Stoke City won just three games on the road( also haven't won away from home in the Premier League since last Boxing Day) last season but there’s good reasoning to think that they have a big chance of ending that record at Norwich on Sunday, whether they win or not.
Courtesy of Sky Sports, you can learn that Stoke have failed to score in seven of their last nine away games, and their last three Premier League games in a row while picking up just two points from a possible 30 in their last 10 top flight games away from the Britannia Stadium, but circumstances are very much different this time round.
Courtesy of Sky Sports, you can learn that Stoke have failed to score in seven of their last nine away games, and their last three Premier League games in a row while picking up just two points from a possible 30 in their last 10 top flight games away from the Britannia Stadium, but circumstances are very much different this time round.
The Potters are progressing well in the Europa League and have had no problems with travelling to sides like Hadjuk and Thun (whose plastic pitch makes things very difficult) and held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium last weekend with a gritty performance, suggesting that Pulis’s side are at the peak of their powers.
Jonathan Woodgate, Jermaine Pennant and Asmir Begovic are likely to start after being rested for the Europa League game against FC Thun, all of whom bolster Stoke massively, while Jonathan Walters is also in the line-up despite picking up two notable knocks in Switzerland.
Paul Lambert's side secured promotion out of the Championship last season on the back of an impressive home record and made a good start with a draw against Wigan (following on from a fairly unlucky penalty) and should be fired up for their home debut but they will find it much harder to create chances against this Stoke side and a tight game maybe on the cards.
Those who like to follow trends will be interested to see that were five of Stoke's seven Premier League stalemates last term were 1-1, along with Norwich’s last four, which does make the 23/4 about that score with Bwin tempting, but this might be a bit more a slow burner than even that so the half time draw is the shout.
Two teams that I am also fond of in Wolves and Fulham may also find each – other tough nuggets to creak. Wolves started the season perfectly with a hard fought but well deserved 2-1 win against Blackburn which will have eased a lot of fears that any fans had for the news season. Their ever realistic manager has kept a lid on expectations but surely they will be on a high and it’s hard not to see them putting up a bold show.
Fulham weren’t the best travellers last season – A tally of only 3 wins does not read well – But they had many draws and 9 away draws on the road shows just how prolific they were when under pressure and it’s likely that the same situation will arise at Molineux on Sunday.
Fulham were unlucky not to beat Aston Villa but for Shay Given’s double saves infront of goal, but a determined Wolves side who are clearly going to be in a good mood should offer stiff resistance. Quotes on both sides are fair but not as tempting as the 23/10 for the draw.
Advice – Norwich v Stoke
1 pt HT Draw (11/10 Unibet)
Advice – Wolves v Fulham
1 pt Draw (23/10 Stan James)
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