• Premier League, 2011-12

Stoke to extend Bolton's woes

Simon Cambers November 4, 2011

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Stoke City bounced back from a run of three straight defeats with a good away win in the Europa League on Thursday and they can get another one when they travel to a struggling Bolton side on Sunday.

The way results have gone so far this season, anything is possible but the facts are that Bolton have lost all five of their home games and are really struggling. They have scored just four goals and conceded 17 and though three of those defeats were to Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea, they also got done by Norwich and Sunderland.

Stoke are a decent side and though they are a better side in front of their incredibly loud fans, they have enough about them to get at Bolton and get the win. The home side won't have forgotten what happened when the two sides played the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in April, when Stoke won 5-0, and those scars may not have healed.

Bolton's pointless run at home will not go on for ever - they are actually not a bad side - but Stoke will get amongst them and make life horribly difficult for them and at 9/4 they can be the bet of the weekend.

The first 10 rounds of matches have been so up and down that tipping is currently a precarious occupation. It will settle down at some stage, no doubt, but we could be in for another shock this weekend when bottom side Wigan Athletic travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves will fancy their chances of taking all three points but I have a feeling that Roberto Martinez's Wigan side may pinch a win. Head to heads are not as important in football as they are in individual sports but it's interesting that Wigan have won at Wolves in each of the past two seasons.

After seven straight defeats, Martinez has been looking to this game as the one to kick-start their season and they have the ability to get three points against a Wolves side who are not doing particularly well themselves. At 10/3, they can be the weekend punt.

Now the last two weekends have been frustrating ones when it comes to the weekend treble. Twice we've come up with two good wins and been let down with a draw or a defeat in the third one, so hopefully this weekend we can get it right.

Newcastle have been the revelation of the season so far and while it is always dangerous to write off Everton, the Magpies should be able to continue their form with a win over David Moyes' side at St James' Park at 6/5.

Aston Villa have been inconsistent so far this season and Norwich have done very well in the first section of their return to the top flight. But I fancy Villa to win this one at home, so let's include them at 5/6.

Finally, let's throw in what should be a dead cert with Arsenal to beat West Brom at the Emirates at 2/5. The Gunners have really picked things up after a shocking start to the season and they will surely be too strong for the visitors.

Put Newcastle, Aston Villa and Arsenal together and you get 9/2 for your efforts, which would be nice, and help to get us somewhere back towards profit! Good luck!

Running total as of October 21 = -14.35pts

(Based on: 3pts stake for bet of weekend and 1pt per weekend punt and weekend treble

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent

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