Home and Away: I fancy the visitors to win Heer

19Dec 2012

Jonno Turner predicts two cup winners from England and Holland this evening.

We're off to Holland for our first pick of the day - and focusing on the KNVB Beker, as Feyenoord travel to Heerenveen looking to extend their excellent form of late.

The visitors have smashed 11 goals in their last five on the road, and that stands them in good stead as they line up in this one.

Ronald Koeman's side are unbeaten in 12 of their last 13 outings in all competitions - and just one loss from seven away from De Kuip will have them high in confidence here.

De Trots van Zuid have won three of their last four cup games, and the away boss will be keen for his side to build on their 3-2 win over ADO Den Haag in the league last time out with another win here.

Hosts Heerenveen line up at the Abe Lenstra Stadion in the midst of a miserable run, and have not won in six games.

Ten goals conceded in their last three outings suggests that the Friesland side are likely to ship one or two to their visitors this evening, and two without a win on their own patch will have the hosts under pressure to put in a good performance in front of their home faithful.

Marco van Basten's side looked poor in a 3-1 defeat to Utrecht at the weekend, and that will have knocked confidence in the home camp before this fixture.

History favours the away side in this fixture, and Feyenoord have not lost in seven meetings with their hosts - I'm backing the visitors for the win here.

Bet 1: [bf]Feyenoord (AWAY) @ 2.1

Back to more familiar climes now - and I fancy an upset in the Capital One Cup, as Leeds United welcome a tired Chelsea side to Elland Road.

The hosts will be well up for this clash, which will go a long way to reaffirming their status as a top level club, and they are certainly in the right form to be welcoming the Champions League holders to West Yorkshire.

Four wins from their last five will have the Whites full of momentum and vigour ahead of this one, and Neil Warnock will be desperate for his charges to weigh in with a positive performance to secure their place in the next round.

Two consecutive clean sheets in front of their own fans will have Leeds confident of holding out the Chelsea attacking threat, and their 3-0 disposal of Premier League Southampton in the last round of this competition underlines their ability to mix it with the big boys.

Chelsea travel north after a busy week which saw them lose in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday - and Rafa Benitez's side could be forgiven for feeling out of sorts following a long trip back from Japan.

The Blues have lost four of their last six away from Stamford Bridge, and 11 goals conceded in that time indicates that the Londoners rearguard is susceptible to leaking a goal or two.

Benitez will be disappointed that he has failed to win a trophy within weeks over taking over at the Bridge - and he must now find a way to boost his players ahead of this one.

But this competition is not a priority to the visitors, and with their Premier League campaign also hotting up, you have to question their motivation in what will be a tough encounter here.

I fancy Leeds to nick this - and with Warnock's side available at very decent odds, they also provide a nice option for traders.

Bet 2: Leeds United (HOME) @ 5