Sunday Portfolio - 29th January

2 pts Sunderland (4/6 general), FA Cup Fourth Round, (1PM ITV1 & ITVHD)

There’s plenty at stakes in this Wear/Tees derby but home advantage could be a crucial factor and Martin O’Neil can navigate Sunderland straight to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Since the change from Steve Bruce, the Black Cats have won  won six games out of nine and could be unbeaten in four here had it not been for a dubious penalty decision.

Middlesbrough have won two of their last 13 FA Cup games against Premier League opponents, conceded eight goals is in their last three Championship games and have also scored just once in that time, so the home win is attractive despite being odds on.

2 pts Lazio (13/8 Stan James), Serie A (2PM)

Lazio have the better of head to head record (Chievo have only managed to beat Lazio once - in their first Serie A meeting, back in January 2002) and also have an away record bettered only by Milan and Juventus, so the 13/8 they can win at 9^th placed Chievo looks worth taking.

The visitors have been beaten by both Milan teams but going to the San Sirois one of the toughest tasks in Italian football and this is a lot more realistic.

1 pt Equatorial Guinea (13/5 Skybet), Africa Cup Of Nations, (Eurosport 7PM)

Equatorial Guinea are the lowest ranked team at the African Cup Of Nations but they’ve followed in the footsteps of most hosts by winning both their group games in late style, and the price on offer about them doing the same and sealing top spot against Zambia looks well worth taking.

It’s a bit of a shame that Randy – the star performer against Libya and also the scorer of the opening goal against Senegal, is out, but there’s no shortage of incentive  to go for the three points – a massive cash bonus, a homecrowd, and then the possibility of a better quarter final draw. Zambia are a good side, as shown by their comeback against Libya and also their beating of Senegal, but the hosts get the call.

1 pt Valencia (11/10 general), La Liga (5PM Betfair Live Video)

Valencia have shown that once again they’re the third best team in Spain despite losing some extremely high quality players, and they can make it 5 games won on the road at relegation threatened Racing Santander today. They were held at Osasuna in their last League game but were hugely impressive when beating Levante 3-0 in midweek, and have enough about them to take all three points.