Roker Riches: Has 'Arry's Arrival Changed Our Bets?

Week Thirteen Recap

Another tough weekend for our tipsters as some surprising results caught us all off guard. Sunderland's defeat was bad enough but to see the likes of Middlesbrough and Blackburn slip up on home turf was a further kick in the teeth and that was before Sunday's drab televised offerings.

However, there's no time to feel too sorry for ourselves as we have a selection of midweek fixtures to try and get back to winning ways. So without further ado, onto our selections:

David Boyle

Despite the disappointing defeat on Saturday there were still a number of positives to take from such a mental game, where the result could have been any combination of numbers you could care to dream up such was the nature of the match. With QPR tonight comes a team rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, with more ego on show than a quiet night in with Alan Pardew. However they now have media-darling Redknapp at the helm and it will be interesting to see if he is capable of turning their fortunes around or if it is already too little too late.

Betting wise I am staying clear of predicting the outright result and instead am going to side with the inform Stephane Sessegnon who now has two goals in the last two games and looks as good as we have seen him this year. QPR's defense has been shocking this term to date and I fancy the little fella to grab the first goal of this evening.

Away from the Stadium of Light we have a full compliment of Championship games to choose from. Despite the unpredictable nature of this league I am going to have another go at picking out a home double. Nothing clever here, instead I am going to back Brighton and Charlton to do the business at a short price, but a double which should bring home a profit.

• Stephane Sessegnon to score first - 7/1 - £2.50 Stake
• Brighton & Charlton double - 3/1 - £2.50 Stake

Simon Walsh

One of the things managers don't mind about midweek games is that if you get beat in the first game, there's an immediate chance to bounce back. I'd like to say the same although it looks like this is just another excellent opportunity for me to lose money.

For tonight's game against Queens Park Rangers I'm going with an odd one. It's been a while since Phil Bardsley got a on the scoresheet, so I'm going in small on him to open the scoring at 33/1. Because that's how my stupid brain works, rather than actually assessing the odds.

Also this midweek I'm going with wins for this little lot. I'm not going to win, so might as well make Mr Boyle work for the article... Rot-Weiss Essen, Boston United, Rayo Vallecano and Ross County. Yep.

• Phil Bardsley to score first - 33/1 - £1 Stake
• Rot-Weiss Essen, Boston United, Rayo Vallecano and Ross County all to win - 23/1 - £2 Stake

Karl Jones

Ah, bugger. The last time I went down to shrapnel I managed to elevate myself - here's hoping that happens again!

Having prodded home against West Bromwich Albion, Sessegnon now has two in as many games. He was at the forefront of everything positive in Sunderland's play on Saturday, and should a positive result emanate from the game, then a repeat performance will be needed.

Let's see: just one point separates Aston Villa and Reading, and one home win in six for Villa doesn't inspire confidence whilst Reading are yet to win on the road. Watford have four wins away from home already but face a Sheffield Wednesday side desperate for points and Rotherham are back on the horse after beating Exeter. Away to Accrington, they should close the gap on the final automatic promotion spot.

• Stephane Sessegnon to score any time - 11/4 - £2 Stake
• Aston Villa to draw with Reading, Sheffield Wednesday to draw with Watford, Rotherham to beat Accrington - 2pts (£2) @ 28.05 (Boylesports)