Why Newcastle’s unbeaten run will be ended by Bolton

Bolton/Newcastle, Sunday 1pm, Setanta S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

Three games without defeat might not impress Man United or Liverpool fans but for Newcastle a successful February has helped ease relegation fears significantly. However Bolton, who are 11/10 with 888sport and Ladbrokes, are likely to ensure a miserable start to March for the Magpies:

» Bolton have won five of their last six home games against Newcastle, with their only loss coming on the opening day of last season when they had Sammy Lee as manager.

» Gary Megson’s side have won their last two league home games against Tottenham and West Ham, who are both above Newcastle in the league.

» Wanderers are unbeaten in seven home games with teams outside the top eight - winning five and drawing two.

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Burnley go into FA Cup replay with West Brom as favourites

Click here for the latest odds on tonight’s fourth round replay

Burnley have triumphed in all five of their cup matches at Turf Moor this season (one after extra time) and picked up results against four Premier League teams in the Carling Cup. The bookmakers aren’t risking another loss so 888sport and Paddy Power have chalked the hosts up at 13/10 favourites.

West Brom reached the semi-finals last year but have won just two of their fourteen away games this season and are 23/10 with Bet365 to triumph. Of last year’s other semi-finalists, Portsmouth and Barnsley have already bowed out while Cardiff need to beat Arsenal at the Emirates to progress.

Prior to the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns in the initial tie, the hosts had won four straight meetings between the teams, again offering Burnley an edge.

Posted: February 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

West Brom benefit from a spooky coincidence, Spurs stop scoring

Five stats about this weekend’s festive football

At the end of every weekend chickendinner examines the fallout with five interesting football stats. Here is our festive offering:

1. chickendinner warned Spurs fans of a reason why West Brom would be confident of victory and our prophecy came true. West Brom recorded their first successive Premier League wins at the Hawthorns since 2005 when they won their last two home games of the year against Manchester City and Tottenham, as they have done again this year. Whether the Baggies will build on it is another question entirely: three years ago they won just one of their final nine home games after completing a festive double.

2. Tottenham have managed just one goal in their last four league games. Last season they scored more home goals than anyone in the league besides Manchester United but they have failed to score in their last three league encounters at White Hart Lane and have scored just seven in ten, a league low.

Posted: December 29th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Stats for all eight Premier League fixtures (Part Two)

Can Hodgson conquer Scolari in the West London derby?

Fulham v Chelsea
The Premier League’s second best home team meet its best away team at Craven Cottage in a West London derby. Fulham have won just one of their last thirteen home games against Chelsea but that victory came three seasons ago and last season, over the Christmas period, the Blues had to overcome a half-time deficit to win 2-1. Roy Hodgson’s side are unbeaten against the “Big Five” this season, beating Arsenal and drawing away to Liverpool and Aston Villa but it’s been fifteen months since Chelsea went two Premier League away games without winning.

Newcastle v Liverpool
Liverpool have won just three of their last nine away games against Newcastle and they haven’t won on successive trips to St James’ Park since 1998, which doesn’t bode well as they did a 3-0 double over the Magpies last season. Newcastle’s six match unbeaten run came to an end against Wigan on Boxing Day but they haven’t lost twice in a row yet under Joe Kinnear while six league games have passed since Liverpool won two straight.

West Brom v Tottenham

Posted: December 28th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment