Premier League Betting: The weekend's non-televised matches

Premier League / Mike Norman / 20 February 2009 / 1 Comments

"Mystical" Mike Norman looks into his crystal ball to predict the outcome of this weekend's matches not beemed live into our living rooms, including that Manchester City motley crew away at Anfield. Best bet: Stoke to beat Portsmouth @ [2.72].

Arsenal [1.44] v Sunderland [11.0]; The Draw [4.5]

Arsenal are on a decent unbeaten run, but they have drawn far too many games and now have injuries to some key players. The title is out of reach, and even Champions League qualification is in the balance. Still, they face Sunderland at the weekend and I'd be very surprised if the home side don't collect all three points.

Since the turn of the century, games between Arsenal and Sunderland in the capital have produced an amazing 30 goals in just seven games. Current form may suggest few goals this time around, but at [3.4] I'm willing to give Over 3.5 Goals a chance to prevail. Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at [1.95].

Robin van Persie is about the only household name fit for the Gunners, though recent signing Andrey Arshavin will make his debut. They will be available to back at around [6.0] and [9.0] respectively once the First Goalscorer market matures.

Bolton [2.52] v West Ham [3.15]; The Draw [3.35]

The Hammers have played some good stuff of late and will be fancied to carry on the good work at the Reebok Stadium. However, Bolton are dogged and know how to win a scrap. What's more, the Trotters have a fantastic record against West Ham on home soil. I quite fancy a Bolton win here.

When Bolton do win, they usually lead at half time and hang on well. In the Half Time/Full Time market, Bolton/Bolton can be backed at [4.6], though if you want paying out before the second half commences then back Bolton at [3.25] in the Half Time market.

Correct scores of 2-0 ([14.0]) and 2-1 ([11.0]) appeal most, with Bolton linchpin Kevin Davies available to back at around [4.0] to score at any time during the game. He will do for me.

Middlesbrough [2.6] v Wigan [3.05]; The Draw [3.35]

I will be at the Riverside Stadium for this game - somewhere close to the dugout ripping my season ticket up in front of Gareth Southgate. That's assuming Boro don't win of course. If they do win, then Southgate must be given a new five-year contract. There's nothing fickle about me... honest! Perhaps a draw is the most likely outcome then.

Both teams have struggled to score this year, netting just three times between them in nearly 1,000 minutes of Premier League football. Recent history also suggests a low-scoring game, with no team scoring more than once in a match during their last five meetings. Under 2.5 Goals has to be the call then at [1.63] with Under 1.5 Goals ([2.8]) not being dismissed lightly.

For a Correct Score I'd be looking towards 0-0 ([9.6]) and 1-1 ([7.2]), though if you do fancy the former of those scores then wait until the First Goalscorer market matures. You just might get matched in excess of [10.0] for that prolific marksman, No Goalscorer.

Stoke [2.72] v Portsmouth [2.98]; The Draw [3.3]

This is a crucial game at the foot of the table and I think Stoke have enough about them to secure what would be a massive victory. Their only defeat on home soil in the last five months was a narrow loss to the best team in the world, Manchester United. Portsmouth haven't won on their travels since Harry Redknapp departed.

It won't be an easy game for Stoke, and the fact that they've only scored five first half goals all season (as opposed to 16 in the second half) tempts me to back Draw/Stoke in the Half Time/Full Time market - available to back at [6.4].

As in the Boro match, Under 2.5 Goals is a confident selection at odds of [1.71], but for a Correct Score, this time we will go for 1-0 ([8.6]) and 2-0 ([15.0]) to the home side.

Liverpool [1.6] v Man City [8.0]; The Draw [3.9]

It's quite possible that Liverpool will play with a bit less tension now that it's them doing the chasing in the title race, and those unwanted draws should become wins. Steven Gerrard is a massive loss should he not even make the bench, but Liverpool will be thankful they are playing a team that can't string two passes together outside of Manchester.

You'd think this fixture has got goals written all over it, but prior to Liverpool's 3-2 victory in October, not one of the previous seven meetings between these two had more than one goal in it. This hasn't escaped the eyes of the Betfarians who make Under 2.5 Goals just [1.87] to back. However, I'm sticking with my first instinct and going for Over 2.5 Goals at [2.1].

Fernando Torres will start for the Reds, and after his brace against Chelsea in Liverpool's last league fixture at Anfield, he is well worth a bet at around [5.0] once the First Goalscorer market materialises.

Comments (1)

1. SLou | 22 February 2009

   Good tips for Bolton and Middlesbrough, shame about Arsenal they let me down on my coupon.