Reading Into The Form, The Royal's Look a Good Bet

                     

PERENNIAL headline maker Luis Suarez has scored a hat-trick in the last two meetings with Norwich one of those was in Liverpool’s 5-2 victory at Carrow Road in September.

Norwich kept their first clean sheet since John Ruddy got injured against Newcastle last weekend but rarely threatened with a clear cut chance in a dour 0-0.

With exception to the 3-1 loss to Aston Villa, Brendan Rogers side have only conceded once in seven games at home since September.

Norwich have fallen behind in seven of their away matches and have also been behind at half time in six. Liverpool have done the half time/full time in the lead in 6/8 of their victories so are taken to do the HT/FT at 5/6 generally.

      

A NUMBER of years ago Diomanzi Kamara became a Fulham hero in this game, he scored twice to pull Fulham who were 20 minutes from being swallowed by relegation. In fairness to the Cottagers who usually have a poor record when away from the bank of the Thames, The Etihad is one place they have a decent record.

Last season was the first time they lost a game here since 2006. Manchester City came from behind to overhaul Martin Jol’s side in their meeting in late September and on recent form you would have to expect them to win again.

Vincent Kompany won his appeal against a red card received at Arsenal but City are without Yaya Toure who is on International Duty with Ivory Coast for the next few weeks. Augero is a doubt with the hamstring injury that has kept out since New Year’s Day. Fulham have no new injury concerns.

The London side have been within a goal or drew with all of the top 6 bar Tottenham and I think backing them with the +2 handicap will give you a good run for your money at 11/10 and the +1 Handicap Draw at 3/1 both with Bet365.

ALAN Pardew can be thankful for his luck for once this season. Senegal were disqualified from the 2013 African Cup on Nations and Shola Ameobi was not selected by Nigeria so he will have first team forwards available.

Cheick Tiote is absent on account of the Africa competition and Ben Arfa, Danny Simpson and Steven Taylor are still injured so the Geordies are still weakened considerably. They have only taken eight of a possible 39 points in the past three months.

Reading on the other hand were never better, I said last week their game against West Brom would probably not be great but I couldn’t have been more wrong, it was a fantastic match where Reading scored three late goals to perform a heroic escape with a win.

The reverse tie finished 2-2 earlier in the campaign with Newcastle relying on Demba Ba for their brace. Reading have an extremely poor away record, picking up only two points on the road, one of those at basement club QPR.

Reading have scored 70% of their goals at home but will have their tails up after last week and may throw caution to the wind. Without Ba and Ben Arfa Newcastle will be relying heavily on Cisse for goals and it remains to be seen can he find them.

There is not a whole lot between these in the table and The Royals will not have a better opportunity to get an away victory especially as they would feel they should have won the reverse fixture.

The verdict is Reading Draw No Bet at 5/2 with Paddy Power.

WIGAN got a much needed confidence boosting win over League One Bournemouth in the FA Cup in midweek while Sunderland suffered a disappointing loss to Bolton.

The Black Cats won this 1-0 earlier on in the term and have been doing ok since mid-December winning four times, Wigan have won only once in the league in same time..

Martin O’Neill’s side have a mixed away record, but their record against bottom half sides reads DWDLWDLWWW. Compare this to only one win against top half opposition.

Wigan really suffer from the January blues, they have only won a lowly three league games during the month in their seven seasons in the division, and all 3 of those wins came against sides that are no longer in the top flight.

On that evidence Sunderland +1 Handicap 4/6 generally and Draw No Bet at 13/8 with Bet365 look solid shouts.

BOTH sides are hampered by injury but QPR could win that race with a number of their concerns possible to return.

West Ham fared ok but ultimately lost out against Man United in the FA Cup but QPR have done well also, winning their cup game and getting a win and a draw in their last two league games, also against London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham respectively.

Harry Redknapp appears to have worked his special ability of turning around a plummeting club and get them marching together to safety.

Sam Alardyce’s side won at Loftus Road in October but QPR are a better team since the turn of the year. If Chamahk can rediscover his old form he could be a big player for West Ham after moving on loan.

I wouldn’t expect a classic but West Ham are not easy to get the better of at Upton Park and a draw would be the most likely result all things considered. But I would not venture a bet.

TODAY’S visitors have gone from formidable to embarrassing in their last three league games, they scored effectively 4 of the oppositions goals for them in their last two home games and were wiped at Man City.

 They have failed to score and conceded seven recently, admittedly against Champions League sides.

The Swans are enjoying a decent time of things, they are very difficult to break down. Peter Crouch scored twice to give The Potters victory in September and the two clubs have very similar records since, losing only the occasional game and drawing plenty of games.

The Welsh side won this game last season but Stoke will be determined to get back to the formidable manner in which they operated for most of the season.

It is hard to expect a goalfest, Stoke’s away games usually have two goals or less, both Manchester sides and Wigan are the only sides to put more than one past Asmir Begovic.

Under 2.5 goals looks highly likely on all evidence but something tells me that Tony Pulis could send out a more attacking side this weekend and Stoke can bounce back. An extremely hard game to call as you would expect with a point separating them in the table.

Both sides seem to enjoy drawing and why fight the urge, get on at 12/5 with Bet365.

The home side have been playing good stuff recently so it is surprising to see they have lost their last three, especially as they could have been expected to win both. Aston Villa on the other hand it is no surprise at all to see they are winless since before the Christmas programme.

Romelu Lukaku has been a tough opponent this season and scored twice last week. Steve Clarke will take plenty of positives from last week’s game but will also be eager to see his side more resolute at the back.

This is a derby game and may be what Villa need to try and get them going again. The sides drew 1-1 in their first meeting this year but Paul Lambert would probably grasp your arm off at an offer of such a result this time.

Villa are the leagues joint lowest scorers but if there is a chink in West Brom’s armour it is their weakened midfield through injury/international duty.

All things considered West Brom are expected to take all three points as their local rivals have not beaten them for the last two seasons. 8/11 is a about the right price with Bet365 that the Baggies will not disappoint three times in a row.