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BIRMINGHAM CITY v BLACKBURN ROVERS
Alex McLeish has the home side in great form and they’re currently occupying the heady-heights of the top half of the table, one spot behind Liverpool on goal difference and an unbeaten run of seven matches including four straight wins. Three of those wins have been by a single goal with midfielder Lee Bowyer finding the net. A 1-0/Bowyer scorecast is a stand-out 35/1 with Blue Square for tonight’s game. Birmingham are the 23/20 favourites for the match against a Blackburn side that have only taken four points from a possible 24 away from home in the league this season. Sam Allardyce’s men are also on a run of three straight goalless draws in the league. That eventuality is a 15/2 chance tonight. As we’ve already established, recent form for both clubs points to a low scoring affair tonight. Indeed the price for ‘Under 2 goals’ in the game is 15/8 and would have paid off in six of the last eight league matches involving the two teams. ‘Under 2.5 goals’ gives you the added cushion of an extra goal at 4/6 if shorter prices take your fancy. The handicap market is of interest as we can back the ‘handicap draw’ (basically a 1 goal victory for the home side) at 3/1. As well as their record of 1-0 victories, The Blues have been involved in games with a 1 goal winning margin in 12 of their 16 league outings already.
BOLTON WANDERERS v WEST HAM UNITED
Getting the clichés out of the way first – this is a ‘real relegation six-pointer’ (as opposed to a fake one?). Two managers who appear in the shorter prices for the current ‘Sack Race’ market will look to climb out of the bottom three with a win here (and Wolves’ likely defeat at Old Trafford). Home advantage gives Gary Megson’s Bolton the tag of favourites but they are a team that have won only once at home in the league all season. The Trotters are also in the midst of a six game winless streak. 6/5 anybody? West Ham’s form isn’t much better but goals win games and despite firing blanks in their last two outings, they have scored an impressive 18 goals in their last ten matches. The Hammers are creating plenty of chances in front of goal and a couple of days with classy finisher Gianfranco Zola on the training ground since Saturday’s defeat at Birmingham could be just the ticket for their strikers. West ham midfielder Scott Parker has made headlines today for a potential New Year transfer to struggling Liverpool. Parker can make the whole team tick on his day and I like the look of 25/1 for him to score first especially with Mark Noble serving a one-match ban. His midfield partners absence could lead to Parker getting forward more than he usually would.
MANCHESTER UNITED v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
United are reeling from Saturday’s defeat at home to Aston Villa, as they failed to go level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table. The last time the Red Devils lost two consecutive league games at home was way back in December 2001 (Chelsea 0-3, West Ham 0-1). Wolves have to overcome that statistic and odds of 16/1 if they are to make history tonight. United are the 1/6 favourites to make amends, but the assumption is that the result won’t be enough for boss Sir Alex Ferguson. Fergie will be demanding a strong performance from his side to make up for the weekend. United are still the 8/15 favourites on the handicap market starting at -1, so we won’t be getting rich quick on that particular selection. It’s only 3/1 that the home side win by four or more goals and just 15/8 that they can score four or more regardless of the winning margin. United have kept six clean sheets in the league already this season and Wolves don’t have the kind of forwards that can cause the trouble that Villa did on Saturday. The away side have fired blanks in five out of 16 league games this term. Mick McCarthy’s men come into the game off the back of a great win at Spurs and a home victory over a poor Bolton team. The last time they won three top-flight games on the spin was March 1980! Wayne Rooney missed a couple of good chances on Saturday and I like the look of the 10/11 for the England striker to score in any home win on our special ‘Score/Win Double’ market.
SUNDERLAND v ASTON VILLA
As mentioned above, Villa are on a high after winning at Old Trafford for the first time in over 25 years. A record of only one defeat in ten matches has propelled them to fourth spot in the table and a realistic ‘Champions League’ push. They can put extra pressure on the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City with a win at the Stadium of Light. An away win is priced at a realistic 6/4, considering The Villains have the fourth best away record in the league. Opponents Sunderland boast an impressive home record, having already beaten Liverpool and Arsenal on Wearside. The home side are the slight outsiders here at 9/5 following home draws against two of the bottom three in recent weeks. That stat is key, and with stalemates raising their head again after going missing earlier in the season – another draw could be on the cards here. A goalless game is 15/2, but our offer of a 2-2 draw appeals at a nice price of 16/1.