Live on Skysports 2: Tue 19.45: Stoke, 6/5 at Stan James, will be hoping their luck changes against Birmingham on Tuesday.
Four straight defeats for Stoke have left them just above the bottom three but frustrated Potters boss Tony Pulis will feel, with some justification, that his side haven’t had the rub of the green in terms of refereeing decisions of late and indeed, could have taken points from the games at both Everton and Sunderland if a couple of calls had gone their way.
Pulis will try to use the sense of injustice to galvanise his team and back on home soil they can return to winning ways by beating Birmingham, a result Stan James offer at a generous 6/5. Their opponents have won just once since August and had to come from 2-0 down just to earn a point at home to struggling West Ham at the weekend. The Blues are also winless on the road and only Stoke’s potential inability to score should stand in their way.
Staying with goals and neither team are rampant in that department at present so this possesses all the hallmarks of a low-scoring affair. Punters fearful of a flutter on the hosts then, can opt for a saver on a match total of fewer than 2.5 goals (4/6, Betdaq) and even a goalless encounter isn’t out of the question at a chunky 10/1 with .
The evening’s other game sees Tottenham lock horns with Sunderland at White Hart Lane. The hosts went down 4-2 at Bolton on Saturday and haven’t won in the league in three but the Black Cats are winless on the road and were trounced 5-1 at rivals Newcastle in their last away game, so it’s hard to oppose a home win at 8/13 courtesy of Paddy Power.
However, that price won’t exactly line punters’ pockets and it could be worth trying to capitalise on Spurs’ unconvincing-looking rearguard by backing both teams to score at 10/11 (William Hill)
Recommended Bets:
Stoke to beat Birmingham – 6/5 (Stan James)
Both teams to score in Spurs v Sunderland 10/11 (William Hill)
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