Shakhtar Donetsk vs Chelsea betting preview

Chelsea travel to Donetsk, Ukraine on Tuesday night to face Shakhtar in what could be one of the toughest games of their season so far. The two teams go into the game top of their respective divisions and without having lost a single game all season, both domestically and in Europe. Although Chelsea hold a higher status, Shakhtar will be no pushovers and will take some beating on home soil in freezing conditions and in front of a hostile home support. Choose a free bet for this match here.

Shakhtar Donetsk 2012/13 Champions League Results:

Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 FC Nordsjaelland (Mkhitaryan (x2))
Juventus 1-1 Shakhtar Donetsk (Teixeira)

Shakhtar have an excellent home record in Europe, having lost just 2 of their last 9 home games since the start of the 2010/11 season – the losses coming against former Champions League winners Barcelona and Porto. They have won the Ukrainian Premier League for the past three years and have started the new season with a perfect record of 12 wins from 12. However, it was not all plain sailing on Friday as they had to score twice in the second half to come from behind to beat Illichivets 2-1.

The man to watch for the home side is Armenian international Henrikh Mkhitaryan who has scored 16 times this season, including a double against FC Nordsjaelland in the opening game of the group stage. He is already Armenia’s second all-time top goalscorer with 9 goals in 34 games and was named in UEFA’s top 100 players of 2012. I wouldn’t put it past Mkhitaryan bagging the first goal on Tuesday and the best price can be found at William Hill with odds of 11/2.

Chelsea 2012/13 Champions League Results:

Juventus 2-2 Chelsea (Oscar (x2))
FC Nordsjaelland 0-4 Chelsea (Mata (x2), Luiz, Ramires)

Following their comeback win against Tottenham on Saturday, Chelsea have now taken 22 points from a possible 24 to head the Premier League table by 4 points. However, they have yet to face either Manchester side and have had a relatively favourable schedule to start the season. This should not take anything away from Roberto Di Matteo’s side who have exceeded expectations to top the Premier League and have conceded just 6 times in the league this season – the best defence alongside fellow London club Arsenal.

Chelsea’s success so far this season is largely down to their superior midfield selection of Juan Mata, Frank Lampard, Ramires, John Obi Mikel and summer signings Eden Hazard and Oscar. Hazard has created 6 goals this season, more than any other player, whilst Mata has 5 assists.

Having played away from home 5 times this season, conceding just three goals – two coming against Tottenham on Saturday – proves that their defence performs as well away from home as it does in front of the Chelsea faithful.

Betting Preview

It is clear that both sides hold serious firepower going forward and I’d expect both teams to get on the scoresheet on Tuesday night. Shakhtar have scored a whopping 45 goals from 15 games this season, an average of 3 goals a game, whilst Chelsea boast a similarly impressive record with 34 goals in 13 games. It would be surprising if this game ended without goals from both sides and expect an end-to-end game from start to finish.

In Chelsea’s last four games, against Tottenham, Norwich, FC Nordsjaelland and Arsenal respectively, they have scored eight goals in the second half.  Meanwhile, Shakhtar have scored eight second half goals in seven games, suggesting that the second half will produce more goals than the first.

Finally, Chelsea have bagged themselves 4 goals in 4 games this season (4-2 vs Tottenham, 4-0 vs Norwich, 4-0 vs FC Nordsjaelland and 4-2 vs Reading), whilst Shakhtar have scored twice in four of their last six games. Comparing these statistics, what would normally be an unlikely bet, a 4-2 away win could well be on the cards.

Highlighted Bets

Henrikh Mkhitaryan to score first, 11/2 with William Hill.
Both sides to score, 4/5 with Titan Bet.
More goals in second half, 11/10 with Paddy Power.
Chelsea to win 4-2, 100/1 with Stan James.

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Article by Jack Teague

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Fulham vs Aston Villa betting preview

Fulham

Fulham have made some top quality signings this season and look a very good side from all fronts, from the chairman to the management and coaching staff all the way to the players. The key player without a doubt is Dimitar Berbatov, his style of football is suited for Fulham, however it’s still unclear whether he will be playing due to his hip injury.

On a general level though, Fulham would perhaps be happy with their current position, they are sitting in 9^th in the league and looking like a very good side. They played very well against Manchester City towards the end of September, but really should have done better against Southampton.

There are no obvious weaknesses for Fulham, they have a settled and strong defence, and they have a great working relationship with the midfielders and attackers.

They should do well this season, you just can’t see them struggling and they really should win the games against the lower clubs, but may struggle against the top teams.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa has not had a very good start to the season, and many pundits blame the fact that Villa does not have any star players anymore. They are currently sitting 16^th in the table. Although they have plenty of young talent, you would say that they have sold many of their experienced and up and coming stars. A lot of people still believe that Aston Villa are a relegation candidate, but it must be observed that the manager has plenty of experience, he just needs to get settled in properly with the squad and many are sure that surely Villa must be fine. Their season is a bit reminiscent of Blackburn’s last season, and both clubs have a seriously impressive history in the Premier League, but perhaps Blackburn had a better squad last season in comparison with Villa’s this season, but obviously Villa don’t want to suffer the same fate in which Blackburn experienced. The problem with Aston Villa is perhaps the formation they play, having one striker is a tough task against some of these teams in the premiership, and consequently they may suffer from a lack of goals this season.

Fulham v Aston Villa betting tips

These two teams over the years have been evenly matched, but producing good games with real football. This match should be a cracker, and it’s hard to call but perhaps Fulham have more of an attacking force to perhaps break down Villa’s defence, but in reality no one is going to expect a goal fest here and Villa should also be positive, they do have a chance in this game to come back with 3 points.

Prediction: Fulham 1- 0 Aston Villa – 7/1 with Bet365

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Article by Manprabh Basi

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Ascot QE2 Stakes betting preview & tips

BRITISH Champions Day arrives at Ascot on Saturday with no fewer than five Group races, including both the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and then Frankel’s final farewell appearance in the Champion Stakes. And while all the attention this weekend will centre on the world’s best racehorse as he bids for an unprecedented 14^th straight victory, perhaps the best betting proposition may lie in the QEII. Excelebration, who for so long has had to play second fiddle to Frankel, lines up in the mile contest but faces stiff competition from Cityscape and John Gosden’s Elusive Kate. All three have form on soft ground, which should make this an exciting renewal as the ground at Ascot looks like coming up soft. Check out the selection of free bets available for this race here.

The nature of Excelebration’s one and a quarter length victory over Cityscape at Deauville last time rightly means Aidan O’Brien’s dual Group 1 winner will go off favourite on Saturday. He was drawn 11 of 11 in France but under a confident Christophe Soumillon ride was always up with the pace and ran on best of all in the final furlong. A repeat performance would make him especially hard to beat and he should be up to going one better than he did in this race last year when he bumped into a certain Frankel.

Cityscape is a likeable sort for Roger Charlton who has been campaigned abroad for the majority of the last two years. In fact, he is yet to taste victory in Britain since his victory in the Nayef Joel Stakes at Newmarket back in 2010. He has though been victorious in Ireland, France and Dubai, scooping that first and all important Group 1 in the latter. Whether he will be up to winning here though after a busy schedule remains to be seen but should at least run into the place money. For the latest Cheltenham bets visit this section of our site.

Judging by her victory in the Prix Rothschild and close second in the Sun Chariot, John Gosden has a filly going places in Elusive Kate. As the only female in the race, she gets a useful few pounds off the colts and has form on soft ground when finishing second in the Falmouth at Newmarket. Whether she can improve again, which she will need to do here, remains to be seen but she looks a fair price to go very close. Carlton House has been a little disappointing since being sent off favourite for last year’s Derby and was beaten at odds on in the Summer Mile when last seen. On paper, the Queen’s representative has a lot to do and may be better on a quicker surface.

At likely forecast odds, Most Improved could spring a surprise if putting a line few a couple of his recent runs. Brian Meehan’s inmate is a proven Group 1 performer but often lets himself down as he did in Deauville and in the Nayef Joel Stakes when last seen. A repeat of his St James Palace Stakes victory over course and distance would put him in the frame and he has the assistance of a first-time visor and the in-form Richard Hughes in the saddle.

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By Mikey Mumford

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Man Utd vs Stoke betting preview

The Premier League returns this weekend after an international break. Stoke travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to play a stuttering Manchester United. Already four points behind Leaders Chelsea, United will be looking for all three points however this will be a challenge against a strong Stoke side. Choose a free bet for this match in our betting offers section.

Manchester United – 2nd

After scoring in both internationals for England, Wayne Rooney will be looking to carry on his form in the Premier League. Combined with the fact he is yet to open his goal account in the league this season, Rooney will be eager to score alongside the goal machine Robin Van Persie who will look to keep the pressure on the league leaders, Chelsea. With injuries at the back, United have been leaking goals both home and away, recently conceding three in their 3-2 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford. With the loss of Nemanja Vidic, United may have to recall Chris Smalling who had required surgery on a broken metatarsal in July. Ashley Young could also return to the team after not playing since August.

Stoke City – 12^th

Prior to the international break, Tony Pullis’ team battled hard at Anfield to gain a well deserved point against a stuttering Liverpool side. Once again they will be looking to cause some sort of an upset at Old Trafford. Although the Potters have had a challenging calendar to contend with, they have drawn five of their first seven games, notably two of those points picked up at home to Arsenal and Manchester City. Peter Crouch is Stoke’s top scorer this season with five goals and it will be interesting to see how United’s defence cope with the Englishman’s height. Michael Owen also returns to his former club, however he has yet to figure majorly for his new team.

After a disappointing loss to Tottenham a couple of weeks ago, Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for a response from his players. However with question marks over who to start in goal and with Nemanja Vidic out with another injury, we could see goals at either end. The threat of Crouch and Stoke’s physical presence it will be a contested tie however United will be looking to pick up all three points.

Manchester United to win 3-1, 10/1 On William Hill

Stoke to score in first 10 minutes, 12/1 on Sky Bet

Wayne Rooney to score a hat-trick, 16/1 on Betfred

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Written by Kelvin Morgan

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Sunderland v Newcastle Betting Preview

The 144^th Tyne-wear derby promises to be a feisty encounter with both teams needing a win after suffering 3-0 defeats in their last outing.

This Tyne-wear contest provides us with a typical local derby match; two passionate teams contesting a usually unpredictable fixture. Get a free bet for this match here.

After an impressive start to the season, Sunderland suffered their first defeat in their last outing away to the league champions, Manchester City. A weakened City team took control from the first few minutes and strolled to an easy 3-0 victory. This performance would have worried black cats’ manager Martian O’Neil as it highlighted the recurring frailties in his Sunderland team. Before this match it looked as if Sunderland had amended their lacklustre defending and surprisingly poor offensive prowess with the signing of striker Steven Fletcher and ability to keep clean sheets. However, Manchester City are the Premier League champions and have one of the most formidable teams in the league, boasting both exceptional defenders and prolific attackers. Therefore it may have been the case that Sunderland were just not good enough on the day, and O’Neil will be eager to make sure that a repeat performance will not happen this weekend.

O’Neil will hope that his strong attacking force of Fletcher, Johnson and McClean will be able to move past their last performance on Sunday against local rivals Newcastle. These three attackers are bound to cause Newcastle problems and proven Scotland International Steven Fletcher has shown that he is more than capable of scoring goals at this level, even when his employers have not been so successful.

Similarly to Sunderland, Newcastle played poorly in their last Premier League outing – losing 3-0 at home to Manchester United. United took advantage of poor defending from set pieces to score two quick fire goals and kill the game off. From then on, Newcastle didn’t show any promise and were the second best team throughout, which after a run of decent performances was a shock for the Newcastle faithful who would have expected a better performance in their own back yard.

Demba Ba has been the only Newcastle player to score a Premier League goal in their last four fixtures; scoring five goals including two braces. The Senegalese striker has once again hit form after seemingly losing his scoring capabilities when fellow countryman Papis Cisse joined the club last season. Ba was forced into a more right-sided role, allowing Cisse to play as the lone front man. After his move back to a central position it seems that Ba has not lost his touch and is proving that he is still one of the most clinical finishers in the Premier League.

Last two league matches:

Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland                                Newcastle 0-3 Manchester United

Sunderland 1-0 Wigan                                                  Reading 2-2 Newcastle

H2H:

Newcastle 1-1 Sunderland    Sunderland 0-1 Newcastle    Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle

Prediction:

As mentioned early, in recent seasons Newcastle have dominated this fixture; not losing in the last five meetings. Newcastle are playing good football at the moment with Demba Ba’s strikes helping them secure some great results. However, Sunderland have significantly strengthened their attack this season and with Adam Johnson now fully fit, they have an impressive attacking line up. As well as this, Sunderland have improved defensively and are more assured at the back enabling them to keep vital clean sheets.  This is bound to be a tight game, but it looks like Sunderland may have the edge and are good value for money to win the match at 29/20 or to win either half at 4/6.

Highlighted Bets:

1)      The Tyne-wear derby is well known for being an eventful affair. In the past 10 games there have been 6 red cards and 28 yellow cards. It is likely that this statistic will continue and the match on Sunday is bound to see referee Phil Dowd reaching for his cards on numerous occasions. This is why a bet on yellow and red cards being shown is advisable. There has been a red card in the last two fixtures between these two teams and as both teams have players that are venerable to being sent off, as they have fiery tempers and are strong tacklers a red card at 7/2 is tempting.

2)      Steven Fletcher has made a fantastic start to his Sunderland career following his £12m transfer from Wolves in the summer. Sunderland were heavily scrutinised for paying ‘over the odds’ for the Scottish International, but after scoring five goals in his first five league games it seems Fletcher is showing his worth. After two impressive performances for national side Scotland in the last week (some great build up play against Wales), Fletcher will be coming into this game bursting with confidence. A great bet for this game is Steven Fletcher to score two or more @ 9/1. Fletcher is a great attacker in the air, having been the Premier League’s top headed goal scorer last season, and with Newcastle’s apparent weaknesses at defending set pieces Fletcher is bound to cause problems. He has already netted a brace this season – on his debut against Swansea, and he offers great value to do the same again in his first Tyne-wear derby.

Recap:

• Sunderland to win either half @ 4/6 with William Hill
• A red card shown @ 7/2 with Betfair
• Steven Fletcher to score two or more @ 9/1 with BET 365

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Article by Mark Stefanyszyn

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Spurs vs Chelsea betting preview

Spurs Form: WDWWW

Tottenham didn’t get a win from their first three games in the premier league but since then they have really stepped up a gear. The new signings are beginning to gel and the old ones are learning the methods of their new manager. Andre Villas Boas will be pretty content with his team sitting fifth in the Premier League and with four victories from their last four games he will be hoping that the good form will continue, pushing the team even higher up the league and into a Champions League place. Their last match was a comfortable 2-0 victory over a lacklustre Aston Villa side who are already looking like being in or around the relegation zone come the end of the season. Far more impressively, in the previous game they overcame Manchester United at Old Trafford, winning 3-2. Choose a free bet offer for this match here.

This Tottenham team has quality all across the forward line but Gareth Bale will play a major role in the outcome of this game. He has been in the headlines recently for both the right reasons (a double for Wales in a 2-1 win over Scotland) and the wrong reasons (a pitiful dive against Villa last weekend) and will look to use his pace to attack Branislav Ivanovic.

Watching Tottenham this season has been fairly entertaining this season with the majority of goalmouth action coming in the second half of games. All of the second halves have gone over the 1.5 goal mark whereas only one of the first halves has seen more than the solitary goal. This is reflected in Spurs’ own scoring habits since they have scored 10 of their 13 goals in the second forty five minutes. Having managed to score at least two goals on the previous four occasions, Spurs will be confident that they can score again but will have to remain wary of the league leaders attacking force.

Chelsea Form: WWWWW

Chelsea have been in brilliant form this season and currently sit in first place in the league with 19 points. Winning six out of seven league games this season and drawing the other, they are four points clear of the two Manchester clubs who are joint second. The Blues’ last league game was a 4-1 win over Norwich and they also scored four in the previous game, away at Nordsjalland in the Champions League. Chelsea will come to White Hart Lane full of confidence and will feel that they can beat anyone at the moment. After an easy run of fixtures over the first few weeks of the season, Chelsea faced Tottneham’s North London rivals Arsenal, winning 2-1. This was a big result and helped maintain their position as league leaders.

Chelsea’s attack is a frightening prospect for any defence. Top goal scorer Fernando Torres will lead the line with Oscar, Mata and Hazard are likely to line up behind him. The movement of these players and their clever short passing will be hard for Spurs to contain and it seems likely that Chelsea will find the net at least once. Di Matteo will want his team to remain tight at the back but keeping out the likes of Bale and Defoe will be a challenging prospect. Ivanovic has managed to score three goals this season and provides much of the width down the right hand side. However, Chelsea may not be able to find much joy down this side with Gareth Bale likely to be pinning the right back back in his own half for much of the game.

Lampard and Bertrand missed the England games through injury and illness respectively and will be doubts for the weekend clash. Should they not be fit in time, Chelsea will still feel like they have enough about them to get the job done. In terms of goals scored, the first halves have been more fruitful with five out of seven seeing over 1.5 goals compared to just one second half. Impressively, Chelsea are yet to concede in the second half of their Premier League games this season and will look to take the lead and then control the game from there.

Betting Analysis

Andre Villas Boas will return to the club he managed at the start of last season. After AVB’s sacking, his assistant, Roberto Di Matteo, took charge and after revitalising their fortunes last season, he has become the permanent manager. AVB would love to get one over his previous employers and the stats suggest that it will be a reasonably close game, perhaps resulting in a draw or a narrow Chelsea win.

The game looks likely to go over 2.5 goals and both teams will fancy their chances of scoring. For Chelsea, the main man will be Fernando Torres and betting on him to score first and Chelsea to win may provide a tidy return. If Tottenham are to score, it seems likely that it will either be created, or scored, through Gareth Bale. Having analysed the recent form, a 2-1 win for Chelsea seems probable with Chelsea scoring in the first half and Tottenham in the second.

Highlighted bets

Tores to score first and Chelsea to win, 8/1 with Bet365

Bale anytime assist, 10/3 with Boyle Sports

Chelsea to win 2-1, 10/1 with Betfred

Ivanovic to be shown a card, 6/4 with SkyBet

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Article by Ryan Moore

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Poland vs England betting preview

Fresh from a disappointing Euro 2012 where they failed to advance to the knockout stages despite hosting the tournament, Waldemar Fornalik’s men have made a reasonably solid start to their World Cup qualifying campaign; a draw away at Montenegro and a comfortable home win against minnows Moldova sees them lie third in Group H. Borussia Dortmund trio Lukasz Piszczek, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Robert Lewandowski are arguably Polands key men with all three being linked with some of Europes largest clubs after performing consistently well for the German champions. The latter two provide arguably Poland’s biggest goal threat with Blaszczykowski’s pace potentially a problem for England’s defence. They also have a tight defence with them only conceding more than twice in one game once in their last twenty-six matches.

England head into Tuesday night’s encounter fresh on the back of a 5 – 0 victory over Group H whipping boys San Marino. As expected, Roy Hodgson’s men dominated from start to finish with the visitors having just fifteen seconds of possession in England’s half in the first forty-five minutes. More experienced players such as Ashley Cole and Steven Gerrard are expected to return against Poland with Hodgson having a host of options available to him all over the park. Despite overcoming Moldova and San Marino with ease though, England failed to get three points when up against Ukraine in their other group H match. Here they are up against a similar quality opposition in Poland and with the game coming just days after such an easy victory, they will have to make sure they up their game in what will definitely be a much more trickier match.

 Poland vs England betting tips

Match Prediction: England Win 2.00 at William Hill

Also: Under 2.5 goals 1.61 at William Hill

The majority of Poland’s games over the last few months have been low scoring, due to their solid defence. They have kept the likes of Argentina down to just one goal when beating them in a friendly last year and kept a clean sheet against Portugal earlier this year, two teams with some of the finest attacking talent in the world. It will be a tricky task for England to break them down whilst keeping out the attacking threat posed by Lewandowski and Blaszczykowski, but Hodgson will know how crucial a game this is for England to steal a head start on his Group H rivals, especially after the home draw against Ukraine. Expect a tight game, with a disciplined England side knicking it by a goal or two.

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Newmarket Middle Park Stakes Betting Preview (Group 1) (6f)

Of the two Group One’s staged at Newmarket on Saturday, the Middle Park Stakes looks a good shade more competitive than the Dewhurst which takes place a little over half an hour later. The race revolves around the unbeaten 2-year-old colt Reckless Abandon, who won the Prix Morny in Deauville when last seen. Clive Cox’s representative might be the only Group One winner in the field but there are some useful looking colts in this ten strong field including Mill Reef Stakes winner Moohaajim and Coventry third Cristoforo Colombo. The race over six furlongs is expected to be run on ground described as good to soft. Choose a free bet offer for this race here.

There has been a lot to like about the attitude of Reckless Abandon in his four career starts to date. The son of Exchange Rate displayed a game attitude in the Prix Morny under French jockey Gerald Mosse who rides him again here, and he might just set the fractions here as his mount has made virtually all in three of those four starts. The ground conditions are expected to be in his favour as he won the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot with cut in the ground and he is deservedly favourite on what he has shown so far.

However, Moohaajim is interesting and although he finished fifth behind Reckless Abandon in the Morny, he made eye-catching late headway despite running green throughout. Marco Botti’s inmate certainly made amends when readily scooping the Mill Reef on quicker ground with Master Of War who reopposes here, back in second. The ground would be the only concern as he is unraced on anything slower than good and any more rain could further hinder his chances here.

Aidan O’Brien has three entered in the race but there is no disputing that Cristoforo Colombo rates his best chance. He was unlucky in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh when he slipped up after clipping heels with a rival just as he looked prime to take a hand in the finish. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle from usual pilot Joseph O’Brien and if he can return to the form of his length defeat in the Coventry in June, he must be on the shortlist. Conditions will suit as he has gone close on heavy ground and he can play a part with a little more luck. Kevin Ryan’s Blaine is another looking to extend his unbeaten tag after adding the Gimcrack to his maiden York win. He must improve again on that effort but he looks a progressive sort and we are probably yet to see the very best of him.

Master Of War is the sole representative of Richard Hannon and although he has been very consistent in the majority of his races, this is another step up in class and he might just fall short in this better company. The same can be said for Hototo and Frankie Dettori, who might be fighting out for minor honours. At forecast bigger odds Parliament Square could be worth keeping on side judging on his length defeat when third in the Morny won by Reckless Abandon. The Irish raider kept on for pressure when a running on fifth at Doncaster and he’s been given a little time off the track and could surprise a few here. Make sure you get a Cheltenham free bet for the 2013 Festival.

Heavy Metal can be a tad unpredictable but there is no questioning he is an improver but this test might be above him. Wexford Opera has shown very little too worry the judge on his four starts and is easy to overlook.

If you fancy a free bet for this race, visit Betfred who are offering new customers a free £50 bet on any event! Or check out our free betting tips section of the site here – Free Bet Finder’s betting tips section.

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Newcastle vs Man Utd betting preview

Newcastle United (#10)

The Magpies have struggled to recreate the free-flowing football of last term and their results have suffered as a result. Draws at home to Aston Villa and away at Reading were surely games Alan Pardew thought they could take the 3 points rather than come away with score draws.

Nevertheless a victory over the defensively weak Manchester United will give the Toon Army something to shout about. Hatem Ben Arfa, Jonas Gutierrez and on-form striker Demba Ba are set to return after being rested midweek in the 3-0 win over Bordeaux. If the likes of Gutierrez and Yohan Cabaye can retain possession and feed Ben Arfa, you can expect the Red Devils to be on the back foot for much of the game.

Ba is currently the outright top-scorer in the Premier League so far this season as he looks to improve upon his 16 goals last term. Papiss Cisse is yet to score in the league but has shown promising signs in recent matches and the partnership may just be too much for Manchester United.

Newcastle are short at the back with keeper Tim Krul doubtful and first-choice defensive pairing Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini expected to be out until the end of October. A second consecutive clean sheet here at the Sports Direct Arena is highly unlikely.

Manchester United (#3)

Despite some woeful first-half performances Manchester United have battled through relying on Rafael’s ingenuity against Liverpool and Robin van Persie’s prolific goal-scoring form to give several teams a harsh lesson in concentration. With Sergio Aguero’s injury time Premier League winner still fresh in the memory, Sir Alex Ferguson has made sure his depleted team play for the entire 90 minutes.

Jonny Evans has recovered from a dead leg but the Red Devils are still without Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones in defence and Patrice Evra has hardly dazzled both going forward and at the back. Rio Ferdinand has a point to prove this week after Roy Hodgson branded him “too old” to play for England on the London tube and will want a solid performance.

The good news for United fans is that van Persie and Wayne Rooney are able to play up front together, and to good effect. Both forwards have good a goal-scoring record against the Geordies, Rooney has 9 goals under Ferguson and van Persie has 3 in last 3 outings against them. However this has forced Ferguson to use much narrower tactics with Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia on the sidelines and with Nani hardly on song.

United’s midfield has struggled to get a grip of games all season and which may enforce a defensively minded setup in order to contain Newcastle. This will leave them without a creative spark in midfield, limiting service up front.

Betting Verdict

This game is critical for United’s season. Despite being third in the table, a poor performance and a poor result in the northeast on Sunday could make or break their season. Both clubs have finished games strongly so expect a goal glut in the last 10 minutes as both teams weakened defences buckle. While United have had an extra day to prepare, Newcastle’s convincing midweek win will give them momentum as they look to kick-start their season.

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Tottenham v Aston Villa Betting Preview

This game promises to be an exciting encounter. Tottenham are hitting a run of good form and look more than capable of scoring goals, whilst Aston Villa couldn’t build on their win at City in the cup and come into this game on the back of a lucky point against WBA. Get free bets for this match here.

Andre Villa Boas will be extremely happy with Tottenham’s current run of form. The ex Chelsea manager started his career at Tottenham in a similar fashion to the way he did at Chelsea – underperforming. However, unlike at Chelsea, the manager has had no pressure from the Spurs’ fans and has been given reassurance that he has time to rebuild a potentially brilliant Tottenham side. After successive away wins at Reading and Manchester United it is clear that AVB has got Tottenham playing the way he wants and most importantly, scoring goals.

Tottenham look very comfortable and dangerous going forward and will cause any team problems. Not many teams go to Old Trafford and score three goals, but Tottenham did so, and in a clinical fashion. The new passing style that AVB has brought in has allowed Tottenham to break teams down by opening up spaces on the pitch and releasing their fast outlets in Bale, Lennon and Defoe. With an impressive offensive force and tricky wingers it is difficult to see Tottenham not scoring lots of goals this season. However, it is still clear that Tottenham still struggle defensively and find it difficult to keep clean sheets evident by the lack of one to date this season. Therefore it is likely that most of Tottenham’s games will have lots of goals in this season and Spurs may be forced to adopt a ‘we can out score you’ philosophy.

Aston Villa played well against high flying West Brom last weekend at Villa Park, coming from behind to take a point in a 1-1 draw. Aston villa had looked the most dangerous but were unable to break down a resilient West Brom, as was predicted in last week’s betting preview.

Paul Lambert faces a difficult decision when choosing his starting line up against Tottenham this weekend. He can either play two up top or revert back to a more defensive 4-5-1 shape to bolster up his defence to counter a free-scoring Tottenham side. As Aston Villa are most dangerous when playing on the counter attack, it would seem wise to play 4-5-1 with two fast players on the wing. English forward Darren Bent may earn the right to play as the lone striker after coming off to bench to grab a vital last equaliser against WBA. He is a proven goal poacher with a fantastic scoring record and the ex Tottenham player will relish the opportunity to score against his old club.

Last three league matches:

Manchester United 2-3 Tottenham                       Aston Villa 1-1 West Brom

Tottenham 2-1 QPR                                                  Southampton 4-1 Aston Villa

Reading 1-3 Tottenham                                            Aston Villa 2-0 Swansea

H2H:

Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham    Tottenham 2-0 Aston Villa     Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham

Prediction:

As mentioned early it is clear that Tottenham’s games will have lots of goals in this season as they boast a quite brilliant attacking force, but in doing so, sacrifice stability in defence and leak goals. Villa on the other hand find it very difficult to break teams down as they lack the creative spark needed to open up the tough defences in the top flight of English football. Therefore, it looks most likely that Tottenham will win, and this is reflected in the odds as they are 2/5 with most bookmakers. Because of this, I have looked at a more risky bet offering more value: Tottenham -1 at 11/10. This means that Aston Villa start with a goal advantage and for the bet to win Tottenham must win by two clear goals.

Highlighted Bets:

1)      Tottenham are a very attractive team to watch as they can score lots of goals. However, they are also prone to conceding, having done so in every league game this season.  An obvious bet in this game is over 2.5 goals at 8/13. This doesn’t represent brilliant value but it is a bet that is likely to win if the form of the two teams continues.

2)      Jan Vertonghen has made an impressive start to his Tottenham career after his summer move from Ajax. The Belgian centre back has scored in his last two appearances; away at Carlisle in the cup and the crucial opener in the 3-2 victory over United. The tall defender scored 23 goals in his time at Ajax and looks more than capable of continuing his scoring run in the Premier League. Vertonghen is 5/1 to score anytime against Villa. This offers great value as Tottenham are likely to win numerous corners allowing Vertonghen to get forward from his left back position and cause problems with his height and aerial ability.

3)      This is a tough match to pick the correct score so small stakes is advisable. Both teams are unpredictable and the toss of a coin seems to decide whether they put in a fantastic or disappointing performance. Having said that, Tottenham to win 3-1 looks fantastic value at 12/1 as they are more than capable of scoring three for the third Premier League match in a row and with the danger of Darren Bent look unlikely keep their first clean sheet of the season.

       Recap:

• Tottenham -1 goal handicap @ 11/10
• Over 2.5 goals @ 8/13
• Vertonghen to score anytime @ 5/1
• Tottenham to win 3-1 @ 12/1

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