Swans value to keep things close at Stamford Bridge

In the second of our three part guide to the Premier League action on Boxing Day we look at the games from Villa Park, the Cardiff City Stadium and Stamford Bridge.

Aston Villa are 37/40 (BETVICTOR) to see off Crystal Palace and pick up a much needed three points. The Midlands side have now won just two of their last 11 games and with goals proving hard to come by (they have now failed to score in seven of their last ten) they look unbackable even if it is Crystal Palace who are visiting on Boxing Day.

The Eagles suffered their first real hammering under Tony Pulis going down 3-0 to Newcastle and they are 7/2 (GENERAL) to grab only their second away win of the season (the other coming at Hull) while the draw is an option at 5/2 (GENERAL).

This is a tough game to predict from a match point of view so it might make more sense to look at one of the side markets. I talked before about how Villa are struggling to find the back of the net and the time of the first goal market could be the way to play this game. BETVICTOR are going 11/10 that it comes after the 27th minute and this looks the way to play it as Palace will certainly come to keep things tight and Villa are struggling for goals.

Vincent Tan gave Cardiff fans the Christmas Present they wanted with news that he has no intention to fire Malky Mackay, well at least for now. It was hardly a ringing endorsement of the manager but it should at least mean that the mood for this game is somewhat less poisonous than it could have been. The Welsh side are the 12/5 (bet365) outsiders for their game with Southampton who have just one win from their last nine in all competitions and have not won away since September. The price of 11/8 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes/CORAL) looks a little short on the Saints considering this form though I would not be rushing to back Cardiff as you have no idea how recent events have affected them.

The best bet in this game might be the evens (888 SPORT/CORAL/unibet) on both teams to score as this will have paid in eight of the last nine Southampton games while the Welsh side have only failed to fire in one of their last five home games.

With just one defeat from their last five meetings Swansea will fancy themselves of getting something from their visit to Stamford Bridge where they can be backed at 19/2 (BETVICTOR) while the draw is a 9/2 (GENERAL) chance.

Chelsea will look to build on impressive home form as they have won seven of their last eight at Stamford Bridge with the other game ending in a draw. That being said I can not be rushing to back the Blues at odds of 4/11 (CORAL).

I think the recommended bet then might be in taking the Swans on the Asian Handicap with a start of 1.5 at odds of 9/10 (BETVICTOR). This bet will pay out if the Welsh side can manage to avoid losing the game by two or more goals. The signs are that they can as the Swans have lost by more than one goal just twice this season in the Premier League and one of those was at the Eithad where everybody is getting hammered. Chelsea meanwhile have failed to win by two or more goals in home games aaginst Palace, West Brom and Aston Villa this season so they are not quite the force at Stamford Bridge the odds suggest they are.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Swansea +1.5 on Asian Handicap v Chelsea, 9/10 (BETVICTOR)
SILVER: Both teams to score Cardiff v Southampton, evens (888 SPORT/CORAL/unibet)
BRONZE: First goal after 27th minute Villa v Palace, 11/10 (BETVICTOR)

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26/12/2013     © Frixo 2026