Boxing Day brings us a festive spread of English football action and as always there’s a full set of Premier League and EFL Championship, League One and Two fixtures on offer to wet the appetite. The Premier League action kicks off at lunch-time and it’s a London derby clash at Vicarage Road between 12th placed Watford and fourth from bottom and now manager-less Crystal Palace. History is not on Watford’s side today as they have a poor record against Palace at Vicarage Road. They’ve won only one of the last ten corresponding league home matches, drew three and six of these encounters ended with less than 3 goals scored.
This season Watford have won four, drew one and lost three of their eight Premier League home games. They averaged 1.6 goals scored per game, conceded on average 1.5 goals per game and over 70% of the eight games ended with more than 2 goals scored and Both Teams scoring. Palace won two, drew two and lost four of their eight league away game this season. They averaged 2 goals scored per game, conceded on average 2.4 goals per game and over 70% of their away games ended with more than 2 goals scored and nearly 90% ended with Both Teams scoring.
From a betting perspective history suggests Palace will get a result today so either laying Watford or backing Palace on the handicap appeals, and this seasons form suggests there will be goals so backing Over 2.5 Goals, or if you are searching for a better price, the Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals match double also appeal.
The Premier League tea-time encounter today is between bottom of the table Hull and third placed Manchester City at the KCOM Stadium. Hull have won three of the last ten competitive corresponding fixtures in all competitions and drawn three, including a win, draw and two defeats in the Premier League, and seven of these games ended with more than 2 goals being scored.
This season Hull have won two, drawn two and lost four of their eight league home games. They averaged 1.1 goals scored per game, conceded on average 1.1 goals per game four of their eight league home games ended with more than 2 goals scored and over 60% ended with Both Teams scoring. Manchester City have won six and lost two of their eight league away games this season. They averaged 2.4 goals scored per game, conceded on average 1.4 goals per game and near 90% ended with more than 2 goals scored and over 70% ended with Both Teams scoring.
From a betting perspective Manchester City will be a popular choice on people coupons on Boxing Day and based on the above statistics the City Win and Both Teams to Score or City Win and Over 2.5 goals match double results are definitely worth considering. Another popular bet this weekend will be the Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea treble. All three teams are playing at home against weaker opposition who they historically have a strong record against and with the Treble paying over even money it’s another bet worth considering.
The feature game in the Championship today is the evening kick-off between leaders Newcastle United and sixth placed Sheffield Wednesday at St James’ Park. Newcastle have a strong record in this corresponding league fixture and they’ve won seven of the last ten, drawing one, and six of the games ended with more than 2 goals scored. Newcastle have won seven of their ten league home games this season, losing the three, while Sheffield Wednesday have won three of their ten league away games this season, drawing four.
Newcastle have averaged 2.3 goals scored per game at home in the league this season, conceding on average 1.1 goals per game and seven of their ten league home games ended with 2 or more goals scored. Sheffield Wednesday have averaged less than a goal per game away in the league this season, conceded on average 1 goal per game and eight of their eleven away games ended with less than 3 goals scored. From a betting perspective Newcastle should win this based on the above statistics and current form and if you are looking for a better return the Newcastle Win and Over 2.5 Goals match double is worth considering.