English Premier
2010-03-27 - Wolverhampton Wander vs Everton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: England, Premier League
Saturday, 27th March 2010 - Kickoff 3pm
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers have picked up 7 points from their last 9 available and moved into a position away from the relegation zone where safety is likely only a couple of wins away now.
Mick McCarthy has done a fine job at Wolves and all the pressure on him since he decided to pick a weakened team at Old Trafford earlier in the season has begun to dissipate as they moved up to 15th in the Premier League. Surprisingly, Wolves have picked up more points away from home than at Molineax this season. They are 4-3-8 at home, scoring 10 goals and conceding 20. Wolves are the lowest scorers at home in the League this season.
As I mentioned, Wolves have picked up 7 points from their last 9 available which follows off the back of only 3 points from their previous 18 available. They had lost 5 of 6 games before winning 2 of their 3 away games including at relegation rivals West Ham United and Burnley. Wolves have only won 1 of their last 6 Premier League games at home, and only managed to score 1 goal in those games. During this run, they have lost to Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City while gaining a point against Liverpool.
There are no new injury worries for Mick McCarthy although he may decide to restore Stephen Ward and Adlene Guedioura to the team after resting them on Tuesday night.
Everton
Everton highlighted the kind of form they are in with an impressive 0-2 win at Manchester City on Wednesday, the first team to win at the City of Manchester Stadium this season in any competition. David Moyes' boys are in the best form of any side since November.
The win over City moved Everton up to 8th place and once more feeling confident about gaining one of the European places that are on offer from League positions. They are now only 3 points behind their city rivals Liverpool and 7 points off 4th position. Everton are 4-4-7 away from home, scoring 20 goals and conceding 24 in those games.
With only 2 defeats in their last 17 Premier League games, Everton are in very impressive form. However both of those defeats came away from home in their last 8 Premier League games. While they have only won 2 of those games, the run included matches at Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur and tough venues like Birmingham and Sunderland.
Tim Howard should be passed fit along with Tim Cahill and Jack Rodwell in time for this game. There are no other worries for David Moyes.
Head to Head
Everton and Wolves drew 1-1 at Goodison Park earlier this season, but that match came during the tough start made by the Toffees.
They last met here in 2004 when Wolves managed a 2-1 win in their fight for survival that season.
Prediction
Wolves have really looked like a Premier League side in recent weeks and have scored 2 or more goals in their last 3 games. However, they find things a little harder at Molineax where they are expected to make the running and the lack of goals there will be a concern. Wolves are now close to survival and will be hoping to ride the momentum into this match.
Everton have been very impressive in recent weeks and have looked solid. They are scoring goals and now have the smell of Europe in their noses as we come to the end of the season. With no side picking up more points than Everton in 2010, they will feel they can get another 3 points here.
I am going to pick Everton to take the win here. I think they have a couple of goals in the side and that will likely be enough to pick up the 3 points here. Wolves have been in good form away from home, but this is an altogether different test. Everton have been the form side over the last few weeks along with Arsenal and Manchester United, and neither of those sides would be priced more than 1.44 to win here, so the 2.10 really appeals to me.
The Pick :
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Everton
