Premier League Preview 11th Dec

Second bottom takes on third bottom in the Premier League Tuesday night as Sunderland meet Reading in a crucial game. The Black Cats know that a win here would see them move above Wigan and out of the bottom three and they are 21/20 (boylesports/paddy Power) for victory. Sunderland have have won none of their last nine Premier League games. Reading though for their part have lost their last four games and it is 19/6 (pinnacle) a Reading victory while the draw is a best priced 13/5 (pinnacle).

Steven Fletcher is 11/2 (paddy Power) to grab the first goal while Louis Saha is 7/1(general), Stephane Sessegnon is 15/2 (general) and Connor Whickham is 8/1 (Totesport/betfred/BetVictor). Those looking for Reading player can get Adam Le Fondre at 8/1 (bet365/BetVictor) while Pavel Pogrebnyak is also 8/1 (general).

This is a difficult game to call with the best of the bets probably in a market that has served us well so far this season and taking Nicky Shorey in the assist markets that boylesports offer. It is 4/1 that he assists anytime in the game and 12/1 the first goal. Shorey has created three of the last four goals that Reading have scored.

In the League Cup and with Chelsea away on World Club Championship duty just three of the four quarter-finals are taking place. The live game Tuesday night sees Bradford play host to Arsenal. The League Two side are 93/10 (Pinnacle) to spring the huge shock while the draw is available at 53/12 (Pinnacle) and the Arsenal win is 2/5 (BetVictor). Arsene Wenger must know that this trophy represents the best chance of winning a trophy for the Gunners this year. In addition the Gunners have never lost League Cup ties (from eight played) against a team from the fourth tier of English football. I like the look of Tomas Rosicky at 14/1 (Totesport/betfred) to score first or 4/1 (general) to score anytime. The Czech player was given a key role for Arsenal in their final Champions League game and with a need to establish some match fitness is likely to feature here where his class should shine.

Also Tuesday night in the League Cup is the return of Paul Lambert to Carrow Road as Aston Villa take on Norwich. Coral and william hill are offering 23/20 on a Norwich win as the Canaries seek their sixth consecutive home victory. Paul Lambert will hope that history is on the side of Villa as they have won all four previous meetings with the Canaries in this particular competition. It is 14/5 (boylesports) a Villa victory while the draw is a best priced 23/9 (Pinnacle). I think the 22/1 (ladbrokes) are offering on Jonny Howson to score first looks the bet with injury concerns over Wes Hoolahan the former Leeds man could be ready to slot into the role just off the striker. Howson hit the post at the weekend and could do the damage against the manager who signed him. He is 7/1 (ladbrokes) in the anytime market.

On Wednesday night Swansea take on Middlesbrough with the Swans 4/6 (general) favourites. If they play like they did in the second half against Norwich they should be ok, if they play like they did in the first half they could be in trouble. I think bookmakers have this priced about right with the draw 25/8 (Pinnacle) and the Boro win a 9/2 (general) chance. As such I think this looks an interesting game to watch but one to swerve from a betting point of view.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Tomas Rosicky to score v Bradford, 14/1 First (Totesport/betfred), 4/1 Anytime (general).
SILVER: Nicky Shorey to assist v Sunderland, 12/1 (First), 4/1 (Anytime), both boylesports
BRONZE: Jonny Howson to score v Aston Vila, 22/1 (First), 7/1 (Anytime), both ladbrokes

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11/12/2012     © Frixo 2024