All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Everton vs Crystal Palace – Match Preview

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Everton vs Crystal Palace Match Preview
Saturday 8th February 2020
FA Premier League, Goodison Park.

Live on BT Sport 1 – Kick-of: 12:30 GMT.

Everton return to home soil this weekend as they welcome Crystal Palace to Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Everton will be out to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League following last weekend’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Watford thanks to Theo Walcott’s stoppage time winner. The Toffees’ form has undoubtedly improved since Carlo Ancelotti’s arrival as manager, losing only one of his seven Premier League matches in charge.

Crystal Palace on the other hand will be hoping to return to winning ways in the league following their disappointing defeat to Sheffield United last time round. Last weekend’s defeat was their second on the bounce, and took Palace’s winless run to seven matches in the Premier League. Roy Hodgson’s side are yet to win in the league in 2020.

These sides last meeting was in August which ended in a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored five Premier League goals in Ancelotti’s seven matches in charge, the same amount as he managed in the eighteen matches prior to the Italians arrival. Calvert-Lewin is priced at 19/20 on SkyBet to score in 90 minutes this Saturday.

Everton boast an impressive record between these two sides and haven’t lost to Palace since September 2014. The Toffee’s are unbeaten in their last ten encounters with Crystal Palace, winning four and drawing six.

The referee for this clash is David Coote. Coote has taken charge of ten Premier League affairs this season, awarding thirty-six yellow cards, and one red card. The Englishman oversaw Everton’s win over Brighton last month and awarded three yellow cards, and took charge of Palace’s defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in August, awarding four yellow cards.

Everton vs Crystal Palace will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 1 with kick-off at 12:30 GMT.

Prediction: Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace

Suggested Tips – Everton vs Crystal Palace – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Everton 2-0 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Richarlison – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Everton vs Crystal Palace – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Everton to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 6/4.

Markets last updated at 10:35AM on Saturday 8th February 2020.

 

Bristol City vs Birmingham City – Match Preview

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Bristol City vs Birmingham
Friday 7th February 2020.
SkyBet Championship, Ashton Gate.

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT.

Bristol City host Birmingham at Ashton Gate in the latest instalment of Friday night SkyBet Championship action.

Both sides come into this fixture following impressive wins in their most recent Championship encounter. Bristol City won 1-0 away at QPR, meanwhile Blues were victorious against Nottingham Forest, winning 2-1.

These two sides faced each other right at the beginning of the season in August, where they played out a 1-1 draw at St Andrews. Tommy Rowe struck a late equaliser for the Robins who trailed thanks to Lucas Jutkiewicz’s second half opener.

Lee Johnson’s Bristol City side are the in-form team in the division and have won their last four on the bounce. City currently trail Leeds United, who occupy the second automatic promotion spot by five points, but know that a win would stand them in good stead, and close the gap before Marcelo Bielsa’s side play this weekend.

Birmingham enjoyed midweek FA Cup success thanks to a penalty shootout win over Coventry to seal their progression to the fifth round. Birmingham have started 2020 strongly, and haven’t lost since their New Year’s Day defeat to Wigan Athletic. Pep Clotet’s side are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions, and their strong form has distanced themselves from the drop zone. Blues currently sit 17th in the division.

Birmingham have lost once in their last seven trips on the road in the Championship, and SkyBet are offering odds of an away win at 9/4.

Meanwhile Bristol City’s last four consecutive wins have been that bit sweeter too, as they have kept clean sheets in each of their victories. Bristol City to win to nil is priced at 3/1.

Bristol City have enjoyed the better results in this fixture winning two of the last four. However, their win in April 2018 ended a fourteen-match winless run against Birmingham, with their last win before that coming in November 1998.

The referee for this fixture is Keith Stroud. The 50-year old has been one of the harsher referees this season, accumulating an average of just under four yellow cards in the Championship this season. Stroud has also awarded two red cards this season.

Bristol City vs Birmingham City will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick-off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Bristol City 2-1 Birmingham

Suggested Tips – Bristol City vs Birmingham City – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Bristol City 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Jamie Paterson – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Tottenham Hotspur vs City – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Bristol City 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4.

Markets last updated on Friday 7th February 2020 at 17:22 GMT.

Burnley vs Arsenal – Match Preview

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Burnley vs Arsenal
Sunday 2nd February 2020
FA Premier League, Turf Moor

Live on Sky Sports Premier League HD – Kick-off – 14:00 GMT

Burnley return to Turf Moor this Sunday as they welcome Arsenal in the Premier League.

Sean Dyche will be hoping his side can build on their recent impressive run of form, and make it three wins in a row in the Premier League for the first time this season.

Arsenal on the other hand will be hoping to get a win under their belt after failing to do so in their last three Premier League outings. Mikel Arteta’s side haven’t won in the league since New Years Day.

Burnley have put more breathing space between themselves and the drop zone following back to back wins in their last two league affair. The Clarets beat Leicester at home, before stunning Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford, their first win at that ground since 1965. Sean Dyche’s side occupy 13th place in the league and are now seven points clear of the drop zone.

Arsenal on the other hand will be hoping to keep their faint hopes of securing European football for next season alive with a win at a ground which has been a happy hunting ground for the Gunners in recent times. Arsenal have won each of their last four visits to Turf Moor.

If the head-to-head record between these two sides has any bearing on the result, then there will be only one outcome. Arsenal boast an incredible thirteen match unbeaten run against the Clarets, dating back to December 2008. In that time Arsenal have won twelve times and have won the last eleven consecutive meetings.

The referee for this fixture is Chris Kavanagh. The 35-year old has been one of the more lenient referees this season, and has averaged three cards per game in his seventeen matches this season. Kavanagh is yet to award a red card this season too. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points for this fixture.

Burnley vs Arsenal will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League HD with kick-off at 14:00 GMT.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Arsenal

Suggested Tips – Burnley vs Arsenal – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Gabriel Martinelli – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Burnley vs Arsenal – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 – 10/3.

Markets last updated on Sunday 2nd February at 10:26 GMT.