Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (17th March 2007)

United have dropped just 5 points at Old Trafford this season and are undoubtedly in the driving seat to wrest the Premiership title from their closest contenders. They've emerged victorious in their last 5 Premiership home games and although they may be short on attacking options with Saha and Solskjaer injured and Larsson having returned to Sweden, they still have matchwinners like Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs available. They host a Bolton side that have seen their Champions League ambitions slip away in recent weeks; they've only managed a solitary win in their last 4 away games. They would have slipped further down the league had it not been for the mediocre performances of the other teams around them. Allardyce will be keen to see an improvement after a 2 week break but the Theatre of Dreams is never the easiest place to go to when you've not been doing well and Bolton will be fortunate to emerge with anything in the way of points.

Chelsea remain only 1 of 2 teams undefeated at home this season and as much heart as the Blades put into their performances, it is unlikely to overthrow the home side at Stamford Bridge. As ever rumours are widespread regarding Mourinho's departure at the end of this season's campaign and Lampard's contract clause, but despite their injuries and the mounting number of games they are still grinding out results. A big bonus has been the return of John Terry to the front line and not surprisingly they kept a clean sheet at Eastlands, but this might say more about City's impotent strikeforce. Chelsea are still only 6 points behind Man Utd and believe they can win all 4 trophies this season but lady luck is unlikely to smile that kindly upon them. Sheffield United are still not safe although they have made remarkable progress to get to 31 points and I suspect they will try and keep the score down at the Bridge so that their confidence doesn't get knocked too much. Five successive away defeats tells its own story and it's unfortunate for them that Terry is back, so nil points for the Blades despite their passion.

City failed to take anything at home to Chelsea in the midweek fixture although Pearce's side showed a lot more passion and commitment but all to no avail. The core of their problems is their shot shy strikers and only 20 goals all season emphasises the point, with a fair number of those contributed from midfield. City are in a perilous position if Charlton begin to make ground on them, and with 9 or 10 games to go anything could happen. Any good results City have had in the last couple of months have come on the road but Boro have enjoyed some good form and not been defeated in their last 6 at the Riverside. They have only lost 3 times at home this season and have the partnership of Viduka and Yakubu to thank for their improved form. Southgate's side are better when they're on the front foot but this shouldn't devalue Woodgate's contribution to recent results; an organised defence is vital if they are to build. Another away fixture will tell just how much heart City are willing to give for the cause, but Boro are likely to take advantage of a club treading on eggshells.

Reading have fulfilled their early season promise and remain in a UEFA place as we enter the final quarter. Portsmouth were another side that surprised many during the first half of the season but their form this side of Christmas has been disappointing and they will need to improve if they are to compete for a place in Europe next season. Reading have won 9 of their 14 games at the Madjeski where as Portsmouth have now lost 7 on the road. Only 2 places and 2 points separate them but recent form points to a win for the Royals; they've won their last 4 at home whilst Pompey have only taken 1 point from their last 4 on the road. Coppell has instilled a great spirit amongst his squad and this plus good attacking football should carry them to 3 points against Portsmouth.

Spurs are currently being touted as the most entertaining club in the Premiership. Whilst the neutral will have enjoyed goals galore, it will have been nail-biting at times for the die-hard fan. The FA Cup victory at Craven Cottage has turned their season around after some poor Premiership performances threatened to derail a good start. They're still suffering with injuries at the back but the fact remains that they've won 7 of their last 8 games in all competitions, the exception being the highly watchable draw at Stamford Bridge. Their opponents, Watford, have shown some resilience in recent games but with only 20 points on the board and 10 points off survival, the Championship beckons. The Hornets have secured just a single victory on their travels this season and may see their best route to success in stopping Spurs from playing. Berbatov could well be rested for this one and it will be interesting to see if they can play with the same fluency without him. Watford will make life difficult but Spurs should emerge victorious.

Only 1 place and 1 point separate these 2 sides towards the wrong end of the table. Wigan have pulled some results out of the bag in their last few games and have started to pull away from the drop zone but Fulham can't seem to put a good run together and ensure their safety. Both of these sides are still in danger so a victory could be of paramount importance, especially if other results go against them. Wigan have suspension and injury problems (the big miss will be McCulloch) but Caleb Folan has emerged as a good buy. The Latics have won their last 2 games and Jewell should have Fulham targeted as a maximum pointer given that Fulham have only taken the full 3 points away from home on 1 occasion. Montella is still suspended and they have a number of midfield players still injured but they can play some good football if they put their minds to it. For both these teams there is still survival to play for so expect a bit of a dogfight. It will be tight but Wigan should prove stronger.

Newcastle tumbled out of Europe midweek on the back of yet another poor away performance. Though the makeshift partnership of Martins and Dyer has promised much, the schoolboy defending let the side down again. The Magpies are safe but their form on the road is pretty dreadful; they've lost 9 of their 14 away games and lost 5 of their last 6. Their resolve will be firmly tested when they visit the Valley where Charlton firmly believe that they can escape relegation. The Addicks are 6 points adrift of safety but their form has improved recently and they look the favourite of the relegation candidates to survive. Pardew's appointment has given hope to the club and the return to fitness of Darren Bent couldn't have been better timed. Given Newcastle's poor away form, Charlton should see this as golden chance for maximum points.

The midweek defeat to Arsenal stopped Villa putting together a nice little home run that could have given them a bit more self-belief as the season approaches its conclusion. They've lost 3 of their last 6 at Villa Park and play host to another of the big sides this weekend. If Villa are to progress they need to beat the weaker sides and build on these performances when taking on the big four as a measure of how far they've come; as yet the O'Neill revolution is still in its early stages. Liverpool travel to Villa Park on the back of some rejuvenated away form after poor away results in the early half of the season. The Reds have won 4 of their last 6 Premiership fixtures on the road and though they look certain of at least hanging on to 4th place, they will want to match last season's final position and pip Arsenal into 3rd. The Gunners have a 2 point and game in hand advantage so Liverpool need to secure a result here and hope the blue half of Liverpool take points off of Wenger's side. Liverpool to nick a narrow win.