Aston Villa V Stoke City

Aston Villa Preview: Well, Alex McLeish will have been happy with the point earned at Anfield on Saturday in a 1-1 draw. That point pushed them six points clear of relegation. That is not a big margin of course and they really need to start winning. It should be just enough at the end of the day, and they are unlikely to get deep into the relegation battle, however they can’t rest on their laurels here, not with just one win in their last nine matches. Villa grabbed an early goal at Anfield and that gave them something to hold on to. Liverpool did pepper the Villa goal, but the Reds couldn’t find a winner and Villa rode their luck. Still, it is a point in the bag, and they can build on that with a home fixture against another very patchy side.

Villa will be looking up at Stoke who are seven points ahead of them and know that with a win, they should be able to put relegation worries out of their mind. But Villa have been poor this season and wins have been at a premium. They have one win, four defeats and three draws in their last eight league matches. So not great form at all and the home support has been suffering with just four wins, four draws and seven defeats this season. Villa are only just averaging over a goal a game this season, and because of their injury problems, notably to Darren Bent, they have struggled up front. A sloppy defence hasn’t helped mattters much either, but at least they have shown that they have some fight in them. A 0-0 draw away at the Britannia Stdium back in December is a likely outcome again in the reverse fixture.

Stoke Preview: Tony Pulis saw his men come from a goal down at home against bottom side Wolves on Saturday, but it was a good three points in the end which saw them move four points clear of Villa. Stoke can have a realistic chance of a top half of the table, however they have been really patchy this season. Stoke have a mixed bag of results in their last eight. There has been three defeats, three wins and two draws. Narrowing that down, Stoke’s win over Wolves on Saturday was their first win after a four match winless streak. So they needed that, but Stoke did earn themselves draws against Tottenham and Manchester City in March, good result on the basis of things, and then it was all undone by a poor defeat away at Wigan. So Stoke can be a bit hit and miss.

Peter Crouch now has two goals in three matches after scoring the winner against Wolves. Stoke are solid enough on home soil to cause most sides problems, but they have been particularly fallible on the road this season. They have just a W4 D3 L9 record away from home, and are without a win in six games now on the road. More worryingly for Tony Pulis is that Stoke have only managed ten away gaols this season and that’s it. That is just 0.63 goals per game away from home, which is terrible. Stoke have lost four of their last six away matches, and they have only scored twice in their last six away matches. A mid table consolidation is all that Stoke really have to play for now, nothing too much to get inspired about and so a draw looks likely.

Odds: Villa 5/4, Draw 23/10, Stoke 9/4 at Bet365

Form (most recent result last): Aston Villa DWLLD, Stoke LDDLW

Stat Attack:
Villa have failed to score at home in 33% of their matches this season
Villa have conceded eight goals in their last three matches
Stoke have not won away in six matches now
Peter Crouch is Stoke’s top goalscorer away from home with 4 goals

Recommended Bet: Well, there really isn’t a lot to call in this match, because Stoke are barely managing any goals away from home, and Aston Villa are struggling on just about all fronts of the game. So a draw seems a very plausible result, but Stoke are the better of the two, so worth a +0.25 Asian Handicap on Stoke for Evens at Bet365 for coverage.

Stoke City V Wolves

Stoke City Preview: Tony Pulis will have been extremely frustrated with his side’s performance against Wigan in their last outing. They went down 2-0 against the Latics, which was disappointing because it had come on the back of draws against both Spurs and Manchester City. So that was a game they should have won, but that defeat has left them without a win in four matches now. They have lost six of the last ten, winning just two matches in that period. It has left Stoke as another side in the bottom half of the table who are not offering a lot of inspiration at the moment. They are in a bit of limbo, too good for relegation and not good enough to be chasing a top six place. However, they are only five points back from seventh placed Everton, that is how tight the middle of the table is.

Can they rediscover their winning ways? They should be good for their money against Wolves who look down and out. Stoke have only lost four home matches all season, holding a W6 d5 L4 record at the moment. Reading into their home form in a little more detail, they have won two and drawn one of their last three, so they are strong enough to produce. However, Stoke struggle and have to work hard tog et on the score-sheet, and only once in the last eleven Premier League matches have they managed more than one goal in a game. The fire-power just isn’t there, and they have only score 19 at home in their fifteen home games. They have only conceded at a rate of one per game, so matches at the Britannia are pretty tight. Can they find their boots to take down Wolves’ fragile defence?

Wolves Preview: There does not look as if there is any way in which Wolves are going to avoid relegation this season. They have been cut six points adrift now at the foot of the table, and they have lost their last five matches on the bounce. Even when they do get on the score-sheet, they have not had the defence to hold out, as seen in their last match, a 3-2 home defeat against Bolton. That left Wolves conceding 24 goals in their last seven matches, a terrible stat, and there has been just one point gained in a draw at Newcastle in that run of seven matches. There has been just one win in the last seventeen for Wolves now, and they are pretty much out of time to fight back. Even matches like this against a mid table side who aren’t in particularly good form looks daunting. Wolves have won just two on the road this season, drawn five and lost eight. Away from home they have conceded two goals per game on average, while they have scored under one goal per game on their travels. Their last two away matches have both produced defeats for them and even the scoring touch of Steven Fletcher can’t seem to pull them out of the hole which they are in. If they drop further points this weekend, then it should be curtains because they have to go Arsenal next.

Odds: Stoke 8/13, Draw 14/5, Wolves 9/2 at SkyBet

Form (most recent result last): Stoke WLDDW, Wolves LLLLL

Stat Attack:

Stoke have been defeated just once in their last nine against Wolves
Stoke’s home form has a great pattern of LLWWDDLLWWD – so they could be due a draw!
There has been just one win in the last fourteen away games for Wolves
Stoke have managed the lowest total of shots on goal in the EPL this season

Recommended Bet: Well, you have to consider Wolves here and their woeful form. Yes, they keep going but they keep getting knocked down even when they find the back of the net in a game. Stoke are stubborn enough to shut them out, but Stoke aren’t great in front of goal. Would therefore take Stoke -1 Asian Handicap for 11/10 at Paddy Power, because Wolves give goals away.

Tottenham Hotspur V Stoke City

Spurs Preview: Naturally a difficult weekend, with their FA Cup tie against Bolton being abandoned because of the health concerns over Fabrice Muamba. So Spurs will have regain their focus and get back to business in the Premier League, where they need to end a bad slump. Harry Redknapp has seen his side slide to three straight defeats now, and what looked like a comfortable third place finish is now seriously under threat from Arsenal, with Chelsea not too far back now either. Tottenham’s run of poor form coincided with a tricky period of the fixture list for them, going down against Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton. However, they did completely boss the second half of the game at Goodison Park, they just couldn’t get on the score sheet The general consensus is, is that there is nothing really wrong with Spurs. There have just been tough matches, and streaks like this happen. Are they too good to keep down for too long? Tottenham’s home form has been pretty solid this season, losing just two at White Hart Lane in the league all season. Their most recent defeat there was against leaders Manchester United, so nothing too much out of the ordinary or to be overly concerned about.

Tottenham have ran up a W10 D2 L2 record at home this season with a 71% success rate, which really can’t be argued with. They have gotten on the score sheet in all fourteen of their home matches, and they average over two goals per game at home. Their defence has been pretty solid for most of the season, keeping clean sheets in seven of their home matches, and conceding on average just 0.92 goals per match at White Hart Lane. They have great options going forward, boosted by the arrival of Louis Saha to back up the likes of Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor. Spurs just need to find more consistency again and they will be happy that this match is back at White Hart Lane where they have been so impressive. Spurs did lose away Stoke City earlier in the season, so they need to make amends for that. They have seen a lot of points slip away lately, and they need to stop the rot before the confidence totally goes. There should be goals in this one for Spurs, against a Stoke side who aren’t in great form. Spurs are the fourth highest goalscorers in the Premier League this season, going up against the second lowest goalscorers Stoke, that paints a pretty clear picture.

Stoke City Preview: Stoke could not break their terrible history against Liverpool, as they against lost to the Reds, going down 2-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday. That will have hurt boss Tony Pulis, but at least they can concentrate on getting their league form going again. There have only been two wins in their last eight, in what has been a pretty streaky season for the Potters. Scoring goals has been a big issue for Stoke, and only once this season have they managed more than two goals in a Premier League match. Stoke under Pulis are a hard working side, and they put a tremendous amount of effort in through the middle of the park. There just isn’t the fire-power up front to do much at the end of the day, so that is where they need their defence to stand up and be counted. It has, and it has improved lately, keeping two clean sheets in their last three league games. However, their away form this season has not been good, winning just four, drawing two and losing eight. Away from home Stoke have scored just nine Premier League goals, and have conceded 25. Without a win in four away matches, and a current streak of three straight away losses, there is lot of work to be done to correct this. However, White Hart Lane is not an easy place to go to and do that, which is why the Stoke back line could be in for a very busy night.

Odds: Spurs 4/9, Draw 7/2, Stoke 6/1 at Paddy Power

Form: Spurs DWLLL, Stoke LLWWL

Stat Attack:

• Stoke average just 0.64 goals per game away from home this season
• Stoke have failed to score in 50% of their Premier League away matches this season
• Stoke have only ever won two games (out of 38) at White Hart Lane
• Spurs have won six of the last seven against Stoke at home

Recommended Bet: On paper, this should be a comfortable home win. The last time Spurs went on such a big slump it ending tin the sacking of Juande Ramos for anyone who remembers him (back in 2007). Spurs should get this going, they have too, and prove to themselves that they have fight in them, as well as class. With the stats weighing up, Spurs to win by two goals for 3/1 at Bet365 looks handily priced.

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)

Liverpool V Stoke

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 14 January 2012 – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Anfield

Preview

Stoke fans don’t have much to complain about these days; this is their fourth successive season in the Premier League, last May they were at Wembley competing for the FA Cup with Manchester City, while next month will see them host Spanish hot shots Valencia in the Last-32 of the UEFA Europa League. Yet, if there was one small complaint it would be their lack of a famous victory at one of the country’s most revered venues.

The chance to seize the moment and record a win that would forever go down in club folklore will present itself on Saturday, when Stoke pay a buoyant Liverpool a visit at one of the most iconic grounds in English football – Anfield. History will tell you they have no chance, with no Potters victory on Merseyside for almost half a century, but Stoke have been a problematic opponent for Liverpool in recent times, as recently as September in actual fact, when Tony Pulis’ men recorded a 1-0 win at The Brittania.

Away from their fortress however, Stoke remain largely unreliable. It was their Achilles heel last season, playing away from home, winning just three of nineteen away matches all term, but they’ve shown vast improvement of late; their 2-1 victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park on 2 January was their third away win in four, following up triumphs at Everton (0-1) and Wolves (1-2).

Still, Liverpool are a class above from those aforementioned teams who were recently put to the sword at home by Stoke, as they demonstrated in midweek by becoming only the second side in fourteen months to beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The Reds are also one of only two teams in the Premier League still to lose a home league game this season, although four wins and six draws isn’t the sort of form one of Liverpool’s calibre can be boastful of.

Liverpool’s inability to put inferior opposition to the sword at home has without question been their Achilles heel. The likes of Blackburn, Norwich, Sunderland and Swansea have all left Anfield unscathed this season, making Kenny Dalglish’s team an automatic no-go at odds-on for most punters. Star man Luis Suarez is also still suspended, which is another huge negative considering the Reds have struggled in front of goal even with him in the team, although the Uruguayan’s loss can be compensated by the return of talismanic skipper Steven Gerrard.

He’s only been back five minutes but already Steven Gerrard’s contribution can be felt; it was his quality from the bench which helped Liverpool see off Newcastle in their last league game at Anfield, which they won 3-1, and it was his confidently-struck penalty against Man City in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final which handed his team the initiative heading back to Anfield for the second leg in two week’s time.

So, inspired by their performance during the week against the current Barclay’s Premier League leaders, you would like to think Liverpool will be too strong for Stoke. But then that should have been the case on so many occasions. Plus Stoke have tasted recent success on Merseyside, beating Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park in December.

Match Pointers

- On the three occasions these two teams have clashed at Anfield in the Premier League, Liverpool have yet to lose, winning the last two, while Stoke have yet to score.

- In all competitions, Stoke have failed to record a win over Liverpool on Merseyside since 1959, when they won what must have been a 4-3 thriller in the Old Division Two – the Reds are unbeaten in 31 Anfield meetings since then, winning 28.

- Liverpool remain unbeaten on home soil this season with four wins and six draws, recording a 3-1 win over Newcastle in their last match at Anfield.

- The Reds saw their five-game streak without losing in the league diminish after losing 3-0 at Manchester City last time out – only their fourth reverse of the term (W9 D7 L4).

- Liverpool have scored one goal or fewer in seven of their ten home league games, although they have conceded a somewhat miserly 8 goals.

- Stoke have won five and lost only one of their previous eight Premier League matches (W5 D2 L1).

- The Potters are also targeting their fourth away win in five, having recorded wins at Everton (0-1), Wolves (1-2) and Blackburn (1-2) since the beginning of December.

- Away from home, though, Stoke have only mustered 8 goals, failing to score in four of ten away matches.

Betting

Is it wise to be backing Liverpool at 4/9 (General odds)? Perhaps not, certainly not in a singular bet. They’ve come unstuck against some really average teams at home; Blackburn and Norwich to name but a few, while we should also factor in just how much energy was exerted in their Carling Cup victory over Manchester City on Wednesday, in which they spent virtually the entire second half defending in their own half, chasing the ball.

Stoke, meanwhile, well they arrive in confident mood. They are safely through to the fourth round of the FA Cup after coming from behind to beat Gillingham, while it’s now three wins from four away from home after beating Blackburn 2-1 in their most recent league assignment. Potters boss Tony Pulis also has no fresh injuries or suspension so will pick from a full-strength squad.

Despite a turbulent couple of weeks, there is a buzz around Anfield. The return of their talisman, Steven Gerrard, has certainly lifted the mood on Merseyside, especially in the absence of fan-favourite Luis Suarez. They’ll also take an enormous amount of confidence and belief from their performance against Man City in midweek, which should set them up nicely as they bid to win for only the fifth time at Anfield in the league this season.

So, it’s a Liverpool win for me. They’re unlikely to blow Stoke away, mind. A 2-0 win is 2/1 with WilliamHill, while Steven Gerrard to open the scoring is 5/1 with PaddyPower. Both boast some form of appeal in a match the Reds have to be winning if they’re to keep in touch with the top-four.

Match Outcome: Liverpool to WIN – 4/9 Ladbrokes

Value Bet: 2-0 Liverpool (Correct Score) – 6/1 WilliamHill

Match Odds

Liverpool – 4/9 Ladbrokes

Draw – 7/2 Boylesports

Stoke – 15/2 PaddyPower

Stoke V Tottenham

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 11 December 2011 – 16:00 GMT

Venue: Brittania Stadium

Preview

Tottenham put their eleven-match unbeaten league run well and truly on the line when they visit the toughest of places in the Premier League on Sunday – Stoke’s Brittania Stadium. Chelsea and Manchester United could only muster draws there, while Liverpool slumped to a 1-0 defeat. How will Harry Redknapp’s imperious charges fare?

Judging by their scintillating run of form, having won ten and lost none of their previous eleven league matches, and with their record away to Stoke very encouraging indeed, winning on each of their previous two visits, you’d like to think Spurs will fare better than most at ‘Fortress Brittania’.

Then again, Stoke are now flying themselves. Their 1-0 win over Everton last weekend was their second in quick succession, to go with their comprehensive 3-1 win over Blackburn seven days earlier. As a result, the Potters have climbed back into the top half of the table.

An extremely difficult contest to call, not that the bookies see it the same way. A home win is as big as 3/1 with Totesport, which looks massive, with in-form Spurs a best priced 23/20 with WilliamHill to set a new club record by winning their fourth away match in a row in the Premier League. There has yet to be a draw between the two in the Premier League era, so feel free to take odds of 5/2 on that first.

Stoke City

League Position: 8th

League Form: LLLWW

Six points from their last two league games and Stoke are reacquainting themselves with the top half of the table, after back-to-back wins at home to Blackburn (3-1) and away at Everton (2-1). Now they face the team of the moment, a Tottenham side who’ve not lost a league game since August. So could Sunday bring about the end of their mini revival, having previously lost four on the spin before returning to winning ways?

So Stoke have their swagger back. Just as well, as Spurs will take some beating. The Brittania is a definite advantage though, where the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have come a cropper this season, in one form of another. Though shock defeats to Newcastle (1-3) and QPR (2-3) perhaps suggest fortress Brittania isn’t all it’s cracked up to be any more.

A trip to Turkey to face Besiktas in their final Europa League group game awaits the Potters on Wednesday, but with progress assured Tony Pulis can afford to pick as he pleases on Sunday, and name a weakened side during the week. This means Andy Wilkinson, Rory Delap and Jermaine Pennant could all be risked despite the trio carrying knocks. Peter Crouch will spearhead the attack against his former club, alongside Jonathan Walters who has netted all four of his Premier League goals this season at home.

Goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson was stretched off at Goodison last week with concussion, but the Danish international is available and should retain his place in goal.

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 3rd

League Form: WWWWW

A trip to Stoke is a daunting prospect for most. Not for Tottenham, who on Sunday go seeking a third consecutive league win at the Brittania Stadium. Should they do so, Harry Redknapp will spend Sunday evening salivating over his side’s seventh straight Premiership win. It will also be a new club record for successive away wins (4). So then, is it really any wonder the mighty Spurs are now widely considered genuine title contenders?

Their start to the season has been breathtaking, as has their football at times, but on Sunday they’ll need to find a way to win ugly at Stoke if they’re to maintain their winning run. Last week’s comfortable home win against Bolton, with the final scoreline of 3-0 by no means a fair reflection on a game dominated from start to finish by the North Londoners, extended their winning streak to seven matches. A truly remarkable run for a club not renowned for their consistency.

It does bode well that they have won on each of their previous two visits to Stoke in the league, both 2-1 strangely enough, and at similarly challenging arenas this season as well. Wins at Blackburn, Fulham, West Brom, Wigan and Wolves may not look much but in years gone by, Spurs would not be winning those types of fixtures, certainly not one after the other. The fact Tottenham are no longer intimidated on their travels is actually a frightening thought, as back at White Hart Lane they are a real force to be reckoned with.

A hectic festive schedule will test some of the Spurs’ resolve, not that their fixtures are gruelling in any which way. Nevertheless, the number of games facing teams over Christmas and through to the New Year means managers may hold some of their key players back. Considering the physical nature of Stoke, Redknapp may decide to leave the fragile likes Ledley King, Rafael Van der Vaart and Jermaine Defoe out of Sunday’s starting line-up, with the trio rated doubtful because of various knocks and niggles. Gareth Bale is also carrying a knock, but you can’t leave the Welshman out of the side, not on current form.

Match Pointers

- Tottenham are on a three-match winning streak versus Stoke in the league, winning four of their six Premier League encounters overall (W4 D0 L2) including the last two staged at the Brittania Stadium.

- It has been a little over three months since Tottenham last recorded a loss in the Premier League, winning ten of their last eleven in an unbeaten sequence which has seen them climb to third in the table.

- Spurs are targeting their fourth away league win in a row on Sunday, at a ground where they’ve been victorious at in each of the previous two seasons.

- The North Londoners are also targeting a seventh straight Premier League victory.

- After losing four on the trot, Stoke are now searching for their third consecutive league win following wins over Blackburn (3-1) and at Everton (0-1).

- Jonathan Walters has scored all four of his Premier League goals this season at the Brittania.

Betting

On current form, it is almost impossible to oppose Tottenham. However, Stoke aren’t no ordinary side, particularly when they have the bit between their teeth, which they do after recording back-to-back league wins. With the Brittania rocking, the hosts will be well up for this, while the fact Spurs are now a genuine scalp for everyone, because of their eleven-game unbeaten run, is motivation on a plate for Tony Pulis’ rejuvenated charges.

Stoke are a handful for any side and with Ledley King a doubt, set-pieces could be a real problem for the visitors. On the other hand, containing Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon on either flank won’t be easy for the Potters. I suspect Scott Parker and Luka Modric will try to monopolise possession, something they’ve done to devastating effect so far this season, but Stoke are as combative and industrious as they come and I really do fancy them to earn a hard-fought point in this fixture. Neither manager would begrudge a share of the spoils.

Prediction: Draw – 5/2 Bet365

Value Bet: 0-0 Draw (Correct Score) – 11/1 StanJames

Match Odds

Stoke – 3/1 Totesport

Draw – 5/2 Bet365

Tottenham – 23/20 WilliamHill

Stoke City V Blackburn Rovers

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 26 November 2011 – 12:45 GMT

Venue: Brittania Stadium

Preview

Blackburn Rovers have been in free-fall ever since the season began, but to see Stoke suffering has come as a major surprise. What it does do, though, is make for an intriguing contest when the two sides rendezvous for the seventh time in the Premier League on Saturday – and it is Stoke seeking to maintain the upper hand, having won four of the previous six encounters, including the three staged at the Brittania.

It wasn’t that long ago Stoke could do no wrong. In fact, there was a stage when folk were talking up their chances of a possible fifth or sixth place finish in the league. But it is no coincidence that their slide in form has coincided with their first ever participation in the UEFA Europa League – a competition many were tipping them to qualify for again next season with a possible fifth of sixth place league finish, but one that does have its fair share of drawbacks.

There is no doubt plying in Europe takes its toll on any squad. Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson would definitely concur. It’s one of the reasons why their clubs, Arsenal and Man Utd, recruit in such large numbers, to handle the large quantity of games each season. Europe caught Stoke by surprise, a pleasant one at that, and that meant their fairly average-sized squad was always going to be susceptible to fatigue over the course of the season – though few would have predicted all those air miles would have such an adverse affect so quickly.

Long, arduous trips to the Ukraine and Israel during the months of September and November have clearly taken their toll, as their league form in between has been atrocious. They’ve only won once in eight Premier League matches, six of those being defeats, while it speaks volumes that their solitary success came straight off the back of an international break, at home to Fulham on 15 October.

It would appear the Potters look forward to internationals more than any other side, as it’s about the only time they get a breather. Hoping to capitalise on Stoke’s gruelling schedule is Blackburn manager Steve Kean, whose side are floundering in the relegation zone and whose job hangs by the slimmest of proverbial threads.

Although last week’s 3-3 draw at Wigan epitomised Blackburn’s hunger and spirit, having fought back to earn a hard-fought point with a last-gasp winner that came courtesy of a Yakubu penalty that was earned by none other than goalkeeper Paul Robinson, it doesn’t change their complexion much. If anything, their situation has only become more dire.

Blackburn’s failure to win in the league for the seventh match running, since their unforgettable 4-3 success over Arsenal at Ewood Park on 17 September, leaves them with a four-point deficit they must bridge if they’re to claw themselves back onto safe footing. In more simpler terms, Rovers go into the weekend four points off safety. So there is no chance whatsoever of Rovers’ miserable spell in the bottom three coming to an end any time soon.

There is, however, some good news for supporters. Your team are playing well, even if they aren’t securing the right results to back up their endeavours on the pitch, while the return of several key players will be a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s clash with out of sorts Stoke, whose recent form is far more woeful than theirs. Christopher Samba, Ryan Nelsen and Martin Olsson could all feature at the Brittania after missing last week’s draw at Wigan through injury, although David Dunn is suspended.

Furthermore, Rovers have found more fortune on their travels of late than at home – which isn’t a surprise when you consider every home game at Ewood Park is like a circus these days, with fans protesting before, during and after every home match. Steve Kean’s side are unbeaten in three on the road, all draws mind, scoring three in both their previous two. The latter does bode well seeing as Stoke have shipped that very same number of goals in their previous two home Premier League games, both in defeat, too.

Match Pointers

- Four of their six Premier League meetings were won by Stoke, whom have triumphed in each of the previous three, home and away. The Potters have also won all three encounters at the Brittania, without conceding either.

- Stoke City are in free-fall and are plummeting down the Premier League table at a rate of knots, to the point where they now reside in 14th after a run of four successive defeats.

- Tony Pulis’ side have won only once in eight league matches (W1 D1 L6), losing their previous two home fixtures to Newcastle (1-3) and QPR (2-3).

- In their last four league games (all defeats), Stoke have shipped a combined total of 14 goals but managed only four themselves.

- All four of Jonathan Walters’ Premier League goals this season were scored at the Brittania Stadium, where he has netted in four of Stoke’s last five league matches.

- Blackburn begin the weekend four points adrift of safety and only one above rock-bottom Wigan Athletic, with Rovers still searching for their first league win since their 4-3 defeat of Arsenal at home on 17 September (their only win of the season thus far).

- Since beating Arsenal at Ewood Park, Blackburn have taken just three points from their subsequent seven league fixtures (W0 D3 L4).

- Rovers are unbeaten on their travels in three, having drawn away at Norwich (3-3), QPR (1-1) and more recently Wigan (3-3).

- Striker Yakubu and Canadian David Hoilett have netted in both of Blackburn’s previous two away matches, with the latter’s three league goals this term all coming away from home.

Betting

Even though they have had a tendency in the past to embark on miserable stretches of form, Stoke’s recent dismal spell has come as a shock. Just one win in eight in the league is disastrous form, relegation form even, and at the current rate they are accumulating points that is precisely where they are heading at this moment in time. Fittingly, Stoke face a team this weekend who are actually in the relegation zone, in third from bottom and without a win in seven Blackburn.

Normally Blackburn aren’t the sort of side I’d put much faith in at the Brittania, a venue where even the big teams tend to crumble. But Blackburn have shown plenty of heart in recent games, especially on the road, and with manager Steve Kean set to be boosted by the return of several influential figures, I sense a first win since the middle of September could be just around the corner.

To be fair, Stoke rarely come up short in the effort department. Tony Pulis’ charges invariably give 110%, particularly at home. But it is now two home defeats on the spin, after losing heavily to Newcastle and QPR, and after shipping three goals in each, it is impossible not to have reservations over the Potters in a match they should win but aren’t in the slightest bit alluring in odds to do so.

Blackburn for me, then, whose courage could secure them three colossal points at fortress Brittania.

Match Outcome: Blackburn Rovers to WIN – 4/1 Bet365

Value Bet: Draw/Blackburn (HT/FT) – 10/1 888Sport

Match Odds

Stoke City – 5/6 Coral

Draw – 11/4 WilliamHill

Blackburn Rovers – 4/1 Bet365

Norwich City V Stoke City

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 21st August – 13:30 GMT

Venue: Carrow Road

Preview - One of the more interesting match-ups this weekend will be at Carrow Road of all places as Norwich City, the Championship’s most prolific side in 2010/2011, entertain a rugged but perhaps fatigued Stoke side who travelled horrendously bad last season. You’ll need to weigh up your fair share of pros and cons if you want to stand any chance of calling this one successfully!

So where’s your money going? Norwich have been ultra consistent over the past twelve months, but against teams of Championship calibre. Can we really rely on their statistics from last season then? If we can, the Canaries look sure-fire winners on paper. Paul Lambert’s men lost just four matches at Carrow Road all season and are unbeaten there in the league since December, an incredible run which stretches back nine months and spans twelve games (9 wins and 3 draws). They weren’t exactly shy in front of goal either, outscoring everyone in the second tier.

The Potters are quite possibly the Premier League’s equivalent of Jekyll & Hyde. At home they are incredibly consistent, arguably the most awkward and intimidating opponent you’re ever likely to come across; extremely well-organised, industrious all over the pitch, but also confident going forward. Away from home however they are the complete opposite, having not won on their travels since Boxing Day – two draws and eight away defeats ago. Only Bolton (11) registered fewer points on the road last season, (12) although no one could do worse than Stoke’s paltry sum of away goals (15).

Stoke fans will no doubt cite their vast levels of experience now at this level, having spent the last three terms tackling the finest teams in the country. All that really equates to is better players, but those superior players will be handicapped at the weekend by fatigue, as just three days prior to this game Stoke were in Switzerland contesting a Europa League qualifier in which Tony Pulis named his strongest eleven. In contrast, Norwich have spent the week reflecting on what was a decent point up at Wigan, and their fresher set of legs, and minds, could be the decisive difference in a match which is incredibly tough to call.

Betting - Just three days after their Europa League exertions, Stoke will set out to end their nine-month spell without an away win in the Premier League – though it’ll be anything but straight-forward at Carrow Road against a Norwich side whose last home defeat in the league was way back in December, which coincidentally was when Stoke were last victorious on their travels.

Norwich are the favourites, though only just. If I’m truly honest, I cannot split them. The home side play some lovely attacking football, more so when they’re at home, but Stoke should arrive in buoyant mood following their draw with Chelsea in the league on the opening weekend and a 1-0 win in Europe, interestingly away from home, over Swiss side FC Thun.

Match Odds:

Norwich – 13/8 BetFred
Draw – 23/10 Bet365
Stoke – 19/10 SkyBet

Verdict - Norwich should be a lot more forthcoming with their attacks at Carrow Road than they were at the DW Stadium on the opening weekend, but Stoke will be full of confidence after two very tidy results; drawing 0-0 with Chelsea on the opening weekend before beating FC Thun of Switzerland, away from home, in their pivotal Europa League qualifier.

Despite their midweek exertions in Europe, as well as their appalling record on the road in 2011 of eight defeats and two draws, I’m banking on the Potters showing the same industry that helped them nullify Chelsea at the Brittania Stadium at Carrow Road, which would be good enough for at least a point.

It should be an entertaining affair, especially in the closing stages as Stoke begin to tire.

Match Prediction: Draw – 23/10 Bet365
Value Bet: 2-2 Draw (Correct Score) – 16/1 WilliamHill

Queens Park Rangers

Manager: Neil Warnock
Stadium: Loftus Road
Star Man: Adel Taarabt
2010-2011 Position: Champions in Championship

Summer Transfer Activity (Notable Transfer)

Arrivals – Kieron Dyer, Danny Gabbidon, Jay Bothroyd,

Departures – Mikel Leigertwood

Overview: You would have thought, what with Queens Park Rangers securing promotion to the Premier League as Championship champions, that fans would be buzzing ahead of the new season. That hasn’t really been the case at Loftus Road. Owned by F1 duo Berie Ecclestone and Falvio Briatore, between them the pair have handed manager Nigel Warnock next to nothing in regards to a summer transfer kitty, and as a result the QPR boss has had to have his wits about him in the window.

Three of Neil Warnock’s four summer signings arrived at Loftus Road without the club having to shell out a fee, with Jay Bothroyd having failed to agree terms with former employers Cardiff while Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer were both released by West Ham upon relegation from the Premier League last season. Striker DJ Campbell is Warnock’s only major coup so far, costing the club somewhere in the region of £2M, which is nothing in Premier League terms.

So an underwhelming pre-season so far for QPR, who have spent considerably less than the other newly-promoted outfits, Norwich and Swansea. And it could get a whole lot worse were their star man from last season, Adel Taarabt, who, from what I’ve heard from Nigel Warnock, seems to cause more hassle than he’s actually worth.

A long season is in the offing for Rangers in what is their first spell back in the Premier League since they were relegated in 1995-1996.

QPR TO BE RELEGATED: 7/4 UNIBET

Stoke City

Manager: Tony Pulis
Stadium: Brittania Stadium
Star Man: Jonathan Walters
2010-2011 Position: 13th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Matthew Upson, Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)

Departures – Abdoulaye Faye, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Ibrahima Sonko,

Overview: Clubs who aspire to be in the Premier League should follow Stoke City’s philosophy, a club who refuse to spend beyond their means. Not once, since they were promoted to the top-flight in 2008, have the Potters looked a club in danger of going down. In fact, they’ve grown in stature year-by-year, and last season they were on the cusp of achieving something truly remarkable, only to lose 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup to big-spending Manchester City.

So just how do Stoke better their achievements of last season? Simple really; stay-up. That is the goal each and every season, and it will be the same in 2011-2012. But are they at their most exposed after a summer of very little transfer activity – especially as they’ll also have Europe to contend with!

Tony Pulis has successfully retained all of his prized assets though, and while Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate arrive at the Brittania on free transfers, after both defenders were deemed surplus to requirements at West Ham and Tottenham, the pair have both been capped by their country and will be fantastic acquisitions, joining up with a group of tenacious, hard-working individuals.

However, their European commitments could cause them a spot of bother. The Potters will partake in the UEFA Europa League for the very first time in 2011-2012, provided they come through the qualifying rounds unscathed, which will mean plenty more air miles, possibly as far as Eastern Europe, while there’s also the not so small matter of exhaustion and fatigue creeping into the dressing room by the time the team are back in league action the following Sunday, just three days after competing in Europe.

Could the excitement of Stoke’s first spell in Europe for nearly four decades lead to their demise this season?

STOKE TO BE RELEGATED: 10/1 VICTORCHANDLER

Sunderland

Manager: Steve Bruce
Stadium: Stadium of Light
Star Man: Asamoah Gyan
2010-2011 Position: 10th

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Wes Brown (Man Utd), Ahmed Elmohamady, Craig Gardner, John O’Shea (Man Utd), Kieran Westwood, Connor Wickham, David Vaughan

Departures – David Healy, Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)

Overview: One man who is always on his toes during pre-season is Steve Bruce, and the 50-year-old has done his fair share of wheeling and dealing in the summer. To be honest, though, he had his hands forced after his team’s Jekyll & Hyde performance last season.

It really was a season of two halves for Sunderland in 2010-2011. Come Christmas they were shaping up as a good bet for a top-six finish and a return to European action. But then Darren Bent was controversially sold to rivals Aston Villa, a host of key men picked up injuries that would rule them out for the remainder of the campaign, and the team’s form suddenly plummeted – and, come the final game, Sunderland were very fortunate to still be a Premiership club.

So it was always a likely scenario that Steve Bruce would be a busy bee during the summer, as he seeks to resolve his team’s inconsistency issues -  after all, his war chest is bigger than most. The big-money departures of Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson meant Bruce had plenty of scope, enabling him to complete moves for Manchester United duo Wes Brown and John O’Shea, Birmingham’s Sebastian Larsson and Craig Gardner, as well as Blackpool’s David Vaughan and Connor Wickham from Ipswich, one of the hottest prospects around.

Time is of the essence, though, when you’re a football manager these days, and time is what Bruce may well need in order for all the new faces to bed-in on Wearside. However, the squad as a whole does appear a lot stronger than the one which was knocking on the door of the European places in the first half of last season. There’s an abundance of experience at the back with Brown and O’Shea, Gardner and Vaughan will bring their combative qualities to the midfield while Stephane Sessegnon and Asamoah Gyan should be a real handful for defenders up front.

Is something special in the offing at the Stadium of Light?

SUNDERLAND TOP-SIX FINISH: 10/1 BET365

Swansea City

Manager: Brendan Rodgers
Stadium: Liberty Stadium
Star Man: Scott Sinclair
2010-2011 Position: Play-Off Winners in Championship

Summer Transfer Activity

Arrivals – Steven Caulker (Tottenham; Loan), Danny Graham, Jose Moreira

Departures – Jamie Grimes, Cedric van der Gun, Darren Pratley (Bolton), Dorus de Vries (Wolves)

Overview: The Swans made history when defeating Reading in the Championship play-off final at Wembley back in May, when winning 4-2, thus etching their names in the record books by becoming the first Welsh club to compete in the Premier League. But can they hold their own up against the big names of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United – as well as Manchester City, who they face in their very first Barclay’s Premier League fixture.

Just over 60% of clubs who have gained promotion via the play-off’s have gone straight back down. That is what Brendan Rodgers and Swansea are up against this season, overwhelming odds. But they’re going to give it a good go, and they’ve spent a fair bit in the summer in a bid to prolong their stay in the top-flight.

Brendan Rodgers’ very first signing since guiding Swansea to promotion was Watford’s top-scorer last season in the Championship, striker Danny Graham. He was later joined by Leroy Lite, the former Reading striker who does have crucial first-hand experience of the Premier League, as does winger Wayne Routledge, who completed his move to the Liberty Stadium from Newcastle just days before the start of the season.

The star man, however, will be former Chelsea youngster Scott Sinclair, a player who will not merely cause full-backs all sorts of problems with his pace and skill but he’ll also chip in with a few goals, as he did last season when finished as the club’s top-scorer with 21 goals.

It’s a massive ask for a club like Swansea to remain in this division, but they do play some crisp football and could end up surprising a few.

SWANSEA TO BE RELEGATED: 4/6 SKYBET