Premier League / Robert Hughes / 28 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Much attention will be focussed on events at Stamford Bridge and Eastlands, however according to Robert Hughes there is plenty to play for elsewhere in the Premier League this weekend, with Villa, Newcastle and Spurs all looking to build on recent good form.

Aston Villa v Fulham

Villa carved out a creditable draw against Man Utd, but this will be a different proposition, against a Fulham team which held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield, and are likely to take a similarly defensive approach here.

Villa have lost only one of their seven home matches this season, while the visitors have yet to pick up a win away from home - although they are unbeaten in three games. Villa can be backed at [1.66] to win this one, which looks about right, but given Fulham's good defensive record there might be some value in the [3.95] available for the draw.

If you fancy Villa to break through a stubborn Fulham defence, however, you might be interested in Over 2.5 Goals at [2.08], given that matches involving these two have produced an average of 2.63 goals per game.

Middlesbrough v Newcastle

Boro continue to be unpredictable this season - they recently won at Villa but last weekend lost at home to Bolton, which was their third home defeat out of seven.

Newcastle managed an impressive draw at leaders Chelsea, and Joe Kinnear has successfully moved them out of the relegation zone - although they are without a win in three matches, and are still yet to win away from home.

Both sides' stuttering form would seem to point towards a draw, and this outcome looks decent value at [3.55], while a 1-1 scoreline can be backed at [7.4]. In terms of potential goalscorers, Michael Owen is Newcastle's top scorer this season with four League goals, and is currently around [3.0] to score here; while for Middlesbrough, Tuncay is available at around [3.5].

Stoke v Hull

Stoke's narrow win over West Brom saw them pick up their first win, and score their first goal, in three matches. They have a good home record this season, having won five out of seven at the Britannia Stadium.

Hull are still just outside the European places, but are without a win in five matches. Considering their strong home form, Stoke's odds of [2.6] to take all three points look about right - however, Hull do have an excellent away record this season, having lost just once (at Old Trafford), so the draw, at [3.5], is also a decent option.
These teams' matches have produced an average of 2.93 goals per game this season, so this may turn out to be a fairly high-scoring encounter - therefore Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at [2.04].

Sunderland v Bolton

Bolton pulled off another surprising away win last week with a 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough (having already won at Hull and West Ham) - but they have also lost four away from home this season.

Sunderland's defeat against West Ham continued their poor home record this season - they have lost four out of seven at the Stadium of Light. Traditionally however, Sunderland have been very strong at home, and it was mainly their home form which kept them up last season - if you think they can rediscover that form, a home win can be backed at [2.3].

However, I wouldn't expect many goals here - Sunderland have scored just 12 in 14 games this season, while Bolton have done only slightly better, with 14 in 14. With this in mind, a 1-0 home win can be backed at [8.2], while Under 2.5 Goals is available at [1.74].

Wigan v West Brom

Wigan's victory over Everton last Monday was only their second home win of the season. Albion's defeat against Stoke leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table, and without a win in seven matches - a sequence which has included six defeats; they have also lost five out of seven away from home this season.

Wigan will obviously be confident of victory against a team who are really struggling for form and confidence, and a home victory can be backed at [1.84], with a 2-0 scoreline looking a reasonable option at [9.4].

However, Albion would probably be happy with a point here, so if you think they can hold off the home team and avoid a fourth successive defeat, the draw might be of interest at [3.8].

Portsmouth v Blackburn

Portsmouth's draw with Hull last weekend means that they have not lost in three matches, although they have been beaten twice at home this season. Meanwhile Blackburn lost at Spurs - their third defeat in a row - and are now without a win in eight matches. With Rovers' continued poor form, a home win seems like good value at [2.14].

Given the number of goals per game produced by these two teams this season (an average of 2.65), it might also be worth looking at Over 2.5 Goals, at [2.02].

Looking at the goalscorer market, Nwankwo Kanu, having scored in midweek against AC Milan, is likely to start in place of the injured Jermain Defoe, and is currently around [3.5] to score his first League goal of the season here.

Tottenham v Everton

Tottenham recovered from their defeat at Fulham to beat Blackburn last weekend, which was their third home victory in a row. Everton lost at Wigan on Monday, but they actually have a good away record this season, with four wins out of seven.

Taking into account Everton's recovery since their defeat at Arsenal last month (last weeks' defeat at Wigan was their first in six games) and their strong away record, backing the draw at [3.65] looks like a sensible option.

Looking at potential goalscorers, Tottenham's David Bentley has scored only once in the League since his move from Blackburn so is probably due a goal, and is around [4.75] to score in this one. Meanwhile Everton's top scorer Yakubu can be backed at around [3.5].

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