Set Pieces proving to be the Achilles Heel for Sunderland

If the managers of the Premier League season were to have a report card handed to them the report for Stoke would read ’seem to have turned over a new-leaf’ while for Man City it would state ’clearly gifted but tends to lack concentration at times.’ Stoke have taken six points from their first two games and possibly could have seven. Some people are rushing to point Mark Hughes as a saviour which might be pushing it a bit. A win over Palace and a wonder free-kick against an off-colour West Ham probably means the early returns flatter them. Still the Britannia will always be a tough place to come as Man City have found with just one win from their last six visits and four of these games ending drawn.

I think City should get all three points but with memories fresh of their performance against Cardiff and a number of players coming back from international duty odds of 4/6 (paddy Power/ladbrokes.YOU WIN) do not appeal. Those who can sense the upset can get Stoke at 5/1 (GENERAL) while the draw is 3/1 (BETVICTOR).

If you must have a bet consider the time of goal market where the first goal to come between the 28th and 90th minute is priced at 11/10 (BETVICTOR). This seems fair as Stoke will look to keep things tight at the start and Man City might need a while to break them down.

Keeping up the tenuous school theme and Mesut Ozil would be the exotic foreign exchange teacher that all the boys fancy. Gunners fans making the trip up to the North East will be hoping that the new big money signing will start against Sunderland and he is 10/3 (SPREADEX) to score at anytime.

Sunderland have had a less than impressive start to the season picking up just one point from their three games and it does not get any easier when they take on Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The Gunners are the 7/10 (BETVICTOR/paddy Power/ladbrokes) favourites for the game as they take on a Sunderland side who have won just one of the last nine between the pair at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats can be backed at 19/4 (sportingbet/paddy Power) and the draw at 14/5 (GENERAL).

The bet in this game is taking centre-back duo Laurent Koscielny and Per Metersacker in the anytime scorer market. Both players are a threat from set-pieces and Sunderland have conceded a goal in every game that has come from either a set-piece or a cross into the box and a resulting header. The Pole is 12/1 (GENERAL) and the German is 27/2 (BWIN).

Tottenham take on Norwich at White Hart Lane in a game in which you would expect the home side to win but odds of 9/20 (BETVICTOR/WINNER/YOU WIN) do not exactly inspire betting on the home side especially if you consider that since 2012 the Canaries have played Spurs four times and are unbeaten in those games.

Those who think Norwich can get something from the game can back them at 15/2 (TOTESPORT/betfred) while the draw is a best priced 18/5 (BETVICTOR) though Norwich have won only one of their last 11 away games in the Premier League. The under 2.5 goals at 5/4 (ladbrokes) looks the way to play this as the Tottenham attack is still taking time to gel together. Spurs have had under 2,5 goals in each of their three league games this season while five of the last eight Norwich away games have gone under.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Under 2.5 goals in Tottenham v Norwich, 5/4 (ladbrokes)
SILVER: Per Metesacker to score anytime v Sunderland, 27/2 (BWIN)
BRONZE: Laurent Koscielny to score anytime v Sunderland, 12/1 (GENERAL)

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14/09/2013     © Frixo 2026