Tottenham can justify favouritism against travel-sick Sunderland at White Hart Lane in the Premier League on Tuesday. The north Londoners have only lost one at home, while Sunderland are awful on their travels (4/7 Tottenham 14/5 draw 5/1 Sunderland – match betting).
The Black Cats got hammered 5-1 at Newcastle on their most recent jaunt, have won just once at the Lane in the last 26 years and have won only one of their last 23 away games – plus there is no Darren Bent.
2) Stoke may be relieved to be back at the Britannia on Tuesday night but come against a bogey side in Birmingham City, who have yet to win away this season. However, they are on a seven-match unbeaten streak against the Potters and have not conceded a goal in that time. (Birmingham clean sheet 3/1 and Blues 7/10 +1 Handicap – match betting).
3) The knives have been out for Manchester City (17/10 to win) boss Roberto Mancini after suffering three successive defeats but are a different proposition at home, having beaten Chelsea earlier in the season and look good value to get the better of Manchester United, who have won only once away, in the derby.
4) Liverpool (8/11 in the match betting) have turned a corner with four successive wins in all competitions, including a 2-0 win over champions Chelsea with Fernando Torres (7/2 Enhanced First Goalscorer) back among the goals, and should take care of business against an inconsistent Wigan side, which has won just once at the DW Stadium so far this season.
5) The odds will not be great, granted, but a double on Celtic and Rangers (0.97/1) to both win is always a wise move. On Wednesday, the Old Firm go head to head against the Edinburgh clubs, with Rangers at home to Hibs and Celtic at Hearts. The Bhoys will be in ultra-confident mood following the ridiculous 9-0 drubbing of Aberdeen over the weekend while Rangers, top of the league, will have too much for Colin Calderwood’s side.
6) Turning to the Championship, Leeds (4/5 – match betting) entertain struggling Hull at Elland Road tonight and will surely continue their pursuit of the top six with a win over the Tigers, who have not won a league match in seven now. Expect that miserable run to continue despite boss Nigel Pearson’s best efforts to stop the rot this evening.
7) Without a victory in three league games, Burnley (10/11 – match betting) host Doncaster and should have too much for Rovers at Turf Moor. The Clarets have lost just once at home so far this season – albeit a 4-0 thumping against Reading – and, with Doncaster without key striker Billy Sharp, the visitors strike threat has been nullified significantly.
Nottingham Forest against Coventry at the City Ground is a midlands derby of sorts and, despite the Sky Blues going well in fifth, a victory for the home side is a decent bet here (4/5 – match betting). Forest are the Championship’s draw specialists, having been held eight times already this season, and must put an end to that run soon as they look to preserve a proud home league record – they have not lost at the City Ground in the league since September 2009.
9) Preston are desperate for a win when they take on fellow strugglers Barnsley on Tuesday and would be worth backing at 21/20 as they go in search of just their second three points in seven games.
10) Finally, Leicester, under the astute guidance of former England chief Sven Goran Eriksson, have been making great strides of late and will be fired up for a home clash against Sheffield United. The Foxes have chalked up successive victories over Preston and Barnsley in their last two games, without conceding a goal, and another narrow win (correct score – 1-0 to Leicester – 11/2) is predicted on Wednesday.
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