Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (10th February 2007)

Reading are absolutely flying at the moment and have shown a remarkable level of consistency in their first season in the Premiership. Their win at City moved them above Portsmouth into 6th place and now that Coppell knows they are safe, they can concentrate on a European place. At the Madjeski, the Royals have won 4 of their last 6 and since coming back into the side, Lita has proved just how good a striker he can be; the opposition have plenty to be wary of. Villa have now improved their home form with 7 points from the last 3 games but on the road they've struggled, losing their last 4. With only 1 away win all season, it looks unlikely that O'Neill's side will pick up anything here and there still remains a lot of work for him to do.

Chelsea remain 6 points behind leaders United and will be extra keen for revenge after losing at the Riverside early on in the season. After Terry's return to the pitch towards the end of the Charlton game he could well start against Boro given Chelsea's other defensive injuries; Ashley Cole is definitely out and Bridge and Boulharouz face late fitness tests. The Blues are yet to lose at Stamford Bridge this season and face a Boro side that have picked up some results in recent away games; a draw at Portsmouth and a win at the Valley in their last two but that victory remains their only one on the road this season. At the back, the return of Xavier has given Boro a more robust look and up front the partnership of Yakubu and Viduka is still causing problems; who will make way for Dong-Gook Lee may prove more telling towards the end of the campaign. Boro could well grab a goal but any sort of result is unlikely.

Only 1 place and 2 points separate these two with Everton just having the edge plus the luxury of a game in hand. Everton have only lost twice at home and were recently only the third side to go to Anfield and get a point. Moyes has a full strength squad to select from with McFadden the only certainty to miss out and Johnson 50/50. Blackburn have shown inconsistencies in recent games and only just beat Sheffield United at Ewood Park in injury time. They've lost their last 2 on the road, a 3-0 battering at Chelsea and a narrow defeat at Watford, but it shouldn't be forgotten that Rovers did go to Goodison in early January and knock Everton out of the FA Cup to the tune of 4 goals to 1. Blackburn haven't drawn a game in their last 12 and it's about time the spoils were shared.

It looks like Charlton have improved under Pardew as evidenced by their last 3 games; victory at Fratton Park, a draw at Bolton and then only a 1-0 defeat at home to Chelsea. On the road Charlton have only take 5 points this season (4 of those coming in their last 2 away fixtures) but Old Trafford is never the easiest place to go and this will be a true measure of how far Pardew has come; mind you, he's in a bit of a 'no lose' situation as regards this fixture and a heavy defeat wouldn't condemn him either. Their hosts, United, are absolutely rampant at the moment and took Spurs apart in the second half; it's just a pity that one of their most influential players feels the need to cheat. Diving aside, United have dropped just 5 points at home this season and it's unlikely they'll slip up in wresting away the title from the current champions. This looks like a nailed on victory for the home side.

Warnock's lads are doing their manager proud in their bid for Premiership safety and they nearly claimed a point at Ewood Park before being undone in injury time. They've only succumbed to defeat 4 times at Bramall Lane this season and suffered defeat just once in their last 6 home fixtures. They should feel confident about taking on a Spurs side that look to have a soft underbelly. United may have cheated their way to the first goal at White Hart Lane but Spurs at home should not have capitulated the way they did. They may have taken 2 points from their last 2 away fixtures but defeats against Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal and United will have left them short on confidence and they are unlikely to have the stomach for a scrap. Just 1 win away from the Lane sums up their attitude and the Blades should be expected to compound Spurs's recent misery.

In what is a replay of the FA Cup fixture when Watford knocked the Hammers out with the only goal of the game, expect it to be just as difficult to pick a winner between these 2 relegation candidates. Watford are 10 points adrift of safety and their fate is almost certainly sealed, where as West Ham have to make up a 5 point deficit which given the way they are playing will prove just as difficult. Curbishley has been out of luck with his new signings and both Upson and Neill are likely to miss this one through injury. Their recent home form has been woeful with just 1 win in the last 6 and the only consolation for them is that Watford are yet to score a victory on their travels in the Premiership. The Hornets have scored just 4 goals on the road but were these teams both to go down, Watford would be in a far better position to come straight back up. There's very little to choose between them on what is likely to be a very fraught afternoon.

The victory at Vicarage Road will have given the Bolton players a much needed boost after a couple of unexpected draws and defeats. The Trotters are still in the mix for Europe and can't be discounted from pipping Arsenal for a Champions League position. They've only lost 3 times at the Reebok this season and not lost in their last 5 so the omens look good as they take on a Fulham side that are sometimes just plain awful on the road. When Fulham are bad they tend to be very bad as evidenced by the defeat at Sheffield United; there have been instances this season where Coleman looked to have resolved their away form but occasionally the old problems come back to bite them. They've drawn 7 of their away games but only won once, and they could well struggle against a Bolton side that won't hesitate to take the game to them.

Arsenal don't appear to have found the same consistency in the league this season, although the thought of what is yet to come from their youth academy is frightening. They look on course for a Champions League place this time around but with Bolton breathing down their necks, they can't afford any more slip-ups. The Gunners remain undefeated at the Emirates and take on a Wigan side hovering just above the relegation places. Last weekend at the JJB against Portsmouth, Wigan secured their first victory in 8 home attempts but it won't be an easy ride as Paul Jewell tries to steer his side to safety. Last season, Wigan did beat Arsenal at Highbury in extra time to clinch a place in the Carling Cup final, but both clubs have had changes in personnel since then and Wigan are definitely the weaker for it. Arsenal's big guns to knock the wind out of Wigan's sails.