After a thrilling weekend of FA Cup football there is no time for reflection for the teams playing in the English top flight as this Tuesday evening sees the return of Premier League action. There are three matches playing around the UK and we’re previewing all three with online sportsbook Unibet.com to provide our best EPL picks from these midweek games.
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace: 3.00 – 3.25 – 2.50
The FA Cup action at the weekend for these two clubs reflected their current positions in the Premier League as Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by League Two Wycombe Wanderers (as we correctly predicted!) and are now forced into a replay that they could do without as they currently sit 11 points from safety in the EPL table. The away side at Villa Park this Tuesday evening claimed a 2-1 win away at fellow Premier League side Southampton to secure their passage into round four of the competition and boost their confidence following three goalless matches, now can they use this victory to return to winning ways in the league and move into the top five of the division before the other teams around them play their matches?
Villa are without a win in the league since the opening day of the season and they have recorded just one more win in all competitions in the following 23 matches of this season. That second win came at home to local rivals Birmingham City in the Capital One Cup in September and since then they have lost 11 and drawn five of their 16 matches played. They face a Crystal Palace side that has won three and drawn two of their last five games away from Selhurst Park and despite not having any top quality attacking options we feel that Villa’s poor defence will give up too many chances for the visiting side to the Midlands and, as such, we’re backing victory for the side coming into this match seventh in the table.
Our best Aston Villa v Crystal Palace bet is back the away win at odds of 2.50 in the Unibet Sportsbook!
Bournemouth v West Ham: 2.05 – 3.50 – 3.75
The first meeting of these two sides this season saw a thrilling match as Bournemouth claimed their first ever EPL victory at Upton Park as they put four goals past West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph in a 4-3 away win. After defeating Randolph’s former side Birmingham City in the FA Cup Third Round at the weekend as they made 11 changes to their starting XI for the clash at St. Andrews and they’ll be rested for this vital match against a side that is returning to full strength from an injury crisis and with The Hammers unbeaten in eight games before this midweek action they’ll certainly need that rest.
Bournemouth had failed to find the net in three matches before their weekend progression in the Midlands, drawing 0-0 with Crystal Palace and Leicester as well as losing 2-0 to Arsenal, but with just two defeats in eight matches following their opening day loss to Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium they will be confident for this match. If they can get the paperwork through in time then they are sure to be boosted by two new attackers as Juan Iturbe arrives on loan from Roma subject to his work permit being cleared while Benik Afobe is sure to start so they will definitely pose more of a threat in this match going forwards.
The Hammers are emerging from their injury crisis, but they will miss Manuel Lanzini after the Italian had another injury breakdown in training and will miss the next six weeks. However, with Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio having bagged two goals apiece in the last two matches they will fancy their chances at gaining revenge for the defeat earlier this season. We see both of these two attacking sides finding the net and this is our pick for this match.
Our top Bournemouth v West Ham tip is back Both Teams to Score – Yes @ 1.80 with Unibet.com.
Newcastle v Man United: 4.80 – 3.70 – 1.78
These two sides were involved in tight FA Cup Third Round matches at the weekend as Newcastle were beaten 1-0 by Watford as Troy Deeney scored the winner on the stroke of half time following a defensive mistake while Louis van Gaal’s men bored their way into round four with just two shots on target as they defeated League One Sheffield United 1-0 thanks to a 93rd minute Wayne Rooney penalty. Both sides are performing poorly at the moment and it is fine margins that decide whether they win or lose, but who’ll take the points at St. James’ Park this Tuesday night?
Newcastle have lost all of their last four matches without scoring a goal as things have not gone well following wins over Liverpool and Tottenham as well as drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa, but four successive 1-0 defeats in the league and cup leave them two points from safety in 18th place. United sit fifth in the table, but their league form leaves a lot to be desired recently as they have won just one of their last seven matches – and that came against relegation threatened Swansea in their last match.
Manchester United have scored just five times in these seven matches and although Newcastle do not defend well we can see this game not being the most exciting of clashes with chances few and far between, while goals will be even rarer.
Our money is on Under 2.5 goals to be scored at St. James’ Park at odds of 1.74.