Premier League 3pm Kick Offs: Potters to continue on their merry way

The Britannia has once again become a fortress for Stoke.

The Opta statistics are in and Jaymes Monte has sifted through them to pick out his best bets for Saturday's 3pm kick-offs...

Aston Villa 2.486/4 v Wigan 3.39/4; The Draw 3.3512/5

Aston Villa have lost their last two league games by an aggregate scoreline of 12-0, and it could have been more if Tottenham had taken their chances at Villa Park on Boxing Day.

Wigan haven't been as emphatically dispatched over the festive period, but their points haul is no better having lost to Everton, Arsenal and Norwich by a single goal in each of their last three matches.

The Latics have only lost one of their seven visits to Villa Park in the Premier League (W3 D3 L1), and can take advantage of a young and inexperienced Villa's poor form. Back the visitors at odds of 3.39/4.

I'm also tempted by the 2.166/5 available on there being more than 2.5 goals. Villa's goal difference of -21 is the worst in the Premier League currently, while the 12 that they have conceded in their last two games equals a Premier League record.

Fulham 2.166/5 v Swansea 3.814/5; The Draw 3.613/5

Neither Swansea nor Fulham have won any of their last three matches, but the Swans have failed to score in five of their last nine away matches. Swansea did, however, beat Fulham home and away in the Premier League last season without conceding a goal and have kept two clean sheets in their last three Premier League away games.

Michu has scored 13 goals this season so far, but without his goals the Welsh side would drop form ninth to 16th in the Premier League table. The Spaniard can be backed at odds of 2.915/8 to net anytime.

Fulham have won only one of their last 11 Premier League games and as a result they must be taken on with a lay at odds of 2.166/5 in the Match Odds market.

Man Utd 1.331/3 v West Brom 11.010/1; The Draw 6.05/1

Manchester United's defensive problems show no signs of abating after conceding another three goals against Newcastle in midweek. United have conceded 13 goals at home this season, the same number as 17th placed Southampton while 65 teams have conceded fewer goals than Man Utd in the top five European leagues (98 teams) this season.

Their shaky backline makes the 1.331/3 a great price to trade In-Play, while goals are a given at 1.528/15 for more than 2.5 and 2.245/4 for more than 3.5.

Robin van Persie has now scored 61 goals in his last 74 Premier League appearances since January 2011 and can be backed at odds of 1.845/6 to add to his tally here.

Norwich 6.86/1 v Man City 1.618/13; The Draw 4.3100/30

Despite Norwich's good record against the top teams at Carrow Road, they don't boast a particularly impressive record against Manchester City. The Citizens have won five and lost none of the last six meetings in all competitions, but do come into this one having won only three of their last seven Premier League games.

Sergio Aguero scored three goals in the two games against Norwich last season and is a 2.47/5 chance to net this weekend.

The best bet of this match, however, looks to be in the Asian Handicap market. 1-0 wins over Arsenal and Man Utd show that The Canaries are capable of causing an upset, while the midweek 1-0 defeat to Chelsea highlights that if they are going to get beat they're unlikely to crumble. Back Norwich +1.0 goals at odds of 2.01/1.

Reading 2.962/1 v West Ham 2.6213/8; The Draw 3.55/2

Reading climbed off the foot of the Premier League table with a midweek goalless draw against Swansea, but they remain entrenched in the relegation zone and really need to be winning games such as this if they are to survive this season.

The Royals have won five and lost just one of the last seven league meetings with West Ham, but have won just one of their last 12 Premier League home matches (W1 D6 L5).

West Ham have scored just five away goals this season, fewer than any other side, and can be taken on at odds of 2.6213/8 as a result. No need to get too intricate, instead a simple lay of the visitors at odds of 2.6213/8 will suffice.

Stoke 1.865/6 v Southampton 5.14/1; The Draw 3.65n/a

Stoke's 3-1 Boxing Day win over Liverpool was the first time in 44 matches that The Potters have scored more than two goals in a Premier League game, and extended their unbeaten run to nine matches.

Tony Pulis's men have the best defensive record in the division and the fifth best in Europe's top five leagues. It's difficult to see Southampton getting anything from this game and a home win at odds of 1.865/6 looks good value.

Recommended Bets

Lay Fulham to beat Swansea @ 2.166/5
Back Norwich +1.0 goals @ 2.01/1
Back Stoke to beat Southampton @ 1.865/6