With the Christmas season upon us it is a time to be grateful for our many blessings, not least that there is football on and an excuse to get away from the family, and maybe even have a win at the bookies.
|
By FootyMad
Updated Tuesday, 23rd December 2008
With the Christmas season upon us it is a time to be grateful for our many blessings, not least that there is football on and an excuse to get away from the family, and maybe even have a win at the bookies.
|
Stoke play host to Manchester United in the first game on Boxing Day at 12:45. United have a strong away record against bottom-half sides with a pretty close split between W/W (nine) and D/W (eight). FootyMad prediction: Half Time/Full Time - Man Utd/Man Utd
Chelsea may have dropped points in four of their last five at home but there should be no such worries for the visit of West Brom. The Blues have won all but one of their 39 games at home to promoted teams since 02/03, with more than 66% coming as a W/W. West Brom are yet to score in the first half on the road this term. FootyMad prediction: Chelsea to win to nil
A first half stalemate looks the order of the day when Portsmouth take on West Ham. The Hammers have drawn 14 of 25 first halves. Portsmouth have drawn 57% of first halves at home to non-Big Four teams.
More first half draws as Spurs host Fulham. A feature of Roy Hodgson's away games at Fulham have been first-half draws, which have occurred in 13 of the last 17 and the last nine in a row. Spurs have struggled in the first half of late (HT W2-D11-L5 this season), drawing 17 of their last 26 opening periods. FootyMad prediction: Half Time - Draw
Yet another first half draw predicted at Anfield. Liverpool have drawn nearly 75% of their last 20 Premier League games including six of eight at Anfield. Bolton have drawn six of 13 first halves on the road, and two of four at the Big Four under Gary Megson.
The gift of goals could be at the City of Manchester Stadium for the visit of Hull. Both teams have the highest match goal average in the league (3.22), seven of City's nine at home have seen three or more goals while Hull have seen three or more in six of nine on the road. FootyMad prediction: Total Goals - Over 4
Middlesbrough host Everton and the Riverside, jointly with the JJB in 2008, has seen the most games with two goals or fewer (13/19). In the same time, only Fulham (13) have had more away games that ended with fewer than three goals than Everton so -2.5 goals looks likely. FootyMad prediction: Total Goals - Under 2.5
The first half could be the action half when Sunderland play Blackburn. The Stadium of Light has seen the most first-half goals of all Premier League grounds (29 goals in 20 games). Blackburn have the fourth-highest scoring away first halves over the same period (24 in 20).
Under Steve Bruce, Wigan have won 10 of their 16 home games (W10-D4-L2) against sides from outside the top six. Newcastle have lost just under half (W4-D6-L8) of their equivalent away games since the start of last season, including four of seven this term.
As well as drawing four of their nine home games this season (all 0-0), Villa have shared the points in just under half of their games against the Big Four. Arsenal have won only three of their eight games at non-Big Four teams this season (W3-D2-L3) and, since their unbeaten campaign, have drawn half (W3-D6-L3, three 0-0s) of their games away to sides that had already taken points off them at home (W2-D5-L2 against non-Big Four teams).
|