English Premier
2012-09-22 - Chelsea vs Stoke City
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : Premier League
Saturday 22nd September - Kickoff 3:00pm
Chelsea
The Blues sit top of the league but their 100% record is gone after a 0-0 draw at Loftus Road at the weekend. Still with 10 points from 12 is a very good return and with everyone chasing them it's where they wanted to be even at this early stage of the season.
Chelsea drew at home to Juventus midweek in a thrilling 2-2 draw so it's now 2 draws in 2 games for the Blues. On Saturday Stoke are the visitors and Chelsea will have to be at their best given how physical the visitors can be.
Di Matteo's side are in a rich vein of form at the Bridge winning the last 3 league games and 7 of the last 9. In 5 of the last 6 the Blues have scored at least 2 home goals but the 2-0 win over Newcastle here a few weeks back was their first clean sheet in 5 home games.
Stoke City
The Potters occupy 12th place with 4 points from 4 played. Pulis's side remarkably haven't won and haven't lost this season drawing all of their games. Having held Champions City last week if they hold Chelsea it will be an extraordinary run of results.
Reading (1-1), Arsenal (0-0), Wigan (2-2) and City (1-1) have been unable to beat Stoke so far despite the Potters keeper just 1 clean sheet.
Away from home draws at Reading and Wigan are decent enough and as expected they conceded in both games. It's 10 away games in a row since the last Stoke away clean sheet and at free scoring Chelsea it looks a huge ask to keep them out.
Stoke have scored in their last 2 away games which is encouraging but if they fall behind I think they will struggle to get back into the game. However, midweek Chelsea were 2-0 up and drew 2-2 so it's not an impossible task.
Betting Verdict
Chelsea have won the last 4 against Stoke at the Bridge in (1-0), (2-0 twice), and (7-0) victories. I'm shocked to see them all come to nil but it seems Chelsea match up well with the Potters.
I will keep the trend going and back the Blues to once again beat Stoke without conceding. I was expecting around evens but the price is much bigger than that.
Stoke have only scored in 2 of their last 13 games to the top Champions League clubs in the division. They have scored in both away games this year but we can't ignore their generally poor away form in front of goal.
Chelsea to win by at least 2 is a play here as well but following a tough European game that may be asking a lot. Chelsea to win to nil is the play here.
Good Luck
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Chelsea 2-0 Stoke
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Chelsea to Win to Nil at 2.25 with Coral
