YONTWO: You Only Need To Win Once

Some people say that accumulators are easy money for bookies. And 9 times out of 10, that's the case. But the beautiful thing about the accumulator is that you only need to win once.

So it is written, so it shall be done. This is why we must persist in the face of adversity! This is why I write to you now with little interest left in watching the rest of the night's darts after my Premier League picks, predictably, fell at the first hurdle.

Do I give up? No! Instead of counting my losses, I learn from my mistakes and take the remaining shards of optimism forward onto the weekend for a bigger and better accumulator effort!

I sound stupid, don't I? But then you think back to October 27th, 2012, when one of the most dramatic games of the season saw four goals in the last 15 minutes and ended in a 3-3 draw between Reading and Fulham. This, coupled with Aston Villa being held 1-1 at home against Norwich and a stalemate between Stoke and Sunderland, won me €180. And meant that I was just a mere €10 from breaking even for football bets for 2012-13. Yep, despite loss after loss, if I win over €10 for the rest of this season, I've won the accumulator.

Remember, with the accumulator, you only need to win once.

Or, in this case, twice.

RBS Six Nations - Weekend 3 Picks

by Dan 'Pitchside' Pitcher

Will Simon Zebo's injury prove destructive to Ireland's Six Nations hopes?

Each weekend, FM104 Sport's Dan 'Pitchside' Pitcher gives his previews and picks ahead of the Six Nations rugby...

Italy vs Wales

Saturday 23rd February; Stadio Olimpico; KO 14:30.

When writing my preview for Italy vs France in the opening round of games, I predicted Italy to win by 3. On the match day, though, I was unsure that it would actually happen. So to win by 4 was sensational.

Two weeks ago however, Scotland avoided a hat-trick of defeats against the Azzuri, demolishing them in all areas of Murrayfield (someone joked to me at full time “Those chipper owners were deffo on the piss after beating France, for the whole week too!”)

RBS Six Nations 2013 Weekend 1 Picks

by Daniel 'Pitchside' Pitcher

FM104 Sport's, Dan 'Pitchside' Pitcher gives his picks ahead of the opening weekend of Six Nations action...

Wales Vs Ireland

Saturday 2^nd February; Millenium Stadium; K.O 13:30

I don’t think a Six Nations campaign has been more highly anticipated from an Irish perspective in recent memory. Since the miracle Grand Slam win in the Welsh capital in 2009, Irish international rugby has failed miserably (while the provinces have continued to do really well).

For the second year in a row, Ireland kickstart the campaign against Wales, looking to hit the ground running. For the players, this campaign is not simply just about the Grand Slam (though of course that would be great). For them it's about impressing the British and Irish Lions selectors, headed up by Welsh coach Warren Gatland, for the summer trip to Australia.

Last year the drive for the Slam, or Triple Crown, ended early following a close loss in the Aviva Stadium against Wales. This time, it's personal. And for Declan Kidney, this could very well be his last shot at achieving greatness at international level. He has thrown everything at this campaign.