Manchester United v Swansea: Moyes' men must be opposed again

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Opta Stats: Tottenham v Swansea

Opta / Richard / 29 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Spurs saw off Bolton on Tuesday to secure an FA Cup semi-final place

Tottenham are in desperate need of three points if they are to hold on to fourth spot...

Tottenham have lost just one of their last 14 Premier League home games, winning 10 of the others. Match odds

Spurs have won none of their last five Premier League games and have only once gone six without a victory since Harry Redknapp took over (December 2008 to January 2009). Match odds

Redknapp's side have scored the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season (10). First goal odds

The Lilywhites have scored the lowest proportion of goals in the final 15 minutes of matches (13%). First goal odds

Spurs are the only team in the Premier League not to score from a free kick situation this season.

Swansea have won four of their last six Premier League away games. Match odds

The Welsh side have committed fewer fouls than any other team in the top flight (250) and picked up fewer cards (35 yellow, two red).

Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored five goals in his last four away games in the Premier League for Swansea.

Emmanuel Adebayor is the only player in the Premier League who has double figures for both goals and assists (11 each).

Scott Parker has made 99 tackles this season, more than any other player in the top flight.

Blackburn might have won at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign but they won't repeat the feat this time round......

Liverpool head to Tyneside on the back of desperate defeats to QPR and latterly Wigan......

Time is running out for rock-bottom Wolves and a win against fellow strugglers Bolton is an absolute must......

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Opta Stats: Stoke v Swansea

Opta / Michael Lintorn / 23 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Brendan Rodgers has enjoyed a fine first season as a Premier League boss

Swansea will be hoping to take advantage of a Stoke side whose recent cup exploits have had a negative impact on their Premier League form...

Swansea have won the last four games with Stoke in all competitions.

Stoke have won just two of their last eight Premier League home games (W2 D2 L4).

In their last eight away games, Swansea have either scored twice or not at all.

Tony Pulis' side have conceded the highest percentage of goals in the first half (55%).

Stoke have fired in fewer shots on target than any other team in the Premier League (64) and have the worst shooting accuracy (34%).

Stoke have been caught offside fewer times than any other team in the Premier League (34).

Stoke have conceded the most goals from the penalty spot this season (7).

Ryan Shawcross has made more defensive clearances than any other player in the top flight this term (318).

Stoke have won just one of their last nine Premier League games (W1 D3 L5).

Ashley Williams has blocked more shots than any other player this season (33).

Opta offer practically every insight you could possibly require about Sunday's Carling Cup Final between Cardiff and Liverpool......

Norwich's recent home form ensures that this should prove a difficult test for Premier League title hopefuls Manchester United......

Tottenham's north London derby record has improved massively of late, and with Arsenal struggling in big games this season, that trend could continue......

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Opta Stats: West Brom v Swansea

Opta / Michael Lintorn / 02 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Scott Sinclair scored against former club Chelsea on Tuesday night

West Brom are poor at home and Swansea aren't great away, so what's going to happen at the Hawthorns? Here's what Opta say...

Swansea scored three goals from just four shots on target in the meeting with the Baggies in September, while West Brom failed to score with five shots on target.

There has been a penalty scored in three of the last four meetings between Swansea and West Brom.

West Brom have won just two of their last 11 Premier League home games (W2 D2 L7) and have picked up just one point from the last 15 available at the Hawthorns.

Swansea have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League away matches.

Swansea have only lost one of their last six Premier League games (W2 D3 L1).

The Welsh side have committed fewer fouls than any other team in the Premier League (197).

West Brom have won just one of their last six Premier League games (W1 D2 L3).

West Brom have kept just one clean sheet in their last 15 Premier League games.

The Baggies have scored 26% of their goals in the opening 15 minutes this season, a higher proportion than any other side.

Ashley Williams has blocked more shots than any other player in the Premier League (33).

Liverpool have hit form recently and are even able to welcome Luis Suarez back on Monday night - will they halt Tottenham's title bid?...

Chelsea's home record hasn't been great this season, however after tripping up leaders Manchester City in December, they will be hopeful of causing Manchester United trouble......

Aston Villa were humiliated on their last visit to Tyneside, but will have an opportunity to claim revenge in front of the cameras on Sunday lunchtime......

Fulham have been a bit of a bogey team for Manchester City in recent seasons - will they be the ones to end the Premier League leaders' perfect home record?...

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Opta Stats: Swansea striker to fire again away to Liverpool

Opta / Michael Lintorn / 04 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

Swansea forward Danny Graham is chasing his most high-profile goal yet

"Danny Graham has scored in four consecutive Premier League games."

Demba Ba, Peter Odemwingie and Danny Graham are among the players that the Opta stats indicate could be amongst the goals this weekend...

Newcastle v Everton (Saturday, 12:45)
Demba Ba has scored eight goals in his last five Premier League games
After an unforgettable October, will it be a November to remember for Demba? The Opta nugget that the Senegalese striker has the best conversion rate (47%) of the 13 players to have scored four or more Premier League goals this season suggests so, as does Everton's run of nine matches without a clean sheet.
Recommended Bet: Ba to score @ [2.76]

Arsenal v West Brom (Saturday, 15:00)
Peter Odemwingie scored in both matches against Arsenal last season
Goals against Norwich and Wolves aside, it hasn't been a great start to the season for Odemwingie, who fired in twice as many in his first eight outings last term. An injury to top scorer Shane Long leaves the Baggies relying on the Nigerian though, and a clash with a team he enjoys facing could prompt a return to top form.
Recommended Bet: Odemwingie to score @ [4.8]

Blackburn v Chelsea (Saturday, 15:00)
Branislav Ivanovic scored in both meetings between Blackburn and Chelsea last season
Didier Drogba is suspended, Nicolas Anelka is on a terrible run in front of goal, Fernando Torres isn't yet scoring consistently and Daniel Sturridge struggled against Arsenal, so Chelsea might need a goal from an unlikely source. Ivanovic got one against Genk last month, and could be called upon again.
Recommended Bet: Ivanovic to score @ [9.4]

Liverpool v Swansea (Saturday, 15:00)
Danny Graham has scored in four consecutive Premier League games
After opening his Swansea career by firing six straight blanks, Graham looked set to join the list of forwards too good for the Championship but unable to cut it in the top-flight. However, since getting his first goal since his summer move from Watford against Stoke, he hasn't stopped. Liverpool always concede at home, so chances should arise to extend his streak.
Recommended Bet: Graham to score @ [5.5]

Click here to access dozens more priceless Opta statistics

Michael Lintorn has picked out four of his favourite Opta trends for this weekend's Premier League games, identifying ways to use them to try to boost your Betfair balance......

Both Liverpool and Manchester United host clubs below them in the table on Saturday, and whilst both should win, one of them might have to fight harder than anticipated says Mike Norman....

The Opta stats augur well for Tottenham ahead of their Sunday afternoon trip to Craven Cottage to face former boss Martin Jol, as Michael Lintorn explains......

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The Championship Play-Offs Bets: Nottingham Forest v Swansea

Championship / Andrew French / 10 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Forest will be hoping Tudgay can score again and get Forest's chances

"So, I think Forest will edge this first leg – but I believe there is an away goal for the visitors in it, if they go looking for it. The Swans were by no means the highest scorers on the road during the regular season, but they still managed to find the net at least once in 17 of their 23 away games."

History suggests the winner of the first semi-final of the Play-Offs gets promoted so all eyes will be on Thursday's game. These are two evenly matched teams going head-to-head here but Forest should draw first blood, says Andrew French.

If you believe in recent trends, decide who you think will progress from this semi-final and then back them for promotion: in six of the last seven seasons, the Championship Play-Offs have been won by the side that came out on top of the first semi-final.

Much of the outcome of this one depends upon which Nottingham Forest turns up: will it be the side that has won five of its last six games and scored 17 goals in the process? Or will it be the Forest team which before that went nine games without winning, in the process seriously denting their chances of getting this far in the first place?

Forest ended the regular season with four successive wins, although Swansea managed three on the spin of their own.

Despite the Welsh side claiming a notable success at Millwall in their penultimate fixture, it's their patchy away form coupled with Forest's generally impressive home record which makes me want to side with Billy Davies' boys in this first leg.

Prior to winning at The Den, Swansea lost four of their previous five on the road - and two of those defeats came at relegated Preston and Scunthorpe. The Welsh side lost 11 away games, more than any other side in the top eight - and their record away to top-half sides was seven defeats in 10 outings.

The Swans like to build from the back and will not be rushed - I'm not sure they'll be allowed that luxury at The City Ground, especially as Forest will want to erase memories of their home Play-Off leg last season, when Blackpool beat them 4-3.

So, I think Forest will edge this first leg - but I believe there is an away goal for the visitors in it, if they go looking for it. The Swans were by no means the highest scorers on the road during the regular season, but they still managed to find the net at least once in 17 of their 23 away games.

Therefore, I'd be looking at the likes of 2-1 and 3-1 home wins in the Correct Score market, but for a slightly safer bet, I'm suggesting simply backing both teams to score - that is a bet that would have paid out in 65% of Championship Play-Off semi-final first legs during the last 10 seasons.

Best bet: Back Forest to win at [2.38]

Recommended bet: Back both teams to score at [1.9]

Despite what might happen at this week's FA hearing, QPR have been the best side in the Championship this season and should be able end Leeds' slim play-off hopes says Andrew French....

A look at the movement in QPR's Championship title odds over the last week indicates that there is a genuine possibility of the Hoops being docked enough points to see them surrender top spot to Norwich.

For different reasons, Sheff Utd and Millwall need three points on Saturday, whilst Crystal Palace will be delighted if they can secure a point at Hull. Andrew French explains all....

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FA Cup Results: 26-1 Orient shock Swansea

FA Cup / Joe Dyer / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jimmy Smith scores the opener at Swansea

"The Os - conquerors of Norwich in the third round - were matched at [27.0] for the win in-running on Betfair with the Swans backed like sure things at [1.43]."

Leyton Orient, Crawley and Brighton provide the upsets on the first day of the fourth round. Joe Dyer rounds up all the FA Cup action here

Leyton Orient pulled off a classic FA Cup upset today when beating Championship opponents Swansea in the early kick-off at the Liberty Stadium.

The Os - conquerors of Norwich in the third round - were matched at [27.0] for the win in-running on Betfair with the Swans backed like sure things at [1.43].

The Londoners took an early lead only to concede on the stroke of half-time, but had the home captain, Alan Tate, to thank after he scored an own goal in the 88th minute to send the League One outfit into the fifth round draw.

And the romance continued at Torquay (not the first time that's been written) where non-league Crawley beat their supposedly superior opponents. Crawley were backed at [3.85] to win.

And Brighton complete a trio of Saturday upsets thanks to an impressive 1-0 defeat of Championship outfit Watford. Gus Poyet's side were backed at [4.8] to progress in 90 minutes.

There was tremendous drama at St Andrew's for the second time this week where Birmingham produced a stirring comeback to deny local rivals Coventry. The home side found themselves 2-0 down after 26 minutes but produced three unanswered goals to reward their in-running backers on Betfair at [15.5]. The final score was backed at [38.0].

And Manchester United did a similar thing at St Mary's where they beat Southampton after conceding a first half goal. United, the [5.0] FA Cup favourites, were backed at a high of [6.0] to win.

Elsewhere, Reading touched [6.6] in-running before scoring a late goal to deny Stevenage; Bolton and Wigan drew 0-0; Burnley ended Burton's run and Sheffield Wednesday put Hereford out.

In the other early kick-offs Aston Villa trounced Blackburn 3-1, while Everton and Chelsea fought out a 1-1 draw. The Toffees traded at [1.36] but Salomon Kalou scored in the 76th minute to deny the hosts a win.

Chelsea are [6.4] joint third favourites with Manchester City to win the Cup. Everton are [28.0], Aston Villa [17.0] and Orient [550.0].

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