Please remember to factor in the mid week Champions League and Europa League fixtures for certain sides today. this should make Chelsea for instance extra vulnerable v Wigan?

930am – Volga Nyzhnyi Novgorod v Spartak Moscow – 1.67 away

HEAD TO HEADS

29.07.2012 D1 Spartak Moscow 2-1 Volga N.Novgorod
21.09.2011 Cup Spartak Moscow 1-1/p.5-6 Volga N.Novgorod
24.07.2011 D1 Volga N.Novgorod 0-2 Spartak Moscow
21.03.2011 D1 Spartak Moscow 1-0 Volga N.Novgorod
Moscow have only conceded the one goal in last 3 league head to heads. An outside chance again?
LEAGUE POSITION – 14th v 5th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Volga
RECENT HOME FORM – WLLDLLDL – only one win at home v 10th was a 1-0. Have played top 8 4 times at home, and lost the lot. Playing top 8 today. Conceded 2 minimum in each match.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – WLLLLLDLLLLWDWL – some recent shoots of recovery saw 2 away wins without conceding. Recentl loss was a 1-2 v Zenit.
GOAL TRENDS – 38% overs at home. 3 clean sheets all season, 2 away, resulted in wins.  Have scored now in 9 of the last 10 matches.
STREAKS – 7 at home without a win. Have conceded in last 7 at home.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Spartak Moscow
RECENT AWAY FORM – WWLLLDWLW – all dropped points away v top 8 sides. All wins outside top 8 away and in the case of 10th, 11th and 12th, good wins scoring 4-3-5.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – WWWLWLLDWWLLWWW – only 1 draw all season was a 2-2 and playing a team with only 2 draws all season. Last 3 wins have come with clean sheets. Against 9th to 16th home and away, have won the lot – 8 wins.
GOAL TRENDS – 100% overs away. Score an average 2.11 away. HAve only failed to score in 2 this season. 3 consecutive clean sheets in 3 wins.
STREAKS – 7 overall without a draw. Have scored in last 6 away. 3 clean sheets.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – obvious starting point in the lack of draws between these 2, particularly the away side. I would also point to the fact Spartak have beaten all teams 9th and below home and away, and Volga have lost at home to top 8 sides.
It points to an away win and a possibility that both teams could score.Volga have scored in 9 of last 10 and in 6 of their 8 defeats home and away to top 8 sides.

12pm – Aberdeen v Celtic – 1.65 away

HEAD TO HEADS

04.08.2012 PR Celtic FC 1-0 Aberdeen FC
03.03.2012 PR Aberdeen FC 1-1 Celtic FC
23.10.2011 PR Celtic FC 2-1 Aberdeen FC
07.08.2011 PR Aberdeen FC 0-1 Celtic FC
17.04.2011 Cup Aberdeen FC 0-4 Celtic FC
01.02.2011 PR Aberdeen FC 0-3 Celtic FC
Last 4 head to heads really tight and 1.65 suggests more of the same today.
LEAGUE POSITION – 3rd v 2nd – obviously having a great season are the home side.
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Aberdeen
RECENT HOME FORM – DDDDWW – 3 0-0 draws at home broken by a 3-3 v Motherwell. No challenge table alas so I cannot see the performance against top 5 sides at home. Unbeaten though. Lucky to draw v Motherwell 1-3 down up to the 85th minute.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – LDWDDDDWWDWLW – solid season, only going down 1-0 away v Celtic and 2-1 away loss v Ross County. Both away matches.
GOAL TRENDS – 33% overs at home testament to relatively good defence. Have conceded in 7 of last 8 matches  Have scored in 8 consecutive matches .  5 overs in last 7, the exceptions both had 2 goals. Have scored and conceded in 7 of last 8 matches.
STREAKS – 6 at home without defeat. Have scored in last 8 overall.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Celtic – which celtic turns up today?
RECENT AWAY FORM – DWLWWD – 89th and 90th minute Dundee goals ended a 0-2 away likely win for Celtic latest – that would have made it 3 consecutive away wins. I would take that draw as a win  and a “taking the eye off the ball” for literally one minute. In this context then, it could be 4 wins in last 5.  The loss to St Johnstone saw Celtic score first.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – WDWDLWWWWLDD – 2 defeats only this season. One at home and one away.
GOAL TRENDS – Celtic have conceded in last 3 matches overall , 2 draws now. They have only failed to score in 1 match all season, a shut out at home by Kilmarnock. 66% overs away. Score an average 2.5 away. Have scored in all away matches.
STREAKS – Have scored in last 6 away matches. No win in 3.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – Aberdeen tend to score and concede in their matches of late and that might be the case today. IF Aberdeen score first, it might afford us a good enhanced bet opportunity as Celtic have 2 consecutive score draws.  Goal trends are incongruous. I think Celtic were very unlucky not to win last match, and could lead at some stage in this match – the ideal then is to back them at what you perceive to be their highest odds during the 90 minutes.  Celtic rarely go 3 without a win, so this could be a time to back them to end that sequence.

1245pm – Arsenal v Tottenham – 1.96 home

HEAD TO HEADS

26.02.2012 PR Arsenal FC 5-2 Tottenham
02.10.2011 PR Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal FC
20.04.2011 PR Tottenham 3-3 Arsenal FC
20.11.2010 PR Arsenal FC 2-3 Tottenham
21.09.2010 LC Tottenham 1-4 AET Arsenal FC
14.04.2010 PR Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal FC
Both teams have scored in the most recent head to heads.
LEAGUE POSITION – 8th v 7th – as is the characteristic of a lot of Premiership matches today, teams in consecutive positions in the league ( e.g. 7th and 8th here) are playing each other. Will this match be as tight. It is a LAAAANNNNDAAAAN derby ( innit? cushti sorted etc etc ) which could exacerbate this tightness.
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – arsenal
RECENT HOME FORM – DWLWD – symmetrical form! Signals a degree of inconsistency  2-0 up against Fulham in another London Derby cor blimey luv a duck only to end 3-3.Arsenal have only beaten bottom and 2nd bottom at home.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – DDWWDLWLWLD – last 2 defeats have come away from home. Arsenal have conceded 5 in their last 2 matches – time for Steve Bould to collect his P45? 2 of 3 defeats have come against top 3 sides.
GOAL TRENDS – 60% overs at home.  Arsenal have only conceded 2 in the 2nd half. Arsenal have conceded 7 in the last 8 matches
STREAKS – Have scored in last 4 at home.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Spurs
RECENT AWAY FORM – LWWWL – no draw away. defeats away v 2nd and 10th both 2-1 . Lost to 80th+ minute goals in both defeats. Wins against Reading, Man Utd and Saints saw Spurs scoring 3-3-2. Man Utd win under extenuating circumstances for home side could be a little flattering. The 2 other wins were , like Arse, against bottom 3 sides.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – LDDWWWWLWLL – 3 defeats in last 4 against Chelsea, Wigan and Man City. Are Arsenal on a par with your Chelsea’s and Man Citys? I would argue that they always seem to be a level below.
GOAL TRENDS – 100% overs away from home. Have scored and conceded in all away matches.  As I mentioned last week, Spurs have yet to concede away in the first half, which suggests that they might score first ( as they did against City). 8 goals conceded away in 2nd half.
STREAKS – no draw in 8 overall, 5 away, have scored and conceded in last 5 away.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS –  first thing to notice, Rodders, is that this is a London derby between teams who are neighbours in the league standing. It certainly makes for a potential tight match ( in which I do not mean low scoring, rather I mean potential for a score draw or win by a single goal). Both sides seem to be vulnerable defensively which might open things up to both sides scoring.
Arsenal will seek to avoid what happened against Fulham last weekend. Steve Bould’s defensive changes are, erm, not working. Giroud is finding the onion bag at last but he is hardly a replacement for Van Parsely
A potential over 2.5 goals match this one. Both sides have flattered to deceive.Arsenal’s 2 home wins against bottom and 2nd bottom, Spurs 2 away wins against 3rd bottom and 2nd bottom.
A neutral bet is better here I feel , by which I mean overs, or both teams to score. These 2 seem to be well matched

230pm – Dortmund v G Furth – 1.19 home

HEAD TO HEADS

20.03.2012 Cup Greuther Fürth 0-1 AET Borussia Dortmund
A cup match
LEAGUE POSITION – 4th v 17th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Dortmund – at home are usually as reliable as a Volkswagen
RECENT HOME FORM – WWWLD – 0-0 latest goes against the grain of what Dortmund have been capable of. loss was against current 2nd placed. Dortmund are now some 10 points away from BAyern at the top so will need to keep winning and also hope for dropped points from Bayern ( which will come). Wins came against 3rd, 8th and 9th. Yet to play the bottom 6 this season so we cannot gauge home performance/potential struggles against these lower sides.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – WDWLDWDLWDW – inconsistent generally this season, winning sporadically. 3 matches without defeat now, 2 clean sheets and an 82nd minute concession only and 2 away wins could be a sign Dortmund are returning to some semblance of unbeatable form. One of those recent wins was away to bottom side, and they are playing 2nd bottom today.
GOAL TRENDS – 80% overs at home, average only 0.60 conceded which always opens the door for potential wins to nil. have only conceded 1 goal at home in the first half, 3 in total at home. Dortmund are at their most lethal in the last 1/4 hour of both halves.  Dortmund have only failed to score once and that was in their last home match. It would be a shock were they not to find the onion bag against 2nd bottom and for the 2nd consecutive home match.
STREAKS – no major home streaks.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – G Furth
RECENT AWAY FORM – WDLDD – only 1 defeat away care of 2 2nd half goals . 2 consecutive score draws saw Furth coming from behind. A recent 3-3 saw them extremely lucky to get the point with a 90th minute equaliser. 1-1 away draw with 3rd and 2-0 defeat to 5th away.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – LWLDLLLDDDL – all draws score draws, and 3 of those 1-1.
GOAL TRENDS – 20% overs away from home.  Furth have not led at halftime away from home this season. Only 1 clean sheet all season. Have scored and conceded in last 4.
STREAKS – no win in 9. Have conceded in last 9.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – Do not expect Dortmund to produce another goalless display at home for the 2nd match running. This could spell trouble for Furth who have conceded in their last 9 matches. A 1-1 draw is a distinct possibility , what with Furth scoring and conceding in their last 4 matches. Dortmund recently though seem to have turned a corner with 2 wins and a draw, and only 1 goal conceded. they recently beat bottom side 1-3 away from home and that could be a template for what to expect today? Goal trends are incongruous.

230pm – Nurnberg v B Munich – 1.3 away

HEAD TO HEADS

31.03.2012 D1 Nürnberg 0-1 Bayern München
29.10.2011 D1 Bayern München 4-0 Nürnberg
09.04.2011 D1 Nürnberg 1-1 Bayern München
14.11.2010 D1 Bayern München 3-0 Nürnberg
20.02.2010 D1 Nürnberg 1-1 Bayern München
19.09.2009 D1 Bayern München 2-1 Nürnberg
Away from home, Bayern have struggled to score more than 1 against Nurnberg. This of course opens things up for a 1-1 which has occured twice.
LEAGUE POSITION – 15th v 1st
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Nurnberg
RECENT HOME FORM – DLLDW – Nurnberg have been rather competitive against the top 4 at home with a 1-2 loss v 3rd and a 1-1 draw with Dortmund.  Solitary win came last match, 1-0 with a 76th minute goal against Wolfsburg
RECENT FORM OVERALL – WDWLLLLDLWL – DW lately at home but against 16th and 18th! Have played 5 matches against the top 7 home and away, and lost all bar that 1-1 draw with Dortmund. Against top 4 , 0-1 away loss, 1-2 home loss, 1-1 home draw. Again tight matches in keeping with head to heads against Bayern.
GOAL TRENDS – 20% overs away from home. 0.6 goals scored on average at home. Have only scored 3 at home, and one goal only in the first 75 minutes. 2 consecutive clean sheets at home albeit agaisnt bottom 3 sides.
STREAKS – no strong streaks.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Bayern
RECENT AWAY FORM – WWWWW – scoring 2+ goals and not conceding. 0-5 and 0-3 against bottom 5 sides.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – WWWWWWWWLWW – loss courtesy of an 87th minute goal
GOAL TRENDS – 60% overs away from home. Have scored in all matches this season. Have scored 11 goals away from home in the 2nd half
STREAKS – 11 without a draw, have scored in last 11.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – head to heads are tight, as is Nurnberg’s matches against top teams so although Bayern are bulldozing teams away, they might have to be patient – and they are used to it with so many scored in the 2nd half. I would not put anyone off taking a 1-1 position possibly to trade pre match. Bayern should really smash this lot, scoring 3 and 5 against teams near Nurnberg in the league, but I am so wary about the head to heads being so tight.

3pm – Newcastle v Swansea – 1.99 home

HEAD TO HEADS

06.04.2012 PR Swansea City 0-2 Newcastle Utd
17.12.2011 PR Newcastle Utd 0-0 Swansea City
13.02.2010 LCh Swansea City 1-1 Newcastle Utd
28.11.2009 LCh Newcastle Utd 3-0 Swansea City
Newcastle have kept 2 clean sheets in Premiership meetings.
LEAGUE POSITION – 10th  v 11th. – Another Premiership match featuring teams tight together in the league.
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Haway the Man Pet Lass Pet Man
RECENT HOME FORM – WDWLWL – defeats against Man Utd and West Ham without scoring. Have beaten West Brom and Spurs 2-1 here ( 5th and 7th) hardly convincing , an 80th minute penalty and 90th minute winner in those matches.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – WLDDWDLDWDL – inconsistency throughout makes the geordies tough to read. Only 3 defeats have come when Newcastle have not scored and 2 matches against Chelsea and Man Utd. You suspect Swansea are an easier assignment. Newcastle have conceded in all bar one match this season.
GOAL TRENDS – 50/50 overs at home.  At home , Newcastle have conceded in each 1/4 hour segment so could concede at any stage.
STREAKS – 4 at home without a draw. Have conceded in last 6 overall.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Swansea
RECENT AWAY FORM – WLLLD – sole win has come against bottom side. Only a 1-0 defeat to City might be the template for today. All defeats came without Swansea scoring.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – WWDLLLDWLDD –  after those 3 defeats , it looks as if the Swans have reacted and have only lost the one match, a 1-0 v City. What concerns me though with the recent draws is the following.  Against Reading, Swans were 0-2 down before drawing 2-2. Against Chelsea, Swans were 0-1 down before an 88th minute equaliser. Against Saints, Swansea were 1-0 down before scoring.
They are conceding first with regularity and will be punished with a loss rather than a score draw ( note what happened when City shut them out).
GOAL TRENDS – 20% overs away from home. down largely to not scoring and losing 2-0!!Swans have scored only a single goal in the first half. They are adept at rescuing themselves in the 2nd half.
STREAKS – have conceded in last 9 . No win in 3 overall.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – head to heads point to a geordie shut out, and we have seen that if the Swans don’t score, it does not end 0-0, it ends in a defeat. 1.99 suggests this will be tough for Newcastle.  When all is said and done, Newcastle have been beaten by the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd. They have beaten top 10 sides 2-1 which fits in to a 1.99 quote.
Will Swansea continue having trouble scoring away from home? If you think so, then go for a 1-0, 2-0.  Note the opponent has scored in 80% of Swansea’s away matches and 73% of all matches. So 3/4 matches see opponent scores first. BEWARE the Swansea comeback should Geordies score first.

3pm – QPR v Southampton – 1.99 home

HEAD TO HEADS

01.08.2009 CF QPR 3-0 Southampton
14.03.2009 LCh Southampton 0-0 QPR
14.09.2008 LCh QPR 4-1 Southampton
09.02.2008 LCh Southampton 2-3 QPR
01.09.2007 LCh QPR 0-3 Southampton
20.01.2007 LCh QPR 0-2 Southampton
No head to heads of relevance and yet again a 6 pointer for both sides.
LEAGUE POSITION – 20th v 19th – another match we see 2 teams close in the league.
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – QPR
RECENT HOME FORM – LDLDD – 2 consecutive 1-1 draws and we see glimpses with the 0-0 v Chelsea that QPR are trying to shut teams out and nick a goal. No win yet.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – LDLDLLLDLDL – last 4 matches were 1-1, 1-0 loss, 1-1, 1-0 loss – as I said earlier, defence has been worked on by Sparky. No win yet.  An inability to score 2 in a match is killing QPR. So they keep opponents to a max of one goal, but they cannot capitalise up front. On the only occasion they score 2, they lose 3-2 – as Homer would say ” D’OH!”
GOAL TRENDS – 40% overs at home. Score 0.60 on average. Anything below 1 is a great cause for concern. QPR have scored only 3 at home and only 1 in the first 45 minutes of matches.
STREAKS – 11 overall without a win. Have conceded in last 7 matches.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Southampton
RECENT AWAY FORM – LLLLL – Swansea have exclusively played top 8 away from home. A bit of solace playing bottom side? After a barnstorming start, Saints have been restricted to a goal max in recent aways.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – LLLLWLDLLLD – like QPR , draws are score draws. Have only played one of bottom 4 home and that was a 4-1 win v Villa.
GOAL TRENDS – 80% overs away. No clean sheets all season SAints seem to want to keep it tight first 1/2 hour, then it all goes pear shaped, conceding 7 for instance in the 1/4 hour before halftime.  SAints have failed to score in only 2 this season.
STREAKS – have conceded in last 11.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – it must be said that Saints have only played top 10 away from home so the suggestion is that this is an ideal opportunity for a win against bottom side. But then QPR have not won this season and Sparky will target this as a possible win.
QPR have conceded last 7 matches. Saints have conceded in all this season. Concern for me this is a 6 pointer and that could scupper form. 1-1 looks an obvious start. Will QPR make a breakthrough in the first half. You suspect they will need to score 2 today to win as Saints should get a goal st some stage. This reminds me of the 1-1 Saints v Swans last weekend. Look out for 0-0 haltime and lay it !

3pm – Reading v Everton – 1.86 away

HEAD TO HEADS

01.03.2011 Cup Everton FC 0-1 Reading FC
09.02.2008 PR Everton FC 1-0 Reading FC
18.08.2007 PR Reading FC 1-0 Everton FC
14.01.2007 PR Everton FC 1-1 Reading FC
23.12.2006 PR Reading FC 0-2 Everton FC
Everton superb v Sunderland. Only 1 recent head to head is a cup head to head.
LEAGUE POSITION – 18th v 4th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team  – Reading
RECENT HOME FORM –  DLDDD – loss was 1-3 v Spurs and you sense Everton could be as capable. Draws against Newcastle, Fulham, Stoke and Norwic
RECENT FORM OVERALL – DLLLDDLDDD – when playing top 7 sides, Reading lose . Draws against 9th and lower.
GOAL TRENDS – 60% overs at home. Have only scored 1 goal in the first half at home.
STREAKS – 10 overall without a win. 3 match drawing streak at home.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Everton
RECENT AWAY FORM – WLWDDD – 3 score draws sees 2 2-2 draws and a 1-1 draw against Fulham, Wigan and QPR.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – WWLDWWDDDDW – Everton have come from behind in 3 of their 4 recent draws – a bad habit which can as easily result in defeat as it can a score draw. They are lucky to be 4th at present.
GOAL TRENDS – 67% overs away from home.  Have scored 2 goals in 7 of the last 8 matches. Only 3 wins tells you that Everton are vulnerable away from home.  7 overs in last 8. Have failed to score in only 1 this season.
STREAKS – 8 without defeat. Have scored in last 8 and conceded in last 6.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – in 8 of 9 matches against 9th and below, Everton have scored 2 goals. 4 2-2 draws though tell you Everton are ropey away from home.  Reading are vulnerable against top 7, losing 3 out of 3. Their performance may be influenced by the fact they have not won this season. I think it we go 2-2 here we might have a reasonable chance trading wise that we’ll be in the trade? I can see Everton scoring 2 goals again. And this will spell trouble for Reading who have failed to score 2 recently.

3pm – West Brom v Chelsea – 2.04 away

HEAD TO HEADS

03.03.2012 PR West Bromwich 1-0 Chelsea FC
20.08.2011 PR Chelsea FC 2-1 West Bromwich
16.04.2011 PR West Bromwich 1-3 Chelsea FC
14.08.2010 PR Chelsea FC 6-0 West Bromwich
26.12.2008 PR Chelsea FC 2-0 West Bromwich
15.11.2008 PR West Bromwich 0-3 Chelsea FC
Chelsea failed to score in the last head to head away at WBA, but prior to that scored 3.
LEAGUE POSITION – 5th v 3rd – West Brom are riding high with impressive performances and wins at home
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – WBA
RECENT HOME FORM – WWWWLW – the loss was 1-2 against Man City -West Brom scored first only for Dzeko to deliver 2 80+ minute goals.The 3-2 win against QPR should have been 3-1 but for a 90th minute QPR goal which put a gloss on the result for them. Instantly we see a West Brom at home built on defence  with 4 clean sheets. 1-2 at home loss to City and 2-0 win v Everton is the home performance against current top 4.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – WDWLWDWLLWW – the WDWL sequence last 2 rounds. No draw in 5 now . Only 3 defeats, 2  away.West Brom’s season is punctuated by their performances at home
GOAL TRENDS – 4 of last 5 over 2.5 goals 2-0 win v Saints would be a successful overs trade rather than bet. 50/50 overs at home, down largely to the clean sheets. West Brom have scored in all home matches this season. They have only conceded one goal in the first 75 minutes at home all season.  Both teams have scored and conceded in 5 of the last 6 matches.
STREAKS – 6 at home without a draw, 5 overall.  Have scored in last 6 at home, and last 7 overall
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Chelsea – fat Frank is busy munching pukka pies on the sideline and he is joined by John Terry who is seeking a partner for his single brain cell.
RECENT AWAY FORM – WDWWD – Chelsea are vulnerable to sides who pack the defence and midfield. Held to 0-0 by QPR and 1-1 by Swansea, they may be vulnerable today against a WBA side who are so good defensively at home.  Chelsea are yet to play current top 6 away.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – WWWDWWWWLDD – no win in 3 for Chelsea. It is difficult to envision this winless sequence continuing much further.  3 draws in last 4 in all competitions could have been 4 draws but for a 90th minute Chelsea winner to make it 3-2 v Shaktar.  Chelsea have scored first in their last 2 draws in the league.
GOAL TRENDS – 40% overs at home.  Chelsea have not conceded in the first half hour away and conceded only 1 in the first half away this season.  A solid foundation upon which to build.  West Brom’s home form is identical in the first half!
STREAKS – Chelsea have scored and conceded in each of the last 6 matches. Chelsea have only failed to score in 1 this season.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – West Brom are really strong at home, and defence is their key. Both sides are strong defensively in the first half. WBA at home and Chelsea away have not conceded in the first 1/2 hour and conceded only once in the 1st half.
Expect 2nd half action? Look for a 0-0 back pre match in the hope that defences will out or at least keep it goalless for a good 1/2 hour.
Chelsea have not won in 3 in the league. This cannot be tolerated by Roman I’mfookingrich. 2 consecutive 1-1’s is another sequence I would hope will end. This could go as per the match v City which saw WBA keep it tight, score first, then concede 2nd half? I hate to say it, but 1-1 looks a great initial trade after a concerted 0-0.
Do note that in the past Chelsea have scored 3 goals twice away at West Brom, and that is a possible given their new superb signings. Mata seems to be back and he is imperious, as is Oscar and Hazard. Indeed Mata is the top scorer away so seems to be a key element for Chelsea.

3pm – Liverpool v Wigan – 1.51 home

HEAD TO HEADS

24.03.2012 PR Liverpool FC 1-2 Wigan Athletic
21.12.2011 PR Wigan Athletic 0-0 Liverpool FC
12.02.2011 PR Liverpool FC 1-1 Wigan Athletic
10.11.2010 PR Wigan Athletic 1-1 Liverpool FC
08.03.2010 PR Wigan Athletic 1-0 Liverpool FC
16.12.2009 PR Liverpool FC 2-1 Wigan Athletic
Head to heads are so tight, either a draw or a one-goal-in-it match. You would not expect anything else from Martinez’ boys. This suggests that the 1.51 quote is a tad short .
LEAGUE POSITION – 13th v 14th – again the “tightness” shown in head to heads is reflected by current league position.
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Liverpool.No major absentees for Liverpool.
RECENT HOME FORM – DLLDWD – home support getting restless with no win in 4 were relieved with a 1-0 over reading. Liverpool had a tough start at home to City, Arsenal and United but have seen remained unbeaten with a 0-0 v Stoke, 1-0 v Reading and 1-1 v Newcastle. All of these matches punctuated by an inability to score 2 goals.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – LDLDLWDWDDD – 3 consecutive score draws have seen Liverpool coming from behind in the last 2 courtesy of Suarez who has been superb, and could realistically be a reason why Liverpool are so short today.
GOAL TRENDS – 33% overs at home could continue today against a Wigan set up to frustrate. 0.83 scored at home on average signals the problems.  Liverpool have not conceded in the first half hour at home, so a quick start could see an early lead. the only 2 clean sheets this season have come in last 3 home matches
STREAKS – 6 overall without defeat. Have scored in last 4 and conceded in last 3.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Wigan
RECENT AWAY FORM – WLLLW – Liverpool will welcome the fact that at least Wigan are avoiding draws away. The recent 0-1 win away at Spurs should serve as a template for Martinez today  and be something Ted Rodgers must account for.  Wigan lost 4-0 away to UNited, but there is a suspicious Liverpool are not as strong presently.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – LWDLLLDLWWL – only 2 draws this season were 2-2 draws and were actually successful lay the draw trades. A possibility that Wigan could avoid another draw today. Wigan are tough to read at present. They have beaten 6th and 7th, but lost to 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th
GOAL TRENDS – 40% overs away from home. 0.8 scored on average which, like Liverpool at home, is a concern ( any average sub 1 is a worry). 7 of last 9 games overall have been overs.  Only 2 clean sheets came away from home and both resulted in wins.  Both teams have scored in 4 of last 5 matches.
STREAKS – 5 away without a draw. Have scored in last 5 overall. Wigan are yet to score and concede in the first half this season. Liverpool, you’ll remember, are yet to concede at home in the first 1/2 hour.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – why are Liverpool so short? Wigan have not lost the last 2 at Anfield . They beat Spurs 0-1 away which is a template for today. They have not scored or conceded in the first half away this season and that could be a solid foundation for 2nd half assault. A possibility that we might just touch overs , with an expectation for 2nd half action. Laying Liverpool at 1.5 does no harm ( laying odds ons always to be encouraged) – I suspect there will be no massive move if it remains 0-0, so layers of Liverpool will hope for a Wigan opener.
0-0 must be a goer early doors given both sides’ first half lack of concessions? ( they score plenty first half though so which will out?)  Liverpool cannot seem to score 2 goals at home recently which makes it difficult to win if you are conceding. Liverpool have kept Stoke and Reading out recently.

3pm – Man City v Aston Villa – 1.23 home

HEAD TO HEADS

25.09.2012 LC Manchester City 2-4 AET Aston Villa
12.02.2012 PR Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester City
15.10.2011 PR Manchester City 4-1 Aston Villa
02.03.2011 Cup Manchester City 3-0 Aston Villa
22.01.2011 PR Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City
28.12.2010 PR Manchester City 4-0 Aston Villa
Goals galore at City 4-3-4  – 4 goals scored twice in the league.
LEAGUE POSITION – 2nd v 17th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – City – Champions League engagement mid week.
RECENT HOME FORM – WWDWWW – draw v Arsenal saw an 82nd minute Arse equaliser.  City have scored 3 against 16th , 19th and 20th and playing 17th today.
RECENT FORM OVERALL – WDWDDWWWWDW – unbeaten this season.
GOAL TRENDS – 67% overs at home. Have scored in all home matches so pay attention if we have a scenario like the one against Spurs. Keep faith that City will get at least one! City have only conceded one in the first half. City have scored first in 83% of matches this season at home
STREAKS – 11 without defeat. City have failed to score in only 1 this season.
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Villa
RECENT AWAY FORM – LDLLLW – sole win away 0-1 v Sunderland. Villa have lost against 6th, 7th and 9th away without scoring.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – LLDWLDLLDWL – only wins have come against Sunderland and Swansea, and only then by keeping a clean sheet. Thoroughly inconsistent. An emphasis on defence last 6 matches has seen opponents score 2nd half in all of those matches. Villa, then, are so close to a winning formula. Score first half, then hold on!!
GOAL TRENDS – 17% overs away from home down to scoring an average 0.5 goals per match. Therein lies the problem. HAve failed to score away v top 9.
STREAKS – no draw in 4 away
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – do note Champions League distraction ahead next week. Will this scupper City? They usually score 3+ against Villa at home in head to heads, and have scored exactly 3 at home against the 3 teams they have played near Villa at the bottom of the league. Villa have only won when keeping a clean sheet which suggests that they cannot score enough goals when they concede to win the match. An average 0.5 away attests to this and will make for a long day. The only glimmer is if City play a changed side with the CL to come.  City tend to score first at home, and are likely to be tough to score against in the first half.

3pm – Leicester v Ipswich – 1.55 home

HEAD TO HEADS

09.04.2012 LCh Ipswich Town 1-2 Leicester City
26.12.2011 LCh Leicester City 1-1 Ipswich Town
07.05.2011 LCh Leicester City 4-2 Ipswich Town
18.12.2010 LCh Ipswich Town 3-0 Leicester City
10.01.2010 LCh Leicester City 1-1 Ipswich Town
15.08.2009 LCh Ipswich Town 0-0 Leicester City
LEAGUE POSITION – 5th v 22nd
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

4pm – Paris St-G v Rennes – 1.59 home – after 4 against England, will Ibra fill his boots?

HEAD TO HEADS

13.05.2012 D1 Paris St. Germain 3-0 Stade Rennais
13.08.2011 D1 Stade Rennais 1-1 Paris St. Germain
05.02.2011 D1 Stade Rennais 1-0 Paris St. Germain
19.09.2010 D1 Paris St. Germain 0-0 Stade Rennais
24.04.2010 D1 Paris St. Germain 1-1 Stade Rennais
19.12.2009 D1 Stade Rennais 1-0 Paris St. Germain
LEAGUE POSITION – 1st v 9th -2nd and 3rd have a game advantage over PSG so this could be a crucial home match.
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

5pm – Juventus v Lazio – 1.53 home

HEAD TO HEADS

11.04.2012 D1 Juventus FC 2-1 Lazio
26.11.2011 D1 Lazio 0-1 Juventus FC
02.05.2011 D1 Lazio 0-1 Juventus FC
12.12.2010 D1 Juventus FC 2-1 Lazio
31.01.2010 D1 Juventus FC 1-1 Lazio
12.09.2009 D1 Lazio 0-2 Juventus FC
LEAGUE POSITION – 1st v 5th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

3pm – Valencia v Espanyol – 1.54 home

HEAD TO HEADS

15.04.2012 D1 Real CD Espanyol 4-0 Valencia CF
03.12.2011 D1 Valencia CF 2-1 Real CD Espanyol
11.05.2011 D1 Real CD Espanyol 2-2 Valencia CF
02.01.2011 D1 Valencia CF 2-1 Real CD Espanyol
01.05.2010 D1 Real CD Espanyol 0-2 Valencia CF
02.01.2010 D1 Valencia CF 1-0 Real CD Espanyol
LEAGUE POSITION – 8th v 19th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

5pm – Eskisehirspor v Fenerbahce – 2.54 away

HEAD TO HEADS

25.02.2012 D1 Eski?ehirspor 2-1 Fenerbahçe SK
19.11.2011 D1 Fenerbahçe SK 1-0 Eski?ehirspor
09.04.2011 D1 Eski?ehirspor 1-3 Fenerbahçe SK
06.11.2010 D1 Fenerbahçe SK 4-2 Eski?ehirspor
01.05.2010 D1 Fenerbahçe SK 2-0 Eski?ehirspor
10.01.2010 Cup Eski?ehirspor 0-1 Fenerbahçe SK
LEAGUE POSITION – 4th v 3rd
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

530pm – Norwich v Man Utd – 1.54 away

HEAD TO HEADS

26.02.2012 PR Norwich City 1-2 Manchester United
01.10.2011 PR Manchester United 2-0 Norwich City
09.04.2005 PR Norwich City 2-0 Manchester United
21.08.2004 PR Manchester United 2-1 Norwich City
Kudos to Naaaaarrrich for being competitive in their last home head to head. UNited though have scored 2 goals in recent Premiership head to heads
LEAGUE POSITION – 15th v 1st
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team – Let’s Be having You
RECENT HOME FORM – DDLWW – superb 1-0 wins against Arsenal and Stoke.  2 first half goals and then hang on for dear life has now worked on 2 occasions but it’s a tough act to pull off against a United side who, yes, concede, but then tend to get back into the match .
RECENT FORM OVERALL – LDDDLLLWDWD – recent unbeaten streak against Arsenal, Villa, Stoke and Reading. Where do UNited fit in ? This recent run has been built on the concession of only 1 goal . Only 1 match against top 5 was a 4-1 away defeat to Chelsea.
GOAL TRENDS – 20% overs at home down to good recent defence.
STREAKS – 4 overall without defeat
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team – United
RECENT AWAY FORM – LWWWWW – loss v Everton -United have conceded 2-1-0-2-2 since the Everton loss, and even while conceding 2 goals, they’re still winning!! They have had to come from behind on 3 occasions. One time they will not manage it so this defence lapse must be addressed.
RECENT OVERALL FORM – LWWWWLWWWWW – not a draw in sight. Defeats v Everton and Spurs. As I keep saying, extenuating circumstances with Spurs win . United have scored and conceded in 8 of the last 10 matches.
GOAL TRENDS – All bar the first match of the season is comfortably overs. United only failed to score agaisnt Everton.Only 2 clean sheets. Have conceded away to 13th, 17th and 19th, and playing 15th today
STREAKS – 11 without a draw. Have scored in last 10 . 5 match winning streak away.
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS – Old Red Nose has traditionally put out a weakened side pre Champions League against a team he presumes UNited and that weakened side will beat. This opens the door to some vulnerability today and United have shown defensive vulnerability in spades.
Naaarrich will try to score first in the first half, and then hold on for a 1-0. This suggests that they would be happy with a 1-1 as United are sure to score at some stage.  United have managed to score 2 against Norwich twice now and that opens it up for a hard fought 1-2 win? Be ware though that when Liverpool clicked, they exposed Norwich and scored 5. United are obviously capable of that!

530pm – Olympiakos v Kerkira – 1.18 home

HEAD TO HEADS

08.04.2012 D1 Olympiakos Pireus 0-1 AO Kerkyra
11.12.2011 D1 AO Kerkyra 0-4 Olympiakos Pireus
09.01.2011 D1 AO Kerkyra 0-2 Olympiakos Pireus
11.09.2010 D1 Olympiakos Pireus 2-0 AO Kerkyra
22.04.2007 D1 Olympiakos Pireus 3-1 AO Kerkyra
02.12.2006 D1 AO Kerkyra 0-2 Olympiakos Pireus
LEAGUE POSITION – 1st v 10th
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

545pm – ADO Den Haag v PSV – 1.38 away

HEAD TO HEADS

02.05.2012 D1 PSV Eindhoven 5-0 ADO Den Haag
21.08.2011 D1 ADO Den Haag 0-3 PSV Eindhoven
05.02.2011 D1 PSV Eindhoven 0-1 ADO Den Haag
29.08.2010 D1 ADO Den Haag 2-2 PSV Eindhoven
06.02.2010 D1 PSV Eindhoven 2-0 ADO Den Haag
08.11.2009 D1 ADO Den Haag 1-5 PSV Eindhoven
LEAGUE POSITION – 8th v 1st
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

645pm – Ajax v VVV – 1.13 home

HEAD TO HEADS

02.05.2012 D1 AFC Ajax 2-0 VVV Venlo
21.08.2011 D1 VVV Venlo 2-2 AFC Ajax
20.02.2011 D1 AFC Ajax 1-0 VVV Venlo
28.11.2010 D1 VVV Venlo 0-2 AFC Ajax
11.04.2010 D1 AFC Ajax 7-0 VVV Venlo
20.09.2009 D1 VVV Venlo 0-4 AFC Ajax
LEAGUE POSITION
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

7pm – Barcelona v Zaragoza – 1.1 home

HEAD TO HEADS

07.04.2012 D1 Real Zaragoza 1-4 FC Barcelona
19.11.2011 D1 FC Barcelona 4-0 Real Zaragoza
05.03.2011 D1 FC Barcelona 1-0 Real Zaragoza
23.10.2010 D1 Real Zaragoza 0-2 FC Barcelona
21.03.2010 D1 Real Zaragoza 2-4 FC Barcelona
25.10.2009 D1 FC Barcelona 6-1 Real Zaragoza
LEAGUE POSITION
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

745pm – Napoli v AC Milan – 1.89 home

HEAD TO HEADS

05.02.2012 D1 AC Milan 0-0 SSC Napoli
18.09.2011 D1 SSC Napoli 3-1 AC Milan
28.02.2011 D1 AC Milan 3-0 SSC Napoli
25.10.2010 D1 SSC Napoli 1-2 AC Milan
21.03.2010 D1 AC Milan 1-1 SSC Napoli
28.10.2009 D1 SSC Napoli 2-2 AC Milan
LEAGUE POSITION
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS

815pm – Nacional v Porto – 1.52 away

HEAD TO HEADS

16.03.2012 D1 Nacional Madeira 0-2 FC Porto
23.10.2011 D1 FC Porto 5-0 Nacional Madeira
26.01.2011 D1 FC Porto 3-0 Nacional Madeira
02.01.2011 LC FC Porto 1-2 Nacional Madeira
20.09.2010 D1 Nacional Madeira 0-2 FC Porto
30.01.2010 D1 Nacional Madeira 0-4 FC Porto
This is a Portugeuse Cup match and it is interesting to note that the only recent aberration for Porto in head to heads was in a Cup match. So this is no gimme for Porto.

9pm – Real Madrid v Ath Bilbao – 1.17 home

HEAD TO HEADS

02.05.2012 D1 Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Real Madrid
22.01.2012 D1 Real Madrid 4-1 Athletic Bilbao
09.04.2011 D1 Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Real Madrid
20.11.2010 D1 Real Madrid 5-1 Athletic Bilbao
08.05.2010 D1 Real Madrid 5-1 Athletic Bilbao
16.01.2010 D1 Athletic Bilbao 1-0 Real Madrid
LEAGUE POSITION
HOME TEAM – -past fixtures, forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT HOME FORM
RECENT FORM OVERALL
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
AWAY TEAM – past fixtures -forthcoming fixtures and likely team
RECENT AWAY FORM
RECENT OVERALL FORM
GOAL TRENDS
STREAKS
CONCLUSION/NOTES/STANDOUT STATS