English Premier League & FA Cup Analysis and Predictions March 23rd & 24th 2010

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A mid week round of Barclays Premier League is coming up, as well as the sixth round of FA cup and a very interesting game from it.

We have only a single game tomorrow, but quite many on Wednesday.

I will cover them all today, because it will be silly to write an analysis for a single game.

Here’s what we can see tomorrow and on Wednesday:

West Ham v Wolverhampton 23/03/2010 19:45 GMT
Aston Villa v Sunderland 24/03/2010 19:45 GMT
Manchester City v Everton 24/03/2010 19:45 GMT
Portsmouth v Chelsea 24/03/2010 19:45 GMT
Blackburn v Birmingham 24/03/2010 20:00 GMT

FA CUP:
Tottenham v Fulham 24/03/2010 19:45 GMT

So let me start with the only game tomorrow first and then go on with Premier League’s games and finish off with the FA Cup game.

West Ham v Wolverhampton: These teams have met only 4 times, once in Premier League, twice in Championship and once for FA cup. Three wins and one loss for the team of West Ham. Their most recent game was an away victory with 0:2 over the team of Wolverhampton.

Seems like Gianfranco Zola’s team got Wolverhampton all figured all and will just have to apply the same strategy on home turf. Both teams are neck to neck in the battle for staying out of the red zone and playing in Premiership next year as well.

West Ham with a home record of 5 victories 4 draws and 5 losses seems quite unpredictable at home, while Wolverhampton’s away record of 3 wins 4 draws and 8 losses leans toward a loosing streak when visiting.

I am expecting both teams to be looking for the goal in this game, hoping to get the most out of it. This will probably lead to an open game with enough opportunities for goals. My prediction would be “Both Teams To Score” @ 1.83, only @ Betfair. Don’t have an account? Register at Betfair Now

Aston Villa v Sunderland: Too many games to count between those two. The important fact is that Villa won the last 4 games 1 as a host and 3 as a visitor. Currently their home record is 7 wins 6 draws and 2 losses, while Sunderland’s away record is 1 victory 3 draws and 10 losses.

A disturbing fact but Villa is currently struggling trying to gather as much points to stay at least in Europa League zone of the table, with 2 games less than Liverpool. However as you can see from the home stats, too many draw games can play them a bad joke.

I am expecting them to go out on Wednesday fully motivated for a win, and getting into the spots for Europa League next year. My prediction would be a home victory @ 1.60 in Betfair.

Manchester City v Everton: City will have the opportunity to get on the 4th spot this Wednesday, if they manage to beat Everton. Home record seems quite good 9 victories 4 draws and 0 losses, the only team in Premier League, that still hasn’t lost a game at home.

Everton’s away record might not seem that impressive standing with 3 wins 4 draws and 7 losses, but standing extremely strong at home and catching up to the top half of the table, surpassing Birmingham last week. Let me tell you, if they keep up the good shape, with 8 games away from the end of the season, and standing 8th with 45 points, they have a chance even to get a spot in the top 6. Hard? Quite! Impossible? Nope!

Personally I think Mancini would like his team to do everything possible to be on the 4th spot, even if it’s only for a while so I am expecting City to go hard on Everton.
While the guest’s away record seems like nothing to worry about, I think they are capable of delivering a surprise.

I expect a well coordinated games with limited amount of attacks, since it’s more important for both teams not to loose points than to get the three. Thus I expect not a lot of goals and a bet such as Under 2.5 Goals will not be illogical. Odds @ 2.04, only in Betfair.

Portsmouth v Chelsea: Without doubt Portsmouth will be playing next year in Championship, although this weekend they pulled quite a stunt against Hull City. After loosing with 1:2, until the 89th minute, and it looked like Hull with get their first away victory, Pompi stroke back and scored 2 goals between the 90th and 93rd minuted winning with 3:2.

The weekend wasn’t that great for Chelsea, however. Seems like that elimination from the Champions League has struck Drogba and company quite hard and they tied against Blackburn. With 4 points behind United and a game less, Chelsea must win, or this will be the end of a great campaign.

Simply put, if anything but a win happens on Wednesday it will be pretty much strike 3 for Chelsea, and catching up to Man United and even Arsenal will be quite hard.
I am expecting a different Chelsea, well motivated, determined to win the trophy.

My prediction would be an away victory for Chelsea, although the odds of 1.30 @ Betfair, are not great for playing the game alone.

Blackburn v Birmingham: A lot of games between these two, and what seems interesting is that home team usually wins. Another good stat for this game is that out of the last 9 games, 7 of them ended with both teams scoring.

Although a home win might be a logical and anticipated bet, I am leaning towards “Both Teams To Score” @ 1.81 in Betfair.

Tottenham v Fulham: A re-play of the FA Cup game from the 6th, after it ended 0:0. Now Tottenham has a chance and advantage of the home ground to achieve victory and advance.

Seems like the tournament is a priority for both teams and earlier in January Tottenham won over Fulham with the score of 2:0. Out of the last four games three ended as 0:0 and only one 2:0. All four are under 2.5 goals and only one team to score.

I think that both bets seems logical, but I would feel safer with going for Under 2.5 Goals, at 2.00 in Betfair.

All of the odds that I have mentioned are as of today, the 23rd so hurry up and register in one of the biggest and well know bookmakers around the internet .