Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (13th May 2007)

Spurs finally put an end to Hughes's European hopes for next season but Rovers have put in some good performances since January to see themselves safely ensconced in midtable. Whether Hughes manages to hold on to Benni McCarthy remains to be seen but he has a good platform to build on come August. At Ewood Park Blackburn have won half their games and secured 4 victories from their last 6. The game against Reading will be no easy ride as the surprising defeat at home to Watford may suggest; Coppell and his players have done fantastically this season and can finish no lower than 9th but maybe the manager doesn't want the added distraction of Europe next season having seen several sides in recent years get into Europe but perform poorly domestically. Reading have lost 3 of their last 5 on the road and another defeat is likely to be the order of the day at Blackburn.

Bolton are on the slippery slope and there's real danger that they won't qualify for Europe. A defeat could easily see them hand the advantage to several of the teams below them; Allardyce's timely resignation hasn't helped matters and some of the Bolton players' minds already seem elsewhere. Bolton have the worst home record of the top 9 sides and have had a miserable run of recent results; not a good time for them to play a Villa side on the up. O'Neill has finally injected some spirit into the Villa side and their new signings coupled with players coming through from the academy has started to pay dividends. Their first home win for some time (against the Blades) plus 3 successive away victories should put them in pole position for another well fought 3 points at the Reebok. Bolton are fighting for a European place but Villa are in with a shout as well (albeit via the Fair Play league) and of the two, the Villa are the form team.

Chelsea performed their guard of honour duties with much respect and had it not been for the refereeing antics of Graham Poll, the game may well have gone a little smoother. The Blues have had to settle for 2nd this time around but will be fully focused on the rematch against United at Wembley; there's no doubt key personnel will again be missing on Sunday with the hope that they might be available Saturday week but as Chelsea showed in midweek they are still a force to be reckoned with. The one thing they won't want to relinquish is their undefeated home record and it will still prove a tough fixture for an Everton side already assured of a place in Europe next season. Maybe Everton won't finish 5th but they will still aim to finish as high as possible; the Toffees have just 1 victory in the last 6 away games but will do well to wrest any points from a Chelsea side aiming to finish on a high at home and with their undefeated home season intact.

If Spurs had not already sent the Addicks down on Monday night then their fate would almost certainly have been sealed at Anfield; if anything, the agony would only have been prolonged. Only goal difference separates Liverpool from Arsenal but Benitez will probably want to field a strong team given the difference that 3rd place makes and with a view to keeping his key players match fit for the Champions League final on Wednesday week. It probably helps Benitez that Charlton are already relegated and won't be fighting for their lives, and thus possibly avoiding risking injury to any of his squad. Charlton are already having to cope with the realities of relegation and with Pardew expected to lose the majority of his first team, their heart and soul is unlikely to be up for the challenge of 3 points at Anfield. Liverpool's home record is only second to United with just the 1 defeat where as Charlton have secured just 7 points away from the Valley; my money's on a home win.

This may not be the foregone conclusion everyone expects with United having already won the title and preparing for the first new Wembley cup final; West Ham are currently safe but need at least a point to ensure Premiership action next season, otherwise their fate lies in the hands of Sheffield United avoiding defeat at home to Wigan. The game at Stamford Bridge was no marker for what may happen at Old Trafford; as it's their last home game I'd fully expect Fergie to start with almost his best eleven and bring key players off that he feels deserve some of the crowd's adulation. United have lost just the once at Old Trafford this season and despite the Hammers' need for at least a point, it's difficult to see them getting anything. West Ham have lost 12 of their 18 away fixtures but given their desperate need for a point and the carnival atmosphere in the Theatre of Dreams, maybe a point will be a fitting end; not that anyone from Wigan would approve.

Only 3 points separate these 2 sides in the wrong half of the table although both are guaranteed Premiership football next season. Spurs ensured Fulham's safety on Monday night by relegating Charlton but a cloud of uncertainty will remain over Craven Cottage until they confirm Sanchez or someone else as the permanent manager; to be honest they've finished no better off than they would had they held on to Coleman. Fulham's away record is abysmal with just 1 victory this season and now that they cannot finish higher than their current 15th place there's probably not much incentive for them to do much at the Riverside. Much the same could be said for Boro; they can't finish higher than their current 12th place but at least Boro's home record makes fairly good reading with half of their 18 games ending in victories. Southgate has his work cut out in the summer but they should end their season on a happy note.

Portsmouth could still theoretically make 6th place but a lot depends on other results as well as a mandatory victory at home to Arsenal. The main problem for Redknapp has been injuries sustained to key players in the last couple of weeks and Arsenal are never the easiest side to host; Pompey need to push for the win and Arsenal will enjoy exploiting the space behind them as they look to better Liverpool's result in the chase for 3rd place. Portsmouth have won 11 of their 18 home games (their last 3 all ending in victories) where as Arsenal have shown an unfamiliar consistency on their travels this season and won just 7 away games. However, the reality is that the cream always rises to the top and though Arsenal haven't quite reached it they've achieved the minimum standard of Champions League football; this contrasts with Portsmouth's decline after showing the way at the top of the table in the early part of the season and now look unlikely to even make Europe. Arsenal should have a degree of freshness about them and 3rd place would be a bonus.

This is undoubtedly the game with most at stake. Sheff Utd need just a point to ensure their safety whilst Wigan must win and hope that West Ham get nothing at Old Trafford. Too much blame for both of these sides' predicaments has been layed at the door of Upton Park and the Argentinian signings but at the end of the day are the likes of Wigan and Sheff Utd good enough to remain in the Premiership? Sheffield Utd have dropped just 5 points in their last 6 games at Bramall Lane and should make home advantage count against a Wigan side that haven't had much success in recent weeks trying to get away from the drop zone. Rumour has it that Henri Camara is seeing a French specialist in a bid to be fit for this key encounter and they have missed him for much of the season, but Wigan need performances from all over the pitch and given recent form it looks like the Blades will prevail and Wigan will drop.