Andy's Saturday tips - Tottenham will win

We had midweek Champions League football last week and we have internationals next weekend but in between we have the world's greatest league dishing up some mouth-watering games. As ever, let's try and work out how they will unfold and make some money on Betfair in the process...

Tottenham v West Ham

Tottenham are well and truly a part of Europe's elite now that they're in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and they've acquired a taste for that competition. The problem is that they'll have to finish in the Premier League's top four again this season because going all the way in Europe this year is perhaps a bridge too far for a side making their debut.

They're involved in a right tussle for a top-four spot with Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea, whilst I wouldn't completely rule Liverpool just yet. To finish there for a second year running they will need to be winning home games such as these against teams well below them in the table.

Harry has plenty of options up front at the moment now that Jermain Defoe is fully fit and that means they have goal threats on the bench as well as in the starting XI.

West Ham will be disappointed at being knocked out of the FA Cup but at least now they can focus solely on Premier League survival. For what it's worth, I think they'll beat the drop because, like Tottenham, they have a lot of options in attack, all of whom bring something a little different to the table.

That said, I think they'll have to wait till their next Premier League match to add to their points tally because Spurs should be a little too good for them at White Hart Lane. I can't see West Ham getting anything from this match but I can see them scoring.

Recommended Bets:
Back Tottenham to win at [1.62]
Back Tottenham to win 3-1 at [15.0]
Back both teams to score at [1.86]

Everton v Fulham

David Moyes is having a really frustrating season. Once the epitome of consistency, winning most of their home league matches against sides outside the top four and causing a few upsets from time to time, this year we just never know what we're going to get from Everton.

They produced heroics in the FA Cup away to Chelsea then lost in the next round at home to Reading. They've won away at Manchester City in the league yet lost 4-1 at home to West Brom; it's been that kind of season.

Injuries haven't helped matters and they will definitely be without Mikel Arteta on Saturday and perhaps Tim Cahill too. Despite this, I'm actually going to go ahead and say that I think they'll win this match.

Fulham are a better away side under Mark Hughes than they have been in recent years and have drawn eight times, which is pretty respectable, but they've won just once on the road this season. Part of the reason for that is that whereas they often score one goal away from home, they seldom score two.

We all know how deadly Louis Saha can be on his day and the deliveries from set-pieces from Leighton Baines will give Mark Schwarzer and his mates plenty to think about. I think the Toffees can score twice and maybe kick-start a decent finish to a complicated season.

Recommended Bets:
Back Everton to win at [2.06]
Back Everton to win 2-1 at [10.0]
Back Louis Saha to score at [2.7]

Andy's predictions for Saturday's 3pm kick-offs...

Aston Villa v Wolves
I always trust Villa at home to teams in the bottom six and I'm expecting a big performance from Ashley Young as they pick up three points.
Recommended Bets: Back Aston Villa to win at [1.93]; 3-1 at [17.0]

Blackburn v Blackpool
Blackpool have lost their winning habit over the last two months and I'd be very surprised if they rediscover it against this powerful Blackburn unit.
Recommended Bets: Back Blackburn to win at [1.87]; 2-1 at [9.6]

Manchester United v Bolton
It's difficult to make any sort of case for Bolton when you look at Manchester United's record at Old Trafford, so I'm expecting a standard home win.
Recommended Bets: Back Manchester United to win at [1.42]; 3-0 at [12.0]

Stoke v Newcastle
There isn't much in it when you assess the strengths of these two teams and I think the scoreline will reflect that.
Recommended Bets: Back the draw at [3.35]; 1-1 at [7.8]

West Brom v Arsenal
Arsenal are fully focussed on winning this league and their extra quality should mean they won't lose any ground on Manchester United this week.
Recommended Bets: Back Arsenal to win at [1.82]; 3-1 at [18.0]

Wigan v Birmingham
The points would mean slightly more to Wigan than they would to Birmingham but I think they'll both have to settle for splitting them.
Recommended Bets: Back the draw at [3.4]; back 1-1 at [7.2]

Andy Gray is now on Twitter so follow him for his exclusive tips and his take on the biggest stories in football each week.

Published: 18 Mar 2011

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