English Premier
2012-10-27 - Stoke City vs Sunderland
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 27 October 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Stoke City
The fixture computer was not kind to Stoke City as they were given tests against Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the opening 8 games. That helped make Stoke a popular pick for the 'surprise' relegation candidate, but they have already proven that to be unlikely this season.
A loss at Old Trafford last season moved Stoke back down to 13th in the Premier League table, but 8 points from the opening set of fixtures is not a terrible return so far. The side have a 1-2-0 record at the Brittania Stadium, scoring 3 goals and conceding 1, and this remains the stadium where they will build the foundation for another season in the Premier League.
Stoke have only won 1 game in all competitions this season, but that did come in their last game here when they comfortably beat Swansea 2-0. The team are unbeaten in their last 11 home games in all competitions (the only defeat coming in extra time in the Capital One Cup against Swindon Town), although they had drawn 7 of 8 before the win over Swansea last time out.
Glenn Whelan is the only doubt for the home side ahead of this game.
Sunderland
Sunderland huffed and puffed against ten man Newcastle United last weekend, but were eventually rewarded for their effort with a late equaliser in the Tyne-Wear derby. There has to be a little concern amongst supporters that there was so little creativity despite the man advantage in that game, a situation that cannot be rectified until January at the earliest.
The draw means Sunderland are 14th in the Premier League table and they too also have 8 points to their name, although the Black Cats have an extra game to play than most of the other teams. They have a 0-3-1 away record so far this season, scoring 3 goals but conceding 6 in those games.
The side have been involved in a lot of draws so far this season with 5 of their 7 games in the League ending in that manner, although they have progressed to the Fourth Round of the Capital One Cup in that time. Sunderland have now won just 1 of their last 14 away games in all competitions going back to last season, although they have only been beaten on 5 of those occasions.
Wes Brown and Titus Bramble are the only two doubts in this Sunderland squad as they make the trip across the country.
Head to Head
Sunderland beat Stoke City 0-1 here last season, although a closer look at that game shows it was 0-0 when Robert Huth was sent off.
Before that loss last season, Stoke had won all 3 home games against Sunderland since returning to the top flight and they had won 4 in a row at home.
Prediction
These are the kind of games that Tony Pulis is bound to have circled as those from which he needs his Stoke City side to pick up maximum points if they are to avoid a relegation scrap.
The draws here against Arsenal and Manchester City will be seen as bonus points towards survival and I think the Stoke team have shown their capabilities against sides outside of the top 6 with their comfortable win over Swansea.
The system Stoke plays means they will offer more of an attacking threat with their direct play, and I also believe they are defensively solid enough to repel anything that Sunderland can produce in this game.
Sunderland have struggled for goals outside of Steven Fletcher and the possession without threat against Newcastle United would have been disappointing last weekend. It will be tough for them to get anything from this game without scoring a goal in my opinion and I think Stoke are going to be a little too strong for them.
It is a shame that the odds aren't slightly higher, but doubling your money is never a bad thing and I like Stoke's chances of being able to do that for their backers this weekend.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Stoke City 1-0 Sunderland
