QPR V Tottenham
A London Derby where Harry Redknapp faces the club that
sacked him last June. The home side pulled off the shock of the season when
beating the then in form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Tottenham won this meeting earlier in the year after coming
from a goal down. QPR won this corresponding fixture last season on their late
survival charge and they would greatly welcome back to back wins.
Spurs though have scored in every away game since they lost
here in April while QPR really need to grease their goal-scoring hinges if they
are to climb of the bottom rung of the table.
Rangers held out and caught out Chelsea but while they may
manage it for a while here I think AVBs side can get the better of them.
The Half-time/Full-Time to be Draw/Tottenham at 4/1 with
Paddy Power looks great value and a win for Spurs at 10/11 with William Hill is
too good to pass up.
Aston Villa V
Southampton
Safe at this point to call this a relegation battle with
both sides less than a point from the drop zone. Both performed well in their
last league games but both were well beaten in their recent cup games.
Southampton got their first win of the season by thrashing
Villa 4-1 at St Mary’s and given the current form of Villa you would not
altogether rule out a repeat result. Following five straight away losses for
Nigel Adkins side at the start of the season they have taken at least a point
from three of their last four on the road.
The Saints have a few injury worries coming into this so
could be vulnerable if Aston Villa can put their game face on.
The historical record between these two clubs is very even
and this game should be no different, Southampton are on a run of draws and could
extend that here.
Everton V Swansea
On a weekend of what on paper are very tight games to call
this one is no different. These two are among the hardest teams to beat in the
division.
Everton inflicted on Swansea their heaviest defeat of the
season with a 3-0 win at the Liberty Stadium. Michael Laudrup’s side have been
better defensively away from home and have managed more wins on the road than
in Wales, and transferred that to the Capital One Cup with a win at Stamford
Bridge on Wednesday.
Everton lost their unbeaten home record to Chelsea the last
time they played at Goodison Park but are having a great season in the main.
I expect this game to be hotly contested from the off and
has the potential to be a fantastic game. Everton have more in attack than
Swansea and should be able to break them down at some point, one goal could be
enough to win this and I believe Everton will be the ones to get it. Swansea
have not scored against Everton in three games since their promotion and
Everton to win to nil at 7/4 is the value.
Fulham V Wigan
The Cottagers gained a somewhat surprise win over West Brom
at the Hawthorns to put an end to a tough run. Wigan were, to quote Mick
McCarthy from a few years back, “absolutely mullered” by Manchester United on
their last league appearance.
Martin Jol’s side won this meeting in September and have a
very good record against the Lattics who have not beaten the London side since
2006. Fulham have scored exactly twice in this fixture for the past four seasons.
This campaign the two sides between them have played in 11
games that finished 2-1 including their first meeting this term. I expect a
similar result here again for two sides that are usually very bound by trends.
Fulham at Evens to win the game at 15/2 for a 2-1 correct
score are the call.
Norwich V Newcastle
Both teams are on a run they would dearly love to end.
Newcastle have lost nine of their last 11 league matches and are without a win
away from home and Norwich have lost their last 4 since going 10 unbeaten.
The Canaries are five points ahead of the Magpies in the
table and deservedly so. Alan Pardew could welcome Cabaye and Ben Arfa back
into the side after injury and following the departure of star man Demba Ba
they will be needed. Norwich striker Grant Holt could be fit to start following
two games out with a hamstring injury.
Newcastle won their early season meeting 1-0 with Ba getting
the all important goal but a lot has happened in both sides’ seasons since.
Liverpool, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs are the only
ones who took full points from Carrow Road since 2011 so that tells you the
task Newcastle face.
This game will depend on who makes it back fit for both
sides but at this point Norwich look the stronger. They can end their run of
league defeats after their confidence boosting FA Cup win and are a good price
at 5/4 to do so.
If you are picking which game to watch on the red button
this will be the lowest in your order of preference. The Royals have the odd
island of good form in their ocean of harsh reality this season, one of those
came around Christmas time but their work is cut out for them here.
It is no accident that West Brom are only three points away
from the Europa League places. They were surprise losers against Fulham on New
Year’s Day but would be even more surprise losers if they went down here.
The Baggies beat Reading 1-0 at The Hawthorns in September
but historically have a rather poor record at The Madejski with only one win in
9 visits. With that in mind a bit of insurance for betting purposes may be wise
and West Brom Draw No Bet at 8/11 with Hills is the verdict.
Stoke City V
Chelsea
The Potters have a reputation of taking the scalps of the
bigger sides at the Brittannia but Chelsea are not one of those. Since 2008 they
have only taken two of a possible 27 points versus Chelsea who have taken the lion’s
share of 23 in their meetings and Tony Pulis’s side managed the meagre 3 goals
in all their meetings in those years.
One thing that will be hugely in favour of the home side is
the absence of Petr Cech through injury, he has coped so well over the seasons
with the shelling that is usually received when playing Stoke.
Rafa Benetiz has come under fire from fans and media once
again following their defeat by Swansea at home in the League Cup and QPR in
the league.
It is a mild surprise to see Chelsea odds on to win at Stoke
who are unbeaten this season at home. It took a late Ashley Cole goal to gain
victory in their meeting in September and a dour affair is almost assured.
Only once have Chelsea loose against Stoke and handed out a
walloping but mostly the great Didier Drogba was the match winner. Now without
a forward player of his status and suitability to the opposition they could
struggle.
Under 2.5 goals at 7/10 and Stoke with a goal headstart at
17/20 with Stoke sponsors Bet365 both look worthy of a punt.
Sunderland V West
Ham
As I alluded to earlier in the piece we have games that are
very hard to call and this may be the hardest on Saturday. In 66 meetings since
1923 Sunderland have one win more than West Ham in their encounters. It is the
London side who hold the advantage in the league table though.
They drew a goal apiece 4 months ago and both drew in the FA
Cup last weekend, West Hams was more substantial as theirs came against Man
United. The return of a number of players from injury and suspension since
their last league outing has boosted Sam Allardyce’s side.
Martin O’Neill has plenty of injury worries especially
defensively and West Ham’s good set piece ability could expose that. It is a
game that is too tough to call given that Sunderland have home advantage and no
matter what the result it would be no surprise as anything could happen.
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