English Premier
2008-05-05 - Newcastle United vs Chelsea
A Sports Betting Pick by chappers
- English Premier League -
St James' Park
5th May 2008PM KO 4pm (live on Sky)
Newcastle United (12th EPL)
Played 36 with 81 points
Depending on your point view will depend on if you see this season as being a bad one for Newcastle or not. I don’t think it has been a bad one and I think that Newcastle are pretty much were I thought they would be at the start of the season and that is mid table. However I’ve no doubt that all the Newcastle fans out there will disagree with me. For some reason as usual the Newcastle fans thought they would be a top six team and going for Europe but for me that wasn’t the case and I really thought that tenth was the best they could hope for (and said so back in August). To be honest if you had said to most Newcastle fans about six weeks that tenth if were they would finish I think they would have snapped your hands off.
They have a overall record of 11-10-15 and eight of those wins have come at home and while that seems decent enough, I remember in the mid 90's when Newcastle had the kind of home form that Manchester United and Chelsea boast now. This will need to be sorted if they do want to push on next season and move up the table as five teams have went to Newcastle and won this season, which is not to bad but for years Newcastle classed St James' as a fortress and this is now not the case.
After losing four games on the bounce, Newcastle managed to get a draw away at Birmingham and have not looked back since and are now unbeaten in seven games and have also won their three home games during this time, but just as important is the away win at Spurs 4-1 which I think gave them belief that they could compete with teams and last time out they came from 2-0 to draw 2-2 with West Ham so even if the season is coming to an end, Newcastle are playing like a team at the moment who don’t really want the season to end as they are on a very good run indeed.
Cheslea (2nd EPL)
Played 36 with 81 points
Chelsea still have a chance of the league title and also are in the final of the Champions League so the season could end on a very nice high for them, but they have to win both of their remaining league games and also hope that Manchester United slip up in their final game so the odds are against them, but while there is hope you have to keep going. Of course the Champions League will be on the players mind the league still has to be concentrated on as Chelsea will kick themselves if they do slip up in last two games and Manchester United do not go an win at Wigan.
Chelsea have only lost three times this season and have managed to claw themselves within a chance of the title. And of course with Chelsea have a four year unbeaten run at home, all three defeats this season have come away from home. I feel as if I’ve written loads about Chelsea this season as recently it seems that they have always been on the TV, but Grant for me will be as harshly treated as Sven if he is shown the door in the summer even if they do end the season with nothing.
Recent weeks has seen Chelsea beat both Arsenal and Manchester United but the home draw v Wigan could be the points that see them lose the title and when you consider it was a last minute goal in a game that Chelsea should have won with some ease that will be even harder for the Chelsea fans to take as the two extra points would now see them in the box seat and the title would be in their own hands.
Head to Head
Newcastle do have a decent enough record at home when Chelsea come to the north east, and have won three times from the last six and Chelsea have only won there once. You have to go back to 2001 for the last time Chelsea took all three points and I have to say that surprised me.
Verdict
The obvious bet here would be to back Chelsea and I have to say that wouldn’t be the worst of bets, but I’m going to be a little different as I think that Newcastle may well get something out of this game. I guess the H2H record is showing me that Newcastle are no push overs at home when they play Chelsea so as such I think that the double chance price of 2.40 seems a decent bet.
Newcastle are unbeaten in seven games and this is the last game in front of their own fans after what has been a tough season (in their eyes anyway), also factor in that Chelsea have to win this game I think that Newcastle will be tough to crack and while Chelsea may well win this game, I think the double chance bet will give some interest throughout the game as if Chelsea do win I doubt it will be by more than 1 goal.
So Newcastle double chance 2.40 it is.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Newcastle Double Chance
