Obviously a big factor this period is the amount of games and the injuries that will affect the teams.Smaller squads will suffer a bit, plus that lack of depth even without injuries will weaken the players involved. Team news is therefore massively important.
Fulham vs Aston Villa : here we have a home side that is on a great run of 'home' form ( 4-0-1 10:6) and also showing tremendous spirit when faced with absences to key players: Malbranque (started in 16), Diop (15).
Fulham's key is their 1st half performances: rated 3rd in the league. Compare to their 2nd half - 18th- and you see where they have to improve, plus where they are vulnerable.
Villa are rated 19th in 1st half and 13th in 2nd half...plus when they concede first they are 10: 1-2-7.
Hitting 4 against an Everton side that has been woeful all season is no measure of a resurgence in the Villa squad. They are very inconsistent in their play, and O'Leary has never been my idea of an EPL manager, which goes a long way to explaining the lack of cohesion in the side. Angel, Baros as a pairing just doesn't seem to work. Baros is quite predictable in his play, while Angel is so out of synch it's painful to watch sometimes.
Who have Villa actually beaten this season?:
Everton 4-0 (A): a side in a major slump: 16th
Charlton 1-0 (H): side in freefall since their great start, and were on a 3 game losing run when they met with Villa
Sunderland 3-1 (A): 20th in the league...nuff said about them.
Birmingham 1-0 (A): 19th ....can't score..can't defend!
Blackburn 1-0 (H): a decent enough result..but that's the least they should be doing..to be honest.
Fulham should come out strong as they always do ( 13 from 20 goals all in this period) , and I expect them to score 1st..which should ensure a more open approach from Villa. They can score as well, no doubt , but in opening up more they will suffer from the pace injected from the likes of Boa Morte, Radzinski , McBride. All of these players trouble backlines like Villa's.
Villa can take heart if they fall behind from the fact that the hosts are 5-2-3 when scoring first...so hope there. Also Fulham have lost ALL matches where they fell behind first: 0-0-6.
For Fulham to make sure of the 3pts they will need a 2 goal cushion going into the last 15-20 mins as that's where they are most likely to concede. I believe they can do it, and see this match as a possible Ht/Ft bet as well. They have won this bet in their last 4 home games, of which the last 3 have all ended with a 2-1 scoreline.
Fulham : 2-1 @ 10.31 pinnacle
Fulham : win @ 2.20 VC
Blackburn vs Sunderland: I think this could be a rout for the Rovers as they have a look about them of late that says they are getting back to their best form. Kuqi has found his rhythm and with Bellamy on the way back as well, Hugehs has a very strong and varied strikeforce to choose from. I like Rovers frontline as they provide options as to the way they attack. Very difficult for opponents to adapt to the changes that can be wrought by perming these 3 with Pedersen also.
They are a strong mid-table squad with pretensions to be Top 6, and I think it's possible but they need more depth in their squad as injuries to Bellamy/Dickov at the same time left them a bit toothless.
Sunderland are having the nightmare that everyone predicted in the EPL. One shining light is that they do make the effort in each match...not alsways their best , but they do try. they have scored in 11 from 18 matches , so that's not too bad, considering.
I can see them netting here , but losing the game. Blackburn aren't the tightest at home , so no reason to believe it can't be done by Sunderland.
An Overs bet is my view on this one. Maybe 2-1, 0r 3-1...or 3-0..whatever..I don't mind, but I think Sunderland will score.
Over @ 2.13 10Bet