Sports Blog 30/01/2015: Match Preview – Premier League, Saturday 31st January to Sunday 1st February 2015

After last weekend’s shocking FA Cup games, this week’s televised Premier League matches bring a battle at the top as well as a few mid-table scraps.

Saturday starts off with Hull City, languishing in the relegation zone, taking on mid-table Newcastle at 12.45pm on BT Sport 1. Hull are in some real dire form, with 4 losses and 2 wins in their last 6 games, and have only won 2 out of their 10 home games. Unsurprisingly, the Tigers have conceded more than they have scored; however, they should be buoyed by the return of strike duo Nikica Jelavic (6 goals, 9/2 to score first) and Abel Hernandez (3 goals, 9/2).



Since the departure of Alan Pardew, Newcastle have struggled to find any rhythm, with 4 losses, a win and a draw in their last 6 games. Their away form is nothing to shout about either, with only 9 goals in 11 games; yet with Senegal crashing out of the African Cup of Nations, the Toon may have a returning Papiss Cisse, top scorer on 9 goals and at 5/1 to score first, to help out up front. With both teams struggling, our Spreadex clients fancy Hull at a narrow Hull/Newcastle Goal Supremacy spread betting quote 0-0.2; and given the poor-goal scoring form, the Total Goals quote is only 2.1-2.3.

The biggest game of the weekend arrives at 17.30pm on Sky Sports 1, as Manchester City visit the recently breached fortress of Stamford Bridge to take on league leaders Chelsea. Since the New Year Manchester City have begun to slip, and now sit 5 points adrift of the Blues in second. A loss to Arsenal in the league dented their title hopes, whilst a defeat against Middlesbrough at home saw City crash out of the FA Cup in ignominious fashion. If Pellegrini wants his side to keep up their title chase without relying on Chelsea themselves slipping up then it is vital City get something on Saturday night and without Wilfred Bony and Yaya Toure may be reliant on talisman Aguero, on 19 goals and 17/4 to score first.



If City are going to beat Chelsea they may stand their best chance now. Whilst the Blues beat Liverpool to set up a League Cup final against Tottenham, their 4-2 defeat at home to Bradford in the FA Cup made headlines for all the wrong reason. Chelsea had previously looked invincible, but the loss to Bradford alongside the 5-3 defeat against Tottenham a few weeks ago have shown that cracks can be found. Diego Costa (17 goals and 17/4 to score first) may be out dependent on a violent conduct appeal, whilst the Blues will be without Fabregas and Filipe Luis as they have both suffered recent injuries. However, Chelsea have won their last 10 league home games, and this has caused our Spreadex traders to give a narrow edge to the Blues at a Chelsea/Man City Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 0.3-0.5, with a 2.5-2.7 Total Goals quote.

Sunday then sees a resurgent Arsenal take on a lifeless Aston Villa at 13.30pm on Sky Sports 1. Villa are currently sitting in 15th place and are having a torrid time of it at the moment, with incredibly only 11 league goals scored this season. If they are to get anything at the Emirates Stadium, then they will need Andreas Weimann (4 goals, 18/1), Gabriel Agbonlahor (3 goals, 18/1) and Christian Benteke (3 goals, 11/1) to finally turn up and make a difference.



Arsenal, on the other hand, have been flying under the radar and have racked up 11 wins from 14 games, with at least 2 goals in 10 out of their last 11 matches. New signing Gabriel Paulista may make his first start on Sunday, and if he does will shore-up Arsenal’s dodgy backline. However the focus is all on the Gunners’ all start attacking options, with Alexis Sanchez (18 goals, 10/3), Olivier Giroud (7 goals, 7/2), Santi Cazorla (6 goals, 11/2) and Aaron Ramsey (6 goals, 17/2) all in fine form. Ahead of a North London derby next weekend, Arsenal look set to continue their push for a top 4 finish, and Spreadex are offering an Arsenal/Aston Villa Goal Supremacy spread betting quote 1.8-2, with a Total Goals quote of 2.85-3.05.

The final televised game of the weekend sees 3rd place Southampton host Swansea City at 16.00pm on Sky Sports 1. A disappointing 3-1 loss to Blackburn which saw both Kyle Bartley and star striker Gylfi Sigurdsson sent off, compounding the Swans’ mixed form of late. Sitting near the middle of the league at 9th, Swansea have only won twice in their last 10 league away games, and with Southampton still flying high in 3rd, will be hoping that Nathan Dyer (5 goals, 14/1) and Bafetimbi Gomis (4 goals, 8/1) will help them get something against the Saints.



Whilst Southampton remain unbeaten in 6 league games, with 5 of them victories, a defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup last weekend may give Swansea some hope. With Shane Long breaking his ribs against Palace, Sadio Mane still a doubt after Senegel’s cup exit and Morgan Schneiderlin reportedly being courted by Arsenal, the Saints will be looking to Graziano Pelle (12 goals, 3/1), Dusan Tadic (4 goals, 13/2) and Eljero Elia (2 goals, 7/1) to give them the edge against the Welsh side. Our clients believe this will be enough, and here at Spreadex we have seen plenty of movement on a Southampton/Swansea Goal Supremacy spread betting quote 0.85-1.05 with a Total Goals quote of 2.4-2.6.