English Premier
2018-04-07 - Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 7th April 2018 - Kick Off 3pm
Stoke City
Some fans may have begun thinking the worst for Stoke City in their bid to escape the relegation zone with games beginning to run out. A vastly inferior goal difference won't have been helped in the unfortunate 3-0 defeat at Arsenal last Sunday and a difficult remaining fixture list means Stoke City likely need a couple of upsets to get out of trouble.
They have played better under Paul Lambert, but Stoke City have been guilty of dropping some silly points and that has left them in 19th place in the Premier League table and 3 points from safety with 6 League games to go. The majority of the points earned this season have come at the Bet365 Stadium where Stoke City are 5-4-7 in the Premier League after scoring 17 goals and conceding 25.
Stoke City have now failed to win any of 8 Premier League games since their victory over Huddersfield Town and a run of 3 straight losses have come at a bad time. The Potters have only won 1 of their last 6 home games in the League and Stoke City have suffered back to back losses to Manchester City and Everton.
Kevin Wimmer, Kurt Zouma and Mame Biram Diouf are all hoping to be passed fit for this fixture. Eric Choupo-Moting is injured and Charlie Adam is suspended.
Tottenham Hotspur
For a long period in the first half at Stamford Bridge it looked like being more of the same for Tottenham Hotspur who hadn't won in that Stadium for 28 years. However a bolt from the blue from Christian Eriksen changed the entire complexion of the fixture and the win over Chelsea means Tottenham Hotspur are in a commanding position for one of the Champions League places from the Premier League.
That win means they remain in 4th place, but Tottenham Hotspur are now 8 points clear of Chelsea in 5th place and with only 7 League games for both clubs to play. The result also improved the away record to 9-3-4 in the Premier League and only two clubs have scored more away goals than Spurs in the League this season.
Tottenham Hotspur have won 6 of their last 7 games in all competitions although the exception was the stinging Champions League exit at the hands of Juventus. They are also unbeaten in 11 away games in all competitions and Tottenham Hotspur have found some real form on their travels with 4 consecutive away wins.
Harry Winks is a doubt for this fixture, but otherwise Tottenham Hotspur have a full squad of players to choose from.
Head to Head
Tottenham Hotspur crushed Stoke City 5-1 at Wembley Stadium earlier this season and that means they have scored at least four times in 4 consecutive games against them.
They have won on 4 of their last 5 visits to Stoke City including back to back 0-4 thumpings here.
Prediction
Paul Lambert has got his Stoke City playing with a little more confidence than when Mark Hughes left the club, but it was results he was looking for rather than praise.
Unfortunately for Lambert, Stoke City have struggled for consistent results and Charlie Adam should take a large portion of the blame having missed a penalty in one game to drop two points and then being sent off after half an hour of another winnable home game.
Those points have left Stoke City 3 points from safety and with a difficult remaining fixture list and also an inferior goal difference to most above them.
It certainly looks a big task to get out of trouble and now Stoke City have to face a Tottenham Hotspur team who have handed out some real beatings to Stoke City in recent years. The fact that Tottenham Hotspur are also playing with real confidence does not bode well for Stoke City as they have won 3 consecutive games, all away from home and while scoring at least three times each time.
Harry Kane should be back to lead the line and Tottenham Hotspur look a team that could end this season in very strong form with the fixtures remaining for them. Winning the FA Cup would be the icing on the cake for Tottenham Hotspur and I think they are going to be too strong for Stoke City on Saturday in the current form they are in.
Stoke City have lost their last couple of home games in the Premier League and I think Tottenham Hotspur will wear them down. The last 4 between these teams have resulted in wins for Tottenham Hotspur each time and they have outscored Stoke City 17-1 in those games.
Tottenham Hotspur have won 3 consecutive away games while scoring at least three times each time and I will back them to cover the Asian Handicap here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Stoke City 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur
