Blues can start kicking away from title rivals
CHELSEA vs MANCHESTER UNITED
SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS 1
CARLO Ancelotti squares up to Sir Alex Ferguson for the second time as Chelsea boss and although his team won the Charity Shield you can be certain a win on Sunday will mean more to the Italian. The Blues have looked different class at Stamford Bridge this season, winning all nine games across all competitions and only conceding one goal, against Hull on the opening day.
They are currently a best-priced 5/4 with Hills for the title and although followers of this column will have backed them at 21/10 with Boylesports pre-season, the current price still represents value from a trading perspective. Put simply, if Chelsea win this match, I expect them to trade at around 4/6 meaning all those playing on Betdaq will be able to lock in a healthy profit.
United have now lost three of their last ten away league games, failing to score in all three, but as the point was made in the Liverpool game a couple of weeks ago, it is their recent record away to the Big Four which is terrible. They’ve only taken one point from their last five such matches since 2008, but have also only managed to earn two points from a possible 18 at Stamford Bridge since 2003.
Chelsea had a remarkable record at home under Jose Mourinho and they are now beginning to replicate that under Ancelotti. Since Luiz Felipe Scolari left the club in February, the Blues have won 10 and drawn just one of 11 Premier League matches in west London; keeping a clean sheet in seven of those. They look unopposable in this game and the 11/10 on Betdaq is a great price.
Sir Alex is concerned with his side’s defensive frailties so he will try to make this tight and I fancy a low scoring game. In the past six league contests between these two at Stamford Bridge, there have been two or fewer goals in four and one or fewer in three. Spread bettors should sell Sporting Index’s goals quote at 2.4.
Didier Drogba has been on fire this season, scoring in nine of the 12 games he’s played. Quotes of 2/1 with Coral to score anytime and 6/1 to score first are far too big when he’s as short as 11/10 and 4/1 elsewhere.
POINTERS…
Chelsea to win Premier League at 5/4 with Hills
Chelsea to win match at 11/10 on Betdaq
Didier Drogba to score anytime at 2/1 with Coral
Sell total match goals at 2.4 with Sporting Index
WOLVES vs ARSENAL
TOMORROW – 5.30PM ESPN
ARSENAL have earned great plaudits this season, not only for their typical flair, but also their ability to ram home victories. It’s true that they let a two-goal lead slip at Upton Park recently, but they came out straight away and comfortably dealt with Tottenham last weekend.
Andrei Arshavin has brought a different dimension to the side and his experience provides the perfect balance with the multi-talented youngsters who have been responsible for both brilliance and naivety in the past few seasons.
Mick McCarthy certainly won’t be relishing this visit and although he hasn’t faced a Big Four side yet this season, his record against them as Sunderland boss wasn’t great – losing eight of eight. He doesn’t subscribe to quite the same philosophy as Arsene Wenger and will be placing the onus on his defence. To be fair to the Yorkshireman, no-one has steamrollered them at home yet – they have only conceded two goals once, against West Ham – and were excellent last time against Aston Villa. The Gunners should be a different kettle of fish though.
Arsenal have won seven of their 10 games this season, but have scored an incredible 32 goals in that time. In only one of their matches has there not been three or more goals scored and seven of the 10 have produced at least four. In fact, since 2008, 23 of Arsenal’s 33 away league trips have seen the net bulge at least three times, whilst nine of their last 12 away games at promoted sides have followed the same pattern.
Wenger’s side have generally been very strong on the road at promoted teams, winning eight of 12 since 2005/06 and seven of those victories coming by the half-time / full-time result.
This looks like it could be another high scoring Premier League contest with Arsenal strongly advised to come out on top.
POINTERS…
Arsenal HT / Arsenal FT at EVS with Boylesports
Buy Arsenal supremacy at 1.6 with Sporting Index
Buy total match goals at 3.3 with Sporting Index