1.5pts Over 2.25 goals 2.02, Nigeria vs Algeria (LOST)

Usual 3rd place play-off shenanigans. [56%]

0.75pts Plymouth 4/1 at Sheff Weds (LOST)

Very worst case scenario this is a 22% job. [22%+]

1pt Sheff Utd 4/1 at West Brom (LOST)

Got most of the way through the Championship without finding a bet and was breathing a sigh of relief before this one popped up. Some defensive problems for the Blades but even accounting for that I think they're a bet. [23%]

1.5pts Man Utd 2.0 to qualify vs City (WON)

I'm probably losing it here, but I'd have thought Utd were favourites to qualify for this one. It's on the Daq so commission must be taken into account. [55%]

1pt 25-45 Bookings Points 7/4, Scunthorpe v Man City

Buoyed by a rare winning bet on Stoke to beat the Gooners just on the off, I have decided to step in and back a bookings middle. I noticed Kevin Friend was (11/20) in charge, and that swung it for me. [38%+]

Nothing in the Championship this week (thank fuck for that).

1pt Fulham (-1.25) 21/20 at Accrington (WON)

I hate backing Fulham in the cup; they always disappoint. But, with some trepidation, I'm having a one pointer. [53%]

1pt Aston Villa (-2.0) 6/5 vs Brighton (LOST)

The two fourth round selections are not half as bonko as those in the third. Not sure what price these were at the start of the week as I've been too busy to have a look. However, two small investments seem the way forward. [49.5%]

1pt 25-45 Bookings Points 7/4, Blackburn vs Fulham (WON)

I expect by now nobody reads this shit anymore, especially as yesterday's 'magic' middle couldn't have made up much higher. Anyway, reluctantly I battle on. Kevin Friend (who still remains no relation) takes charge of this match. He's on 10/19 so far, which is an admirable strike rate (assuming he backs the middle in all his games, which he probably doesn't). [38%+]

1pt 25-45 Bookings Points 7/4, Wolves vs Wigan (LOST)

It's the Webb-master in charge, 9/17. [38%+]

0.5pts Plymouth 8.8 at Newcastle (LOST)

[13%].

1pt Plymouth 3.15 vs Palace (LOST)

[38%]

0.5pts Reading 5/1 at Nottm Forest (LOST)

Value, but smells like a loser; perhaps Forest will be suffering from an FA Cup hangover? [18.5%]

1pt 25-45 Bookings Points 7/4, WBA vs Forest (WON)

Not long before these middles get binned at the current strike rate, but we battle on. Probert, 7/16. [38%+]

1pt Ipswich 3/1 at Leicester (LOST)

This probably won't go ahead, but Roy Keane's flops look a decent price away in the Midlands. No others to mention in the Championship this weekend. [28.5%]

A miserable showing from Man Utd ruined what could have been a great weekend. The experience was made even more unbearable by having to watch the game at the mother-in-law's over a roast dinner. For some reason the whole family was desperate to find out if I'd had a bet on the game and what I'd backed. No sooner had I reluctantly got the words out (simplifying the one and three-quarter ball handicap, of course) then Beckford boshed one in and everyone started laughing at me and coming out with witty comments like 'I don't think your bet's looking very good now!' I really don't know why it was so funny that I was about to do my conkers.

The rub-downs continued as the game progressed and I lost count of how many times I was told that my bet looked like a loser. I was going to explain about how I'd got the value and all that, but it would have been wasted. The wife was listening intently hoping to find out exactly how much I'd spunked away, but I was not about to reveal to anyone that I'd lost more than I'd spent on Christmas. That would not have gone down very well.

At least Sunderland and Chelsea did the business, although the in-laws didn't get to hear about those ones.

Wishing all Bunter 'fans' a profitable new year!!!