There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and there will be repercussions at both ends of the table at Bloomfield Road when Blackpool host Arsenal, while Aston Villa will be hoping to keep their necks above the relegation zone when they entertain Newcastle.
There is plenty to play for in the opening match at 1.30pm with the Tangerines desperate to get back on the winning trail in their bid to avoid the drop but there will not be too many who argue with the fact that Arsenal are the favourites in the match betting – although they are as short as 4/11.
The Gunners are not second in the Premier League table by fluke but there form has dipped since suffering that shock Carling Cup final defeat to Birmingham City at Wembley.
Arsene Wenger’s men have won only one match since then – 5-0 against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup fifth round replay – while they have been knocked out of both domestic competitions, losing to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals and to Barcelona in the last-16 of the Champions League.
Although there is no disgrace in those defeats, the Premier League form has also suffered with successive draws against struggling sides – Sunderland, West Brom and Blackburn – two of which were at home, which has seen them fall seven points adrift of leaders United, although they do have a game in hand.
Ian Holloway has targeted two more wins to guarantee Premier League football next term and the Tangerines do have home advantage for five of their remaining seven games, with the next four on the bounce taking place at Bloomfield Road.
It sounds like a case is being made for a shock home win on Sunday but with just one win from the last eleven matches, and only two in the calendar year, it is difficult to talk up a side that was also comprehensively beaten 3-0 last time out at Fulham.
Such was the manner of the performance at Craven Cottage that Holloway sent his players out ‘for a beer in midweek’ – sounds like an excuse for another poor performance.
The Gunners know that they cannot afford any more slip-ups in the run-in if they are to end their barren spell in terms of silverware and are fancied to make the running against a defence that has leaked 63 goals this season – and 27 at home – and should be backed in the Half Time/Full Time market at 10/11.
Arsenal beat Blackpool 6-0 in the reverse fixture early in the season and another convincing scoreline is expected with the visitors available at 10/11 in the handicap betting (-1).
The other game sees the home side anxiously looking over their shoulder and Aston Villa have that and a revenge mission on their minds and can justify 5/6 favouritism against Newcastle, who are available at 16/5.
Gerard Houllier has endured a difficult time since taking the hotseat at Villa Park but has home advantage (six of the last seven matches between the two has ended with a home win, while the other was drawn) and a fully-fit squad to choose from – a luxury that opposite number Alan Pardew does not have.
Newcastle of course lost Andy Carroll in the transfer window but now Leon Best has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Stephen Ireland is ineligible and there are suspensions for Kevin Nolan, James Perch and Cheik Tiote.
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