Barclays Premier League Round-up Preview

With four games to go in the Barclays Premier League season, the relegation scrap is beginning to intensify – and Aston Villa are far from safe after being crushed 4-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Boss Alex McLeish will be praying for a vital three points at home to Sunderland this forthcoming weekend to ease his struggling side clear of danger, but they have it all to do with a depleted squad and confidence at an all-time low.

A draw may end up being enough for the Villains who currently hold a six point buffer over the bottom three, but the warning signals are there for all to see and even if survival is secured, major changes have to be made in time for 2012/2013.

The blessing for Villa is the fact Sunderland’s recent form has also been poor and it really is hard to make a strong case for either team.

A draw probably looks the most likely result from a betting perspective and the same can also be said for Bolton against Swansea.

The Trotters dismal home record has kept them firmly in trouble throughout the campaign and they would be massive underdogs if facing a team with a better showing on the road.

Swansea have indeed done their best work at the Liberty Stadium and nine away defeats is enough to suggest that there are plenty of weaknesses for Owen Coyle’s men to potentially exploit.

But after picking up just fourteen points at the Reebok from sixteen matches, it really is difficult for punters to get stuck into the hosts.

QPR could quite conceivably be the value of the weekend and the Hoops can land odds of around 7/2 against a Spurs side on the decline.

Tottenham were extremely poor at home to Norwich in the league before being battered by Chelsea in the F.A Cup semi-final – and QPR will smell blood in front of their own supporters at this crucial stage of the season.

Elsewhere, both Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City will be hoping to bounce back following heavy defeats but it is Steve Kean’s men who really need the three points at Ewood Park.

Rovers have been beaten ten times at home this term but they have shown the mettle to win against the likes of Arsenal and can pull off a result here with the Canaries safe in mid-table with little to play for.

Liverpool vs. West Brom completes the rest of the weekend action on Sunday April 22 and the Reds are set to get back in the swing of things following their epic triumph over Merseyside rivals Everton in the F.A Cup.

Andy Carroll turned everything around with his late header at Wembley and it is a goal which should give him belief to carry on scoring after a miserable start to his career at Anfield.

This mid-table clash offers little by way of incentive for both sides but the Kop outfit will be keen to kick on and their odds of 1/2 make appeal considering that they will be on such a high after last weekend.

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16/04/2012     © Frixo 2024