English Premier
2012-01-21 - Everton vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 21 January 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Everton
This was always going to be a tough season for Everton with a stretched squad and little to no money available for investment in the playing staff. David Moyes has rarely shown signs of frustrations, but I think it was telling during his press conference, ahead of a game at Tottenham Hotspur, that Moyes talked about how the two sides were evenly matched a couple of seasons ago but Spurs have kicked on while Everton have stayed still.
Finishing in the top half of the table was going to be considered an achievement for the Toffees this season, and they are still on course for that. Everton are 11th in the Premier League table having picked up 25 points so far this season, but that means they are just as close to bottom of the table Wigan as they are to 7th placed Liverpool. The team have struggled at Goodison Park where they are 3-2-5 this season, scoring 10 goals and conceding 12.
They have failed to win any of their last 3 Premier League games with their only win in that time coming against non-League Tamworth in the FA Cup. Everton lost their last home game in the League against Bolton Wanderers and they have now lost 4 of their last 7 games at Goodison Park in the League.
There are plenty of injuries to concern David Moyes ahead of this game as Phil Jagielka is out, while Sylvain Distin and Tony Hibbert are almost certainly ruled out. Leon Osman is another who is likely to miss out, while Jack Rodwell, Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley will need late fitness tests.
Blackburn Rovers
Steve Kean must have been very proud of his players after they beat Fulham last weekend, while playing with 10 men for the majority of the game, and pulled themselves out of the relegation zone. All is not well however, as the likes of Chris Samba seem very much unsettled and have been requesting a move from Ewood Park. The fans also remain unimpressed with the direction the club has been heading since the Venky's tookover as owners.
Even with some of the murmurings of discontent, Blackburn Rovers will at least be happy that they have moved out of the relegation zone, albeit thanks to a superior goal difference over QPR. There is still work to be done at the club as they remain just 2 points better off than Wigan at the bottom of the table and a loss on Saturday would send them back into the relegation places. Rovers are 1-5-4 away from home in the League this season, scoring 16 goals but also conceding 22.
The 3-1 win over Fulham last weekend means Blackburn have picked up 7 points from their last 12 available in the Premier League, an impressive haul considering their opponents in those 4 games. Blackburn have lost just 2 of their last 7 away games in the Premier League, and are unbeaten in their last 2 at Liverpool and Manchester United. They have had problems defensively and have conceded at least 2 goals in 7 of their last 8 away games in all competitions.
Chris Samba missed the game with Fulham due to illness, but he is expected back in the line up despite requesting a move from the club. Yakubu misses out after being sent-off last week.
Head to Head
Everton were very fortunate to come away from Ewood Park with a 0-1 win earlier this season as the home side missed 2 penalties before Everton were awarded their own one late in the game.
The Toffees have won their last 2 home games in the Premier League against Blackburn and they have kept clean sheets in both of those games.
Prediction
I will say straight away that backing Everton at home at odds-on has been a fast route to the poor house in the last few seasons, with the team much more comfortable in the role of the underdog and ruffling the feathers of sides that are expected to roll them over.
Much like when they played Bolton, that doesn't mean I have the trust of Blackburn Rovers, despite recent improvements in results, and I would not feel comfortable backing a team that has conceded far too many goals all season.
Talking about goals, the layers continuously under-estimate the chances of Blackburn games having a few goals in them. As I have said many times in their games this season, Rovers can certainly attack and create chances, but their make a lot of mistakes defensively which gives opponents a chance against them.
Rovers' last 12 games in all competitions has seen either themselves or their opponents score at least 2 goals, while both teams have been on the scoreboard in 11 of those games.
With that being said, I will continue to back goals in Blackburn games.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Everton 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
