The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2014/15: Round 28

Dan expects Hazard and co to easily overcome West Ham

With a full midweek programme in the Premier League, it's a quick turnaround for the editors. It remains tight at the top between Dan Thomas and Joe Dyer while Luke Moore is pulling away from Mike Norman at the bottom. Here are their selections...

Dan Thomas
Back Chelsea -1 v West Ham @ 2.77/4
Wednesday, 19:45

My hopes that a Tim Sherwood team would be an Overs cash cow once again were dashed by Villa's performance at Newcastle so on to more reliable territory in this midweek special of the Battle.

West Ham would have been hoping that Chelsea would have been tired out by their Wembley exertions on Sunday but Jose Mourinho's tactical masterclass against Tottenham meant the players were relatively comfortable throughout, even if it was a largely defensive display.

The Hammers, meanwhile, put in one of their worst performances of the season in the 3-1 defeat to Palace and won't be relishing coming up against the probable champions in front of a volatile Upton Park crowd.

Opta tell us that West Ham have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League matches against Chelsea, including the last four in a row, and I suspect that trend will continue in what should be a comfortable away win.

Chelsea are fairly priced at 1.654/6 for the win, but I'll add a bit of juice by backing them with a one-goal handicap.

Dan Thomas 2014-15 P/L: +18.25

Joe Dyer
Back the 0-0 Correct Score @ 8.27/1 in Aston Villa v West Brom
Tuesday, 19:45
Live on Sky Sports 1

It was a 0-0 Correct Score bet that gave me a chunky lead in this competition and I'm hoping it'll be a 0-0 that boosts me back into big profit.

Aston Villa served up the winning scoreless fare for me last time and I'm relying on Tim Sherwood's boys doing it all over again when they play West Brom on Tuesday night at a handsome price of 8.27/1.

Villa were again lacking attacking thrust on the weekend, going down 1-0 at Newcastle to their seventh straight Premier League defeat. It's one goal in two Premier League games for Sherwood at Villa.

Meanwhile, at the Hawthorns, West Brom were squeezing out an equally slim 1-0 win over Southampton. Saido Berahino, the Baggies' goalscorer that day, is an injury doubt for this, and his co-striker Brown Ideye may also miss the game. It's hard to see where Tony Pulis' low-scoring side will find their attacking inspiration.

This is be a new era for Villa, so season-long stats may not be so relevant but this Opta nugget is quite startling: Aston Villa have scored just nine goals in 13 Premier League home matches; only eight teams have scored fewer in their first 13 home games in a single Premier League campaign.

All of which makes 0-0 a decent bet for me.

Joe Dyer 2014-15 P/L +10.50

Luke Moore

Back Manchester United to beat Newcastle at 2.111/10
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 1

It's true that Manchester United haven't looked great for most of this season; disjointed performances typified by a lack of fluidity and tactical flip-flopping by the manager have seen the Old Trafford outfit pick up more than their fair share of flack from pundits and the media, but results overall have been decent.

In fact, the defeat at Swansea in their last away trip was their first on the road in seven games, and United's record overall against Wednesday night's opponents is very good - Newcastle have picked up just two wins in their last 24 v Manchester United.

2.111/10 on United works for me, I'll take it with a view to scoring my third winning bet on the bounce.

Luke Moore 2014-15 P/L: -50.30

Mike Norman
Back Crystal Palace @ 6.25/1 to beat Southampton
Tuesday, 19:45

Southampton have won just one of their last six league and cup games, that coming against a poor QPR side, they've scored just a single goal in their last five Premier League matches, and just five weeks ago they suffered a home loss to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, conceding three goals in the process.

On Tuesday night Palace are 6.25/1 to repeat that victory, and purely from a value perspective that has to be a price worth chancing.

At the time of that Palace defeat Saints were in excellent form, winning five of their previous six league matches - including victories over Arsenal and Manchester United - while drawing with Chelsea in the other. The loss came completely out of the blue for Ronald Koeman's men and it appears to have derailed them.

But this isn't a case of simply opposing an out of form side because they lost to the same opponents five weeks ago; Palace's own form has been very impressive in its own right.

The Eagles have won six of their 10 outings under Alan Pardew with their only defeats coming by a single goal at the hands of Everton, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Significantly, those three defeats came on home soil. Away from home Pardew's men are unbeaten since the Christmas period and they've now won five straight games on the road. They're no 6.25/1 shots in my book.

Mike Norman 2014-15 P/L: -85.80

A 10 bet is placed on each selection on Betfair's Exchange. Profits are calculated before commission.

Editors 2014/15 Season P/L

1. Dan Thomas: +18.25
2. Joe Dyer: +10.50
3. Luke Moore: -50.30
4. Mike Norman: -85.80