Opta Stats: Blackburn revival to continue against Newcastle

Opta / Michael Lintorn / 30 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Junior Hoilett looks increasingly likely to see out the season with Blackburn

"Blackburn are one of two sides (the other being Man City) who have not drawn a home game in the Premier League this season."

After analysing all of the Opta stats and picking out his four favourites, Michael Lintorn is backing Wolves, Blackburn and Sunderland to enjoy midweek home wins...

Wolves v Liverpool (Tuesday, 19:45)
Liverpool have won just one of their last six Premier League matches and won only four points and scored only four goals in the four Premier League games without Luis Suarez since his suspension began
Kenny Dalglish's side head to Molineux on a high after dumping Manchester City out of the Carling Cup and beating Manchester United in the FA Cup, however all season long it has been the clubs near the bottom causing Liverpool more trouble than those at the top. Wolves have taken points off of two top-five teams in their last five fixtures, so are capable of creating problems for the Reds.
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Manchester United v Stoke (Tuesday, 20:00)
Manchester United have opened the scoring in the 27th minute in each of their last three Premier League meetings with Stoke
That remarkable Opta stat points to a punt on the deadlock-breaking goal at Old Trafford coming between 21-30 minutes as a shrewd bet, and indeed the first strike in their weekend FA Cup trip to Liverpool followed the same pattern. Stoke's other two away encounters against top-six teams - Arsenal and Manchester City - have also abided by the trend.
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Blackburn v Newcastle (Wednesday, 20:00)
Blackburn are one of two sides (the other being Manchester City) who have not drawn a home game in the Premier League this season
If you use the above Opta insight to discount the draw, who do you back? As Newcastle have won only one of their last seven on the road, losing four of the most recent five, and more worryingly conceding a whopping 13 times in the process, resurgent Blackburn should fancy their chances. Steve Kean's men have suffered just one defeat in five in the Premier League.
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Sunderland v Norwich (Wednesday, 20:00, Sky Sports 1)
Five of the last six league meetings between Norwich and Sunderland have ended as 1-0 home wins
As impressive as Sunderland have been since the arrival of Martin O'Neill in the dugout last month, they have had to work hard for their victories, three of their five in the Premier League coming by a one-goal margin. Norwich have been hard to beat of late, losing a mere one of their last ten matches in all competitions, so all signs point to this being another 1-0.
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Recommended Bets:
Lay Liverpool away to Wolves @ [1.77]
Back 21-30 minutes as first-goal time in Manchester United v Stoke @ [6.8]
Back Blackburn to beat Newcastle @ [2.72]
Back Sunderland to beat Norwich 1-0 @ [8.4]

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