Yes I feel your pain upon reading the fixture. There are no
teams in the league suffering worse runs of results or playing as poorly as
these two.
Both have no wins since Santa visited and if he were to call
again they would ask for plenty of coal as both sides need to shovel plenty on
and get chugging along fast, if circumstances remain unchanged they could soon
be engulfed by the relegation zone.
Head-to-Head
It favours Villa in recent times. Newcastle have not won at
Villa Park since Shearer retired and it was Charles N’Zogbia, now on the
opposite team of course, who scored the winner in 2006. The Magpies have only
plundered a point at this ground in five visits since.
Stats/Form
It’s not all sunshine for Villa though, they have managed
only one goal in their last six at home. Newcastle’s away record is equally as
dire; they have only a solitary point in their last six games on the road.
Team News
Alan Pardew has chartered his own Dundirk style operation
with five new signings all coming from France. If they can put it together on
their first time in the side then Newcastle have a golden opportunity to stop
their rot.
Villa got their first win since December 15 when they beat
Bradford last week but ultimately exited the Capital One Cup.
Verdict
This game is very difficult to call but the obvious call is
to think Newcastle’s new squad members, many of whom have experience in
European competitions, can swing it in their favour.
Last May this game became one of the most famous in Premier
League history and rightly so.
Head-to-Head
Mancini’s side have won the three meetings in the past two
years. They have registered three goals in all of those encounters while QPR
have managed to score each time also.
Stats/Form
QPR are unbeaten in the league in 2013 but MK Dons - as my
grandfather used to say, “skinned the arse o’ them” - on the weekend. City are
in great form, they have not conceded a goal this year in all competitions and
have won four of those by more than one goal.
Rangers have struggled to net more than one a game, only
managing to do so three times in their 23 games.
Team News
Harry Redknapp will have more attacking options available to
him than any time since he took over as Zamora returns from injury and DJ Campbell
has returned from loan.
The Manchester side will be without two of their key men.
Vincent Kompany is injured while Yaya Toure is on international duty. That
could seriously weaken them and QPR could sense an opportunity to stifle
another top side after doing so to Chelsea and Spurs.
Verdict
The absence of two talismen for Man City will give QPR hope
but given the current form they are in it is difficult to see the league’s
lowest side stopping them. I would not risk any money on a bet for this as the
trends and the form are contradicting one another.
“Oh boy are we in for a treat on Tuesday night” did I hear
you say. Some of these fixtures look like ones to miss in truth but all premier
league games as they are a life-force in themselves and thats why it is a great
league.
Head-to-Head
If asked to predict this one at a glance many of you would
say “Draw” and history would suggest it is the most likely result again. In
their nine meetings in the top flight an amazing six have been draws. There
have been four penalties scored in the last 3 meetings between these two and it
always seem to have a referee who is not shy is handing out cards and only one
of their nine meetings has had less than three yellows.
Stats/Form
Tony Pulis will be eager to steady the ship again after his
side have not won a game in 90 minutes in any of their six in all competitions.
Wigan should be a more manageable prospect than Chelsea, Man City and away to an
in-form Swansea.
Chelsea are the only team to win
at The Britannia where Stoke had enjoyed a great record this season, in their
first nine home games they conceded just four times (2 were pens and 1 OG) but
have conceded seven in their last two (3 OGs, 1 pen, 1 practical OG).
For a team in their position
Wigan have done well away from home gaining three wins. They gained a few wins
in the FA Cup since the turn of the year but they were 1-0 wins over teams that
are mid table in League One and The Conference.
Team News
Wigan are without their main
attacking force Kone who is at the African Cup of Nations and Ivan Ramis is
still out with a knee injury.
Stoke have no new injury
concerns.
Verdict
The absence of Kone is a major
factor considering he has scored six and directly assisted five of The Lattics
goals. Stoke should have too much for them and can win this on a small margin.
They are worth a small investment at 6/5 with Bet365.
Also on the bookings front I
think it is worth buying the Booking Index points on the Spread at 38. And on
William Hill’s 90mins, Corners, Cards treble – Stoke win, under 10 corners and
4-6 cards looks value at 8/1.
Both sides come in here in
excellent form and neither have been easy to get the better of in the last few
weeks, with that in mind it could be the best match on this Tuesday evening.
Head-to-Head
In their meeting earlier this
season Sunderland had the lead twice before having to settle for a point at The
Liberty Stadium. Swansea failed to score in both meetings last season. There is
not much recent history between these two as they had not met in 30 years until
a year ago.
Stats/Form
Swansea have scored almost two-thirds
of their goals at home this term. Sunderland’s record against teams in the top
half is way below that of points gained against bottom half sides, they have
only taken the spoils in one for their 12 matches against teams currently in that
category.
Swansea have been very tight away
from home, nobody has a better defensive record on the road with only 9 goals against.
They have not been defeated in the league in their last six and have only
suffered defeat twice in their last 14.
Team News
Carlos Cuellar and Danny Rose are
doubtful for Martin O’Neill’s side with hamstring injuries. While Michael Laudrup
has no new injury troubles.
Verdict
Sunderland have won their last
two but Swansea are in almost unbeatable form even against the top teams. They
seem to keep it tight away from home and if there is to be a winner they are
the more likely.
Under 2.5 goals looks very likely
(8/11 Bet365) while the Draw 21/10 (Bet365/Boyles) and Swansea Draw No Bet (6/5
Ladbrokes) are all worthy of strong consideration.
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