Greener's Blog - Premier League
Published: 15/05/2009
GREENER’S BLOG
by
ANDY GREENUP
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 16 MAY 2009
Although there were only two selections given last week, both were successful and gave us an excellent profit of 29.00 points on the day. The overall verdicts have now produced 37 wins from 72 selections, a strike rate of 51.4% and the profit now stands at an impressive 102.50 points.
HULL CITY LOOK SET FOR CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN
As we reach the penultimate week of the season Manchester Utd now need just a point from their remaining two games to secure their eleventh Premier League title. They’ll be hoping to do it in front of their own fans when they face Arsenal at Old Trafford in the lunchtime kickoff. At the other end of the table it’s still any three from five for the drop although some may say six as Portsmouth could still find themselves into the mix but personally I don’t think they will. Newcastle’s 3-1 win over Middlesbrough moved them out of the bottom three for the first time since the middle of March and now puts their destiny back in their own hands. If they can beat Fulham at St James’ Park it will go a long way to preserving their top flight status for next season. The bottom two sides, West Brom and Middlesbrough must feel that nothing other than a win will do if they are to keep their slim hopes alive. Boro take on Aston Villa at the Riverside while West Brom entertain Liverpool on Sunday. Sunderland don’t go to Portsmouth until Monday and depending on how the other sides have faired may find that a point will prove good enough for survival. The side that replaced Newcastle in the bottom three last week were Hull City and in my opinion they are destined for a return to the Championship. Phil Brown’s side must feel they have to beat Bolton at the Reebok as I’m sure they won’t want to leave it to the last day when Manchester Utd visit the KC Stadium. It’s their game at Bolton I’m going to look at first. Bolton have lost just one of their last seven home games while Hull have won only one of their last 13 games away from home and have managed only two goals in their last eight. They have also only won one of their last 20 games overall. I see this as a home win, a result which will leave Hull pretty much certain to be playing in the Championship come August. GREENER’S VERDICT - MATCH RESULT - BOLTON WANDERERS (10 PTS) @ 2.28
The other game I like is at the Britannia Stadium where Stoke take on Wigan. Stoke have only lost one of their last eight at home and have only conceded eight goals in their last 15 home games. In contrast Wigan have won only one of their last nine away games and just two of their last 16 games overall. Tony Pulis has based Stoke survival this season on getting as many points as they can at home and it has worked a treat. I can’t see anything but another three points for the home side here. GREENER’S VERDICT - MATCH RESULT - STOKE CITY (10 PTS) @ 2.28
