Stoke

Stoke V Bolton

Stoke Preview: The Potters have injury doubts over Jermaine Pennant and Andy Wilkinson for their final match of the season. It has been a pretty average and uninspiring season from Stoke and also a very patchy one. They are now heading to the last game of the season with just one win in their last eight. They are one of those sides which can frustrate and harry opponents, but don’t always offer too much flair going forward. They are a hard working team through the centre of the park, and if they were to collect three points on Sunday, even a top ten finish would be out of the question. So there is some rebuilding to do at the Britannia for Tony Pulis, largely up front at that. Only Peter Crouch has really weighed in with a valuable contribution, with 10 for the season.

The Potters are actually undefeated in their last six home matches at the Britannia, picking up three wins and three draws in that run. In their last two home matches, they have earned 1-1 draws against Arsenal and Everton. Stoke have only managed more than one goal in a game just once in their last eleven fixtures. So a definite lack of power going forward, and they were unravelled at Loftus Road when they lost to QPR in their previous match. So Stoke don’t do things by big margins really, and they are a better home side than an away one. At the Britannia this season, Stoke have a W7 D7 L4 record, which is pretty decent, and they are without a defeat in their last six. The goal stats tell a big picture though, Stoke average 1.27 goals per home game, and concede on average 1 goal per game. Very fine margins.

Bolton Preview: Owen Coyle will be hoping that Stoke are in a disinterested end of season mood because his side need three points. His side desperately need three points, because without them, they will be playing Championship football next season. Further to needing a win themselves, they will need QPR to not pick up a point away at Manchester City. So things could still yet work out for Bolton and the end of a long and disappointing season. Trotters fans will have a little bit of hope, because Bolton’s end of season form has not been all that bad considering They have only lost three of their last ten, but in the last five, there has only been one win, three draws and one defeat. So it has been though drawn matches which is just about keeping them in with a chance of Premier League football for next season.

Do the Trotters have the away form to pull off a great escape? They have to go all out for it, because Stoke are hard to break down. Bolton have won two,drawn one and lost one of their last four on the road and they have put in some gutsy performance. The level of quality hasn’t quite matched their enthusiasm though at times, but at least they do know how to give a effort. Bolton thumped Stoke 5-0 back in November, and how they would love a repeat of that, or even somewhere close to that. On the road this season, Bolton have a W6 D1 L11 record, and are undefeated in their last two. They have been conceding at a rate of two goals per game on the road, but that may not be too big of an effect against Stoke.

Odds: Stoke 6/4, Bolton 13/8, Draw 5/2 at SkyBet

Form (most recent result last): Bolton DWDLD, Stoke DLDDL

Stat Attack:

Bolton have just one clean sheet in the last 26 EPL matches
Bolton have won three and drawn one of the last five visits to play the Potters
Ivan Klasnic has three goals in two games against Stoke
Stoke have lost all three of their final day matches in the EPL, scoring just once

Recommended Bet: There is definitely a window of opportunity here for Bolton. You would have to imagine that they are going to leave everything on the field here, and that could easily translate into a dramatic last day win, and who knows, survival. Bolton 0 Asian Handicap 6/5 at Bet365

QPR V Stoke

QPR Preview: If Mark Hughes is going to get QPR safe, then it will all be down to their home form. The R’s are on a four match winning stream at home, but in between all of those last four at Loftus Road, Rangers have continuously lost on the road. At the moment they are on a LWLWLWLWL pattern, with all the losses away from home, and all the wins at home. Manager Mark Hughes made an unhappy return to Stamford Bridge last weekend, where his side were on the wrong end of a 6-1 hiding, with Fernando Torres weighing in with a hat-trick Rangers were completely undone and out-performed in every aspect of the game at Stamford Bridge, but remarkably their away form has been in stark contrast to what they have managed to produce at home. This match against Stoke on the weekend is their final home appearance of the season, and it is likely going to require three points from it to guarantee their safety.

QPR are just above the drop zone, but only on goal difference. At Loftus Road recently, QPR have beaten Liverpool, Arsenal, Swansea and Tottenham, so you would think that Stoke would be fair game for them. They have also managed to keep back to back clean sheets in the wins over Swansea and Spurs. So home form is going to be their lifeline. Can Rangers deliver just one more time to keep themselves in the Premier League next season A win on Sunday and a defeat for Bolton would give the R’s safety realistically, because they have a superior goal difference to Bolton should they then lose their last game and Bolton won theirs. So this is a massively crucial game for QPR and based on their home form, you really have to look at them with the high potential of getting three points. QPR have a W6 D5 L7 home record for the season and they are unbeaten in their last five. QPR have netted at a rate of 1.27 goals per game at home this season, conceding at a rate of 1.38 per game.

Stoke Preview: Stoke are not exactly flying along at the moment, but Tony Pulis’s men are once again proving hard to break down. The Stoke ship has been steadied after a poor run of form between mid January and February when they lost four on the bounce. They have knuckled down and, while they have only won one of their last nine matches now, they are holding out for points. Of those last nine matches, Stoke have racked up five 1-1 draws, which seem to be their favourite scoreline at the moment. They have put in a lot of good work at home, recently holding both Everton and Arsenal to a point, but the Potters are shakier on the road. They have not won on their travels in their last eight outings, which is why QPR may have a shot at picking up a vital win. Stoke have realistically blown their chances of a top ten finish, unless they run out the season with back to back wins and hope other results go their way.

So in a way it has been a disappointing season for Stoke. This should be the kind of match where they turn up and win, but you just can’t look at the stats without all of those drawn matches jumping out at you. Five draws in eight and all 1-1. That may be a good trend to follow, because Stoke are solid enough at the back, and they put in a lot of work through the midfield. What undoes them, like so many of the mid-table teams, is they lack the ability to put the ball in the back of the net consistently. Stoke have the shame of being the Premier League’s lowest scoring team this season, clicking along at under a goal per game. Away from home they have an awful rate of just 0.61 goals per away game, having managed just eleven all season. The Potters have managed just two away goals in their last five. Peter Crouch though seems to be involved just about everywhere at the moment and looks their best route to goal. A draw really wouldn’t be too much of a surprise Stoke lost 3-2 at the Britannia against QPR earlier in the season.

Odds: 10/11, Draw 12/5, Stoke 3/1 at SkyBet

Form (most recent result last): QPR LWLWL, Stoke WDLDD

Stat Attack:

QPR have won the last two meetings against Stoke (scoring 3 in each match)
Three of the last four meetings between these two have produced a red card
QPR have dropped the most points from winning positions at home this season
Stoke have had fewer shots on target than any other team this term in the EPL

Recommended Bet: Can realistically see QPR picking up a win here. They have produced some battling performances at Loftus Road lately, and Mark Hughes will use that heavy defeat at Chelsea to gee his men up a bit. Would agree that QPR are just favourites in this match, not vast favourites as Stoke are stubborn, but good enough for a 0.75 Asian Handicap at 11/10 with Bet365.

Stoke V Everton

Stoke Preview: The Potters held off Arsenal for a point on Saturday in the Premier League, which will have been a well-earned point, but it still leaves Stoke with just one win in their last eight now. After trading early goals with Arsenal, Stoke settled down to put in a solid, hard working performance, one you would expect from a Tony Pulis side, to earn their fourth draw in seven matches. It did keep Stoke’s solid home form going as well, as they stretch out to a five game unbeaten run at the Britannia Stadium. But a top ten finish in the league looks a long way off unless they can earn themselves three points here in their game in hand over most of the other sides around them, to claw their way level on points with tenth placed West Bromwich Albion. Stoke have fallen a bit flat this season, and they have lacked strength going forward, where goals have been at a Premium. Stoke are the Premier League’s lowest goalscorers, with just 33 for the season. That is less than a goal per game for the entire season, which isn’t good enough. Peter Crouch, who netted the opener against Arsenal, now has three in his last three home matches.

At the Britannia Stadium this season, Stoke have ran up a W7 D6 L4 record, which isn’t bad at all. They are undefeated in five, but again going forward they have only managed 1.2 goals per game at home. Stoke defence has not been as tight as it probably could be, and they average one goal a game against at home. Stoke do battle well, and have held both Manchester City and Arsenal to draws at home recently, and if they could develop more of a killer instinct in front of goal then they would be even more of a handful. There is a bit of rebuilding up front to do for next season, but now it is about earning a top ten finish. Robert Huth popped up with a winning goal at Goodison Park earlier in the season for the Potters and they will give the Toffees a good run for their money. While seeing them beat Everton is a bit of a stretch perhaps, given Everton’s form, a draw is never too far away from the books with Stoke.

Everton Preview: Is there a team playing better than Everton in the Premier League at the moment? The Toffees have come to life since mid January, loins just two games in 2012. They are in blistering form at the moment, in a very un-Everton like fashion. We generally speak about Everton and say how they are generally happy to grind out a 1-0 win, because their game is based on defence and they lack firepower. Well, something has happened to them, because they have now hit four goals in each of their last three Premier League matches. It has been a remarkable run for the Toffees, because you just don’t expect to see it from them. They thumped Fulham 4-0 at Goodison Park on Saturday, which kept them on target to finish above their big spending city rivals Liverpool. The new leash of life up front is largely all down to the class of former Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, who has given the Toffees that extra dimension

Jelavic scored a brace against Fulham, taking his tally to seven in the last six matches. Jelavic is one of those composed strikers, who always seems to have time to just stroke the ball into the back of the net instead of blasting it in. He has definitely been a sharp signing for David Moyes, and he is spearheading their drive towards a top seven finish. Everton have drawn their last two away matches though, a 2-2 at Norwich, and then that thrilling 4-4 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Everton’s away record is W5 D6 L6 and they have boosted their numbers to 1.24 goals per game on average away from home, but they are leaking goals on the road though. That probably won’t be too much of a factor against the low scoring Stoke, but Everton concede on average 1.4 goals per game on the road. Everton have lost only one of their seven league matches away from home now, so they are in very good shape at the moment. They have the greater firepower than Stoke, but a draw in this fixture wouldn’t be too much of a surprise.

Odds: Everton 13/8, Stoke 17/10, Draw 9/4 at Bet365

Form (most recent result last): Stoke LWDLD, Everton WDWDW

Stat Attack:
Everton have scored four goals in each of the last three league matches
Everton’s most frequent away result this season have been 1-1 draws
Stoke are unbeaten at home in their last five
Stoke’s most frequent home result this season have been 1-1 draws

Recommended Bet: A draw is a likely outcome here, as Stoke are pretty tough at home. Everton do have the better attack and a tremendous amount of good work is being done by Jelavic. An Asian Handicap looks the best route to go down, and would take Everton at 0 Goals Asian Handicap for around Evens at BetFair.

Stoke V Arsenal

Stoke Preview: Potters boss Tony Pulis may have to shuffle his defence around a little bit, as Andy Wilkinson could sit out the visit of Arsenal. Stoke have been finding wins hard to come by lately, but they could, with a strong finish to the season, land a top ten finish. That would be a bit of reward from a largely disappointing season, as Stoke head into the weekend down in 14th place. The Potters have only managed one win in their last seven Premier League matches, but there is a bigger picture to read into here. Five of those seven matches were away from home, and in the two home games during that period, Stoke did pick up a win over Wolves and they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw. So it hasn’t been all total gloom and doom, as the Potters are a better side at home. They made the Britannia a fortress last season, and while it hasn’t happened with the same effect this time around, it still presents a tough challenge to Arsenal.

Stoke have ran up a W7 D5 L4 home record for the season and they are undefeated in four at the Britannia. Stoke don’t give that much away at the back, and they have conceded on average just one goal per game at home this season. The trouble with the Potters, is that they have not had the strength or quality up front to build upon the defence. That has been their shortcomings. Peter Crouch is top scorer at the club with just nine and Stoke have played their way into trouble because of this, as they have scored first in just 35% of their matches this season. They are no pushovers at home though, if not the most exciting side to watch, they do at least play with a lot of heart and determination. The midfield battle will be key here, as Stoke need to stop Arsenal playing. Stoke’s height from set pieces will also be a danger. They got pounded by Newcastle in their last match, but should be stronger at home.

Arsenal Preview: There is still a little bit of work to do for Arsenal to book a third place finish in the Premier League. The Gunners have just a three point lead over fourth placed Newcastle heading into the weekend, and the Magpies still have a game in hand. Arsenal are just struggling to get over the finish line, having gone two matches without a win. After suffering a shock defeat at home to Wigan, they followed that up with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea, also at the Emirates, so now the Gunners need to earn themselves some points in a tricky away match. After firing their way brilliantly into top three contention, the Gunners have just two wins in their last five matches now. So just a little wobble from Arsene Wenger’s men who will be feeling the pressure from Newcastle.

The Gunners are without Theo Walcott who is out injured for the rest of the season, along with Mikel Arteta. But they do have FWA and PFA Player of the Year Robin van Persie, who has netted 27 league goals this season. However, even the flying Dutchman has only netted one goal in the last seven league matches for Arsenal, so are they just running out of steam a little bit? Their away from does still make for good reading, with four wins from their last five. But in there was an away defeat at a battling QPR, and the Gunners can expect to face the same kind of test. Arsenal did beat Stoke 3-1 earlier in the season at the Emirates, when RVP bagged himself a brace. It is not really a game that the Gunners can afford to lose, but they will be favourites to take all three points. They may have to grind this one out though.

Odds: Arsenal 10/11, Draw 5/2, Stoke 3/1 at Paddy Power

Form (most recent result last): Stoke DLWDL, Arsenal LWWLD

Stat Attack:

• Arsenal have earned 19 points from losing positions this season in the league
• Stoke have scored the highest percentage of set piece goals this season in the EPL
• Four of the last five meetings between Stoke and Arsenal have ended in a 3-1 scoreline
• Arsenal have lost three of their last four away at Stoke

Recommended Bet: The Gunners are favourite, but they may just be nervously wobbling at the moment, so there could be good value in Stoke here. The Potters have good form against Arsenal at home, and they may be worth an Asian Handicap at +0.5 for Evens at Bet365

Wigan V Stoke

Wigan Preview: There are definitely glimmers of hope here for Wigan in their fight against survival after doing themselves a favour last week with a win at Anfield over Liverpool. That really was three bonus points for them, because no-one expected Roberto Martinez to pull off that shock result. Wigan are doing all they can to stay in the Premier League and when you actually sum up their league form, it is not bad at all. There has been just one defeat in their last seven Premier League matches now for the Latics, with two wins and four draws in that period. So they are hitting some form, which may just see them pull off another miraculous escape in the end, as they are in much better form than QPR and Wolves Wigan are struggling against themselves in some respect, because they do struggle to find goals.

The Latics have managed just twelve at home this season, conceding more than double that number, so you can see why they are in trouble. However they have found more consistency in front of goal, scoring in all but two of their last seven. So whatever happens with Wigan, you are not expecting them to go out and score a hatful of goal, but one goal just may be the job for them against Stoke. Any point at the end of the day could prove very valuable. This would be the perfect time to pick up what would be only their second home win of the season. They have a W1 D7 L7 record at home this season, with three draws and one defeat in their last four. They have held the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton to draws at home this season, and they should be value for that.

Stoke Preview: Stoke aren’t gong along in great form themselves at the moment, finding wins at a premium. Tony Pulis has seen his men win just two of their last ten Premier League matches now, and like Wigan, they are struggling for goals. They are particularly struggling away from home with just ten for the season, so there is a window of opportunity for Wigan in this match. Stoke though, to their credit are a hard working team, and in their last two Premier League matches have held both Tottenham and Manchester City to 1-1 draws. So they will battle and scrap to the end, you can be sure of that, but they aren’t great travellers at the moment, with just on win in their last six away matches. Stoke have lost three and drawn one of their last four Premier League away matches.

Overall this season, Stoke have ran up a W4 D3 L8 record away from home, which isn’t great and you can look back at their goal stats. They average less than a goal per game for the season, and they have on average conceded 1.73 goals per game away from home. We can’t suggest that Wigan are going to come out and easily bag themselves a couple of goals against Stoke, but the Potters are prone to giving away goals. Stoke are in line for a solid mid table finish, but without a win in their last three, just need a couple of result under their belt to confirm that. This is not going to be an easy trip against a side who earned a 2-2 draw back at the Britannia earlier in the season.

Odds: Wigan 17/10, Stoke 15/8, Draw 23/10 at Bet Victor

Form (most recent result last): Wigan DLDDW, Stoke WWLDD

Stat Attack:

• There have been five draws in the seven Premier League meetings between these two
• Wigan have lost just one of their last seven matches
• Wigan have not won at home for thirteen matches though
• Stoke have only won one of seven on the road

Recommended Bet: Well, things stack up pretty evenly here really, with a poor home record going up a poor away record. Neither team scores that many goals, so we are looking at a narrow margin of victory here. Wigan play more football, while Stoke are more industrious. Which way to go? Could just be worth taking Stoke at Evens for a Draw No Bet.

Stoke City V Manchester City

Stoke City Preview: Well Stoke were unlucky to not come away from White Hart Lane with a win in the week, as Spurs grabbed a late equaliser. Stoke have been incredibly streaky this season, an they are currently on a run of just two wins in their last eight league games. However, we can narrow that down and see that those two wins have come in the last four games, along with a defeat and that draw against Spurs. So they haven’t been great since the turn of the year, but they are such a battling side that they can scrap and earn points. They will present themselves as very tricky opposition to Manchester City who are chasing the league title. Stoke are a mid table team and they have just been a bit disappointing at home over the second half of the season. They are usually strong at the Britannia Stadium, and the Potters have only won two of their last six last games there.

So not strong form, but they have won their last two back to back. There was a 2-0 win over Swansea followed up with a 1-0 win over Norwich. This will be their first home game since then, but in between they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea, and then that draw at White Hart Lane. Stoke are tough to play, because they can be physical and direct and throw opposing teams out of their natural rhythm. That is what they will be hoping to do on Saturday. So Stoke are unbeaten in two home games, and they have a W4 D4 L4 record at home this season, it has just been their form there over the second half of the season which has let them down. Stoke average just 1.28 goals per game at home, and on average they concede one goal per game there. There have been enough clean sheets at home by Stoke to suggest that they will cause City problems, and that they won’t be rolled over so easily as they were at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City Preview: Manchester City earned a comfortable 3-0 win over Stoke at home earlier in the season, and now they face this tough reverse fixture. Their come back win over Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in the week should have gotten them fired up again, ready to relaunch their title charge. There have been talks of City bottling it, but their form is still pretty enviable, as they have five wins and one defeat in their last six. However, it has been their shaky away form which has suggested that they may miss out on the league title. City’s last away match ended in a 1-0 defeat at Swansea, and there have only been two away wins in eight now for the Citizens. Those two wins were 1-0 triumphs over Wigan and Aston Villa, teams which you would be expecting City to thump.

Anyway, in their last five away matches, City have lost 1-0 three times as well, so an interesting note for your betting, that a 1-0 scoreline has been present in each of City’s last five away league matches. So they are out of all other competitions and only have the league to focus on. They can take top spot back from United, albeit maybe temporarily until United play on Sunday. Manchester City have a W7 D3 L4 record away from home this season, with their struggles coming over the second half of the season too. There have just been lack lustre away performances which have cost them. However, City have scored 27 and conceded 14 on the road and now they have Carlos Tevez back to add to their forward power. Will Tevez be the catalyst for away success, providing that extra spark that City have been lacking away from home?

Odds: Man City 8/13, Draw 11/4, Stoke 5/1 at Bet365

Form (most recent result last): Stoke LWWLD, Man City WWWLW

Stat Attack:

• Not one single shot on target did Stoke manage against City earlier in the season
• City have scored 81% of all their league goals in the second half
• Stoke are the Premier League’s worst side for conceding first half goalscorer
• Stoke are the EPL’s leading side for the fewest amount of shots on goal this season

Recommended Bet: The Correct Score market is usually a tough one to crack, however, when you look at this fixture you see value. City’s last five away matches have ended in a 1-0 scoreline, and with Stoke being stubborn and City just needing to win ugly, a 1-0 Correct Score for City fetches 6/1 at Bet365.

While Liverpool’s form in the Premier League has produced only two wins in their last eight, you really can’t argue with their cup form this season. They beat Chelsea and Manchester City en route to winning the Carling Cup this season, and they look a strong bet to make it a cup double at Wembley too. They actually beat Stoke on the way to the Carling Cup final. Liverpool also beat Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup this season. However, consistency is not a word you would use to describe Liverpool this season, and they have drawn eight of their fourteen Premier League fixtures at Anfield this season, including the occasion when Stoke visited back in mid January. Steven Gerrard was the hero of the day in the Merseyside derby on Tuesday night, as the captain popped up with a hat-trick to beat the Toffees.

Liverpool should get Craig Bellamy into the line up for Sunday. All in all this should be a pretty tight game really, but history is totally on Liverpool’s side in this match, because Stoke have not won a match at Anfield for over fifty years. To find the last time that Stoke did win at Anfield, you would have to go all the way back to 1959. This will be the fourth time that these two sides have met this season, and the honours are totally even, with Stoke winning at home in the Premier League, before the draw at Anfield, and then there was that win for Liverpool in the Carling Cup. So really a tie which could go either way, because Liverpool have not been totally convincing at home, with one win, two draws and one defeat in their last three. All of their FA Cup matches this season have been at home too, and the Reds will go as favourites.

 Last season’s FA Cup losing finalists Stoke City are trying to at least emulate last season’s success in the tournament However, they know that the Reds are difficult to break down, and Stoke will need to raise their game a little bit if they are to snatch, what does appear to be an unlikely win. Not only is history against Stoke in this fixture, their away form has not been too peachy this season, with just four wins on the road. The big problem for Stoke on the road, and in general, is lack of goals. They have managed nine away from home in the Premier League this season, and have conceded twenty five. Not a great record at all, and with just 27 goals in total for the league season, they are one of the lowest scoring teams in the Premier League (only Wigan have scored less with 24). Stoke’s last match was a resilient performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the league, where the dismissal of Ricardo Fuller put them at a disadvantage for a long spell. Fuller will miss the game against Liverpool because of that ban, but Peter Crouch will line up from the start to face his old club. A tough draw for Stoke, but Stoke, when they play to potential, have that bit of grit to pull through tough matches like this. We just haven’t seen enough of it this season.

Odds: Liverpool 4/9, Draw 10/3, Stoke 13/2 at Paddy Power

Stat Attack

• Liverpool have won all previous FA Cup ties against Stoke between 1900 and 1988
• Liverpool hold a 63-28 head to head record against Stoke
• Stoke have kept 6 clean sheets out of their last 8 FA Cup matches
• However, Stoke have never kept a clean sheet in an FA Cup quarter final

Recommended Bet: Liverpool are expected to have this one in the bag, because Stoke just haven’t been quite as strong as they were last season. Liverpool are strong enough at home to deal with this, even if they have struggled to turn one point into three. A draw is a very viable option, therefore a nice little flutter on a Stoke +1 Asian Handicap fetches 6/5 at Bet Victor.

Chelsea v Stoke

Well the Andre Villas-Boas era has ended at Stamford Bridge, short as it was. The Blues, under the guidance now of former player Roberto Di Matteo secured a bit of steady progress by picking up a win at St Andrews against Birmingham in the FA Cup fifth round replay on Tuesday. There wasn’t a whole sale change about Chelsea’s set up, but we should see a stronger Chelsea side at Stamford Bridge. Di Matteo is over his first little hurdle and now needs to get Chelsea playing in the league probably and the senior players at the club have to play for the places, play for their club and try to make an assault on that fourth place finish. The Blues are already three points back of fourth placed Arsenal in the race to claim the last Champions League place, and with just one league win in their last six, the Blues can’t afford any more sloppy mistakes. They have been full of defensive errors and lack of cohesion and clinical finishing all season. There is a tough job for Matteo ahead, who has a lot at stake himself, because he is line to get the permanent manager job as well. Can the breath of fresh air kick start Chelsea’s season? Matteo should get Chelsea looking more solid, but it whether or not, their strikers can start performing consistently for the first time this season. Matteo really needs the senior players like Lampard and Drogba on his side. Chelsea still have a strong home record of eight wins, two draws and just three defeats, averaging 2.3 goals per match at the Bridge. Stoke went through a bit of a mini slump recently, losing four straight Premier League matches recently, but have won their last two back to back and look back on the path. Stoke are a handful for most sides, they are strong physically and of course like their direct style of football, which could test Chelsea’s shaky back line. But Stoke are the joint second lowest scoring side in the Premier League at the moment and they average just 0.69 goals per game away from home. That, in terms of goals, is nine for and 24 against on their travels this season. But they have earned clean sheets in their last two matches, both home fixtures against Swansea and Norwich, and held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season. Tony Pulis would probably be delighted with that on Saturday.

Verdict: Surely the Chelsea players have something to prove to their fans now in their first league match post-Villas-Boas. The senior players and the former boss didn’t get on, that was clear to see, so if those senior players have gotten their way, it is time for them to prove their worth. So we should see a revived Chelsea on Saturday and their home form is strong enough to take three points from this one, and an important three points it will be, because that will be a big building block to work from for the rest of the season.

Form: Chelsea DDLWL, Stoke LLLWW

Key Stat: Chelsea have won seven of the last nine meetings against Stoke City, and while Stoke have earned draws in their last two against the Blues, the Potters have only scored in three of those last nine matches against Chelsea. With Stoke averaging below one goal per game away from home, it adds up to Chelsea win.

Odds: Chelsea 2/5, Draw 15/4, Stoke 8/1 at Bet Victor

Recommended Bet: Well, the Blues should be able to wrap this one up, despite Stoke’s mini revival. The Blues need to stand up now and a steady 2-0 win Correct Score fetches 3/1 at Bet365 for the home side.

Crawley V Stoke

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 19 February 2012 – 12:00 GMT

Venue: Broadfield Stadium

Preview

They’re at it again! For the second season running, League Two Crawley have defied all the odds to reach the FA Cup fifth round where they’ll face Stoke City – finalists in 2011 – for a place in the quarter-finals. It really is a truly remarkable feat for a club which performed similar heroics as a non-league outfit a year ago, when reaching the same stage of the competition before bowing out in a blaze of glory at Old Trafford away to Manchester United.

However, Steve Evans and his players have lapped up enough plaudits over the past twelve months – having earned promotion from the Conference at the end of last season, as well as pushing Man Utd hard at Old Trafford in the FA Cup – and are now setting their expectations a little higher than most League Two outfits. The West Sussex side are targeting a genuine FA Cup giant-killing on Sunday, this after they were drawn at home to last season’s unlucky losers, Stoke, who despite a valiant display at Wembley went down 1-0 to Manchester City in the final.

It has to be said that even with 60 league places separating the two, the shock is most certainly on. The hosts are in terrific form having just lost two of their last 24 league and cup games, but one of those was fairly recent – a 3-0 rout at Swindon Town on Tuesday. Nevertheless, Steve Evans’ men will take tremendous heart and belief from both their record at home – winning ten and losing only one of their previous twelve at Broadfield Stadium – plus the fact their opponents were in gruelling Europa League action as recently as Thursday night.

Some of the Potters’ heavier defeats this season have come immediately after a European game; at both Bolton (5-0) and Sunderland (4-0) they were beaten emphatically within days of them playing on a Thursday night in the Europa League. A competition they are back playing in as soon as next week, when they fly over to Spain trailing Valencia 1-0 in the last-32. With that must-win, far more glamorous tie in mind, it wouldn’t be at all surprising were Tony Pulis to make wholesale changes with next Thursday’s Mestalla outing in mind. Who could blame him, right?

Even with Valencia looming large, Tony Pulis will name a team he firmly believes can ensure progression here – but will a potentially weakened Stoke eleven (at least that is what I expect) match the desire of a Crawley side who already boast impressive scalps in the form of Championship duo Bristol City and Hull City? A team who last season were mighty unfortunate to lose 1-0 away to Manchester United. Bookmakers aren’t so sure with Stoke – 13TH in the Premier League remember – available at a very generous 11/10.

Crawley meanwhile, who are without prolific marksmen Matt Tubbs whom signed for Bournemouth in the winter transfer window, are 11/4 to claim a famous win. Whether they will have the necessary cutting edge to put away their chances now that their star man has sought out pastures new really does remain to be seen, so the draw could be the way forward at 5/2.

Match Pointers

Head-to-Head

- Crawley Town and Stoke City have never played each other before in a competitive fixture.

Crawley

- Boast a pair of Championship scalps in this season’s FA Cup, dumping out Bristol City (1-0) in the third round and Hull City (0-1) in the fourth round.

- Lost just two of their last 24 matches in all competitions (W16 D6 L2).

- The Red Devils have won ten and lost only one of their previous twelve matches on home soil, winning the last three in succession.

- Average two goals per game (2.35) at home down in League Two.

Stoke

- Travelling hasn’t been a problem for Stoke in this season’s FA Cup, going to Gillingham (1-3) in the third round and Derby County (0-2) in the fourth round.

- Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League loss to Valencia was Stoke’s fourth defeat on the spin, failing to score in three of those.

- Lost their last two away matches, at Fulham and Manchester United in the Premier League, but were unbeaten in four (W3 D1) on their travels beforehand.

- Just one team has plundered fewer away goals in the Premier League than Stoke, who average less than a goal per game (0.69) on their travels.

Betting

On the back of Thursday’s disappointing result in Europe against Valencia, in which they also exerted plenty of energy, a trip to lower league opposition in the FA Cup is anything but ideal for Stoke. The fact it is Crawley whom they visit could be construed as a nightmare. This is an extremely difficult tie for the Premier League side, one made every bit more testing simply because of the expectations levels – as they are expected to cruise to victory here, against a team ranked 60 league places below them in League Two.

Crawley are a very good team and it would come as a huge shock were they to fail in their bid for promotion to League One, with the Red Devils currently sat 5TH in League Two. To lose only twice in your last 24 outings takes some doing, whatever level you play at, so they merit the utmost respect. But we already know that, as will Tony Pulis, a manager who refuses to undermine the integrity of any tournament he competes in. So I’m expecting a mixture of first-team and fringe players to start this game, which should be enough to ensure progression.

Match Prediction: Stoke City to WIN @ 11/10 with Bet365

Value Bet: Stoke City 2-1 (Correct Score) @ 17/2 with Coral

Match Odds

Crawley – 11/4 (PaddyPower)

Draw – 5/2 (Coral)

Stoke City – 11/10 (WilliamHill)

Stoke City V Sunderland

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 4 February 2012 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Brittania Stadium

Preview

Sunderland’s miraculous revival under Martin O’Neill continued on Wednesday with a comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Norwich City at the Stadium of Light. Now the Northern Irishman takes his purring Black Cats to the Brittania Stadium to face a Stoke side whose recent form has been indifferent to say the least, with only one win from their previous seven league outings, but do, however, boast a flawless record in this fixture.

In the space of two months, Martin O’Neill has transformed Sunderland’s fortunes dramatically. He inherited a team who were hovering precariously above the relegation zone, with only two wins to their name after fourteen league games. Now he finds himself at the helm of a club who are eighth in the league, having already reached the 30-point milestone which usually ensures survival, and still alive in the FA Cup – albeit having to face local rivals Middlesbrough in a fourth-round replay.

Wednesday’s rout of Norwich on Wearside was Sunderland’s latest impressive display, their sixth win in nine Premier League games under O’Neill. Stephane Sessegnon and Fraizer Campbell with the goals, with both players enjoying purple patches at present – the former has three in his last four league starts while Campbell has two in two games, this after a 17-month lay-off because of injury.

Martin O’Neill will demand more of the same from his in-form attacking duo, as Sunderland look to torment a Stoke side suffering from a lack of form and devoid of any momentum – as they did at the Stadium of Light back in September, when winning 4-0. Of course, Stoke could place some of the blame for that horrendous showing on the fact they were involved in European football the preceding Thursday. They’ll meet on more favourable terms this time.

Having said that, a 2-0 loss at Manchester United in midweek was the Potters’ second in quick succession in the league, following a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to West Brom – though there was a 2-0 triumph at Derby in the fourth-round of the FA Cup sandwiched in between. Furthermore, not since Tottenham were overhauled on 11 December have Stoke been victorious in a Premier League fixture at the Brittania Stadium, going their last three home games without a win.

However, Stoke do have an impressive record when it comes to hosting this fixture. Last season they prevailed 3-2 thanks to Robert Huth’s stoppage-time winner, their third consecutive victory at home to Sunderland in the Premier League, after 1-0 triumphs in 2008/09 and 2009/10. Should they make it four in a row then Stoke would climb above Sunderland into 8TH, with the pair sat side-by-side in the table, level on 30-points.

Match Pointers

Head-to-Head

Last League Meeting: Sunderland 4-0 Stoke; 18 September, 2011. Goals from Titus Bramble, Jonathan Woodgate (OG), Craig Gardner and Sebastian Larsson sealed a comfortable 4-0 success for Sunderland, with Stoke feeling the affects of their Europa League commitments on the Thursday.

- Stoke are targeting their fifth consecutive league victory at home to Sunderland, whose last away win over the Potters dates back to November 2004.

- Sunderland took the lead twice on their most recent venture to the Brittania (5 February, 2011), but it was Robert Huth who popped up with a late winner for Stoke in the dying embers of the game as the hosts prevailed 3-2.

Stoke

- Stoke (League Position: 9TH; Form: DWDLL) have won only one of their previous seven Premier League matches (W1 D3 L3), during which they’ve failed to even score on four occasions.

- The Potters have failed to win any of their last three league matches at home (D2 L1), losing 2-1 to West Brom last time out at the Brittania.

- All five of Jonathan Walter’s Premier League goals this season were netted at the Brittania Stadium, three of which coming from the penalty spot.

Sunderland

- Only Manchester United (18) have taken more points from their last eight Premier League games than Sunderland (16), who have lost just one of their previous seven (W5 D1 L1).

- Sunderland have shipped just seven goals in their last nine league games, keeping clean sheets in each of their last two, at home to Norwich (3-0) and Swansea (2-0).

- The Black Cats have gone nine Premier League away games without drawing.

- Playmaker Stephane Sessegnon has two goals in his last two Premier League starts; three in his last four.

Betting

Prediction: Draw @ 12/5 (SkyBet)

On current form, Sunderland are incredibly enticing at 13/5 to record their third straight league win. However, the Brittania Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for those Black Cats, with Stoke boasting a 100% record in the Premier League with three wins out of three on their own patch. A fourth would seem unlikely though, seeing as the Potters have won only once in their last seven league outings – a 2-1 win at third from bottom Blackburn – losing their most recent match at the Brittania 2-1 to West Brom.

Rarely do Stoke lose successive home games, nor can I recall the last time Sunderland went and won three on the spin in the league. I’m not sure either will occur on Saturday. Losing Wes Brown for two months is a huge blow for Sunderland, as his experience and presence in defence would have benefited them greatly in combating Stoke’s aerial and physical prowess, but they have two forwards in fantastic form and I reckon they’ll ground out a result here.

Value Bet: 0-0 Draw (Correct Score) @ 9/1 (StanJames)

I was going to tip Stephane Sessegnon to continue his rich vein of scoring form, as he’s a player at the top of his game right now. However, I don’t think there will be too many goals – Stoke aren’t prolific wherever they play their football, while Sunderland, despite scoring three at QPR and four at Wigan recently, have only conjured 13 away goals all season.

Match Odds

Stoke – 5/4 (Boylesports)

Draw – 12/5 (SkyBet)

Sunderland – 13/5 (BetVictor)