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Premier League 2009 Betting: Saturday's 3pm Kick Offs
Mike Norman / 28 August 2009 Free Bet
Back Under 1.5 Goals @ 3.2 in Blackburn v West Ham; Back Bolton @ 7.4 to bt Liverpool; Back The Draw @ 3.35 in Stoke v Sunderland; Back Tottenham Win Both Halves @ 3.05 v Birmingham; Back Wolves @ 2.18 to bt Hull
Blackburn [2.26] v West Ham [3.6]; The Draw [3.4]
It won't be long before Rovers start picking up points now that they've added defenders Michel Salgado and Pascal Chimbonda to their ranks, but if recent history between these two sides is anything to go by, Sam Allardyce's men will do well to get anything from this fixture. Prior to last season's 1-1 draw at Ewood Park, West Ham had won their previous six meetings against Blackburn, and I fancy the Hammers to get at least a point on Saturday.
Blackburn have struggled to score this term, whilst Gianfranco Zola's men - barring a 20 minute spell against Spurs last Sunday - have looked quite tight defensively. The game therefore is unlikely to be a classic, and I recommend Under 1.5 Goals as my main selection at [3.2].
I won't be playing in the Correct Score market simply because the Under 1.5 Goals option covers all the scorelines I'd be interested in backing. But for you slightly more ardent punters, a 0-0 outcome is available to back at [10.0], whilst if you think a single goal will win the game then the odds on offers for a 1-0 victory are [8.0] (Blackburn) and [10.5] (West Ham) respectively.
Bolton [7.4] v Liverpool [1.58]; The Draw [4.3]
I may be pushing the boat out a little here but the [7.4] about a Bolton victory looks way too big to me. The Trotters (as I feared) have lacked a cutting edge up front but I doubt there will be a better time to play Liverpool. The Reds put in a horror show against Villa on Monday and clearly miss Xabi Alonso, whilst for the first time in a few seasons they look a bit unsure at the back.
I could be barking up completely the wrong tree here, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if Bolton nicked this one - just like they did exactly five years ago to the day of this fixture. The score then was 1-0 thanks to a Kevin Davies first half strike, and a repeat of that scoreline is available to back at a whopping [22.0] this time.
Stoke [2.5] v Sunderland [3.2]; The Draw [3.35]
This is an extremely difficult game to call, not least because of Stoke's fantastic home form. Sunderland are a completely different proposition to last season however and I have a strong feeling that they will get something from this game. Whether they'll do enough to win I'm not sure so The Draw ([3.35]) is probably the safest option.
The home side are expected to have new signings Robert Huth and Tuncay Sanli available for selection, but it's Sunderland's new man, Darren Bent, that could prove to be the match winner if there is to be one. Bent has hit the ground running for his new club and will be available to back at around [8.6] (First Goalscorer) and [3.2] (To Score at anytime) once those respective markets materialise.
Tottenham [1.38] v Birmingham [11.0]; The Draw [5.2]
When I tipped up Tottenham at [5.2] in the Winner w/o Big 4 market (now just [2.98]) I can honestly say that I didn't realise just how strong Harry Redknapp's squad was. They have performed brilliantly during the month of August, and when you look at the team that hammered Doncaster in midweek it's hard not to be impressed with the strength in depth at Redknapp's disposal.
I hope I haven't put the mockers on them for the visit of injury hit Birmingham. The outcome should be a formality - so much so that I recommend backing the Yes option at [3.05] in the Tottenham Win Both Halves market, as well as Tottenham/Tottenham at [2.04] in the Half Time/Full Time market.
Jermaine Defoe is the obvious selection in the First Goalscorer market (he should be available to back at around [5.0]), but when you consider that Spurs have amazingly had 11 different goalscorers in just the 4 games they've played this season, then you begin to realise that goals can come from anywhere in this team. For that reason, it would be mad not to throw a few quid in the direction of Sebastien Bassong ([50.0]) and Wilson Palacios ([34.0]).
Wolves [2.18] v Hull [3.75]; The Draw [3.5]
Although both sides have already registered a win, you get the feeling that this is one of the crunch early-season relegation battles. I've seen nothing to put me off my thinking that Wolves will stay up and I can see them taking all three points in Saturday's 'golden' match of the day.
It's always a dilemma deciding whether a match between two low scoring (but not very good defensively) teams will produce a goal fest or a bore draw, but I tend to think that in such a match the sides will cancel each other out and goals will be at a premium. So Under 2.5 Goals has to be the selection for me (available to back at [1.83]), whilst a 1-0 victory to the home side ([8.0]) is where my money's going in the Correct Score market.
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