English Premier
2010-02-27 - Burnley vs Portsmouth
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
Football : England : Premier League
Saturday 27th February 2010 - Kickoff 3pm
Build it up as much as you like but the truth is that, win or lose, Pompey will fall to relegation back to the Championship at theend of this season.
Still, we have an important game as Burnley and Portsmouth meet in a game that will make a lot more difference to the hosts than the visitors.
Burnley
Burnley have, would you believe, an even easier run in than Arsenal.
Yep, the teams Burnley face over the next few games are all hovering around the drop at the bottom of the table. This is an absolute must win game for Burnley, if they are to even entertain hopes of staying up at the end of their first season among the big boys.
It all started so well for the newcomers, my fondest memory being that 1-0 victory over a clearly stunned Manchester United. Burnley have entertained the home crowd with some good wins, but it's been a long long time since they chalked up 3 points.
Last weekend saw Burnley get thumped by Villa 5-2. To the Clarets credit, they did go ahead early, which is encouraging, and even when down 5-1, they kept on battling and were rewarded by a consolation. It makes no difference to the score but thats the kind of attitude I like to see in a team if I am to stake money on them.
The great early start by Burnely, along with their quite impressive home form, has seen Burnley pick up 22 points from a possible 36. That can't be sniffed at, and if Burnley do stay up, that will be why. It is at Turf Moor where Burnley have played the more aggressive attacking football, and it has served them well.
Unfortunately, the more recent form is where my worry lies. Burnley have now lost 6 of their last 7 games, and have only the 1 win in their last 15 games. Maybe they're doing a Hull, but they really are in dangerous territory here and must now stick it to Portsmouth.
Portsmouth
How can anyone not feel sorry for this club? They've got a great set of fans, and the players really have played their hearts out. But the dark clouds refused to budge.
Portsmouth are surely going to be relegated to the Championship now, with the news that the club will now go into administration, meaning a 9 point point deduction that seals Pompey's Premier League fate.
There was a glimmer of hope to find a potential buyer but the deadline has come and gone with now one coming forward to plug that £70,000,000 hole.
Add to that the players, who haven't been getting paid despite working their backsides off and it makes for a situation that just sucks the moral out of everyone associated with the club. How is one supposed to keep their chin up?
In their last game Portsmouth had a goal disallowed, then managed to actually take the lead, before an unfortunate mistake to let in a leveller and then the cruel late winner by Stoke, leaving many of the attending fans in tears. Nothing seems to be going right and the danger is that these players, while used to defeat, will let their heads drop, thinking "What's the point?"
It's going to be up to Avram Grant to spur them on, because really, what have they got to lose? The club might even be told to pack up soon, so the players should really leave everything on the pitch at Burnley and give it all they have. And all they have is definitely good for at least a goal.
The Betting Verdict :
I would love to see Portsmouth win this, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
But the fact is that most of the Portsmouth squad are Championship material, while Burnley are stronger and are at home with at least some light at the end of the tunnel they're staring down. I think both teams give it their all, with Burnley just edging it.
Sorry Portsmouth, but even Jim can't fix this one chaps.
The Statistics :
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BEST BETTING TIP :
Take both teams to score @ 1.83 (Bet365)Or take Burnley to win at 2.10 (general)
