Football Betting: Derby worth backing

DERBY COUNTY, a useful outfit on their day, look a fair ante-post bet at 25-1 with Coral to win the Worthington Cup, the third round of which kicks off tomorrow night.

On the face of it, Derby, who play host to Arsenal on Wednesday, have no easy task but the Worthington Cup does not appear to be a trophy that Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, covets greatly.

Wenger fielded his reserve team in the early rounds last season and, as Arsenal went on to complete the Premiership and FA Cup Double and are now in the Champions' League, Wenger is likely to feel vindicated and follow suit this term.

If Derby, who played well when holding Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Pride Park on Saturday, can get past the Gunners, their odds will come tumbling down.

Manchester United, who have an easy home tie against Bury, are too big at 12-1 with Ladbrokes, despite the likelihood that Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, will pay the competition the same respect as his Highbury counterpart.

Liverpool, who should overwhelm Fulham and probably need to win this trophy more than the Champions' League duo, especially after their suspect display against Valencia in the Uefa Cup, are worthy favourites. The useful Cup side Middlesbrough will have their fans at 20-1 with the Tote, especially as their visitors, Everton, could not score in an opium den at present.

WORTHINGTON CUP

C H L S T

Liverpool 13-2 6-1 6-1 6-1 6-1

Chelsea 10-1 10-1 8-1 9-1 10-1

Leeds 10-1 9-1 10-1 10-1 8-1

Arsenal 9-1 9-1 12-1 10-1 10-1

Man Utd 13-2 8-1 12-1 15-2 7-1

Newcastle 9-1 11-1 10-1 10-1 12-1

Blackburn 14-1 12-1 12-1 14-1 14-1

Aston Villa 12-1 16-1 16-1 16-1 11-1

Coventry 14-1 14-1 14-1 14-1 16-1

Tottenham 12-1 12-1 16-1 16-1 16-1

Middlesbrough 16-1 16-1 16-1 18-1 20-1

Derby 25-1 20-1 14-1 22-1 22-1

Nottm Forest 20-1 20-1 25-1 20-1 20-1

C Coral, H William Hill, H Ladbrokes, S Stanley, T Tote