Opta Stats: Southampton to end Norwich's superb run

Adam Lallana is pivotal in Southampton's pacey attack

It's Opta time as Christian Crowther predicts another win for the revitalised Saints and picks out bets in three other midweek games... 

Aston Villa v Reading (Tuesday, 20:00, Sky Sports 2)
Reading have scored first in five Premier League games this season and won none of them (D4 L1)
Reading's recent revival was ruined only by Jordi Gomez's injury-time winner after it had looked like Ali Al Habsi's calamitous antics would help extend the Royals' unbeaten league run to five. This game already has the feel of a relegation "six-pointer" about it with neither team in a position to concede all the points. Aston Villa have improved, at home in particular, though they conceded huge amounts of possession against Arsenal, while Reading are good starters but clearly struggle to hold leads.
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Chelsea v Fulham (Wednesday, 19:45)
There have been just five goals scored in the last five meetings in all competitions between the Blues and the Whites
Rafa Benitez will be bracing himself for round two in front of the Stamford Bridge boo boys in this vital west London derby. Chelsea are in real danger of slipping away from the Manchester clubs unless they can register a first Premier League win since beating Tottenham way back on October 20 here. That dodgy run has been characterised by a desertion of Chelsea's ability to score goals, with only three arriving in their last four. Against Fulham - where the games are typically tight affairs - it's difficult to envisage a goalfest.  
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Southampton v Norwich (Wednesday, 19:45)
Norwich are the least clinical team in the Premier League this season, scoring with only 8% of their efforts
Norwich have probably surprised even themselves with their recent run of results in the top flight - unbeaten in six with three home wins during that run. Three away draws have typified a newfound stubbornness, however, that resolve will be fully tested against a recently rampant Southampton side who have scored five in their last two games, a figure that could have had seven were it not for Tim Krul's athleticism. The Saints tore into Newcastle at the weekend and at home Nigel Adkins men look like they can open up most teams in the Premier League. 
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Swansea v West Brom (Wednesday, 19:45)
Swansea's last six Premier League games have all been goalless at half-time
Despite a terrifically open affair between Swansea and Liverpool at the weekend, the game rather frustratingly ended without the scoresheet being troubled. Michael Laudrup can rightly be pleased with his side's four-game unbeaten run, though an average of just a goal a game during that spell goes someway to answering why three of those have ended as draws rather than victories. West Brom are the form team in the league - winning four on the spin - and ten goals in that same spell is the mark of a confident team. 
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Recommended Bets:
Back Reading to lead at half-time and draw at full-time in Aston Villa v Reading @ 19.018/1
Back under 2.5 goals in Chelsea v Fulham @ 2.56/4
Back Southampton to win to nil v Norwich @ 3.953/1   
Back the second half to feature more goals in Swansea v West Brom @ 2.111/10