Tag Archives: maintain

Early leaders set to maintain form

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There are six Premier League games on Saturday, including three of the top four in action with Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City all looking for victories to maintain their good starts to the season.

Manchester City v Sunderland (12.45pm)

City (2/7, draw 9/2 in the match betting) sit four points behind early leaders Chelsea after a stuttering start to the defence of their title.

Roberto Mancini’s side remain unbeaten but only just overcame Fulham last weekend and could find it tricky at home against a spirited Sunderland (12/1 to win) side. The champions were poor in midweek when drawing with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and will need to improve against the Black Cats, who have summer signing Steven Fletcher in red-hot form.

It could be closer than City would want at the Etihad but a narrow home win is predicted.

Prediction: Man City to win 2-1 (7/1).

Chelsea v Norwich (3pm)

Chelsea (2/9 to win) have looked good so far with new signings Eden Hazard and Oscar catching they eye and they are top of the table on merit, having dropped just two points so far.

Last week’s win at Arsenal underlined their title credentials further and expect a comfortable home win in this one against a Norwich side currently struggling to match last-season’s achievements under former boss Paul Lambert.

The Canaries (14/1, draw 11/2 match betting) were outplayed last weekend when going down 5-2 at home to Liverpool and could get the runaround again at Stamford Bridge.

Prediction: Chelsea to win 4-0 (10/1).

Swansea v Reading (3pm)

The Swans’ (10/11 to win) hosting of the Royals (16/5, draw 5/2 in the match betting) is one of the more difficult games to predict on Saturday with the home side’s impressive start now just a faded memory after a run of three consecutive league defeats.

Reading, however, have yet to win this season and appear to be struggling to adapt to life back in the top flight. It won’t be a classic at the Liberty Stadium and a hard-fought draw looks on the cards.

Prediction: 1-1 draw (11/2).

West Brom v QPR (3pm)

QPR (10/3 to win) are desperate for a win after a shocking start to the season. Despite heavy summer investment, the Hoops have picked up just two points so far and are bottom of the table.

The Baggies, in contrast, are flying high early on in sixth under new boss Steve Clarke and can follow up last weekend’s 1-1 draw at neighbours Aston Villa with a win here (5/6, draw 11/4 in the match betting) to pile further pressure on Rangers boss Mark Hughes.

Prediction: West Brom to win 2-1 (8/1).

Wigan v Everton (3pm)

A north-west derby at the DW Stadium sees on-form Everton (Evens to take the three points) expected to come away with the three points against a Wigan (3/1, draw 5/2) side who have just one league victory to their name this season.

The Toffees have been very impressive so far, aside from a blip at Leeds in the Capital One Cup, and they can enhance their growing top-four claims with another away win this weekend.

Prediction: Everton to win 2-0 (8/1).

West Ham v Arsenal (5.30pm)

Saturday’s evening game is a London derby to relish with a clash of styles on show at Upton Park. Sam Allardyce’s side will do all they can to disrupt Arsenal’s (Evens to win) fluid passing game and, following the 2-1 win at QPR on Monday, will approach this with confidence.

Arsene Wenger’s side began the season well but last weekend’s home defeat to Chelsea will have left fans anxious over a title bid and they will not fancy another derby so soon.

Loan signing Andy Carroll could be back for West Ham (3/1, draw 5/2 in the match betting) and, with that in mind, we see this as the shock result of the day with a home win the outcome.

Prediction: West Ham to win 1-0 (10/1).

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United to maintain advantage

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There are three games in the Premier League on Sunday and, as is usually the case at this stage of the season, the outcomes could have major significance at the top and bottom of the table (totesport – Premier League).

Manchester United v Everton (12.30pm)

United’s blip, if it was just that, at Wigan earlier this month will probably be forgotten if they see off Everton (2/7 – match prices) at home this weekend, and there aren’t many people around who think this will result in anything other than another victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to edge them closer to a 20th title (1/7).

Rivals Manchester City will have let out a howl of frustration when they realised it was David Moyes’ side who are the visitors as the Blues have a truly awful recent record at Old Trafford. You have to go back to August 1992 for the Merseysiders’ last win there, while their recent Premier League record at United reads: played five, lost five.

Ferguson’s title-chasers may have got a helping hand, or should that be dive, last week when they saw off Aston Villa with the minimum of fuss but, even with Ashley Young’s theatrics, the result was never in doubt and expect more of the same in this one.

How Everton (10/1, draw 9/2 – match prices) react to their heartbreaking FA Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool at Wembley will be key to how much of an easy ride the Red Devils get on Sunday, but they still have a very outside chance of claiming a European place to inspire them and, more importantly, the small target of trying to finish above their Mersey rivals in the table.

However, we envisage nothing other than a comfortable home win here with 2-0 at 5/1 appealing in the correct score market.

Wolves Man City (4pm)

The aforementioned City (4/1 Premier League outright) know three points at Molineux is a must if they are to remain in the title race and, with the Manchester derby around the corner, expect them to maintain the light pressure on United with a routine victory.

The 6-1 thrashing of Norwich last time out, which included a rejuvenated Carlos Tevez hat-trick, showed the rest of the league that City can still turn on the style after what had been a faltering last month or so and they will approach this trip to the Black Country hoping to rack up a similar goal difference-boosting scoreline.

It is unlikely to be as easy as it turned out at Carrow Road with Wolves knowing they need a win themselves to somehow try and prevent them from slipping back into the Championship and this one could be level at half-time with that in mind. So Draw/City – HT/FT at 7/2 may well be worth a punt.

Expect Tevez and Aguero to again be the tormentors in attack, though, and both should be backed to score anytime at 8/11 to ensure City still retain an interest in the title going into the derby and all but relegate doomed Wolves.

Liverpool v West Brom (4pm)

This game is probably more notable for the return of Roy Hodgson to Anfield than anything else but Liverpool will be determined to secure a much-needed home victory (4/9 – match prices) as, so far, they have accumulated their lowest points total at Anfield for many a season.

The Reds have won just five games in front of their own fans and have drawn a whopping nine – easily the highest amount in the whole division.

That sort of record led Hodgson to be sacked in January 2011 after barely six months in charge and, while Kenny Dalglish is getting much more time than his predecessor, he knows home form has not been good enough and another slip-up here will not be tolerated despite the celebrated success in the Cups.

The Baggies (13/2 to win, draw 7/2 – match prices)  have proved a difficult side to beat all campaign, however, and are well clear of trouble now at the bottom as they sit 13 points above the drop zone. Hodgson will want to prove a point and is sure to set up his side to be solid in the hope Dalglish’s men again fail to break down so-called weaker opposition.

Andy Carroll has looked a different player in recent weeks and his two late winners in the last two games will give him the confidence to believe he can yet be a success at Anfield so is worth backing at to score first at 5/1 while a narrow 2-1 win for the Reds also looks appealing at 7/1.

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Magpies to maintain pursuit

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Bet on the Premier LeagueGames are running out for teams at the top and bottom of the Premier League to reach their final destination with top-six places still to be sorted, while Bolton’s two games in hand mean realistically three of six still face the relegation.

And what a game to start the weekend as third-placed Arsenal taking on sixth-placed Chelsea at the Emirates, kick-off 1245, at the end of a week of contrasting fortunes.

The Gunners have done fantastically well to get into this position given the start that they made to the season but failed to strengthen their grip on third after a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Wigan on Monday night.

Chelsea meanwhile have done quite the opposite, surprising everyone (maybe including themselves) with a 1-0 home win over European champions Barcelona, despite mustering just one shot on target.

That game as well as the second leg of the Champions League semi-final next Tuesday is sure to have a bearing on the London derby this weekend, with plenty of changes expected.

Didier Drogba is definitely ruled out which limits Chelsea’s goalscoring options – Fernando Torres has still to hit anything but the lows at Stamford Bridge – although there is still plenty of quality in the Blues ranks.

Arsenal, who will be without Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun this weekend, have been made Evens favourites in the match betting, but Chelsea’s defensive display in midweek has got to give the side confidence and they can get something from the game (11/4 to win, draw 5/2).

Newcastle can no longer be considered a surprise package, despite still being in the hunt for a Champions League place, and have hit form at just the right time.

The Magpies have won their last five games and are just five points behind Arsenal with a game in hand and will go above Spurs with any kind of positive result on Saturday.

Alan Pardew’s men are 4/6 favourites to take the win, with Stoke priced at 9/2 and the draw at 11/4 – and it is difficult to argue with the prices, given the Potters have not won in seven away games in the Premier League and are the lowest scorers in the division.

Bolton have two games in hand on their relegation rivals but need to rediscover the winning habit after suffering back-to-back defeats without scoring.

However, Swansea’s win over Blackburn all but assured Brendan Rodgers’ side’s survival in the top flight and Bolton’s greater need can see them scrap out a much-need victory (Bolton 23/20, draw 12/5, Swansea 5/2 – Match Betting).

Blackburn Rovers are also in big trouble but they do not have games in hand, while they have hit the wall at precisely the wrong time, suffering five successive defeats.

The match betting has Steve Kean’s men favourites at 11/10 but Norwich have impressed most with their style of football and will be determined to bounce back from a mauling by Manchester City, with the away win and draw both on offer at 5/2.

Wigan have been in fantastic form of late and have to be considered a value bet at 10/3 to record another away win, despite facing a tricky trip to Fulham (5/6 to win, 13/5 the draw).

The Latics have pulled five points clear of the drop zone and they have done it the hard way, winning 2-1 at Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as beating Manchester United 1-0 at home along with a 2-0 success over Stoke.

It really should have been more for Wigan as well as Chelsea only just triumphed 2-1 courtesy of two offside goals so they will be full of confidence heading to Craven Cottage.

Aston Villa are not out of the woods yet and still need a win or two to secure survival but they are in a dire run of form – not helped by a long list of key absentees.

The Villans have only managed four home wins all season but take on a Sunderland side that has gone off the boil with a five-game winless run and can take at least a point from the tie (Villa 13/10, draw 12/5, Sunderland 21/10 – Match Betting), while a goal-less draw is tempting at 15/2.

The last thing Spurs needed right now was another London derby, particularly against a side in a relegation scrap that has started to make its home a fortress.

QPR are just two points clear of the drop zone but know that Bolton below them have two games in hand and are desperate to get more points on the board.

Rangers have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal and Swansea in their last three matches at Loftus Road and are surely worth considering at 3/1 to add the scalp of a Spurs team whose season is starting to unravel.

Harry Redknapp’s men are desperate for points themselves to maintain their pursuit of a top-four place but go into the game on the back of a 5-1 hiding by Chelsea in the FA Cup.

Spurs on paper have the better side but they appear to have run out of steam with the finishing line in sight and are worth opposing at 10/11, while the draw is priced at 13/5.

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Stevenage can maintain push

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There is just one game in League One on Tuesday evening, but Carlisle’s (13/5) clash at Stevenage (21/20, draw 12/5 – 90 minutes) could have repurcussions in the race for a play-off place with both sides still hoping to make it into the top seven with four games to go.

Carlisle currently sit just outside the play-off places in eighth but a win this week would move them above Notts County and into seventh while Stevenage, currently three points behind Tuesday’s opponents in ninth, know they are approaching last-chance saloon in their bid to be involved in the end-of-season drama next month.

Going into the game, both sides also know that it looks like there’s just that one play-off place up for grabs now as three from Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Huddersfield and County look certainties to be involved, meaning the Cumbrians, Stevenage and Brentford will have to battle for that remaining spot.

Carlisle’s form going into the game is not that of a promotion-chasing side, however, as Greg Abbot’s side are without a win in four.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat against champions Charlton can be forgiven as Chris Powell’s men have brushed aside pretty much everyone in the division this term but they will need to get back to winning ways if they are to push for seventh.

Abbot also suffered a blow when it was confirmed the influential Lee Miller, who has scored 15 goals this season, and Chris Chantler will both miss the run-in through injury, so Stevenage will eye a real chance to secure a valuable win themselves.

They come into the game on the back of a stunning 6-0 triumph over Yeovil – a win that finally ended a seven-game run without a victory – and this clash is one of three home games they have out of the final four that remain.

That will give the men from Broadhall Way hope that they can overhaul the points deficit and sneak into the play-offs and, although they have one tough trip on the road to Sheffield United to contend with, Stevenage will fancy their chances – both in this game and in their remaining matches (Stevenage HT/FT – 9/4).

Carlisle edged the earlier game between these two 1-0 back in September and another tight match is predicted but we see Stevenage gaining revenge and claiming a narrow win, take 2-1 at 8/1 (correct score market) to keep their play-off hopes alive.

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Saints can maintain promotion bid

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An international break gives us the chance to take stock of how the Championship has been panning out and who look like genuine promotion candidates. Many people will be surprised that Southampton currently sit top of the pile, but Nigel Adkins’ men look like they could be real contenders this term.

Having won promotion from League One last season and losing young star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer, several pundits would have been expecting a season in the bottom half of the table for Saints. But they have taken to life in the Championship like a duck to water and have a 100 per cent record at St Mary’s.

In Rickie Lambert, Saints (5/4 to win promotion) have the joint top goalscorer so far this season, with the former Bristol Rovers man banging in eight goals already. Adam Lallana has also highlighted his ability in tandem with Lambert, while Southampton’s defensive record is also impressive – with just 12 goals conceded in 10 games.

Middlesbrough (13/5 to win promotion) are hot on the heels of the league leaders and are the only team in the division unbeaten at this stage, with five wins and five draws. Tony Mowbray has done a fantastic job in a short space of time and has experience of winning promotion to the Premier League with West Brom.

The former centre back has built a solid foundation at Boro, having had to stave off the threat of relegation last term. The only worry for Mowbray will be the lack of goals in recent times, with Boro relying heavily, at present, on midfielder Marvin Emnes.

West Ham (5/2 to win Championship title), currently fourth, remain the bookies favourites to go up and have arguably the strongest squad in the division. Sam Allardyce’s men are unbeaten in five away games to date, but the Upton Park form will be a concern – with the Hammers already losing twice, to Cardiff and Ipswich.

Of the chasing pack, Hull City (6/1 to be promoted) are enjoying the best run of form at present and look real contenders under the shrewd leadership of Nigel Pearson. Having struggled for goals earlier in the season, the loan capture of Martyn Waghorn looks to have inspired the Tigers.

Hull are on a six-game unbeaten run and with an impressive away record over the last 12 months, will believe they can secure a top-six spot come May. We will get a better idea of their credentials after the break though, with a trip to Brighton to come on October 15.

Leicester (5/1 Championship Outright) have spent a lot of money and the expectations appear to be weighing heavily on Sven Goran Eriksson’s men. Consistency is lacking with the Foxes, but should they find their feet, they must surely be contenders for automatic promotion.

After a poor start, Ipswich have all of a sudden sneaked up to 10th, following a four-game unbeaten run. Michael Chopra looks to have found his shooting boots and the recent addition of Keith Andrews has given the Tractorboys a real lift.

Derby are sitting in third but their recent 4-0 drubbing at Leicester suggests they are punching above their weight, although Nigel Clough has to be praised for the way he has turned around the Rams fortunes on a tight budget.

Cardiff and Blackpool will both believe the play-offs, at least, are within their grasp this term, while Leeds (6/1 to win promotion) can still mount a top-six challenge if they can tighten up at the back and keep Ross McCormack and Luciano Becchio fit.

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Hoops to maintain SPL charge

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Celtic travel to Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening looking for maximum points to keep their Scottish Premier League title bid (8/15 Outright) on track ahead of Sunday’s make-or-break Old Firm derby with Rangers.

Neil Lennon’s side remain on course for a league and Scottish Cup (Celtic 1/4 Winner) double following Sunday’s 4-0 semi-final win against 10-man Aberdeen at Hampden Park which set up a final date against Motherwell next month.

And, while they will know how important it is to secure three points at Rugby Park on Wednesday after Rangers travel to Dundee United on Tuesday, the Hoops will no doubt be going all out for the win regardless.

A win for Walter Smith’s Gers at Tannadice will move them four points clear at the top of the SPL (11/8 Outright), but Celtic will have two games in hand, including the trip to face Killie, to try and overhaul their Glasgow rivals.

It is all set for a nervous climax to the campaign for the Bhoys and the loss of key midfielder Joe Ledley to a hamstring problem picked up against Aberdeen will not help matters.

But Lennon is boosted by Shaun Maloney’s (11/8 Anytime Goalscorer) timely return from a long-term injury and he is ready to fill the void for the final seven matches if required.

Celtic head into the Killie clash in good form of late having won five and lost one of their last six games – including four wins on the bounce with only one goal conceded.

The Hoops secured a narrow 2-1 win at Rugby Park earlier in the season, but will go into this latest encounter on the back of a three-match winning streak on their travels.

Kilmarnock sit in fifth position in the SPL and held Celtic to a 1-1 draw in their last meeting at Parkhead on December 21 so they will not be overawed going into this match.

Caretaker boss Kenny Shiels, who is aiming to ensure he is named permanent boss having replacing Finland-bound Mixu Paatelainen in March, will do his chances the power of good by following up two draws with the prized scalp of Celtic (13/2 Home Win 90 Minutes).

They are unbeaten in their last four home games with two wins and three draws (18/5 Draw 90 Minutes) from the last six played at Rugby Park so they will not be rolling over for Celtic.

Despite the hosts being hard to beat, Celtic will have built up a head of steam after that Scottish Cup win and they should edge a narrow game to secure the points.

Prediction: Celtic/Celtic Half-Time/Full-Time @ Evens

Value Bet: Celtic To Win 2-1 @ 7/1

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