Kenwyne Jones and Stoke could give Spurs a torrid time this weekend
© Getty Images
Enlarge
Click here to bet on the Premier League at bet365
The title race continues to edge towards a conclusion that will only be tight and tense if Manchester United slip up. Their fixture list is far from easy, with Arsenal and Chelsea to take on but this weekend they host Fulham and I can't see them dropping points in that one.
So it will be down to Arsenal to avoid another slip-up when they travel to Blackpool, who might seem like good things at 15/2, on first glance, given the way the Gunners stuttered to a goalless draw with Blackburn last weekend.
However, Arsenal have had a week to think about things and they know that they have to go all out for victory. With Cesc Fabregas back from injury they should have too much class for a Blackpool side teetering on the brink of dropping into the relegation zone. At 4/11, though, they are too short for this column's purposes so let's move on and start with the weekend punt.
Cambers' Calls
- Bet of the weekend: Bolton to beat West Ham 6/5 bet365
- Weekend punt: Stoke to win at Tottenham - 4/1 bet365
- Weekend treble - Manchester United, Wolves and Newcastle to win - 15/1 bet365
Tottenham Hotspur were always going to find it difficult to maintain their outstanding form of the first half of the season, as Champions League commitments added even more pressure onto even their bigger than average squad. Their 4-0 defeat away to Real Madrid was a real body blow and how they bounce back from that will be fascinating to watch.
This weekend they host Stoke City and I fear for their chances. In their last three games after a Champions League outing, they have lost one and drawn two, scoring a grand total of two goals in the process. Now Stoke are no world beaters and the temptation would be to suggest a draw rather than going out on a limb. But Stoke have drawn just once away all season so they are not reliable on that score.
They have, though, won three times on the road and I don't think Tottenham's defenders will enjoy taking on the physical strength of Stoke any more than the other top sides do. They have goals in them and at 4/1 they are capable of winning if Spurs are not on their game so that has to be the weekend punt.
As you would expect from a side in the bottom three, the reason West Ham are stuck down there is largely because of their away record, which shows just two wins and seven draws. It's not terrible but not one that will fill their fans with hope when they travel to Bolton Wanderers this weekend.
Eighth-placed Bolton, by contrast, are where they are because of their excellent home record, with eight league wins at the Reebok this season. Under Owen Coyle they have become an attractive side to watch while retaining their physical power and they should be able to take all three points off West Ham. At 6/5, they are the bet of the weekend.
And so to the weekend treble, which this weekend is pretty tricky, I have to say. I am going to include Manchester United at 4/9 to beat Fulham because even without the suspended Wayne Rooney, they have too much firepower for their visitors and are a little longer priced than I would have made them myself.
Wolves could grab a vital win in their fight to stay up, at 8/5 over Everton, who have been poor travellers and horrendously inconsistent this season. And finally, Newcastle could pile more pressure on Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa by winning at Villa Park at 10/3.
A successful treble on Manchester United, Wolves and Newcastle would come in at more than 15/1, so best of luck!
Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondent
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Simon Cambers
Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant Simon Cambers is ESPN.co.uk's betting correspondant
