Manchester United v TottenhamHull City v Sunderland
West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
Wolverhampton v Blackburn
Bolton v Portsmouth
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Fulham
Chelsea v Stoke City
Aston Villa v Birmingham City
Burnley v Liverpool
Saturday, April 24
Manchester United v Tottenham
Verdict: Paul Scholes' late goal at the Eastlands kept Manchester United's title hopes on track, now trailing faultering Chelsea by a single point. Incidently, today's visitors at Old Trafford are Tottenham, the conquerers of Chelsea a little under a week ago. Tottenham are in a rich vein of form, especially at White Hart Lane, and currently occupy the much coveted 4th and final Champions League spot.
Wayne Rooney made a surprise appearance at Manchester City following his ankle injury. Most importantly for Manchester United, he did not have any adverse reactions afterwards and will be fighting fit for this game. In more good news for the home side, captain Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown are back in the squad after their respective injury lay offs. Tottenham's away form this season (6-5-5) is like chalk and cheese in comparison to their superb home form. In fact, Spurs have failed to win at any of the teams currently sitting in the top of half of the table.
With Manchester United strengthened in defence, the title within their grasp, and Tottenham's inefficiency on their travels, I only expect one result here.
Pick: Manchester United -1AH @1.85 (sportsalive, 10 units)
Manchester United 3 - 1 Tottenham
Hull City v Sunderland
Verdict: 3rd from bottom Hull City will be fighting for their Premiership lives when they host 13th placed Sunderland at the KC stadium. Hull City's 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Aston Villa midweek condemned the Tigers to their 9th Premiership loss from 15 games since the turn of the year. In fact, Hull City have only won twice this calendar year, a 1-0 victory over Manchester City and a 2-0 maximum against a depleted Fulham side. Sunderland's dismal away record continued after going down 1-0 at West Ham United last week, despite a solid if not spectacular performance.
Hull City looked dejected and powerless against Aston Villa which is worrying for them as the season winds down. Striker, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, suffered concussion during that game and will join a number of his team mates on the sidelines. Sunderland welcome back inspirational captain, Lorik Cana, from his respective groin injury while fellow midfielder Cattermole is doubtful.
Despite a season that is destined to finish well below their expectations, Sunderland is still within touching distance of a top half finish. The Black Cats have been a difficult side to beat in the last 3 months and can perhaps set this as benchmark for next season with a good return from their next 3 games. Hull City looked a doomed side midweek and with the Tigers really needing to throw everything at Sunderland, I just feel the visitors can cash in on the counter-attack.
Picks:
Sunderland +0.25AH @1.85 (188bet, 10 units)
Hull City 0 - 1 Sunderland
Sunderland 1x2 @3.25 (boylesports, 5 units)
Hull City 0 - 1 Sunderland
West Ham United v Wigan Athletic
Verdict: 4th from bottom West Ham United have the best opportunity to perhaps secure their Premier League status today against an erratic Wigan Athletic. If the Hammers win today and other results go their way, Zola's men will be safe for another season. The Hammers will be happy to return to home comforts after their listless 3-0 defeat at Liverpool earlier in the week. The visitors all but secured their place in next year's top flight with a fighting 3-2 win over title-chasing Arsenal last weekend. Having garnered only 11pts from a possible 51 on their travels so far, the Latics will need to produce something special at Upton Park to upset the apple cart.
The big news from South-East London is the return of captain Scott Parker from suspension. His influence on West Ham is immense and I expect him to inspire his team to a very lively showing. More good news for the home side is the availability of star striker Carlton Cole, whose knee injury at Liverpool is not serious enough to keep him out of action. With the visitors on a run of 5 defeats from their last 6 outings on the road, I expect a strengthened and motivated home side to stretch that horrid run.
Pick: West Ham United 1x2 @1.85 (5dimes, 10 units)
West Ham United 3 - 2 Wigan Athletic
Sunday, April 25
Everton v Fulham
Verdict: Everton still harbour hopes of European football next season after it was confirmed, earlier this week, that 7th position will guarantee Europa League qualification. Everton lie 5pts behind Merseyside rivals Liverpool, in 8th position, so all is not lost for the Blues. Last week, Everton continued their impressive run of 8 games undefeated with a last minute, 3-2 win at Blackburn.
Fulham have slipped to 12th position in the league, due mainly to their exertions in Europe. In spite of their well documented run in Europe, in the semi-finals of the Europa League, The Cottagers are on a run of one league win in 7 and have been kept scoreless on five of those seven occasions. Worse still for the visitors, top marksman Bobby Zamora is doubtful with an achilles problem and is likely to be rested with a Europa League semi-final on Thursday. Fulham have scored only 2 goals and are winless (2 losses, 3 draws) in the five away games when Zamora has not featured this season, bad news against a free flowing Everton side.
Mikel Arteta's return from a 2 week lay off really galvanized Everton last week and I expect him, and Tim Cahill, to be the main catalysts behind a likely win against a Fulham side devoid of strike power and motivation.
Pick: Everton -1.25AH @1.91 (bodog, 10 units)
Everton 2 - 1 Fulham
Aston Villa v Birmingham City
Verdict: With both Manchester City and Tottenham both slipping up in the race for 4th yesterday, Aston Villa are presented with the best opportunity to make up ground. Of coarse, no derby match is easy and the game against Birmingham City will be no different. Aston Villa go into this match as deserved favourites but match congestion in addition to poor recent home form makes for an interesting contest.
Aston Villa brushed aside a poor Hull City midweek 0-2 whereas Birmingham City were involved in a scoreless draw, against the same opposition, a week ago. Birmingham City have not won since their 2-1 win at Portsmouth (6 weeks ago) but likewise, Aston Villa are winless at Villa Park since their 5-2 thrashing of Burnley, over two months ago! Both teams are virtually at full strength but perhaps the physical levels of both sides are on a different scale. Aston Villa's involvement in League Cup and FA Cup fixtures means that the home side are playing their 6th game this month, compared to Birmingham City's four.
Aston Villa have a chance to tie with Tottenham for fourth position so the pressure is on the home side. Birmingham City sit safely in 9th position, are well rested, and I feel will be able to express themselves more than their city counterparts.
Picks:
Birmingham City +1AH @1.87 (10bet, 10 units)
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Birmingham City
Birmingham City DNB @4.76 (betcruise, 4 units)
Aston Villa 1 - 0 Birmingham City
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