REPLAY

A look at the Batshuayi strike to level things up at Vicarage Road. It's 1-1 there with just under 20 minutes to go...

🚨 SKY BET PRICE BOOST

It's an open start to the second half and Leeds are preparing their first change with left-back Barry Douglas preparing to come on.

• Both teams to score in the 2nd half - enhanced to 9/2 with Sky Bet!

Click here for more in-play odds, Price Boosts and RequestABets

🌩 GOAL FLASH: WATFORD 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (BATSHUAYI, 62')

Great finish by the Belgian. Goal video to follow. That's game on at Vicarage Road, too! Would be great for either of these sides to be in the semi-finals.

⏱️ SECOND HALF

We are back underway at Elland Road, no changes from each side. A big 45 minutes for both teams' automatic promotion hopes. Game on!

🏆 PREMIER LEAGUE TIPS

I have been on tipping duty for the top-flight games this weekend. After profit in the Champions League in midweek and in last weekend's 3pm edition, here's hoping...

• 1pt Bournemouth to score in both halves v Newcastle at 12/5

Bournemouth have averaged over three goals per game in the Premier League this season and they have netted in both halves seven times this season, most recently in the win at Huddersfield last week. As with backing 2+ goals, this option does not rely on the outcome of the final result, just as long as they find the back of the net.

• 1pt Leicester to beat Burnley and over 1.5 total goals at 9/4

Burnley have lost three successive Premier League matches and will be looking nervously over their shoulders with just a two-point cushion over the bottom three.

The Foxes had plenty of positives to take from last weekend's 3-1 win over Fulham, with plenty of aggression and intent, and another week on the training ground with their new boss will have done them the world of good.

• 1pt West Ham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 at 6/4

West Ham are another side struggling for consistency in 2019, having won just twice in their last nine in all competitions.

One source of encouragement for them is that they have collected seven points from their last three home games, avoiding defeat against Liverpool, and an ideal game for them to bounce back from last week's away defeat in Cardiff is this one, at home to Huddersfield.

The Hammers have started to settle at the London Stadium, winning seven and drawing three, and a win here would equal last season's points haul on home turf.

There was a temptation to go into the scoring markets or to look at bookings, but the 6/4 available on correct score group betting - West Ham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 - looks like the way to go. Huddersfield are lacking in front of goal and five of the Hammers' last six have seen fewer than three goals scored.

Read the preview in full here

⏱️ HALF-TIME: LEEDS 0-0 SHEFF UNITED

What an opportunity for the visitors - with McGoldrick midway through the Leeds half and coming inside, he put through Basham who evaded Alioski on the left. Goalkeeper Casilla was quick to put pressure on him and it gave the Whites defence chance to get back.

It's goalless at the break, with Leeds having a better share of the chances overall but Sheff United have grown into the game in the last 10 minutes or so. Sets us up nicely for the second half!

😲 CHANCE FOR THE BLADES

The visitors had a corner which led to a goalmouth scramble, with Cooper eventually getting a block in. The resulting corner saw McGoldrick head over and Sharp has just had an effort blocked by Jansson. A couple of minutes until the interval.

📺 HODDLE ON HALF-TIME DUTY

With it being half-time at Vicarage Road, it's great to see Glenn Hoddle back looking well and analysing the game for BT Sport after his heart attack in late October.

If you have not seen the goal, then look no further...

👏 VITAL INTERCEPTION

Leeds had a great attack going and the ball was squared to Klich on the edge of the box. The Polish midfielder scored against Reading on Tuesday and would have had a great chance, but for the sliding Basham whose slight touch got the ball away from the Leeds man.

Still goalless after 38 minutes, who'd have thought!

🚨 SKY BET PRICE BOOST

Correct Score: Leeds to win 2-1 - now enhanced to 11/1!

Click here for more in-play odds, Price Boosts and RequestABets

📸 ACTION SHOT

Celebrations for Watford after Capoue's goal against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup quarter-final.

It's just about half-time in that one - Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace.

🔴 RED CARD TO BE SHOWN?

After some big challenges already in this game, the 5/2 price on a red card to be shown is quite appealing.

Another big chance for Leeds passes as Tyler Roberts, named in Ryan Giggs' Wales squad this week, has a fairly free header but gets on the wrong side of the post.

There have been a couple of penalty appeals for the hosts but they were possibly ambitious. One came as centre-back Pontus Jansson found himself making a run into the opposition box and his first touch was a chop and he went down with his marker in the process. To coin the old cliche - great feet for a big man.

⚠️ LUCKY BALDOCK

The tackles have been flying in and George Baldock and the Blades will be breathing a sigh of relief after his lunge was slightly out of control on Pontus Jansson. The full-back had already put in a strong challenge and he goes in the book inside 20 minutes.

😲 CHANCE!

Leeds nearly took the lead through Bamford a short time ago and this time it fell to Harrison, who volleyed Klich's cross over the bar. The hosts are on top and the 4/5 on them to score the game's first goal looks good value.

Back it here

🌩 GOAL FLASH: Watford 1-0 Crystal Palace (Capoue, 27')

The hosts have just taken the lead at Vicarage Road. Goalkeeper Guaita came off his line and failed to reach the ball and it fell kindly to Capoue who finished into an open goal.

⏱️ LEEDS 0-0 SHEFF UNITED: LIVELY START

It has been an interesting start at Elland Road, both sides have not really settled and it's been quite frantic and end-to-end.

The best chance just fell for the hosts, with Hernandez breaking through on the right and he squared it to Bamford, whose shot was blocked.

Interesting to see Chris Basham in midfield for the Blades today, who have packed an extra man in there to try to stop Leeds playing.

👋 GOOD AFTERNOON

Hello and welcome to another edition of Sporting Life’s Match companion, where we keep you up to date across the Premier League, FA Cup and Sky Bet EFL – with hopefully some winners along the way.

The first FA Cup quarter-final of the weekend is underway, with Watford v Crystal Palace goalless at Vicarage Road. We’ll keep you posted on that one.

But our main focus for the early kick-offs is the big clash between promotion chasers Leeds and Sheffield United at Elland Road. The Sky Bet Championship clash has just got underway, Tom Carnduff is our man on the spot while I - George Pitts – will be providing regular updates.

It should be a cracker. Let us know your Saturday fancies by tweeting @SportingLifeFC or @GeorgePitts_ and get involved!

Odds correct at time of posting

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