Home and Away: Bordeaux looking to edge closer to cup glory

7May 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner looks at action in England and France as he seeks two selections for his Home and Away column today...

We're off to Lancashire for our first pick of the day - and Wigan host Swansea in what is a huge game for the Latics.

Roberto Martinez' side sit in the final relegation place - and with just three outings left, including a tough trip to Arsenal in a couple of weeks, they will know that they must make the most of their home advantage here.

A win against West Brom last week will have boosted confidence in the home camp, and the DW Stadium side will now be desperate to put together back to back victories for just the third time this season.

And three unbeaten in front of their own fans shows that the hosts have turned their stadium into something of a fortress in recent weeks.

Swansea travel north in miserable form - and have won just one game since lifting the League Cup trophy back in February.

That has seen Michael Laudrup's side drift out into ninth place in the table - and they will be desperate to arrest that slump here.

But no goals scored in their last three underlines how barren the visitors have been up front - and with hotshot forward Michu likely to miss out tonight, you wouldn't bet on them troubling the home defence much.

With survival on the line, I fancy the home side to come out on top here. Their FA Cup final with Manchester City next weeked does threaten to derail them before this clash, but I don't think that Martinez will let his side rest on their laurels, with their top tier status at risk.

Bet 1: Wigan Athletic (HOME) @ 1.81

Switching our attentions to France now, where Troyes host Bordeaux in the semi finals of the Coupe de la France.

The home side go into this clash sitting 19th in Ligue 1 - and, with without a win in five of their last seven, sit four points adrift of safety with just a handful of outings remaining.

This cup tie will provide a distraction for Jean-Marc Furlan's side, and they'll be looking to secure a shock win in order to move one step closer to silverware - but, with the club looking likely to return to the second tier of French football, they have something of a dilemma.

Two wins on the bounce in front of their own fans will have boosted confidence in the home camp, but it will be interesting how they translate that last ditch survival form to the semi finals of this competition.

The visitors go into this clash sitting ninth in the table, and unbeaten in their last five, a run which will give them high hopes of securing their place in the final of this trophy.

Francois Gillot's side are unbeaten in three of their last four on the road, and this trophy is their last positive in what has been an inconsistent season.

Les Girondins have tasted European competition this campaign, having qualified for the Europa League last year, and with nothing else to focus on this season, they can devote themselves entirely to this competition.

That is not the case for their hosts, and I think that could be the difference in this tie.

Bet 2: Bordeaux (AWAY) @ 2.34