English Premier
2012-05-02 - Bolton Wanderers vs Tottenham Hotspur
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 2 May 2012 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Bolton Wanderers
This is a vital game for Bolton Wanderers with the season winding down to a close as it is the last game in hand they have over their relegation rivals. The bottom of the table is extremely tight, but the team have a chance to move out of the relegation zone as long as they avoid defeat tonight.
Bolton are 18th in the Premier League table courtesy of a 5 goal deficit compared with QPR, although a win would see them move level on points with Wigan Athletic in 16th place. They have a 4-3-10 record at the Reebok Stadium this season, scoring 20 goals and conceding 33, and only bottom club Wolves have earned less points in front of their own supporters so far this season.
The team are unbeaten in their last 3 League games coming into this one, although they have earned just 1 win in their last 5 games. While Bolton's overall record at home has been disappointing so far this season, their recent form has picked up to the extent that they have earned 12 points from the last 24 available here and have recorded 3 wins from their last 8 at home in the League.
Gretar Steinsson and Darren Pratley are both set to miss this game with illnesses, while Nigel Reo-Coker will have his fitness assessed having been forced to come off in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland on Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur are still trying to come out of a bad run of form that has seen them drop off from 3rd place in the Premier League and fighting for the final Champions League spot. Much of the blame was placed at the door of the England job and the fact that Harry Redknapp was favourite to be offered that, although I think that has been a bit of cop out and this run is more down to bad luck for Spurs and poor tactical decisions.
Spurs are currently holding onto 4th place due to a superior goal difference over Newcastle United and they are also 1 point better off than Chelsea and will feel they can extend the gap as those two teams play one another tonight. A win would also see Spurs move to within a point of Arsenal for 3rd place, the final automatic qualification position for the Champions League and also a position that will not be affected if Chelsea win the competition this season. The team are 6-5-6 away from home, scoring 22 goals and conceding 22.
They had lost 3 consecutive games in all competitions before the win over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday got their season back on track, although they can't afford any more poor results in the final 3 games of the season. Spurs have failed to win any of their last 8 away games in the Premier League, while they have failed to score in their last 4 and 5 of the last 6.
Tottenham have really begun feeling the heat in terms of injuries, the latest three in doubt being Scott Parker, Aaron Lennon and Louis Saha.
Head to Head
This is the third meeting of the season between these two teams and Tottenham have come out on top in the first two games, both played at White Hart Lane.
Bolton actually have a decent home record against Spurs, going unbeaten in their last 8 here in all competitions including a 4-2 win in the League last season.
The Trotters have actually won 7 of the last 9 games at home in the Premier League against Tottenham, while they are unbeaten in 11 home League games against them.
Prediction
Much like I said for the Liverpool game yesterday, I don't think Tottenham Hotspur have done anything of late to make them odds on favourites to win a game at a ground where they have regularly failed to perform at.
Fabrice Muamba is expected to be in attendance at the Reebok Stadium tonight and there is every chance he will inspire the home players into another big performance, but I am staying away from the win-draw-win market as I don't have a lot of faith in either team.
Bolton have struggled when they have come up against the best teams in the League, only avoiding defeat against Arsenal at home in 11 games against sides in the top 6 with this game to come. However, their record against Spurs has to be respected.
With both sides very keen on picking up the three points, I think we may see goals in this game- Tottenham can create plenty of chances, while they do give their opposition chances too when they are pushing forward.
Granted Spurs have not been scoring with regularity away from home in recent games, but Bolton are not the best defensively and I can see them being exploited with the pace the away side has in their starting line up. This is also a fixture that has provided plenty of goals in recent seasons.
7 of the last 9 games in all competitions between the teams have seen at least 3 goals scored, while the last 3 League games at the Reebok Stadium have seen at least 4 goals scored in each.
Tottenham have scored at least 2 goals in games at Wolves, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic this season, with the latter two games seeing at least 3 total goals scored, while Bolton have conceded at least 2 goals to the other sides in the top 6 apart from Arsenal.
With the history between the teams and the expectation that both sides will be pushing forward for goals, I will take the Overs rather than the tempting 3.00 on Over 3.5 Goals.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.75 Goals @ 2.00
