After losing to Chelsea and Manchester United, a uniquely hapless West Ham were dispatched 4-0 while Watford were two goals up before Charlton copped on to themselves and scrambled a 2-2 draw. Darren Bent has offered a chink of light with his return, scoring against the Hammers, but it's difficult to side with any team that counts Darren Ambrose and Matt Holland (right) among their first-choice midfield. Damien Duff made a positive return for Newcastle last week and with Scott Parker back to fullfitness, they'll have enough about them to get a result. Back the draw at 5-2.

BACK CRAIG BELLAMY TO SCORE FIRST IN IRELAND V WALES ON SATURDAY 7-1 Odds quoted are from Paddy Power This has been a vision haunting How's the Form's dreams ever since the draw for the Euro 2008 qualifiers was made back in January 2006. That eminently punchable face gurning in ecstasy in front of Hill 16 with Richard Dunne and Shay Given prone in his wake. Only cold hard cash will ease the urge to kick the TV.

There are also valid scientific reasons for presuming that Craig Bellamy will notch first in Croke Park next week. First, and most obviously, Ireland are terrible. The notion of Croke Park instantly being a fortress is folly in the extreme. As well as us, Wales put it up to the Czech Republic but have known humiliation themselves in this campaign, getting tonked 5-1 by Slovakia in their own cathedral, the Millennium Stadium. Since then Where the money was. . .

SPL La Liga they disposed of Cyprus relatively comfortably.

The Welsh will be more aware of the desperate straits Steve Staunton inds himself in after the debacle in San Marino and will go for the jugular. Bellamy has scored in Wales's last two games and finally seems to be hitting some sort of consistency with Liverpool. His pace will undoubtedly give Ireland's defence problems and he should be taken to score the first soccer goal at Croke Park. The archbishop will be spinning.

PEDROBOB WINS VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HURLDE AT CHELTENHAM, 12-1 (Betfair) As last week proved this column knows nothing about racing, but in Cheltenham week who does? But we do know something something about sleeping. On Tuesday morning, we had a dream (twice! ) that Pedrobob had won a race and we hadn't backed it. After studying the Racing Post we discovered he was running in the last race. Cue a �50 saver while standing at trackside as it romps home. We're a little freaked out as well.