Back Spurs to cut the mustard against nose-diving Norwich
PLUNDERING points from former employers is this weekend’s aim for Tim Sherwood and Chris Hughton.
Neither manager can enjoy long-term job security, but Sherwood at least knows his immediate future is at Tottenham as he returns to Carrow Road, having represented Norwich close to 100 times as a player.
Spurs have won seven of 10 Premier League games since replacing Andre Villas-Boas, but that hasn’t stopped the club being linked with a raft of high-profile names, most recently Italy boss Cesare Prandelli.
Sherwood is ignoring the speculation and his results are doing the talking – so it is a little surprising to see his side as big as 11/10 with BetBright.
The Canaries have been loyal to ex-Spurs full-back Hughton but their patience must be running thin after one top flight victory in 11 matches. It’s no shock that he’s favourite to be the division’s next sacking, at evens.
Norwich are just about keeping their head above water but if things don’t go their way on Saturday they might have fallen into the bottom three by kick-off.
The reverse fixture in September ended 2-0 to Tottenham and Sunday’s visitors haven’t lost a league game in this part of East Anglia since the days of the old Division One, in April 1991.
Admittedly, Spurs have a long return trip from their Europa League assignment in Ukraine against FC Dnipro, however Emmanuel Adebayor, Aaron Lennon, Kyle Walker, Moussa Dembele, Younes Kaboul and Hugo Lloris all stayed at home.
It all points to an away victory and for even bigger odds, at 11/4, back Spurs to win to nil. Norwich have only scored once in their last four outings.
Elsewhere, I think Aston Villa have a real sniff at Newcastle. The outsiders might be nine points adrift of the Magpies but Alan Pardew’s men are bang out of form. They have lost six of their last eight in the league. Four of those came in front of their own fans, where they were consecutively beaten 0-1, 0-2, 0-3 and 0-4 by Arsenal, Manchester City, Sunderland and Spurs.
Odds of 500/1 say that scoring pattern will expand to 0-5 but I do fancy Villa to claim the spoils.
Villa have taken more points on the road (17) than at home (11) so back them to win at 14/5 with BetBright.
Tony Pulis has turned Crystal Palace’s season around and they will be full of confidence when they welcome Manchester United tomorrow.
The Eagles will have their backers at 11/2 but a canny option could be selling total goals at 2.5 with Sporting Index. Pulis has stamped his authority on Palace – after letting in 21 goals during their opening dozen Premier League fixtures. They have conceded 13 in 13 under him.
Pointers…
Spurs to beat Norwich at 11/10 with BetBright
Aston Villa to beat Newcastle at 14/5 with BetBright
Sell total goals (Crystal Palace v Man United) at 2.5 with Sporting Index