Betting Update; Sunderland v Everton with the bookmakers making Sunderland their 13/8 favourites

Added: (Thu Apr 30 2009)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Sunderland v Everton Betting & Odds

If motivation were everything at this stage of the season, there could be only one winner at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are fighting for their lives at the foot of the table while Everton have nothing to play for in the league and you’d expect their only concern to be avoiding injuries and suspension before the FA Cup against Chelsea on May 30.

But somehow I don’t think things will turn out so simple on Wearside on Sunday afternoon. Sunderland have been fighting for their lives for weeks now but it’s done nothing to inspire a decent run of results, while David Moyes’ side know only one way to play, which is why it’s impossible to see them being anything other than totally committed here.

The Black Cats’ collapse in recent weeks has been alarming: five defeats in their last six games, with their only victory coming over struggling Hull (1-0). They now lie only four points above the relegation zone and the 5/1 (Coral, Skybet) on Ricky Sbragia’s side going down would be good value were it not for the chronic troubles of north-east rivals Newcastle United.

Sunderland are heavily reliant on the talents of Djibril Cisse and Kenwyne Jones up front, but the pair’s stuttering form has led to the side’s slump. Cisse is top scorer with 10 goals but he’s managed just one goal in his last nine Premier League appearances so he’d be a speculative bet to find the net anytime here at 2/1 (Paddy Power, Bwin, Skybet). Jones has also notched just once in his last nine games so is equally unappealing at 12/5 (Skybet).

Everton boast the sort of excellent away figures you’d expect of a top-six side: seven wins, six draws and four defeats overall, and an even better seven wins, four draws and two defeats if you take away trips to Big Four hosts. The theory that they would ease off in the league having qualified for the FA Cup final was smashed to pieces be their hard-working 0-0 draw at Chelsea just three days after their semi-final victory over Man Utd. They may have lost 2-1 at home to Manchester City last week but effort and attitude are so deeply imbued in Moyes’ footballing philosophy that his players will be unable to take their feet off the gas, and there’s the small matter of an FA Cup final place to play for anyway.

Everton have a fantastic record on Wearside – they’ve won 1-0 on each of their last three trips to the Stadium of Light. The Toffees are a best-priced 2/1 (Coral) to win again, which is certainly a more tempting proposition than Sunderland at 13/8 (Boylesports).

I wouldn’t rule out the draw at 12/5 (Skybet) – but Everton’s chances of winning lead me towards the Asian handicap market. Everton with a 0-goal start are 11/10 (Victor Chandler) and backing them in that way means you’d win if Everton win, but have the safety net of getting your stakes back if the game ends in a draw.

If you fancy Everton to make it four 1-0 wins out of four, then you can back that outcome at 15/2 (Coral). That’s a decent speculative wager to consider on what’s likely to be a tense, low-scoring encounter. It would be no surprise if the game has under 2.5 goals, although I’d want bigger than the 4/6 (Blue Square, Paddy Power) available before backing it.

Instead, under 2.25 goals – where half your stake goes on under 2.5 goals, and the other half on under 2 goals – is available at a more tempting 9/10 (Bet365), so I’m prefer to take that.


Recommended Bets - 1.5pts Everton +0 Asian handicap (11/10)
Recommended Bets - 1.5pts Sunderland v Everton under 2.25 goals (9/10)
Recommended Bets - 1pt Everton to win 1-0 (15/2)

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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