Sunderland V Everton

Sunderland V Everton

Monday, 22nd November – 20:00 (GMT)

Venue: Stadium of Light

TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD1

  

 

Sunderland

Where do we even begin with Sunderland? Their demolition job of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a week last Sunday would be a good place to start, or what about their current unbeaten league run of three matches? While we’re on the subject of spectacular feats, we should also throw in the small matter of Sunderland having lost only once at home in the league for eleven months. So have we done enough with just a few short but persuasive sentences to lure you in? Are you convinced that the Wearside Black Cats will get the cream for the second successive week? On the basis of their latest effort at the Bridge, the answer to both questions should be a firm YES, but this is the Premier League, a league which has thrown up so many surprises this season that even the lottery is starting to become more predictable.

Beware would be the call from us here at SoccerBetting, as while the Black Cats may appear a tasty proposition, they’ve been known to let down their guard and we haven’t even started on their dismal head-to-head record with Everton in the Premier League, a record which has seen the Toffees from Merseyside not only go the last eleven league games with Sunderland unbeaten but also clinch nine victories in the same length of time. It’s a terrible record, much like Tottenham’s was against Arsenal, where Spurs went into Saturday’s heavyweight clash without an away win against the Gunners in the last 17 league encounters. However, Tottenham ran out 3-2 winners come the final whistle and ended their voodoo in the process, a result which left us grinning merrily after we sort of tipped them up in our pre-match preview. The basic argument there was that Tottenham have never had a better squad to end their poor run of league results against rivals Arsenal, and we’re sticking with the exact same argument here with Sunderland.

Since Steve Bruce’s arrival from escapology experts Wigan, Sunderland have been transformed from a regular relegation favourite to a European hopeful. Money has been spent revamping what was previously an ordinary squad into one now oozing plenty of promise, a great deal more attacking prowess and a ruggedly strong core which no longer makes them an easy target in the cut-throat Premier League.

When not recklessly throwing away his appearance money away by picking up needless suspensions, Lee Cattermole is a rock in the heart of the Sunderland midfield, along with the upcoming Jordan Henderson; Titus Bramble may have been on the receiving end of a tonne of stick during his career but his centre-back partnership with Michael Turner has seen the club’s leaky reputation disappear over night. Craig Gordon made only his second league start last weekend away to Chelsea but managed to build on the five clean sheets Simon Mignolet had kept in his place, with Sunderland now boasting one of the leanest defensive records in the league, the highest in fact had it not been for their Wearside derby thumping at the hands of Newcastle, their only real blip in a season which has shown plenty of promise, much of justified.

Don’t get me wrong, their record against Everton in the league is dire, but records and streaks are there to be broken and as Spurs did on Saturday away to an Arsenal side they hadn’t beaten away from home in 17 outings, we have every confidence of Sunderland doing something mighty similar by banishing their Everton voodoo, although, because of their majestic display away to league leaders Chelsea last weekend and the fact they’ve lost just twice all season – not to mention their sublime record in the league at the Stadium of Light which has seen only Man Utd beat them in eleven months, Sunderland won’t be as big an underdog were. In fact, the bookies are running scared and have even priced Sunderland up as theslight favourites, although their odds to clinch another huge set of three points are still very much tasty!

 

Everton

As they say on the news ahead of another highly anticipated Match of the Day on BBC1, if you don’t want to know the scores, then look away now. Well, in this case, if you don’t want to hear all about our love for Everton’s Monday night opponents Sunderland, make sure you definitely steer well clear of the above preview. In my opinion, and in this case very much biased due to my new self-proclaimed love of the Black Cats, Everton will need to produce an outstanding team display if they’re to extend their ridiculously impressive league run against the Wearside outfit which has seen them not lose a single league encounter to Sunderland in nearly a decade. And the Toffees have been known to stir up a performance of real class and on Monday, Everton will set out to put their counterparts’ stunning achievements at Stamford Bridge a little over a week ago firmly in the shade with their fourth win in their last five visits to the Stadium of Light in the league.

After an abysmal start which had seen Everton come close to rock-bottom following a six-match win-less run which resulted in a lengthy spell inside the relegation zone, Everton appeared to have picked themselves up from the canvas by going just as many games without losing. That was until Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal came to town last Sunday in another live encounter shown on Sky Sports HD1, where Everton’s seven-match run in the league without losing came to an abrupt end despite a typically gutsy attempt at a fightback. On the plus side, and it was about the only positive to come out of their first league defeat in nearly two months, Tim Cahill registered his sixth league goal of the campaign, although we could quite easily counter that that by saying the little Aussie, an attacking-midfielder by trade, is now Everton’s top goalscorer and is four goals clear of the nearest pursuer, Mikel Arteta (2), a MIDFIELDER! That should tell you all you need to know about why Everton’s season has been so stop-start thus far.

It doesn’t take a genius to find the root of Everton’s problems this season, especially as everyone has highlighted it before every single encounter. Goals, those little things which can often win you matches. In simple mathematics, Everton haven’t scored enough of these ‘Goals’ to win enough matches to keep any of the fans happy. Just 14 have been scored in 13 league matches thus far, which actually isn’t the worst by some way but is still a meagre tally for a club with European aspirations. Fortunately for manager David Moyes, who had been left scratching his head in the first couple of weeks into the season after his side failed to score in four of their six opening matches, the goals have started to roll in, although still in small batches, but in accordance with the goals the wins and points have followed. Tim Cahill’s late consolation last Sunday ensured Everton did at least maintain their scoring trend of getting on the scoresheet in their last seven consecutive league matches, but the fact they haven’t been scoring enough is the reason why the Toffees still aren’t conjuring enough wins to meet the club’s or the fans high expectations.

Another positive for Moyes is that his strikers are beginning to find their scoring form, or have at least made some inroads. Nigerian powerhouse Yakubu waited until the tenth game of the season before scoring his first of the season, while Jermaine Beckford’s maiden Premier League goal didn’t come until the twelfth. It’s a start though, a confidence booster for either player, and there is further good news for supporters in that Louis Saha, Everton’s top goalscorer in the league last season with 13 goals, is back in the starting XI after missing the majority of the early season with injury and will no doubt bolster Moyes’ forward options as well as provide healthy competition for the so far under performing strikers. One of the three simply has to pull their weight on Monday as the Toffees cannot keep relying on the heading genius of Tim Cahill.

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Form

Sunderland (Last 5)

Premier League: Chelsea 0-3 Sunderland

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Sunderland

Premier League: Sunderland 2-0 Stoke City

Premier League: Newcastle United 5-1 Sunderland

Premier League: Sunderland 1-0 Aston Villa

 

Everton (Last 5)

Premier League: Everton 1-2 Arsenal

Premier League: Everton 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

Premier League: Blackpool 2-2 Everton

Premier League: Everton 1-0 Stoke City

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Everton

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Statistics

Sunderland (Premier League ONLY)

League Position: 7th

Win/Draw/Lose: 4-7-2 (Home: 3-3-0)

Form: WLWDW (Home: WDDWW)

Goal Difference: 15-13 (Home: 7-3)

Top Goalscorer: Darren Bent – 5

 

Everton (Premier League ONLY)

League Position: 16th

Win/Draw/Lose: 3-6-4 (Away: 1-3-2)

Form: DWDDL (Away: LDWDD)

Goal Difference: 14-13 (Away: 5-5)

Top Goalscorer: Tim Cahill – 6

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Team News

Sunderland - The home fans inside the Stadium of Light could be in for a treat on Monday night, with Black Cats manager Steve Bruce expected to recall the previously injured Darren Bent to the starting line-up for the clash with Everton. Bent is the club’s leading scorer in the league this season but has seen his lead slashed to just a single goal thanks to summer signing Asamoah Gyan’s contribution in the wake of Bent’s recent hamstring injury. The pair have never started a competitive match up front together but Bruce will struggle to leave either out if fully fit. However, centre-half’s John Mensah and Anton Ferdinand are both unavailable for selection through injury, while Fraizer Campbell is still a long-term absentee.

Everton - Combative midfielder Marouane Fellani will miss the match with suspension, while Leon Osman and Victor Anichebe are Everton’s only definite absentee’s with injuries. Phil Jagielka missed the England international with France last Wednesday with illness but is expected to recover in time for Monday’s live encounter.

 

 

Our Views

Match Prediction: Sunderland to WIN – 2.62 WilliamHill

Although Everton have been lacklustre in the goalscoring department, and Sunderland stingy at the back when playing in front of their now euphoric fans, we’re envisaging a livelier encounter between two sides who will be fighting tooth and nail for all the available spoils.

We’ve already touched on how much the Sunderland team has improved in terms of quality personnel, whereas in stark comparison, Everton’s has remained relatively unchanged but still boast the same potent figures which has made them a regular challenger for European football at the end of the season. In this particular area, the pair are extremely difficult to split. However, the momentum is well and truly with the hosts and if they can get anywhere near the level of intensity which seen them demolish Chelsea last weekend, we see only one winner against an Everton side who have no problems creating chances but tend to shoot themselves in the foot with their wayward finishing. Compare that to the ruthlessness at which Darren Bent and Asamoah Gyan have been scoring at this season when fit, available and named in the starting XI, and we feel there’s only one team worth backing: Sunderland.

Selected Bet: Both Teams to Score – 2.00 WilliamHill

Pretty much the same as above. Although Sunderland have been rock-solid and shockingly reliable at the back, conceding just the three at home all season long thus far, I’m predicting an entertaining affair on Wearside. The Toffees are nowhere near back to their regular scoring selves, and by that I mean scoring in plentiful supply, but they are enjoying a seven-match run of scoring at least once in league fixtures and in a match where we expect no side to hold back, the odds available on Both Teams Scoring look stunning!

 

 

Betting Odds

 

Match Outcome:

Sunderland to WIN - 2.62 WilliamHill

Draw – 3.30 Coral

Everton to WIN – 2.90 BetFred

 

First Goalscorer:

Sunderland

Darren Bent – 6.00 Unibet

Asamoah Gyan - 7.00 StanJames

Jordan Henderson – 19.00 SkyBet

Lee Cattermole - 34.00 WilliamHill

Nedum Onuoha – 41.00 Bet365

 

Everton

Yakubu – 8.50 Unibet

Louis Saha - 8.50 BetFred

Tim Cahill - 9.00 Unibet

Mikel Arteta - 12.00 WilliamHill

Steven Pienaar – 17.00 BetFred

 

Sunderland V Everton

 

Saturday 26^th December (Boxing Day) – 15:00 GMT

 

 

Sunderland

 

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: LLDLL

 

(Sunderland are without a win in the league for five games, losing four and drawing one)

 

Generally, if any side manages to score three goals on the road then surely a win goes without saying. However, not only did Sunderland not pick up three points on Saturday, despite scoring three times, they didn’t even register a single point, losing a 4-3 thriller in Manchester to Man City. Had Steve Bruce’s Black Cats took anything from that game then surely the morale within camp would have been sky high. Now, however, with Sunderland failing in their bid to claim any of the spoils after coming oh so close, will the spirit in camp get even worse after a dreadful run of form?

  

Sunderland’s home record was shaping up as a formidable one, that was until a festive December month kicked into life. Sunderland boast some very strong home form (5-2-2) but haven’t won at The Stadium of Light in their previous two visits, drawing 1-1 with bottom of the league Portsmouth, a game they were a mere minute away from victory in, and losing 2-0 to Aston Villa, a game they never looked likely of getting anything from. That’s now two home games without a win for Sunderland, their longest home baron run for the season, but Steve Bruce should be in an optimistic mood what with the arrival of an Everton side who haven’t won in six games, a run even worse than Sunderland’s.

  

While we are on the topic of win less runs, there’s no time like the present to discuss Sunderland’s recent shortage of wins. Their match day opponents maybe without a win in six games but Sunderland haven’t been performing a whole lot better of late, either, and are also without a win for a considerable amount of time – five matches. It has, though, been a difficult fixture period for Sunderland, with the likes of Arsenal, Man City, Fulham and Aston Villa, all testing their wits against Sunderland, although only Arsenal were beaten by Steve Bruce’s men.

  

However, what’s more concerning is that, despite Sunderland scoring three goals at the weekend against a City side who could, quite literally, concede any amount on their day, goals have been few and far between for Sunderland of late. In their previous five outings, since their defeat of Arsenal, Sunderland have managed just four goals, with three of those coming on Saturday. In this five match run, Sunderland have failed to score in three of those games, with Aston Villa, Wigan Athletic and Fulham, all successfully keeping Sunderland at arms length. Darren Bent struggled up front in his last home appearance, the 2-0 defeat by Aston Villa, but he was aided by Kenwyn Jones on Saturday and the pairs movement on and off the ball instantly turned them back into a dangerous attacking side. Jones should start up front once again on Saturday, which is a huge plus point for all Sunderland fans and backers – Rejoice!

 

 

 

Everton

 

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: LLDDD

 

(Everton are without a win in six games, three have been away fixtures, but have scored five goals in their last two away ventures)

  

It’s all gone Pete-Tong at Goodison, or David-Kenwright, if you’re looking for a lame football festive pun. We know injuries to key players has played a huge part in Everton’s demise this season, but to go from a top six team to a side struggling to avoid falling into the relegation zone, is some fall from grace. However, player performances haven’t been all that bad and it’s just a case of getting the big names back as soon as possible, but during a busy period where a big squad is imperative, David Moyes and Everton look more exposed and vulnerable than ever before.

  

It’s now been six games without a win for the Toffee’s, who haven’t experienced that winning feeling for well over a month now, league wise. However, results have began to steadily improve, although there still isn’t a win in sight. Three successive draws to Tottenham Hotspur (2-2), Chelsea (3-3) and the latest Birmingham City (1-1), all providing David Moyes with some positives, albeit not a winning positive. All three games were tough, especially the former two in which Everton worked hard in one (Chelsea) and rode their luck in the other (Tottenham).

 

A draw with Birmingham, however, wasn’t as creditable as some of their more recent draws but, a good point, nonetheless, as Birmingham are the leagues inform team at present, unbeaten in nine games now after the 1-1 draw at Goodison Park last Sunday. However, that will come as little consolation for an Everton side craving their first win in six outings.  

 

Everton do, however, have a very easy fixture just over the horizon, a home match with a home sick Burnley two days later, so perhaps David Moyes should pull a Mick McCarthy by fielding the reserves and concentrating on getting all three points against Burnley, a ploy which worked perfectly for the Wolves manager. We can’t see David Moyes pulling a stunt like that, though, so it’s down to his under performers to pull out two big results within as many days.

  

Scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for Everton of late as they’ve scored in four of their previous five fixtures, with the Toffee’s managing two or more goals in three of those, coming against Hull City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Also, in eight away encounters thus far, Everton have only failed to score in two, with defeats at Burnley (1-0) and Man Utd (3-0). Three of their previous four away games has seen them score at least two goals, with three of their last five producing an overall game total of five or more goals. With Everton these days it’s goals galore.

 

 

 

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

 

Sunderland W: 0 Everton W: 7 Draw: 1

 

Wow – What a dominant h2h record Everton have over Sunderland, which should surely mean Everton have the mental edge heading into this fixture after eight unbeaten meetings with the Black Cats of the North. Even the one rare draw came at Goodison Park, which means Everton have won all four encounters at The Stadium of Light, a run stretching back nearly eight years. What’s more, all of Everton’s previous four victories at Sunderland have come to NIL, with 1-0 appearing three times and 2-0 once.

 

In eight meetings, Sunderland have managed a measly four goals but not one has come on home soil. It was two foreigners who scored in last seasons 2-0 victory for Everton, with Pienaar and Fellani getting on the score sheet. However, the game was marred with yellow cards, six in all, so perhaps a feisty encounter is to be expected.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.30 Bet365

 

Neither side has stand out form, or form for that matter, and a draw looks a logical approach to a game we would steer well clear of from a betting perspective. The confidence in both sets of players won’t be at an all time high but rather at an alarming low and we can’t put forth a strong enough cash for either side. However, with Sunderland looking a more dangerous prospect with Kenwyn Jones back in the side, and with Everton scoring and leaking goals left, right and centre, surely a punt on there being goals looks a value bet, if not a profitable one .

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

Sunderland – 2.39 PaddyPower

Draw – 3.30 Bet365

Everton – 3.10 Boylesports

 

Fancy a challenge? - We think this game will have it’s fair share of goals but just how many will be scored? Sunderland had looked lethargic in front of goal before Kenwyn Jones showed up on the seen, with Sunderland scoring just one goal in four before Jones’ first game back for over a month against City, a game where Sunderland score three times. Everton, however, have been involved in their fair share of thrillers, as well, and their previous two away games have ended 3-3 and 3-2, with the latter a defeat to Hull City. With Sunderland regaining their fire-power up front and Everton’s back four as open as the nile, we should be treated to our fair share of goals on Saturday afternoon, but how many exactly?

 

Total Game Goals odds:

 

Exactly 0 – 9.50 SkyBet

Exactly 1 – 4.00 SkyBet

Exactly 2 – 3.25 SkyBet

Exactly 3 – 4.00 SkyBet

Exactly 4 – 6.50 SkyBet

Exactly 5 – 13.00 SkyBet

Six or more – 17.00 SkyBet

 

Our Challenge Pick – Exactly 4!

 

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For those of you who fancy yourself against Matt, feel free to send us your challenge selection and those who do beat Matt will get a mention on the related preview. There is no actual prize up for grabs… just bragging rights?!

 

Send us your challenge pick to: challenge@soccerbetting.info