CHRIS Graham (@chrisgraham79) bids to build on a good week by finding Premier League winners this weekend. He has three for us here.
Bournemouth v Tottenham | Saturday 12:30 | Sky Sports 1
Up in 11th place, unbeaten in three, fresh from winning 6-1, perhaps it’s fair to suggest that Bournemouth and Eddie Howe’s stock has never been higher.
On Saturday they host a Tottenham side still unbeaten this Premier League season and are as short as 16/5 to oblige at the Vitality Stadium. It’s not for me.
The key stat for me with regard to Bournemouth is their tendency to concede. They’ve leaked in eight of their ten matches this season and have let in 10 goals in their last four matches.
While their stock is high it makes sense to try and pick holes in them and the Cherries do have a tendency to get smashed up from time to time against the bigger sides.
Man City have beaten them 4-0 already this season and in the last campaign other hammerings were easier to find. Examples include 1-5 v Spurs and Man City, 1-4 v Chelsea and 0-4 v Man City again.
Tottenham put eight past them last season in the league and I’ll back them to win here at odds of 20/21 with Marathon Bet. It could be a grind but I’m hopeful they’ll come through.
In three of Bournemouth’s eight Premier League matches this season they have conceded Over 1.5 Goals and they’ve leaked more goals than 17th place Middlesbrough.
Spurs have had a four day cushion since their Champions League trip to Germany and the lure of hitting the top of the table with a win here will be a strong one.
While Bournemouth’s stock is so high and their price so short let’s take them on and back title contenders Spurs at a shade of odds on. Hopefully class will out in the early kick off.
Burnley v Everton | Saturday 15:00
Everton produced a sterling display last week against Man City. Their 1-1 draw with the title favourites was doused in defensive discipline and heroic goalkeeping but deep down they’ll know they were fortunate to escape with a point.
As well as two penalty misses, City had 12 more corners than Everton and 16 more shots. Ronald Koeman was relieved but I feel bookmakers have taken the point a little too literally and they look too short at Turf Moor on Saturday.
It’s great to see Everton doing well but let’s not forget they’ve picked up just two points out of nine over the last five weeks. While the City performance deserved applause, a home draw against Crystal Palace and loss to Bournemouth didn’t.
This Everton side may just be a match for anybody on their day but should still find it tough against gritty side likes Burnley. Especially in their territory.
Sean Dyche’s side are as big as 53/10 with Marathon Bet and that looks large. Ignore the opening day defeat to Swansea and their home form has much to be admired.
Wins over Liverpool and Watford were unexpected while their matches with Hull (1-1) and Arsenal (0-1) were marred by conceding late goals. If Dyche’s men can make Turf Moor an intimidating place to visit this season then they have a chance of staying up surely.
At 5/4 I’m happy to back them to avoid defeat on Saturday. Their home form merits respect and bookmakers may be getting a little carried away with Everton’s heroic draw last weekend.
Hull v Stoke | Saturday 15:00
Two sides in contrasting form here and it makes sense to capitalise on that in my opinion. The Evens on Stoke beating Sunderland at home last week will look huge come May and odds-against quotes on Hull going down (available in early September) may look the same next year.
After seven points from their opening four matches Hull’s season really has hit the skids in recent weeks. It’s not only that the defeats have come it’s the nature of those losses that been a cause for concern.
First there was the 4-1 loss to Arsenal, then that was followed by a 5-1 defeat at Anfield before Bournemouth took it up a notch last weekend when they beat Hull 6-1.
Confidence must be suffering and it wasn’t a surprise to see former saviour Robert Snodgrass play a key part in giving away a penalty last week. After a rough time with Scotland earlier this month the guy seems a shadow of his self in August. Perhaps a metaphor for Hull themselves?
Stoke are on the way up the table and are now unbeaten in three matches. They were unlucky not to beat West Brom four weeks ago but kicked on from that to gain a point at Old Trafford the week after.
A win against Sunderland last week was teed up nicely and it was no surprise to see they got the job done in a convincing 2-0 win over the beleaguered North East side.
Mark Hughes will be plotting another three points here and that’s a distinct possibility. I’ll back them -0.25 at odds of 15/13 with Marathon Bet. Even if they draw half my stake will be returned.
TOPICS English Football Tips Football Premier League TipsBest Bets
Bournemouth v Tottenham – Tottenham to win (20/21 Marathon Bet)
Burnley v Everton – Burnley +0.5 (5/4 Marathon Bet)
Hull v Stoke – Stoke -0.25 (15/13 Marathon Bet)
