Football, racing and more with expert advice. Get the best football bets and prices!

Newcastle VS Leicester

These two teams last met up at this (Championship) level seventeen years ago when Newcastle thrashed Leicester 7-1.

Aston Villa VS Fulham

Ignoring the two 0-0 draws between the two sides at Villa Park (via eight Premiership matches), you might like to consider the ‘first goal’ facts below before you place any relevant wagers:

Villa scored the first goal on five occasions (how many minutes–result):

20 minutes (drew)

26 (won)

29 (won)

33 (won)

50 (won)

Fulham scored the opening goal on one occasion:

6 minutes (lost)

The last six Premiership matches between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford have failed to produce any first half goals.

Only on five occasions have goals been scored in the first half of the match at Old Trafford between the two clubs during the seventeen year history of the Premiership.

As we anticipate the build up (and mind game comments) relating to the Manchester United/Arsenal game on Saturday, it’s worth noting that Arsenal have scored just two goals in the last seven Premiership matches at Old Trafford, securing just five of the available twenty one points in the process.

There is no Premiership history between these two clubs.

All time league record: Wolves: 20 wins–8 draws–Hull: 24 wins

This is not a high profile game by any means, but in the wider context of the whole season, this could well prove to be one of the most important matches these two sides will.

Both Hull City & Wolves are widely considered to be relegation candidates and this view has not changed given what we have witnessed from both sides so far this season.

Phil Brown & Mick McCarthy are managers with experience and they while they both portray confidence in their own teams to the outside world, they will know that they both face massive tasks to stay up this season.

In terms of the football action this season, then Hull City did well at Chelsea but lost & then were destroyed by Tottenham at home, which must have dented their confidence & results like that will make it very hard to come back from.

Wolves played well, but got beaten on the opening day at home & then played well & won at Wigan so at least they have something positive to build upon.

We believe that the pressures of not losing could well be the deciding factor in this match & a competitive, scoring draw looks the value call in what is likely to be a very close game.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Draw

			Bet Now

Correct score options: 1-1/2-2

			Bet Now

			Bet Now

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Hunt/Keogh

Double Result: Draw Half Time & Full Time

			Bet Now

Just one Premiership match to report from last year when Stoke beat Sunderland by a 1-0 margin.

Fuller scored the only goal on seventy three minutes.

All time league record: Stoke 37 wins–28 draws–Sunderland 57 wins

Before bookmakers margins were added and from a ‘neutral pitch’ perspective, layers would offer the following odds if judging the match purely on previous results (percentages):

9/4 Stoke
7/2 Draw
9/8 Sunderland

			Bet Now

We are greatly interested in this game as it brings together two managers we have the greatest of respect for & we feel both of these sides will give punters plenty of cheer this season.

Stoke City were the real success of last season & their achievement of not only staying up but doing it with a fair degree of comfort deserve great respect.

Tony Pulis is a manager & person whom we rate very highly & his ability to get the very best out of the Stoke City squad and also conduct himself in a very professional manner with great honour & integrity sits well with us.

Stoke City were incredible at home last season, being spurred on every time by their tremendous crowd & home form will again be the key this year, so we expect much of the same from them.

Steve Bruce has taken over at Sunderland after doing a great job at Wigan & we do expect him to have a major impact at Sunderland in the next couple of seasons & beyond.

Sunderland have got the profile of a progressive club & they certainly have given Steve Bruce plenty of backing in the transfer market which has enabled him to sign the quality that will enhance Sunderland’s level of performance.

Both Tony Pulis & Steve Bruce base their teams on being solid, physically strong, organised & this certainly looks set to be a very competitive match in which we feel both teams will cancel each other out & a scoring draw looks the value bet in our view.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Draw

			Bet Now

Correct score options: 1-1/2-2

			Bet Now

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Fuller/Kenwyn Jones

Double Result: Draw Half Time & Full Time

			Bet Now

The match stats below are compiled with major football betting markets in mind. They are presented as facts without recommendation, allowing you to spot trends and decide whether they have relevance as betting opportunities. Click any ‘Bet Now’ button to see a bet slip from that bookmaker.

NARATIVE:

Everton come into this year’s game on a hat trick having won the last two games with an aggregate score-line of 6-1. Wigan snared four of the first six available points in this fixture having been promoted to the Premiership in the 2004/2005 season but have lost the plot on their last two visits to Goodison Park.

MARKET: Result

STATS:

4 Premiership Matchesplayed to date:

Everton: 2 wins, 1 draw, Wigan: 1 win (goal difference: 8-4)

			Bet Now

MARKET: Correct Score

STATS:

Repetitive correct score details: None (four different score-lines)

MARKET: Half-time/Full-time Market

STATS:

Everton/Everton: 2
Everton/Draw: 0
Everton/Wigan: 0
Draw/Everton: 0
Draw/Draw: 1
Draw/Wigan: 1
Wigan/Everton: 0
Wigan/Draw: 0
Wigan/Wigan: 0

			Bet Now

MARKET: First team to score

STATS:

Everton x 3, Wigan x 1

			Bet Now

MARKET: Even or odd total of goals:

STATS:

2 x even, 2 x odd

			Bet Now

Everton suffered a terrible start to last season with their home form particularly poor & having started this season with a disastrous 6-1 home defeat against Arsenal, David Moyes will be fully motivated & determined not to let that happen again here against Wigan. Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez will be looking to his Wigan players to put on a good performance after their cup exit last night.

Everton did not have the best pre-season with all the Lescott transfers rumours, poor pre-season form & a general lack of positive transfer activity, which all appeared to manifest itself against Arsenal.

Everton responded well by gaining a 4-0 win in the Europa League & that should have given them the boost they need to get their season back on track.

Wigan produced an excellent performance to beat Aston Villa away but then followed that by losing at home to Wolves & being ejected from the Carling Cup by Blackpool, so clearly it is taking time for Roberto Martinez to settle into his job & for the Wigan squad to get used to his new methods & tactics.

The outlook for this game looks good because we know Everton will be intent on playing positive football being the home side wanting the win & Roberto Martinez’s commitment to positive football, so it should be a decent game & one that we feel that Everton can make home advantage.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Everton to win

			Bet Now

Correct score options: Everton to win 2-0/2-1

			Bet Now

			Bet Now

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Cahill/Saha

Scorecast options: Cahill/Saha score 1st + Everton win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Everton Half Time & Full Time

			Bet Now