English Premier
2012-05-01 - Stoke City vs Everton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Tuesday 1 May 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Stoke City
You could see there is still plenty of needle between Stoke City and Arsenal following their game on Saturday, but the point gained by the home side means they have also given themselves another chance to finish in the top half of the table with a strong end to their final three games this season.
Stoke are 14th in the Premier League table, but three points tonight will take them up to 11th, only sitting behind Norwich City and Fulham on goal difference. They remain a tough prospect at the Brittania Stadium, going 7-6-4 there this season, scoring 22 goals and conceding 17.
The team have now won just 1 of their last 9 games in all competitions, that coming against the hapless Wolves at home. However, most of those games have taken place away from the Brittania Stadium where they feel most comfortable. Stoke are actually unbeaten in their last 5 League games at home, winning 3 of those, and they have faced the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal in that time.
Andy Wilkinson remains absent, while it looks like Thomas Sorensen will be given the gloves between the sticks for the final three games of the season.
Everton
There isn't a lot more you can say about the job David Moyes has done at Goodison Park over the last ten years he has been at the club- this year represents the chance for them to finish above local rivals Liverpool for the second time in those years. Rumours persist that Moyes will not be in charge come the start of the 2012/13 season as he feels he has taken the club as far as he can and, if that is the case, I expect he will want to finish on a real high.
Everton are 7th in the Premier League table and that is as high as they can finish with Chelsea sitting ten points ahead of them in 6th. However, that does mean they are 2 points clear of Liverpool and there is a real incentive to finish above them in the final standings. Everton have a 5-6-6 away record, scoring 21 goals and conceding 24.
The form remains solid for the team as they have now lost just 1 of their last 8 games in all competitions, although that was the disappointing FA Cup Semi Final loss to Liverpool having gone ahead in the game. Everton have lost just 1 of their last 7 away games in the Premier League, that also coming against Liverpool, while they had the real 'spanner in the works' performance at Old Trafford last time out as they fought back from 4-2 down to draw 4-4 with Manchester United.
Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell are the only absentees for David Moyes ahead of this game.
Head to Head
Stoke City recorded a 0-1 win at Goodison Park earlier this season and they have now won the last two meetings between the teams including a 2-0 win here last season.
Since Stoke returned to the top flight, they have met three times at the Brittania Stadium- Stoke have won 1 game, Everton have won 1 game and the other ended in a draw.
Prediction
This is a really tough game to call as Stoke City have always been a tough out in front of their own fans, while Everton are in very good form.
When you do think of these two teams, you would probably imagine a game with a lack of goals, but I think the freedom afforded to both sides means that is unlikely to be the case in this one.
Everton have scored 8 goals and conceded 9 in their last 4 away games in the Premier League, while Stoke are under no pressure of going down and have managed to score at least 2 goals in 2 of the last 3 times they have hosted Everton.
The actual result of the game is much tougher to call as Everton have shown tremendous fight in the last couple of months of the season, but I think the 3.00 being offered that Stoke score at least 2 goals is a little tempting.
Everton have looked a little suspect at the back in their last few away games, while Stoke will be urged to go forward and will look to cause problems through their set pieces.
The Pick :
Stoke City 2-2 Everton
