The games come thick and fast over the festive period and there is another full programme across Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting of course, and with so many games in such a short space of time a few shocks tend to crop up so here are five potential shocks for your consideration.
Rumours emerged earlier in the month that West Ham boss Avram Grant had just three games to save his job. Since those reports emerged the Hammers have drawn at Blackburn and beaten Fulham at Craven Cottage, their first win on the road in the Premier League this season, and the situation at Upton Park has started to look a little better.
West Ham host Everton on Tuesday in what could well be an intriguing contest. Everton have been unable to hit the same heights they have achieved in previous seasons this campaign and the Goodison Park side seem to be lacking a clinical edge. West Ham can stretch their unbeaten run to three games and possibly even haul themselves out of the drop zone with a win over Everton and at 2/1 they could well produce a shock at Upton Park (Match Betting – West Ham 2/1, draw 12/5, Everton 13/10).
Manchester United are now the clear favourites to take the league title at the end of the season and the Old Trafford side now enjoy a two point advantage, with two games in hand, at the top of the table after their 2-0 win over Sunderland on Boxing Day.
The most remarkable thing about United so far this season is the fact they have managed to remain dominant despite the fact key man Wayne Rooney is in arguably the worst form of his career to date. Rooney has not managed to bag a Premier League goal since August, when he scored from the spot against West Ham, but the England international must surely end his barren run soon.
United travel to Birmingham on Tuesday and Rooney can be backed at 10/3 to score the first goal, everyone knows Rooney has the talent and eventually he will rediscover his scoring form – and it could well happen against a struggling Birmingham on Tuesday.
Sunderland are riding high in the Premier League table but on Tuesday they host an unpredictable Blackpool side who love to flow forward. Sunderland are suffering from a mini defensive crisis with both John Mensah (ankle) and Michael Turner (knee) ruled out. The Seasiders have managed to pick up some impressive results this season and a win at the Stadium of Light would be another big achievement but one they’re certainly capable of (Match Betting – Sunderland 8/13, draw 3/1, Blackpool 11/2).
The Championship can prove to be a very difficult competition for the punter but there is also great value in England’s second tier. On Boxing Day Leicester City were heading for a home defeat against Leeds United but the plucky Foxes managed to fight back and secure a 2-2 draw, despite the fact the Yorkshire side had dominated the contest for over an hour.
Leicester have struggled on the road this season and they travel to Millwall on Tuesday but after that stunning comeback against Leeds the confidence should be high amongst Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men and at 7/4 they could well be worth backing to pick up their third win on the road of the campaign (Match Betting – Millwall 6/4, draw 12/5, Leicester 7/4).
Reading secured an impressive 4-1 victory over strugglers Bristol City on Boxing Day and the promotion chasing Royals travel to relegation contenders Hull City on Tuesday. The Tigers main problem this season has been scoring goals and in 10 home games they have only managed to hit the back of the net eight times.
After Reading’s win over Bristol they are now seventh in the Championship table and well placed to fight for promotion. Hull like to keep it tight but with Reading in free-scoring form it may be too much of a task for the KC Stadium side and the Royals look a good bet to continue their fine away record and pick up another three points on Tuesday (Match Betting – Hull 6/4, draw 23/10, Reading 9/5).
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