Football Betting Previews

Premiership Preview by Matthew Chapple (7 - 8 February 2009) (Thursday, February 05, 2009)

Premiership Previews 7th / 8th February Manchester City V Middlesborough Saturday 12:45 Sky Sports The early kick-off sees Man City in action once more as they look to bounce back from their weekend defeat away at Stoke. Middlesborough on the other hand, haven't won in twelve league matches and are just one match away from smashing Blackburn's win less run of 12 games. Both have different reasons as to why they desperately need the win but one thing is for sure and that is both side simply cannot afford not to win this Saturday. Man City have been given another early kick-off and it may be to their disadvantage. Their last league game ended in defeat at Stoke and that was an early kick-off of 12:45 also. City were very poor at the Brittania Stadium and didn't really deserve to take anything away with them. They failed to put their opponents to the sword despite Stoke being reduced to 10 men fairly early on. City have now notched up a staggering amount of defeats this season with Mark Hughes's team losing eleven of their twenty-three league fixtures. That is appalling when you take into consideration that their goal for the season is to attain European football via the league. They are out of every domestic competition so have to look towards the league for qualification. The blues have however won their previous three home matches scoring eight goals in the process so the return to the City of Manchester will be welcomed with open arms by the manager. Where do we start with Gareth Southgate and Middlesborough. When Blackburn failed to win twelve matches in a row, no one though that would be matched by any side in the league. My how we were wrong, with Boro on the verge of stretching that run to thirteen this Saturday if they were to come away from Manchester without the win. Gareth Southgate's lack of spending in the January transfer market did come as a major surprise to us with Middlesborough definitely needing reinforcements. They have won just twice away from home this season and have lost their previous five away matches so finding someone who will back Boro with great confidence is a challenge in itself. Match odds - Manchester City 13/20 Gamebookers Draw 14/5 William Hill Middlesborough 5/1 Bet365 Prediction - Manchester City Blackburn Rovers V Aston Villa Saturday 15:00 'Big Sam' meets 'lil O'Neill' this Saturday as Villa make the trip to Lancashire to take on Blackburn at Ewood Park. The reverse fixture went the way of the away side when Villa neat Blackburn 3-2 at Villa Park. No doubt Blackburn will be looking to avenge that defeat but they will have their work cut out against a side that has hit top gear. Blackburn league form has improved in recent weeks but they are still failing to convert their good performances on the pitch into wins. They have drawn their last two matches with both being sides they really ought to have beaten. That game with Middlesborough on Saturday was a very dull one and Blackburn's poorest team display in a while. Sam Allardyce will be looking for a massive improvement this Saturday. Blackburn's home form has improved of late with Rovers winning two of their last three home matches. They drew the other and were unfortunate not to have won when they drew 2-2 with Man City. They have also kept two clean sheets in that run so confidence within the Blackburn camp is obviously high. Whether it will be enough to see off a Villa side on the up is another question. Martin O'Neill is working magic at Aston Villa and their league position of 4th is a fair reflection on their performances in the league this season. No doubt that the tremendous season they are having has come as a bit of a surprise but they fully deserve to be where they are today. They are five points clear of Arsenal who are their nearest pursuers and Villa look a good bet to hold onto that last Champions League spot. Villa are in a rich vein of form and have now gone twelve matches without defeat. That run is made more impressive by the fact that eight of those twelve matches were wins so Villa have a lot of momentum behind them going into this tricky away fixture. They threw the kitchen sink at Wigan on Saturday but couldn't put the ball in the oppositions net. O'Neill will be hoping his forwards can be more clinical in front of goal this weekend. Match odds - Blackburn Rovers 19/10 Paddypower Draw 23/10 Bet365 Aston Villa 44/27 Stan James Prediction - Draw Chelsea V Hull City Saturday 15:00 This fixture is just what Chelsea needs after a disappointing week which seen them lose to yet another of the big four. Confidence in the Chelsea dressing room cannot be good so Hull will look to take advantage and add to Chelsea's recent misfortunes. Chelsea comfortably won 3-0 when the two sides met earlier in the season so Scolari is fully aware this is a winnable game at Stamford Bridge. Their defeat to Liverpool at the weekend was their fourth defeat to the big four this season and allowed Liverpool to complete a league double over the blues. The first time that has happened since 1990. Chelsea were very poor and allowed Liverpool to dictate the pace of the game to their pleasing and Chelsea paid a heavy price. They were reluctant to go forward and had one real shot at goal. We thought they were poor against Man Utd a few weeks back but their performance on Sunday was a lot worse. Chelsea are in disarray right now and it would be fair to say that they are in a mini crisis. They have lost their ability to carve teams open with ease and their lack of first team players has hindered their results. The visit of Hull though should be just what the doctor orderer. Chelsea have won three of their last four home fixtures and should add a vital three points to their league tally on Saturday. Hull's league position is on the decline and the alarms bells are starting to ring at the Hull Headquarters. Phil Brown has done remarkably well to get his side into the position they are today but a couple more poor results could see them fall right into a relegation dog fight. Hull did manage to end their losing streak of six matches at the weekend but could only manage a draw against bottom of the league West Brom at the KC stadium. They have also won just one of their previous fifth teen league matches and we can't see that poor run changing at Stamford Bridge. They haven't won in seven away matches and have lost their previous three away league fixtures so Hull simply cannot be backed this Saturday. Match odds - Chelsea 11/50 Gamebookers Draw 5/1 Bet365 Hull City 18/1 Bet365 Prediction - Chelsea Everton V Bolton Wanderers Saturday 15:00 A potentially tricky match here for Everton as they prepare to host Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park this Saturday. David Moyes will be hoping his side will have recovered from their midweek game with Liverpool in the FA Cup while Gary Megson will be looking to capitalise on the possibility of the Everton players being slightly fatigued. A interesting match at prospect and one we fancy to go the way of the home side. David Moyes did some shrewd business in the January transfer window when he took Man City's Brazilian forward Jo on loan until the end of the season. Everton have been lacking an out-an-out strike since Yakubu was sidelined with injury so the arrival of Jo is a positive one. They have relied on the likes of Lescott, Arteta and Tim Cahill for goals recently so the burden will be solely on the shoulders of their new loan-ee. Everton's home record is far from impressive at 3-4-5 although Everton have won two of their previous three home matches so it is improving. They are also undefeated in four matches at Goodison but they have won just one of their four new year fixtures so Everton have hardly hit the year running although they have had a difficult fixture period with three of those matches being against the big four. Bolton didn't make the best of starts to 2009 but results have improved with Bolton picking up four points from their last two fixtures. They started their game with Tottenham at the weekend brightly and took a 2-0 lead into half-time. Their hard work was nearly undone when Darren Bent scored a second half brace but Bolton found a deserved winner and secured their first win in seven matches. A result that lifted them away from the drop zone, at least for the time being. Bolton have been very inconsistent on the road this term and have failed to win any of their previous four away encounters. Albeit they have had some tough away fixtures and they have shown in some of their recent away matches that they are capable of competing. They narrowly lost 1-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates while they drew 2-2 with Blackburn at Ewood Park in their last away fixture so they have the ability to cause an upset away from home. Match odds - Everton 27/37 Boylesports Draw 13/5 Bet365 Bolton Wanderers 9/2 Bet365 Prediction - Everton Sunderland V Stoke City Saturday 15:00 Not the most attractive of matches on paper but both sides will see this a great opportunity to secure all three points in a bid to stay clear of the dreaded drop zone. It is Sunderland who go into this game with slightly better form but it is Stoke who are looking for their first back-to-back victories since the 1st November and could complete a league double over Sunderland were they to win at The Stadium of Light on Saturday afternoon. Sunderland did very well to keep hold of one of their most expensive asset in Kenwyn Jones. He was attracting plenty of interest but Sunderland managed to fend off the watchers and tied him down to a new 4 year contract. A deal made even sweeter by the partnership of Djibril Cisse. The pair look to be forming into a double act up front although Cisse did limp off in Sunderland's 1-1 draw with Newcastle at St. James Park on Sunday, so he is a doubt for this game. Four of Sunderland's seven league victories have come at The Stadium of Light so the return to their beloved ground will be welcomed with open arms. They narrowly beat Fulham in their previous home game 1-0 so manager Ricky Sbragia will be looking for a repeat performance with hopefully a similar result. Unlike their opponents, Stoke do come into this game with a win behind them after they beat man City 1-0 at The Britannia stadium. They were reduced to 10 men also, so Rory Delap won't feature as he serves out his three match ban. James Beattie scored the winner and has already shaped up as a decent signing for Tony Pulis and Stoke City. That win doesn't hide their poor run of results though with Stoke failing to win any of their previous nine league fixtures before their win over City. They have also yet to win away from home and have lost nine of their twelve away games this season. Tony Pulis will be looking to end their away voodoo sooner rather than later and this could be one of their better chances to do so. Match odds - Sunderland 5/6 Bet365 Draw 5/2 Bet365 Stoke City 4/1 Stan James Prediction - Sunderland West Brom V Newcastle United Saturday 15:00 The Premiership season may be just 24 games old but this is a fixture which has the potential to be a six pointer with the pair separated by just two points at the foot of the table. A win for either side would be a huge boost for their survival bids. The advantage of playing at home could be crucial for West Brom and their chances, as they lost the return fixture back in Newcastle. The Baggies have struggled for the majority of the season with wins coming at a premium. They have won just six league matches all season but fortunately for them, the vast majority of those have come at The Hawthrons so West Brom merit a lot of respect back on home turf. Their last three league victories were at home so the home crowd will need to get behind their players once more if they are to get yet another positive result at home. West Brom were one of many sides that simply couldn't afford to go crazy in the transfer market but the capture of Jay Simpson on loan from Arsenal for the remainder of the season looks a fabulous piece of business. He has looked very lively in his first couple of appearances and has already opened his account for his new manager and Tony Mowbray will be expecting plenty more from the youngster, starting with their home match with Newcastle on Saturday. What Newcastle and Joe Kinnear wouldn't do for a win right now. Not a lot is our answer. The Magpies have endured a difficult fixture period which has seen them pick up just two points since the new year. They are also without a win in six league outings so this could be the opportunity they have been waiting for. Unlike West Brom's decent home record, Newcastle posses a very poor away record having won just one of their twelve away matches. That was back in December when they won 3-0 at Fratton park against Portsmouth but that was four games ago and Newcastle have since lost their last three away fixtures so is by far a formality for the Toon army. Match odds - West Brom 5/4 Bet365 Draw 12/5 William Hill Newcastle United 12/5 Stan James Prediction - Draw Wigan Athletic V Fulham Saturday 15:00 Not many would have predicted before the season started that this would ever be a top 10 clash, but this is what we have in front of us this Saturday. Both teams are occupying positions that not many would have foreseen but both justify their respective league positions. The two met at Craven Cottage back in October and that went to way of the Cottagers so Steve Bruce will have revenge firmly on his mind. Wigan have enjoyed their 2008-2009 Premiership campaign and even though they haven't won in their previous four league encounters. They have picked up some decent results and put in some very spirited team displays. They lost back-to-back games when they lost to both sides of Manchester but they did manage two very respectable draws with one at home to Liverpool and the other away at Aston Villa so it would be harsh to say Wigan have hit a flat spot. Steve Bruce did do a bit of wheeling and dealing in the transfer market with Mido joining the club on loan until the end of the season. He did reluctantly have to wave goodbye to Ecuador winger Wilson Palacios as he moved to Tottenham Hotspur whilst Emile Heskey transferred to Aston Villa. Both will be sorely missed and their absence could cost the club a fair few points. Fulham's only real piece of business in January was the sale of fan favourite Jimmy Bullard to Hull City but an interesting purchase will be the former Leeds midfielder Oliver Dacourt, who joined the Cottagers on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season. It looks to be a straight forward replacement but Dacourt has a lot to do if he is to match Bullard's work rate commitment. Fulham do still have the burden of not having won away all season and this look s another tricky away encounter for Roy Hodgeson's boys. Their away record is very poor at 0-5-6 and Fulham have lost their previous two away fixtures. They have found the net just three times away from home and it would take a colossal performance from them to end their win less run away from home. Match odds - Wigan 1/1 Bet365 Draw 12/5 Bet365 Fulham 16/5 Stan James Prediction - Wigan Athletic Portsmouth V Liverpool Saturday 17:30 Setanta Sports A must win game for both sides here with the Portsmouth manager, you would feel, under the more pressure right now. Rafael Benitez's recent comments about his fellow counterpart's has been heavily criticised but it is Portsmouth's recent results that has stole all the headlines. One thing is for sure, someone will be taking all the spotlight for all the wrong reasons were they to drop yet more points this weekend. Tony Adam's hasn't enjoyed a successful start as Portsmouth manager. His team have already said goodbye to UEFA Cup football and were emphatically dumped out of the FA Cup by Swansea so their only chance of regaining European football is via the league and that looks highly unlikely at this point. They were once a settled side in the top 10, but they are now in free fall and are already shaping up as a team that could be involved a relegation tussle. Their form is poor and haven't won in the league in eight matches. A run that looks ever likely to increase with the arrival of title chasing Liverpool. Six of those eight win less matches were defeats and Pompey have lost their previous three matches at Fratton Park and it is unsurprising that the bookies are siding with the reds. Liverpool are the favourites for the win but they have had a lot go against them this week and do have to make a swift recovery from their FA Cup exit on Wednesday. They lost 1-0 in Extra-Time to local rivals Everton but to make matters a whole lot worse, Steven Gerrard limped off after just 15 minutes while Fernando Torres looked very unfit. Liverpool's endurance will surely be tested on Saturday which could leave Portsmouth with a slight chance. Liverpool simply cannot afford to drop any more points and could go top with a win over Pompey. They have done well away from home so getting a positive result away at Portsmouth is achievable. They have won seven of their twelve away matches this season and have a tidy defensive record of just eight goals conceded so Liverpool look a good bet heading to Fratton Park providing they recover from their midweek disappointment. Match odds - Portsmouth 9/2 Bet365 Draw 13/5 Boylesports Liverpool 27/37 Bet365 Prediction - Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur V Arsenal Sunday 13:30 Sky Sports One of the games of the season takes centre stage this Sunday as Arsene Wenger prepares his side for the short trip across London to White Hart Lane where Tottenham await them. The return fixture at The Emirates earlier in the season was by far the game of the season to date. We hope both sets of players give us a repeat performance with the game being live on Sky Sports. Tottenham don't go into this tough game with any sort of positive run so Harry Redknapp will need to rally the troops this Sunday. The arrival of Robbie Keane could be just what they need to rejuvenate the spurs squad with Harry handing him back his former role of captaincy. Wilson Palacios could also feature after his move from Wigan while Pascal Chimbonda is expected to start. Tottenham's recent form isn't good having won just one of their last eight league fixtures. That was a 3-1 win over Stoke City at home. The Spurs fans will need to play their part in the game if Spurs are to get something from the game. Tottenham haven't lost at White Hart Lane in four games but they have struggled to find the net at home. All the expectations will be on Keane to open his Tottenham account once again. We fancy there to be goals so he has a good chance of pleasing the fans in Sunday's main feature. Arsene Wenger has a reputation for being a shrewd manager when it comes to buying players but he went against his normal style and shelled out in excess of £12 Million for the transfer of Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St. Petersburg. He looks a very promising addition to their already talented squad but his fitness level makes him a slight doubt for this huge derby match. Arsenal cannot afford any more slip ups but this is a match they could potentially slip up in if they aren't careful. The Gunners are unbeaten ten league matches but half of those were draws including their most recent 1-1 draw with West Ham at The Emirates. Arsenal could only draw with Tottenham when the sides met in an enthralling encounter at The Emirates and we can't separate the two. The draw looks the safest bet. Match odds - Tottenham Hotspur 2/1 Bet365 Draw 23/10 Bet365 Arsenal 8/5 Coral Prediction - Draw West Ham United V Manchester United Sunday 16:00 Gianfranco Zola meets Sir Alex Ferguson this weekend as Manchester United make the trip down from the north to London with aspirations of picking up a win that could stretch their lead at the top of the league depending on other results. A win for West Ham though would see them close the gap on those chasing the European qualification spots although we're sure Zola would settle for a draw. West Ham looked in trouble at one point and couldn't win to save their lives. The new year has arrived and they have been one of several sides to have hit it running. They are unbeaten since Christmas and are undefeated in six matches including two FA Cup wins. The loss of Craig Bellamy is a big blow for the hammers but Carlton Cole appears to be having a whale of a time in front of goal at current. Bellamy's departure isn't missed, yet. The claret and blues are undefeated in their last three home visits winning all three. Those were to some of the weaker sides in the league but those victories will give the players a huge confidence boost. Put those results together with their weekend draw with Arsenal at The Emirates and West Ham look a fair price to halt United's winning run. Manchester United's lack of activity in the transfer market didn't come as a surprise. The United squad looks as good as ever and are gunning for Liverpool title record of 18 championship's. They are already two points clear of Liverpool in second and also have a game in hand. Were United to win on Sunday, they could go five points clear at the top and their odds of winning a 18th championship would shrink immensely. United do have all the momentum despite West Ham enjoying themselves in recent weeks. The 'Red Devils' and unbeaten in twelve games in the league and have won seven consecutive matches. Five of those seven wins by a 1-0 scoreline and it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if this was to end in a similar score. Match odds - West Ham 11/2 Bet365 Draw 11/4 Bet365 Manchester United 31/50 Boylesports Prediction - Manchester United Labels: premier-league-betting, premier-league-preview, premiership-betting, premiership-preview Posted by soccerbetting.info @ 3:51 PM << Home