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

Everton chase fourth straight 1-0 win away to Sunderland

Sunderland/Everton, Sun 4pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

A 0-0 draw at the Emirates back in February saw Sunderland climb into the top-half - the appointment of Ricky Sbragia appeared inspired and safety almost certain. However, they have won just one of eight since then, losing five of their last six. They are just four points clear of the bottom three and Everton will be looking to pile on the doom.

Five reasons why 1-0 Everton looks a good bet at 9.2 on Betfair:

1. Everton have won 1-0 on their last three visits to the Stadium of Light.

2. Five of their eight away wins this season have come by that scoreline.

Posted: May 1st, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Rafa’s recovery record must continue against Sunderland

Liverpool/Sunderland, Tues 8pm, SkySpts2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Liverpool have recovered from their last four Premier League defeats to win their next game. Sunderland discovered this habit the hard way last season when Rafael Benitez’s side bounced back from a 1-0 loss at West Ham to beat the Black Cats 3-0 at Anfield. Will the Reds bounce back again?

» Liverpool have won just two of their last eight domestic home games.

» However, Benitez’s side have won their last five encounters with Sunderland whilst shutting them out on each occasion. The hosts are 5/4 with Ladbrokes to win to nil on Tuesday.

» Sunderland are unbeaten in four Premier League matches, which is their longest run without a top-flight loss since November 2002. The fourth match of that run saw them grab a goalless draw at Anfield.

Posted: March 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Previews of tonight’s other FA Cup fourth round replays

Three more games that have conquered the snow will take place

While the Merseyside derby is the big game of the day, there are three other important FA Cup replays taking place. Martin O’Neill looks to avoid more FA Cup disappointment as they host Doncaster, Blackburn face Sunderland for the fifth time in under three months and Billy Davies and Nigel Clough face their former clubs once more:

Aston Villa v Doncaster
Doncaster are unbeaten in four straight away games, winning three, having previously gone twelve matches without a win on the road. In contrast, Villa have won just five of their last sixteen home games and were eliminated from the Carling Cup at home to Championship strugglers QPR. Martin O’Neill’s side have only been past the fourth round once in eight years so they will be wary of an upset.

Blackburn v Sunderland

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

Five reasons why Sunderland won’t do the derby double

Newcastle/Sunderland, 1.30pm, Sky Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Newcastle are missing Joey Barton and Michael Owen while Joe Kinnear has upset well-known winger Charles Insomnia but they can’t afford to lose on Sunday. The Magpies finished third bottom the last time Sunderland did the double over them. Here’s why they won’t suffer more humiliation:

1. Sunderland haven’t done the derby double over Newcastle since 1966-67, which was 42 seasons ago.

2. Newcastle have lost just one of their eight home league games under Joe Kinnear and that was against Liverpool, who topped the league at the time.

3. The Magpies have won their last three home games against their fierce rivals and haven’t lost against them at St. James’ Park in over eight years.

4. Ricky Sbragia’s side have won just one in five league games, against Fulham in midweek, and they haven’t won consecutive league matches since last April. Six of their last eight league wins have been followed by defeat.

5. Sunderland haven’t done the double over anyone in the Premier League since March 2002, when they picked up their second win of that season over Bolton. They haven’t beaten anyone twice in their last three campaigns.

Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Statistics on tonight’s other three Premier League games

Tottenham and Stoke will contest a “relegation six-pointer”

Tottenham v Stoke
Spurs may be winless in six league games but Stoke haven’t won in eight (ten in all competitions) and Tony Pulis was beaten 2-1 by his former Bournemouth colleague Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth earlier this season. The Potters beat Spurs earlier this season in Juande Ramos’ last league game but haven’t won away all season and have lost 2-1 twice in London (to West Ham and Chelsea) over the last month. Spurs have lost just one of their twelve home games under Redknapp and are 15/2 with 888sport to win 2-1, the scoreline in half of Stoke’s away league defeats.

West Brom v Manchester United

Posted: January 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment