Relegation-threatened clubs are the order of the day this Saturday afternoon, and Mike Norman believes survival prospects are not about to improve for at least two of them. Best Bet: Back Everton to beat Wigan @ [2.64].
Blackburn [2.08] v Bolton [4.0]; The Draw [3.6]
Apologies if I appear repetitive in these previews but with so many relegation-threatened clubs playing at home to 'safe' mid-table sides, then we could see some entertaining 'cup-tie' type games this Saturday. Except this one that is.
Putting it politely, Bolton have been quite awful away from home for some time now and judging by how they performed at Fulham in midweek it looks like some of the playing staff are already on their summer holiday. The Trotters have lost nine of their last 10 away league games, and their recent trip to Wembley ended in a 5-0 defeat! And despite this being a Lancashire derby I'm not sure Owen Coyle's men will be able to muster enough enthusiasm to take all three points.
Blackburn have failed to win any of their last 10 league games however and if ever a game had draw written all over it then this is it. In the Correct Score market the 0-0 ([13.0]) and 1-1 ([7.4]) options appeal, whilst Under 2.5 Goals looks to be a safe wager at [1.92].
Blackpool [2.76] v Stoke [2.72]; The Draw [3.6]
Blackpool seem to have been drinking in the last chance saloon for a few weeks now, but despite them failing to win themselves, other results have prevented them from falling to the bottom of the table. In fact, last week's draw at home to Newcastle was good enough to see Ian Holloway's men climb out of the bottom three. So surely the Tangerines will build on that and get a victory against a Stoke side that might just be turning their attentions to the FA Cup final.
We know Blackpool always score at Bloomfield Road, so with goals assured in this game the obvious starting point for many punters is Over 2.5 Goals at [1.79]. But I have a hunch that Blackpool might record their first clean sheet of 2011 and am prepared to have three wagers along those lines; the Yes option in the Blackpool Clean Sheet market at [4.2], the 2-0 Correct Score at [19.0], and Under 2.5 Goals at [2.22].
Sunderland [2.72] v Fulham [2.94]; The Draw [3.3]
Full credit to Sunderland for coming from 1-0 down against Wigan last week to win their first game in 10 outings, and in doing so, virtually ensure their Premier League status. What affect that win will have on the Black Cats remains to be seen, but they're decimated by injuries currently - especially in attack - and may struggle against a Fulham side that have lost only two of their least 10 league games.
Not one to put a downer on things, but I have to inform you that the last five meetings between these two clubs have yielded just two goals; three finished 0-0 and there was also a 1-0 victory to each side. The 0-0 Correct Score is available to back at [9.4] this time, but my preference is to back the Under 1.5 Goals option at [3.2], thus covering both the 1-0 outcomes also.
West Brom [2.42] v Aston Villa [3.3]; The Draw [3.5]
Six points above the drop zone Albion should be safe, but the last thing they can afford is a home defeat against Midlands rivals Villa. But the Baggies have been in decent form since Roy Hodgson took over (just one defeat in nine games) and I fancy they will come out on top in what could be the game of the day.
West Brom have averaged exactly two goals scored per game in those nine games under Hodgson, whilst Villa have scored at least once in each of their last eight away games. The Yes options in the Both teams to Scoremarket is definitely worth a wager then at [1.7], and so too is Over 3.5 Goals at [3.2]. Peter Odemwingie (four goals in five games) and Darren Bent (five in six) have been in terrific form lately, and both can be backed at around the [2.8] mark in the To Score market.
Wigan [3.0] v Everton [2.64]; The Draw [3.4]
Continued: Soccer Betting
Blackburn [2.08] v Bolton [4.0]; The Draw [3.6]
Apologies if I appear repetitive in these previews but with so many relegation-threatened clubs playing at home to 'safe' mid-table sides, then we could see some entertaining 'cup-tie' type games this Saturday. Except this one that is.
Putting it politely, Bolton have been quite awful away from home for some time now and judging by how they performed at Fulham in midweek it looks like some of the playing staff are already on their summer holiday. The Trotters have lost nine of their last 10 away league games, and their recent trip to Wembley ended in a 5-0 defeat! And despite this being a Lancashire derby I'm not sure Owen Coyle's men will be able to muster enough enthusiasm to take all three points.
Blackburn have failed to win any of their last 10 league games however and if ever a game had draw written all over it then this is it. In the Correct Score market the 0-0 ([13.0]) and 1-1 ([7.4]) options appeal, whilst Under 2.5 Goals looks to be a safe wager at [1.92].
Blackpool [2.76] v Stoke [2.72]; The Draw [3.6]
Blackpool seem to have been drinking in the last chance saloon for a few weeks now, but despite them failing to win themselves, other results have prevented them from falling to the bottom of the table. In fact, last week's draw at home to Newcastle was good enough to see Ian Holloway's men climb out of the bottom three. So surely the Tangerines will build on that and get a victory against a Stoke side that might just be turning their attentions to the FA Cup final.
We know Blackpool always score at Bloomfield Road, so with goals assured in this game the obvious starting point for many punters is Over 2.5 Goals at [1.79]. But I have a hunch that Blackpool might record their first clean sheet of 2011 and am prepared to have three wagers along those lines; the Yes option in the Blackpool Clean Sheet market at [4.2], the 2-0 Correct Score at [19.0], and Under 2.5 Goals at [2.22].
Sunderland [2.72] v Fulham [2.94]; The Draw [3.3]
Full credit to Sunderland for coming from 1-0 down against Wigan last week to win their first game in 10 outings, and in doing so, virtually ensure their Premier League status. What affect that win will have on the Black Cats remains to be seen, but they're decimated by injuries currently - especially in attack - and may struggle against a Fulham side that have lost only two of their least 10 league games.
Not one to put a downer on things, but I have to inform you that the last five meetings between these two clubs have yielded just two goals; three finished 0-0 and there was also a 1-0 victory to each side. The 0-0 Correct Score is available to back at [9.4] this time, but my preference is to back the Under 1.5 Goals option at [3.2], thus covering both the 1-0 outcomes also.
West Brom [2.42] v Aston Villa [3.3]; The Draw [3.5]
Six points above the drop zone Albion should be safe, but the last thing they can afford is a home defeat against Midlands rivals Villa. But the Baggies have been in decent form since Roy Hodgson took over (just one defeat in nine games) and I fancy they will come out on top in what could be the game of the day.
West Brom have averaged exactly two goals scored per game in those nine games under Hodgson, whilst Villa have scored at least once in each of their last eight away games. The Yes options in the Both teams to Scoremarket is definitely worth a wager then at [1.7], and so too is Over 3.5 Goals at [3.2]. Peter Odemwingie (four goals in five games) and Darren Bent (five in six) have been in terrific form lately, and both can be backed at around the [2.8] mark in the To Score market.
Wigan [3.0] v Everton [2.64]; The Draw [3.4]
Continued: Soccer Betting
