Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (25th February 2006)

Sunderland may have picked up the odd point here and there but their future is doomed. The Championship beckons and all they can do now is go down with some pride; I know it's not mathematically over and done with yet but from a betting point of view it's a dead cert. Talking of relegation, Birmingham are only 2 places above them but they do have an extra 10 points. However they still need another 6 points to catch Boro immediately above them; this in itself will be some achievement. It all points to a massive 6 pointer at St Andrews and though Birmingham have lost 7 of their 12 home games they should be fired up for this one.

Blackburn haven't lost at home in their last 6 and of those have notched up 4 wins. Overall they have only lost twice at home this season. Mark Hughes's side have a tough reputation and do not lie down easily; they also have a potential match winner in Morten Pedersen. Some may think Arsenal may have turned the corner after the Madrid result but the truth of the matter is that they have been exceptional away from home in the Champions League this season whilst being awful on the road domestically; 3 wins is just not enough for a team of Arsenal's calibre. The other factor is that Real didn't really get in and about the Arsenal players and gave them too much space; the only thing you can be certain of from a Blackburn side is that they will be snapping at the heels of the opposition at every opportunity. Arsenal should expect a much tougher game and Rovers could get a result.

Newcastle may have put together a good string of results together under the temporary partnership of Roeder and Shearer but results don't tell the whole story and whoever takes the permanent role at St James Park will have their work cut out. In midfield they are strong but their defence is weak and without Shearer, Owen and Dyer they struggle up front. Shearer was not fit enough to return midweek against Charlton so remains doubtful and Dyer looks to be sidelined for another 3 weeks with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. They face an Everton side who are currently top of the Premiership form guide and could inflict Newcastle's first defeat under the temporary management. The curse of the manager of the month doesn't seem to have afflicted Moyes and they now have their sights set on a UEFA place. A single goal should be enough for Everton to settle this one.

Bolton have found it tough scoring of late but they have only lost at home just the once in the Premiership this season. They may have the distraction of a midweek European game, although they have responded well in subsequent Premiership games, but the possibility of Henrik Pedersen returning from injury could provide them with a goal scoring alternative. Their opponents this weekend are Fulham and are the only Premiership side yet to secure an away win; given how difficult it is to score at the Reebok a Fulham win looks extremely unlikely. Fulham's away form couldn't be more different from their home form and with only 1 point from their last 6 away games, Bolton should be backed

West Brom may be lying only 1 place above the relegation spots but they do have a 6 point gap above closest placed Birmingham and when teams are struggling to get points 6 points is a big ask to make up; not to say that the Baggies are safe but their home form is fantastic compared to the teams around them. With 6 wins and some good scalps, such as Arsenal, they should start favourites but Boro have been an inconsistent side this season and have paid for their European commitments by sacrificing their Premiership position and are consequently only 1 place above the Baggies. Unlike Bolton, Boro have not fared too well in Premiership games immediately following European excursions but they will have been buoyed by their home win over Chelsea. The thing is how much will Boro's game against Stuttgart affect their weekend performance?