Newcastle 0 - 1 Arsenal

Tottenham 1 - 0 Sunderland

West Brom 5 - 5 Man Utd

Number Game

Numbers Game: Go potty for Potters price

Friday 24th August 2012 9:46

Peter Crouch: Scores against Arsenal last season

Peter Crouch: Scores against Arsenal last season

Matty Briggs' Numbers Game is back and it's bigger and better with Stoke (7/4 DNB) tipped to beat Arsenal in the first Value Bet of the season.

@MattPBriggs' Numbers Game returns with all the usual statistics and tips ahead of the weekend's football action.

After finishing the season on +£8.65 from a £1 stake, the Value Bet returns and attempts to uncover the value the bookies have overlooked.

The Banker is also back along with the Steamers, Bogey Teams, Who's Hot, Who's Not, Hot-Shots, Famous Last Words and Treatment Room.

The Traders' View also makes its comeback and it's more detailed than ever, with an in-depth insight into the action from the men in the know - the bookmakers, while all the prices included this season will be the best prices from all the major bookies.

Stoke are the headline tip to kick the season off. The Potters look real value to beat Arsenal, but with not much form to go on I'm cautiously advising to back the Potters Draw No Bet. While the Banker is a punt on both teams to score in the battle of last week's 5-0 losers - Norwich and QPR.


Let me know your tips for the weekend in the box below and good luck!


value-bet
  • VALUE BET -

    Stoke Draw No Bet v Arsenal at 7/4 (Sun, 1.30pm).

    Arsenal recorded only three shots on target in the goalless draw against Sunderland and the last place Arsene Wenger would want to visit next would be Stoke. The Gunners failed to hit the right groove without Robin van Persie and Alex Song and Stoke will look to attack their weakened spine. The Potters have faced Arsenal five times (once in the FA Cup) at The Britannia since they returned to the top flight and have recorded three wins, a draw and a defeat. Tony Pulis' men lost just four Premier League games at home last season and have not lost in the league at home since February. With that in mind, they look a big price at 11/4 to see off Wenger's men, but with the season still in its infancy I'm edging on the side of caution and think taking the 7/4 offered by Blue Square on the Draw No Bet market as the safer option.
steamer
  • STEAMERS -

    bet365 have seen money for Swansea, Everton, Man City, Man Utd, Bolton, Middlesbrough, Bradford and Dundee United.
    Bodog have seen money pouring in for Tottenham at home to West Brom and Manchester United at home to Fulham.
    Sky Bet report support for Stevenage, who were often popular last season, and say they have been backed heavily to win this weekend at Oldham. They are now into 8/5 from 17/10 earlier in the week. Bradford are another side who have been supported. The Bantams are into 4/5 to beat AFC Wimbledon following their humiliating 6-2 defeat at Burton in midweek.
whos-hot
  • WHO'S HOT -

    Blackpool (21/20) have won two from two and host Ipswich (3/1).
    Tranmere (2/1) have won both League One games and travel to Shrewsbury (6/4).
    Notts County (4/5) have won both League One games and host Walsall (4/1).
    Doncaster (29/20) have won both League One games and host Crawley (21/10).
    Oxford (8/11) have won both League Two games and host Plymouth (9/2).
    Gillingham (6/4) have won both League Two games and travel to Dagenham (19/10).
    Accrington (6/4) have won both League Two games and host Exeter (21/10).
whos-not
  • WHO'S NOT -

    Peterborough (2/1) have lost both their Championship matches and host Leeds (6/4).
    Crystal Palace (4/1) have lost both their Championship matches and travel to Middlesbrough (5/6).
    Scunthorpe (5/4) have lost both League One games and host Yeovil (5/2).
    Leyton Orient (13/10) have lost both League One games and host Hartlepool (12/5).
    Southend (2/1) have lost both League Two games and travel to Northampton (6/4).
traders-view
  • TRADERS' VIEW -

    bet365: Notts County have started the season well and they're a side we're looking to duck this weekend against Walsall. The Saddlers did emerge from their draw at Oldham in midweek with credit, but barring Butler, they lack a physical presence. With that in mind and Notts County looking bigger, better and stronger than last season, we're swerving the hosts.

    Bodog: We will be looking to get against 8/15 Spurs and 1/3 Man Utd for their respective home games against West Brom and Fulham and we are accordingly top price about the two 'jollies'. On Sunday we would not be at all surprised to see 5/2 Stoke City again spike the guns of Arsenal at a heaving Britannia Stadium. Tony Pulis' side have a great record against Arsenal in their Potteries stronghold so it would be a brave punter to back the Gunners, who toiled at home to Sunderland, at a shade of odds-against. After that it looks like it could be a tough Premier League bow in front of the Anfield faithful for Brendan Rodgers against 11/8 Man City.

    Sky Bet: Chelsea look a great lay for us this weekend at home to Newcastle. The Blues are 1/2 and this looks far too short a price to be taking about a side who were lucky to beat Reading in midweek. Add into the mix Newcastle's fantastic win there last season and Chelsea have to be one to avoid.I would not be keen about throwing Arsenal into my weekend coupon as they travel to Stoke. 11/10 looks short enough as Wenger's side always seem to struggle at the Britannia.
bogey-teams
  • BOGEY TEAMS -

    West Ham (11/4) have won five and lost none of the last six league meetings against Swansea (23/20).
    Everton (6/4) have won none of last 12 Premier League meetings v Aston Villa (2/1), but eight have been draws.
    Manchester United (7/20) have won four and lost none of last five Premier League games v Fulham (10/1).
    Norwich (11/8) have won four and lost none of the last five league meetings v QPR (11/5).
    Liverpool (21/10) have won just one of the last seven Premier League games v Manchester City (11/8) (Sun, 4pm).
    Burnley (2/1) unbeaten in nine trips to Huddersfield (6/4).
    Blackburn (6/4) lost just one of last eight at home to Leicester (21/10).
    Notts C (4/5) won six of last eight at home to Walsall (4/1).
    Scunthorpe (5/4) won five of six at home to Yeovil (5/2).
    Southend (2/1) won five of last seven trips to Northampton (6/4).
    Oxford (8/11) won four of last five at home to Plymouth (4/1).
banker
  • BANKER -

    Both teams to score in Norwich v QPR at 4/6.

    With the season only a week old and form lines yet to be written it's almost impossible to pick out a 'Banker'. With that in mind I've plumped for the 'both teams to score' market and I reckon Norwich and QPR can both get off the mark this weekend at Carrow Road. They both fired blanks in heavy 5-0 defeats first time out, but I reckon they'll both put in improved displays this weekend and attacks look like being on top.
hot-shots
  • HOT-SHOTS -

    Spurs' Jermain Defoe has scored in his last three Premier League games v West Brom and is 6/5 to net again.
    Burnley's Charlie Austin has scored in both Championship games and is 11/5 to score at Huddersfield.
    Tom Ince has two goals for Blackpool this season and is 21/10 to score against Ipswich.
    Tranmere's Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro has two goals and is 9/4 to score at Shrewsbury.
    Oxford's Tom Craddock scored twice last time out v Southend and he is 15/8 to net against Plymouth.
treatment-room
  • TREATMENT ROOM -

    Stevenage to beat Oldham at 13/8.

    Jordan Slew (back) and James Tarkowski (dead leg) are injury doubts for Oldham boss Paul Dickov. Dickov, who is confident both can be ready, is already without the services of James Wesolowski and face a Stevenage side boosted by the arrival of striker Robbie Rodgers.
famous-last-words
  • FAMOUS LAST WORDS -

    Sheff Weds to beat Millwall at 11/10.

    After the impressive 3-2 home win over Birmingham in midweek, Dave Jones, who will have defender Anthony Gardner available said: "The first half against Birmingham was the best I've seen us play since I came here and that's how we need to be at this level."

    Fleetwood to win at Burton at 6/4.

    After the 1-0 midweek defeat at Bradford, Fleetwood boss Micky Mellon said: "There wasn't much difference between the sides. We matched Bradford for long periods and we are disappointed with the result, but you have got to take your chances. We hit the woodwork, but there are hard luck stories all the time in football and you have got to make your own luck. You have got to take your chances at tough places like Bradford, but we will dust ourselves down and get on with the next game."

    Wycombe to beat Bristol Rovers at 13/8.

    After the midweek home defeat to Gillingham, Wycombe boss Gary Waddock said: "I'm disappointed that we didn't perform well enough in the second-half to get anything from the game.Credit to them for their second-half, (Gills boss) Martin (Allen) has assembled a good squad of players. We matched them during the first-half, but in the second I was disappointed with the display. It's especially disappointing to not be able to back up Saturday's win with another three points. We'll dust ourselves down and go again at the weekend. We'll be positive. In your first home game you want to give the fans something to shout about, but we'll bounce back."

    You can follow me on Twitter at @MattPBriggs

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