Benteke must bounce back to form soon

Gus Poyet must feel like he has ran over a few hundred Black Cats such is the way his luck is going away from home. Away to Hull he found his side reduced to nine men with two crazy tackles, while last time out against Stoke Wes Brown was sent-off for a challenge that should not have even resulted in a free-kick. Sunderland and their travelling supporters meanwhile must feel like running over some Black Cats as they have failed to win any of their last 13 games outside of the North-East. This Saturday (3pm) they travel to Villa Park a ground where they lost 6-1 at the end of April. They are 16/5 (BETVICTOR) for victory and keeping 11 men on the pitch will be a big start.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert will be pleased with the way his side fought back against West Brom on Monday night to gain a point after being 2-0 down, a reward for his brave triple sub move. Villa tend to do well against sides round about them and are unbeaten in all five meetings with teams in the bottom half this including a recent home victory over Cardiff. The Midlands side will be popular at evens (BETVICTOR/william hill) to win the game while the draw is available at 5/2 (sportingbet/BETVICTOR).

Despite not doing the business for us on Monday night and having not netted in the Premier League since the 14th September I am sticking with Christian Benteke to score at anytime. The Belgian international will fancy his chances against a defence that has shipped 13 goals in their last five away games. He can be backed at 7/4 (bet365) and this looks good especially considering he grabbed a hat-trick in the corresponding fixture last season.

The under 2.5 goals will be popular as this would have paid in the last three Aston Villa home league games and in the last three Sunderland league away games. The prices reflect this though with 4/5 (boylesports/ladbrokes/betway) the best on offer.

In another 3.00pm kick-off Saturday Cardiff take on Arsenal at the Cardiff City Stadium, a name I am sure took them all of three seconds to come up with. Arsenal are the 8/13 (GENERAL) favourites for the game and are red-hot at the moment with nine wins from their last 11 in the Premier League and the Gunners will have had their morale boosted by recent Champions League victories over Dortmund and Marseille. Confidence though will not be in short supply for the Welsh side though as they have already beaten Man City, drawn with Man United (last weekend) and seen off Swansea in front of their own fans. Malky Mackay clearly knows how to get his team prepared for a big game and they are 5/1 (GENERAL) while the draw is 16/5 (sportingbet/BETVICTOR).

A feature for the Gunners in recent games has been the remarkable defensive work with Per Mertesacker perhaps an under the radar candidate for player of the year. The Gunners have shipped just one goal in their last five in all competitions and with the greatest respect to Cardiff a side that can keep Dortmund and Liverpool scoreless have to be backed at 3/2 (betway) to get a clean sheet. In addition take the 11/10 (SPORTINGBET/boylesports/betway) are offering on the under 2.5 goals. Eight of the 14 games Cardiff have played in all competitions this season have gone under 2.5 goals including three of their last four. Arsenal meanwhile have gone under in each of their last seven games.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Christian Benteke to score anytime v Sunderland, 7/4 (bet365)
SILVER: Arsenal to keep a clean sheet v Cardiff, 3/2 (betway)
BRONZE: Under 2.5 goals in game between Cardiff v Arsenal, 11/10 (SPORTINGBET/boylesports/BETWAY)

Go To bet365

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30/11/2013     © Frixo 2026