English Premier
2012-04-09 - Newcastle United vs Bolton Wanderers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Monday 9 April 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Newcastle United
Newcastle United continued their fantastic season with a 0-2 win at Swansea on Good Friday and they maintain their push for a European place. The Champions League looked like it was out of reach, but their chances have improved as they keep winning while the sides above them fail to do so.
The team remained in 6th place in the Premier League after the weekend fixtures were completed, but they are now just 3 points behind Tottenham Hotspur in the final Champions League place, while a top 6 finish is all but secured. Newcastle are 9-5-2 at home this season, scoring 24 goals and conceding 15.
The team have earned 4 straight wins in the Premier League since a 2-1 loss at Arsenal thanks to a 93rd minute goal. They have only conceded 1 goal in the games they have won recently. Newcastle have now won 6 of their last 8 games at home in all competitions, going unbeaten in all those games since a 2-3 loss to West Brom.
Yohan Cabaye and Chiek Tiote were both taken off with knocks in the win at Swansea and both need fitness tests to determine their availability. Fabricio Coloccini misses out again, while Danny Guthrie is also likely to miss out.
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers momentum from recent weeks came crashing to a halt with a really poor 0-3 home loss to Fulham on Saturday and they are now going to be under immense pressure in this game as the season winds to a close. With QPR having a winnable game on Wednesday night, Bolton are a team looking like they have big problems in the bid for survival.
Things at the bottom of the table did not change too much this weekend as all 5 teans making up the bottom were beaten. Bolton remain in 16th place in the Premier League, still 1 point out of the relegation zone. They are 5-0-10 away from home, scoring 17 goals and conceding 31 in those games.
The 0-3 loss to Fulham was greeted by boos from the home fans, and Bolton will need to pick themselves up from that loss quickly as their momentum that had seen them win 3 consecutive Premier League games was brought down to earth. They had lost 4 games in a row away from home in the Premier League before the 2-3 win at Wolves last time out.
Gretar Steinsson may return to the starting line up, but Marcos Alonso is a doubt.
Head to Head
Newcastle United won 0-2 at the Reebok Stadium earlier this season courtesy of second half goals from Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba.
The teams have both won 1 game and drawn the other 2 in the last 4 League games at St James' Park.
The game here last season finished 1-1, although that is the only goal Bolton scored in the last 3 trips to Newcastle.
Prediction
Newcastle United have understandably shortened in the win-draw-win market following the results at the weekend, but I can't blame the layers for doing so as they seem more than the most likely winners of this game.
The Magpies have been in fantastic form recently, finding goals through the front three of Demba Ba, Cisse and Ben Arfa, while the defence continues to play at a high level to keep teams out.
I do like Newcastle to win this game, but I am going to back them to win with a clean sheet to boot. Bolton have struggled for goals away from home all season and had failed to score in 4 away Premier League games before grabbing 3 at Wolves.
Newcastle have had clean sheets in their last 2 home game, both games they ended up winning, and they will point to the fact that QPR and Wigan Athletic were two teams in the bottom places that had failed to score here.
The 2.88 on offer at Paddy Power for Newcastle to win this game to nil looks a decent pick from this game, especially considering Bolton have failed to score in 7 of the 10 defeats they have suffered this season.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Newcastle United 2-0 Bolton Wanderers
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Newcastle United Win to Nil @ 2.88 (Paddy Power)
