All Filler No Thriller in Tuesday's League Games

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.

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.