Stats for all of this weekend’s Premier League matches

For Man Utd/Arsenal stats, check out our Correct Score wizard

Baffled by Sky’s decision to broadcast a nothing match between Chelsea and Blackburn over games that will have a huge impact on the relegation battle and the race for seventh, we’ve decided to instead publish a stat for every league match taking place this weekend:

Bolton v Hull
Gary Megson’s side are unbeaten at home to sides below them in the table and have won their final league game at the Reebok in three of the last four years.

Everton v West Ham
The Toffees have lost just one of their last 13 home games in all competitions while West Ham haven’t beaten a top-six side all season.

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa

Posted: May 15th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Paddy Power offer Stoke fans free ice cream for staying up

Bookmakers make amends for “relegating” Stoke after one game

Paddy Power paid out on Stoke being relegated after they lost their first Premier League match 3-1 at Bolton, justifying the decision by saying that “if you’re getting tonked by Bolton on the opening day you’re going to struggle”.

However, after being proven spectacularly wrong they have decided to head down to the Britannia Stadium for the Potters’ final home game of the season against Wigan to serve 8,000 scoops of “humble pie flavoured” ice cream.

Click here to claim a £25 bet with Paddy Power. Stoke fans can back their side to win the league next season at 3000/1, although we don’t see them paying out early on that one!

Posted: May 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Aston Villa remember how to win, good news for Sheff Utd

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. There’s no sign of any fight from the teams supposedly battling to avoid the drop. Over the last seven matches, the bottom five have produced just three wins between them - which have all come against one another (West Brom over Sunderland, Middlesbrough over Hull and Sunderland over Hull).

2. Aston Villa ended a 12-match winless streak by beating Hull last night but the sense of achievement was diminished by the fact Hull have won just two of their last 26 league games.

3. West Ham became the first team to beat Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in 2009 and joined Fulham as one of the only clubs outside the Big Four to keep a Premier League clean sheet there.

Posted: May 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Stoke will beat Newcastle and all but guarantee survival

Stoke/NUFC, Sat 5.30pm, Setanta Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

With one of the best home records in the top-flight, chickendinner fancy Stoke to make it two losses out of two for Alan Shearer at the generous price of 6/4 with their chairman’s firm Bet365. Here’s why:

1. Excluding the Big Four, no team have picked up more points than Stoke (14) from their last eight league games. Over that same period, Newcastle have taken just six.

2. Stoke are unbeaten at home to sides outside of the top six - winning six and drawing three of their nine encounters.

3. In stark contrast, Newcastle are winless away to sides outside of the bottom six - losing seven and drawing three. They have lost all six against teams placed between 7th and 14th.

4. Middlesbrough and Sunderland have already both fallen to defeat at the Britannia Stadium (both 1-0, which is available at 13/2 generally) so the Potters are looking to complete a North East treble.

5. Newcastle have only won on two of their last twelve trips to Stoke.

Posted: April 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

West Ham and Aston Villa both face a difficult away day

Stats on tonight’s other five Premier League games

It’s a big night for the top-flight’s claret-and-blue crusaders as Aston Villa need to win away to Manchester City to extend their lead over Arsenal to six points while seventh-placed West Ham travel to eighth-placed Wigan in a battle that could be worth a place in Europe next season if two of the top six reach the FA Cup Final. Here are a few quick stats on each game:

Fulham v Hull
Hull have taken just three points from their last eleven games. The Tigers beat Fulham in August but have failed to complete a double over Arsenal, Spurs, West Ham and West Brom. The Cottagers have the second best home points average in the league and have lost once at Craven Cottage all season.

Manchester City v Aston Villa
Villa have won seven consecutive Premier League games on the road. However, they are winless in five and have lost six of their last seven away to the Citizens, who have won four straight home league matches.

Stoke v Bolton

Posted: March 4th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Stoke and Man City may share the spoils

Stoke/Man City, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

It looks like Manchester City are started to turn the corner while Stoke’s early season dominance at the Britannia Stadium has started to dwindle. However, they should still be capable of taking a point off the billionaires:

1. Manchester City are on a four match unbeaten run in the league - the first time they have gone more than two games without defeat in over a year - but still haven’t won a domestic away game since August.

2. Mark Hughes’ side have drawn three of their last four league matches on the road.

3. Last season Manchester City failed to do the double over any of last season’s bottom five. They won 3-0 against the Potters earlier this season.

4. Stoke have lost just one of their last eight league home games and have only been beaten at the Britannia Stadium by clubs in the top six.

5. However, they have gone nine league games without a win and have drawn three of their last four home games.

The draw can be backed at 12/5 with Paddy Power - click here for a free £10 bet with the Irish bookmakers

Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 4 Comments