Saturday sees the return to league football after a extended period of International football, thankfully for most teams their key players have come back with no injuries sadly for Sunderland however they have now lost Fletcher for the rest of the season. This weekend and every weekend now until the end of the season are going to be vital. With this in mind it is the time of the season when form goes out of the window as teams desperately search for vital points.
Sunderland V Manchester United
Few Manchester United fans and players will forget how Sunderland fans celebrated when they lost the league at the stadium of light on the final day of last season. With this in mind this could not be a worst match for a out of form Sunderland team. They have struggled for vast parts of the season with their lack of goals being the main problem. Now after the international break they have now lost their most productive striker in Fletcher. Manchester United come into the match will the luxury of massive points gap between them and Manchester City. With that in mind they could rotate but I still believe after what happened last season Alex Ferguson will want a performance and the points from this match. For Sunderland this could be the match that's places them firmly in the relegation dog fight. If they lose which is highly likely they could find themselves just one point off the bottom three. I'm siding with a away win and a couple of goals in this match.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Sunderland | Man Utd | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.13
| Av.goals scored |
2.4
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.07
| Av.goals conceded |
1.4
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Sunderland | Man Utd | ||
| Av.goals scored |
0.6
| Av.goals scored |
1.4
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.2
| Av.goals conceded |
0.8
|
Everton V Stoke
Stoke really are one of the teams most out of form in the premier league currently and their dramatic decline has surprised me. With three defeats and one draw in their last five Tony Pulis really does find himself wishing for the season to end as soon as possible. He now finds himself being questioned by his own fans and also by the press over his future. As I have said before fans should be grateful at times, in the desperation for success that might be beyond their reach they can force the club backwards. Everton come into the match after a great home victory against Man City and now firmly looking towards Europe next season. Their is no doubt they have a tough fixture run in and also they are being questioned regarding David Moyes and his failure to renew his contract. They face Stoke without Howard, Fellaini & Pienaar so I wouldn't be surprised if Stoke could grasp a draw in this match. If they are they must keep it tight early because Stoke really do struggle to score more than one goal per match.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Everton | Stoke | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.8
| Av.goals scored |
0.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.4
| Av.goals conceded |
0.8
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Everton | Stoke | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.2
| Av.goals scored |
0.4
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1
| Av.goals conceded |
1.4
|
Wigan V Norwich
Its the time of year again when Wigan start their regular great escape act and with four wins in their last five matches it could well be underway. For them their main problem this year has been home form and they must overcome this if they are to survive. Norwich after flirting with the bottom half of the league have managed to claw themselves into the mid table with draws and a few victories. The main issue for Norwich is their keeper Bunn is suspended and their is some doubt over who will take his place. I favouring the draw between these teams and sadly for Wigan that may well not be good enough for their survival hopes.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Wigan | Norwich | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.4
| Av.goals scored |
0.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.2
| Av.goals conceded |
1.2
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Wigan | Norwich | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.4
| Av.goals scored |
0.8
|
| Av.goals conceded |
2.2
| Av.goals conceded |
0.2
|
I have been surprised by the decline in West Ham this season after the start they had made I expected a mid table finish but their form has declined since Christmas and they are now only six points off the bottom three. I can't see them being dragged into the relegation fight but they do require a few more points just to be certain. Luckily for West Ham their home form has been good and this should be enough for them to stay safe. They face a West Brom team that have started to regain their early season momentum and are now hot on the heels of Liverpool pushing for a European position. One defeat in their last five means they are strong contenders for the top six but their away must improve with just one win in their last six. I'm siding with West Ham to take the points here in what could be a close hard fought contest.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| West Ham | West Brom | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1
| Av.goals scored |
1.2
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.4
| Av.goals conceded |
0.6
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| West Ham | West Brom | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
| Av.goals scored |
1
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.4
| Av.goals conceded |
1.2
|
Arsenal V Reading
Reading come into this match under the new stewardship of Nigel Adkins, many feel he was unlucky to be sacked by Southampton just as his team started to find their best form of the season. He now faces a massive task on Saturday against Arsenal at the Emirates but also between now and the end of the season to keep the royals in the premier league. To understand his challenge you will see they have lost all of their last five matches. Arsenal come into the match knowing that they must find their best form of the season if they are to maintain their chances of reaching the champions league positions. With this in mind they come into the match after victories over Bayern Munich and away at Swansea and would feel confident of keeping this run going on Saturday. A home victory and a few goals I will be choosing in this one.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Arsenal | Reading | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.5
| Av.goals scored |
0.8
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.36
| Av.goals conceded |
1.87
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Arsenal | Reading | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.2
| Av.goals scored |
1
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.4
| Av.goals conceded |
1.8
|
These are two teams that can perform at completely different ends of the performance spectrum from week to week. Both of these teams can be brilliant on a Saturday but poor on a Wednesday and this has been the cause of most of their troubles this season. After Southampton lost against QPR I thought they would be firmly in a relegation dog fight but they then went on to beat Liverpool and give themselves some breathing space. Whilst Chelsea showed how indifferent they can be by losing their first half at Old Trafford two nil but reversing the result in the second half. Both of these teams most consistent aspect to their games this season has been goals. Both have scored and conceded regularly through the season and I would be choosing goals in this fixture as well. If I was pushed I would choose a away victory but I wouldn't put money on it.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Southampton | Chelsea | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.8
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.6
| Av.goals conceded |
0.8
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Southampton | Chelsea | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
| Av.goals scored |
1
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.9
| Av.goals conceded |
1
|
This week Roberto Mancini has declared the title race is over and whilst some have declared it has mind games most realise he is only stating the obvious. It would take some kind of miracle for United to through away such a points gap and whilst they are not performing brilliantly they are grinding out results. City have stumbled recent against Southampton and Everton on the road and these are the type of matches they will look back on and know they must improve on. I stated early in the season I thought they didn't have the same hunger this season and I believe they must look to freshen their squad in the summer. Looking at this match few could knock City's home record this year it has been their inconsistency on their travels that have hindered them. Whilst Newcastle have improved since Christmas they have still be indifferent in recent matches. The real task for Newcastle is that only Liverpool have managed to score against City at the Etihad in the last five home matches. I'm siding with a home win but it may well only be by a one or two goal margin.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Man City | Newcastle | ||
| Av.goals scored |
2.21
| Av.goals scored |
1.2
|
| Av.goals conceded |
0.79
| Av.goals conceded |
2.07
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Man City | Newcastle | ||
| Av.goals scored |
3
| Av.goals scored |
0.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
0.4
| Av.goals conceded |
1
|
Swansea V Tottenham
This is a match between two of the most entertaining teams in the premier league and should be a match high on goals and technique. Both of these teams have been in a form dip recently after setting high standard earlier in the campaign. Swansea have lost two since the league cup final and the most recent came at home against Arsenal. Whilst Spurs have lost away to Liverpool and surprisingly at home against Fulham. Much will depend on Gareth Bale and his fitness for Spurs, against Fulham he picked up a ankle injury and Spurs struggled and if he isn't on top form Swansea could be a real test for them. Swansea have a good home record with the lost against Arsenal being their first home defeat since the beginning of December. Although the most common result against top four sides is a draw. I'm siding with Tottenham coming away with something from their trip to Wales but they might have to accept a draw.
LAST FIVE MATCHES (OVERALL)
| Swansea | Tottenham | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.4
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
1.8
| Av.goals conceded |
1.8
|
LAST FIVE MATCHES (HOME / AWAY)
| Swansea | Tottenham | ||
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
| Av.goals scored |
1.6
|
| Av.goals conceded |
0.8
| Av.goals conceded |
2
|
Thanks for reading Rob. |
No comments:
Post a Comment