NOV 28: EPL AND SPL BETTING

THE Premier League big guns are in action tonight – and all should win.

Let's start with Chelsea who started Rafael Benitez's reign with a dour draw at home to Man City on Sunday. There was little to inspire the new boss but at least his men kept a clean sheet and he saw first hand how badly Fernando Torres is struggling.

Fulham are the visitors to the Bridge and while they won't make it easy – the last four meetings between the sides have been draws – they were disappointing in losing to Stoke at the weekend and maybe Torres will take advantage of the fact key defender Brede Hangeland is banned.

Chelsea remain without John Terry and Frank Lampard but have quality in abundance with the likes of Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard. I think Chelsea will see it through but best odds of 1-2 at William Hill and BetVictor are unattractive. With Hangeland out Fulham could be vulnerable at set-pieces so I fancy a small wager of Branislav Ivanovic to score at 7-1 with Ladbrokes and William Hill.

Man City are about the same price (4-7, Betfred, Paddy Power) to beat Wigan in the Premier League and should do so against a side with injury problems.

Wigan did well to beat Reading at the weekend with Jordi Gomez hitting a hat-trick and he is 11-2 at William Hill to score at any time. However, the man to back could be Carlos Tevez who will be recalled to the side after the 0-0 at Chelsea. Tevez is 4-1 (various) to bang in the opener.

Man United entertain West Ham on the back of surviving another fright at home to QPR. The Hammers were well beaten at Spurs and I can see a similar sort of outcome. The Reds, however, are no better than 1-4 (various) so look at Robin van Persie to return to scoring form with the opener. He is 3-1 with Paddy Power, bet365 and BetVictor.

Everton have suffered a bit of a blip but Arsenal aren't too appealing either so a draw could be the best bet for their meeting at Goodison. A stalemate pays 5-2 at Betfred.

Elsewhere the best bets could be Stoke and Southampton at home to Norwich and Newcastle respectively.

Stoke have won back-to-back home games 1-0 are starting to show a bit of resilience they have been famed for. They are 1-1 (various) against a Newcastle side who haven't won in six.

Alan Pardew's men are off form, lacking confidence and missing key men such as Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor. They were well beaten at Southampton at the weekend and I can't see them troubling Stoke unless there is a massive improvement.

Charlie Adam has netted the only goal in both of those Stoke wins and the Scotland international is 5-1 at Coral to hit the target again.

Southampton have a chance to make it consecutive home wins when Norwich visit St Mary's. Norwich deserve respect after a seven-match unbeaten run, including victory over Man Utd and a weekend draw at Everton, but the way Saints played against Newcastle was impressive.

They could have won by four or five with Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Gaston Ramirez running riot. Lambert wasn't on target but he can be more successful here so consider him at 11-2 with Betfred and BetVictor to score first. Saints are 23-20 at Ladbrokes and Paddy Power.

West Brom have been the story of the season with four wins in a row lifting them to third place. The latest success was a 4-2 win at Sunderland and te can follow up by sinking Swansea at the Liberty.

The Swans have drawn their last three home games, including 0-0 with Liverpool at the weekend, and are struggling to get going in front of their own fans. West Brom are a best 11-5 at BetVictor or take them draw no bet at 6-5 with unibet and William Hill.

In the final game Spurs take on Liverpool in another tight contest. Liverpool have drawn four of their last six, including a trip to Chelsea, but have lost on their previous for visits to White Hart Lane.

So plenty of people will back the home but if Brendan Rodgers' men can keep Jermain Defoe in check this could be a stalemate.

In the SPL Celtic can bounce back from their defeat at home to now joint leaders Inverness by winning at Hearts. Celtic have suffered on their return from Champions League duty but tended to win next time out – and have been better on their travels.

Neil Lennon took some stick from fans during the weekend loss and he and his players will be determined to bounce back against a young Hearts side who lack a cutting edge having netted just two in four outings.

Take Celtic at 4-6 with William Hill and BetVictor and also consider them minus one at 9-5 with boylesports. Gary Hooper is fighting back to full fitness and should be given another start. Look at the Englishman, who has a good record against the Jambos, at 4-1 with Ladbrokes to bag the opener.

The other SPL clash sees St Johnstone entertain Hibs and it could go the way of the home men if they keep Leigh Griffiths quiet. Saints have lost just one league game in five and will climb to the top of the SPL if Celtic lose at Hearts.

Steve Lomas's side are 5-4 (various) against a Hibs outfit who have suffered back-to-back defeats to Dundee and Aberdeen. However, they were unlucky at the weekend with Griffiths not rewarded for an outstanding display.

Hibs increasingly look a one-man goal threat and the Scotland cap is 6-4 at Betfred and bet365 to net at any time.

Recommendations

Tevez to score first
(4-1, various)

Southampton
(23-20, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power)

Stoke
(1-1, various)

Celtic -1
(9-5, boylesports)

🔗 Share on Social Media