Stats on this weekend’s four major Premier League games

Click here for the latest odds on the relegation battle

The deck seems to be stacked against Newcastle as they enter the final day in the relegation zone with Hull facing Manchester United Reserves but we still find it difficult to imagine them playing in the Championship. Here are three stats for each of Sunday’s four biggest games:

Aston Villa v Newcastle
The hosts have won just one of their last 15 games in all competitions.
Villa have only triumphed in three of their last 13 home league matches.
However, Newcastle have lost on three of their last four visits to Villa Park.

Hull v Manchester United
Manchester United have won their final match in five of the last six seasons.
The Tigers shipped three goals at home to Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Posted: May 22nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Liverpool get another chance to go top against West Ham

WHU/Liverpool, Sat 5.30pm, Setanta Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

This is the closest Liverpool have ever come to winning the Premier League and the TV schedulers seem to enjoy torturing them. Once again the Reds play before Manchester United, offering them the chance to experience being top with just two games to go, only to probably have it cruelly snatched away from them a day later. West Ham won’t be a pushover though - even if odds of 23/4 with 888sport suggest otherwise:

Key Trends

» West Ham have lost all five of their home games against teams above them in the league.

» Liverpool have the best record against top-half teams in the Premier League and haven’t lost to any of the top nine clubs.

» In only one of West Ham’s previous 13 Premier League seasons (2000-01) have they failed to beat any of the Big Four - this is their last chance to win against one of them this year.

Posted: May 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Sheffield United stand a good chance of surprising Hull

Stats on all of the FA Cup games kicking off at 3pm tomorrow

Photo Credit: PA Wire

Sheffield United suffered their first home loss in 44 years to fierce rivals Sheffield Wednesday last weekend but they could bounce back by knocking out Premier League side Hull in the FA Cup tomorrow:

Blackburn v Coventry
Rovers were humiliated by the Sky Blues 4-1 at Ewood Park in the third round last year and haven’t won any of their last four home clashes against the Championship side, losing three. Former Blackburn player Chris Coleman’s side beat league leaders Wolves last week but have won just one of their last five away games, 1-0 against Blue Square Premier side Torquay in the last round. The hosts have lost just one of ten under Sam Allardyce.

Sheffield United v Hull

Posted: February 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Man Utd are 6/4 to win to nil for the eighth successive game

West Ham/Man Utd, 4pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Manchester United have kept twelve consecutive Premier League clean sheets and have won seven straight matches during that streak but their opponents West Ham have made a habit out of derailing Sir Alex Ferguson’s title bids in the past. Here’s a breakdown of the stats in both team’s favour:

Could West Ham spring a surprise?

» West Ham have won their last two home games against Manchester United and the Red Devils have won on just four of their last fourteen visits to the Boleyn Ground.

» Gianfranco Zola’s side have won their last four home games and are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions. Since losing at Old Trafford in October, West Ham have taken points from all the other Big Four clubs.

Posted: February 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Hull need to get back on track with another win in London

West Ham/Hull, 8pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

West Ham have been in great form since Christmas while Hull have been in freefall. That should mean that the 4/5 odds on the home win is good value but the East London club have never been too well acquainted with the term “easy three points” in the past:

FORM GUIDE
West Ham are on their first four league match unbeaten run in fourteen months while Hull are bottom of the form league having lost their last five, the first time they have gone on such a run since 1998, when they were in League Two. Twenty years have passed since the Tigers last lost six league games in succession however.

WEST HAM VERSUS PROMOTED SIDES
Gianfranco Zola’s side have lost two of their three games against promoted sides this season although both of those came away from home. Last season West Ham won two and drew one of their three home games against newcomers but the year before they lost at home by Reading and Watford.

HULL VERSUS LONDONERS

Posted: January 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Fulham will pick up their first away win

West Ham/Fulham, Sun 1.30pm, Sky Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Something has to give on Sunday lunchtime when a Fulham side on a nine match unbeaten run collide with a West Ham side unbeaten in ten Premier League encounters with the Cottagers. Fulham have yet to win away from home this season but chickendinner researcher Danny Harris believes Roy Hodgson’s side are good value at 13/5 on Bet365. Here are five reasons to support that argument:

1. Fulham are on a nine match unbeaten run in the Premier League (ten in all competitions) that only the top two can rival.

2. West Ham’s win at Craven Cottage earlier this season was their only one in six London derbies, of which they lost four. They have lost seven of their last nine London derbies at home while the first meeting between the two sides earlier this season was Fulham’s only derby defeat in five this season.

Posted: January 16th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment