Villa value to see off Magpies

If the start of the Premier League season had a report card for Villa it would read ’showing real signs of a promising year’ while for Newcastle it would say ’have potential but need to stay away from bad influences (Joe Kinnear).’

Aston Villa have attracted a lot of plaudits for the way they have started the season yet this is a tougher game where the expectation is on them to win and they will have to break a stubborn Newcastle side down. Asides from hammerings from Man City the Magpies have proven themselves difficult to break down on their travels. Villa though have Christian Benteke spearheading a front three that outside the big teams has no equal and even amongst some of the bigger teams. If you take away games against the top seven sides Villa are unbeaten in their last five home games, winning three and drawing two and look good value at 6/5 (STAN JAMES).

Newcastle did win at this ground last season but that was just one of two wins away from home in the entire season and I can not see them repeat that performance here.

I also could not talk anyone out of Christian Benteke in the anytime scorer market at 5/4 (BETVICTOR). The Belgian has 11 goals in his last 12 Premier League games.

For Fulham and West Brom the report card would simply read ’could do better.’ The London side grabbed three points from their opener in a game that Sunderland dominated, they were outclassed by Arsenal before limping to defeat against Newcastle. West Brom meanwhile lost at home to Southampton on the opening day before an encouraging point at Everton was followed by a loss at home to Swansea.

Fulham are the 23/20 (GENERAL) favourites as they look to continue a run that has seen them fail to lose any of their last 9 comeptitive home matches with the Baggies. West Brom meanwhile have failed to win any of their last 7 in the Premier League and are available at 11/4 (BETVICTOR) while the draw is 5/2 (BETVICTOR).

This looks a very tough game to call so I will avoid though I want to recommend a quick 10/1 bet on both Martin Jol (GENERAL) and Steve Clarke (ladbrokes) to be first manager to leave. The loser of this game will come right down in betting as Fulham have new owners and West Brom have shown with Di Matteo they are not afraid to pull the trigger.

Hull and Cardiff would share similar comments on the report card ’new boys have settled in well and made an encouraging start, making friends easily.’

The Tigers are the 6/4 (paddy Power) favourites as they have home advantage and Steve Bruce will have marked this as a game his side can win, then again so will Malky MacKay.

The last time these sides met was on that dramatic last day of the season were the game ended 2-2 and it was a party for both sets of fans, a draw here again is priced at 23/10 (SKYBET/BETVICTOR) while the Cardiff win is 9/4 (BETVICTOR). The match markets look tough to predict so instead I will offer a recommended bet in the anytime scorer markets where Peter Whittingham is the call at 5/1 (bet365/BETVICTOR). The Cardiff midfielder has yet to find the net but is averaging over 2 shots per game the same number as striker Frazier Campbell. Lampard and Toure have already beaten McGregor from distance this season and it is worth chancing the Cardiff player does the same.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Aston Villa to beat Newcastle, 6/5 (STAN JAMES)
SILVER: Christian Benteke to score anytime v Newcastle, 5/4 (BETVICTOR)
BRONZE: Peter Whittingham to score anytime v Hull, 5/1 (bet365/BETVICTOR)

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14/09/2013     © Frixo 2026