Premiership Betting Odds 30th/31st August

PREMIERSHIP BETTING PREVIEW – AUGUST 30th / 31st

Chelsea, having made a 100% start to the 2008-09 season, have now replaced Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United as favourites for the Premiership title, at a best-priced Evens with Paddy Power. Arsenal, following an unexpected reverse at Fulham, are now out to 10/1 with Ladbrokes for Premiership success. It’s far too early to be making final decisions on the destination of the Premiership title, but title hopefuls cannot afford too many slip-ups this early in the season.

Saturday 30th August

Bolton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion

Bolton (10/11 with William Hill) host West Brom (7/2 with bet365), with the draw 5/2 with bet365. The Trotters started the season well by with an impressive 3-1 home win over Stoke City and put up a good showing when losing, by a single goal, to Newcastle at St. James’ Park last Saturday. The Baggies, 2007-08 Championship winners, have lost at 1-0 Arsenal and 2-1 at home to Everton. Bolton has the advantage in recent encounters at the Reebok, the last ten corresponding fixtures resulting in 5 Bolton wins, 1 West Brom win and 4 draws. With things looking less than bright at the Hawthorns, Bolton can revert to winning ways.

Everton v Portsmouth

Everton (11/10 with William Hill) have had the best of recent Premiership home encounters with Portsmouth (3/1 with skybet) winning 4 of the last 5. Neither side has impressed thus far this season. The Toffees opened their 2008-09 campaign with a 3-2 home loss to Blackburn, followed by a 2-1 lacklustre victory over disappointing West Brom at the Hawthorns. Pompey have faced the worst possible start to the season, hosting Chelsea, followed by a visit to Old Trafford. 4-0 and 1-0 defeats came as no great surprise to anyone. Goalless so far, Portsmouth must start somewhere and they are taken to pick up their first points with an away win. The draw is a best-priced 12/5 with Boylesports.

Hull City v Wigan Athletic

Hull (6/4 with Paddy Power) has shown so far that they seek more than survival in the top-flight. Opening their campaign with a 2-1 home win against Fulham and an away 1-1 draw against Blackburn, the Tigers host Wigan Athletic (11/5 with skybet), with the draw a 9/4 chance with bet365. The Latics have lost 2-1 at West Ham and, unsurprisingly, 1-0 at home to Chelsea. The sides have not met in the league since a League Two encounter in November 1996, so there is no recent head-to-head form. However, coach Steve Bruce is ambitious and Wigan are taken to kick-start their season with an away win.

Middlesbrough v Stoke City

Middlesbrough (8/13 with Paddy Power) opened their 2008-09 campaign with a 2-1 home win against Tottenham (who continued their woeful away form). Their subsequent 2-1 loss at Anfield was predictable but the side has showed little determination thus far. Stoke (6/1 with bet365) find themselves in a similar position, overcoming an opening 3-1 loss at Bolton to win 3-2 at Villa Park. The sides have not met since a Championship fixture in February 1998, but Stoke look way too big at 6/1 and is taken to collect another 3 points at the Riverside. The draw is a best-priced 13/5 with Stan James.

West Ham v Blackburn Rovers

West Ham (7/5 with bet365) host Blackburn (21/10 with Paddy Power) in an interesting contest, with the draw a best-priced 12/5 with skybet. West Ham got the job done in the first week in beating Wigan 2-1. However, the Hammers were soundly walloped 3-0 at Manchester City last Sunday. Rovers beat Everton with a late goal in week one, but struggled to a 1-1 at Ewood Park with Hull last Saturday. With Roque Santa Cruz having signed his new contract, things seem a little more settled and Paul Ince will be hoping for more consistency from his charges. The Hammers have much the better head-to-head form having beaten Blackburn in 6 of their last 8 encounters (including all 4 at Upton Park) and the home win looks the value at 7/5.

Arsenal v Newcastle United

Arsenal (1/2 totesport) may have been missing key players in their start to the 2008-09 campaign, but their two performances to date have been unconvincing, to say the very least. A 1-0 home win over West Brom followed by a 1-0 reverse, after a dismal performance, at Craven Cottage is a particularly poor start for the Gunners. Newcastle (8/1 with bet365) opened their season with a 1-1 draw against an underperforming Manchester United at old Trafford, and a subsequent 1-0 home win over Bolton was hardly awe-inspiring. Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger hopes that the Fulham result will serve as a “wake-up call” for his team. If that is the case, Arsenal should despatch Newcastle with a minimum of fuss. In 19 Premiership visits to Arsenal, Newcastle have only won 3 times with 1 draw. Although a short price, Arsenal should get their season going with a comfortable home win.

Sunday 31st August

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur

Chelsea (2/5 with William Hill) boast a 100% record in the opening to their 2008-09 campaign, following a 4-0 home drubbing of Portsmouth on the opening day of the season, followed by a predictable 1-0 win at Wigan. Contrastingly, Spurs (8/1 with skybet) “boast” a 0% record, continuing their pathetic away form with a 2-1 loss at Middlesborough, followed by a home defeat to Sunderland by the same margin. In 20 Premierships visits to Stamford Bridge, Spurs have never won, but have achieved 8 draws. As ever, early season fixtures have seen some surprises, and the draw, a best-priced 7/2 with Boylesports makes a certain appeal. However, assuming the Blues don’t “do an Arsenal”, despite the short price, the home win looks a formality.

Sunderland v Manchester City

If both sides continue in similar impressive fashion to their recent fixtures, this has all the makings of a classic encounter. Roy Keane’s Sunderland (13/10 Paddy Power) has a classy, determined squad, seen to best effect in a 2-1 away victory over Spurs, following a 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool. Manchester City (12/5 bet365) was also impressive in drubbing West Ham 3-0, after on opening 4-2 loss at Villa Park. The sides have met only four times at the Stadium of Light in Premier League fixtures, with City prevailing in 3 of these. While skybet’s offer of 12/5 the draw makes some appeal, Manchester City are taken to just shade a close contest.

Aston Villa v Liverpool

Aston Villa (12/5 with Boylesports) was impressive in the opening fixture, walloping Manchester City 4-2, courtesy of a hat-trick from young striker Gabby Agbonlahor. However, Stoke’s last-minute goal at the Britannia gave them a 3-2 victory over Villa, deflating the fans and highlighting some weak spots at the back. Liverpool (5/4 with skybet) is one of the only two teams with a 100% record, putting Sunderland to the sword at the Stadium of Light, followed by a predictable 2-1 home win over Middlesbrough. The Reds have not been seen at their best thus far, but Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres are beginning to gel into one of the Premiership’s most potent strike forces. Liverpool hold a massive advantage in recent encounters at Villa Park, being unbeaten in the last 10 corresponding Premiership fixtures with 6 wins and 4 draws (9/4 with Paddy Power). Although Villa will be smarting after their latest defeat to newly-promoted Stoke and seeking to get their season back on track, the Reds look good value at odds against for an away win.

All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds



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    • Written by Jason Tynan · Filed Under Premiership Betting 

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