English Premier
2012-03-24 - Swansea vs Everton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 24 March 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Swansea
It was a controversial radio show in the UK that was trying to argue that Swansea have not had any real achievement by sitting in mid-table in a 'poor' Premier League, but that is a horrible assertion considering the Welsh club were the favourites for relegation before the season began. Brendan Rodgers should rightly be praised, while some fans may still be dreaming about the chance to crack the top 7 in the table before the season ends.
Swansea are currently 8th in the Premier League table, but it says something that they are only 3 points behind Liverpool in the spot above them, while they are virtually assured of top-flight football for another season with a 16 point lead over 18th placed Bolton Wanderers. A top half finish would be some achievement and they have also begun to find their feet away from home in the League, although their best form is still at the Liberty Stadium. Swansea are 6-6-2 at home this season, scoring 19 goals and only conceding 10.
Confidence cannot be anything but extremely high after the Swans recorded their third consecutive Premier League win with an impressive 0-3 win at Fulham last week. That run also included a 1-0 win over Manchester City here and they have lost just 1 of their last 8 games at the Liberty Stadium. The team have won 2 of their last 4 home games against Arsenal and City, while Chelsea escaped with a draw courtesy of a 93rd minute goal.
Ashley Williams looks set to return to the side after missing the game at Fulham last week with an illness, while Nathan Dyer completes his three game ban.
Everton
David Moyes was extremely disappointed with the officials as his side were beaten 0-1 at home against Arsenal during the week, and he must be a little concerned with the lack of momentum Everton have going into their FA Cup replay with Sunderland during the coming week. A trip to the Liberty Stadium is not the easiest place to try and change that momentum.
Everton are 10th in the Premier League but know that large position changes are possible depending on a good or bad run of form as there are plenty of teams within the same vicinity of points as the Toffees. The team are 4-4-6 away from home this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding 18.
After a run of 9 games unbeaten in all competitions, Everton have now failed to win any of their last 3 games while losing back to back Premier League contests. They had picked up a number of eye-catching wins at home in their unbeaten run, but they have failed to win any of their last 5 away games in the Premier League, drawing 3 of those games.
Darron Gibson may return to the side after being sidelined with an injury recently, but Jack Rodwell and Seamus Coleman are ruled out. David Moyes rested some players ahead of the FA Cup game with Sunderland in the Merseyside Derby, so I would expect he will make a couple of changes in preparation for the replay during the week.
Head to Head
Everton beat Swansea 1-0 at home earlier this season, but this will be their first trip to this part of Wales since the 1982/83 season.
Swansea have lost their last 3 home games against Everton going back to the 1950's, but this will be the first time they host them at their new home.
Prediction
This looks like it will be one of the trendy picks of the weekend, but Swansea look a decent shout at odds against to continue their winning run in the League against an Everton team that is surely going to be looking ahead to the FA Cup replay with Sunderland.
We saw a lacklustre Everton performance in the Merseyside Derby ahead of the initial tie against Sunderland and I think it is clear that the Cup is the priority for David Moyes who desperately wants to provide some silverware for the supporters and to underline his achievements in ten years at Goodison Park.
Swansea have no distractions for this game and will play their usual passing game and I think they are worth backing considering their wins over Manchester City and Arsenal here recently, as well as coming within seconds of knocking off Chelsea.
A performance like that against an unmotivated Everton may bring in the odds against on the home win and that is what I will take.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Swansea 2-1 Everton
