David John fancies a narrow win for Southampton over Crystal Palace at 13/2 in the Premier League on Tuesday night.
Swansea v Tottenham (1945GMT, Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League)
The famous old 'new manager syndrome' added another chapter to the record books as Carlos Carvalhal got his Swansea side over the line somehow with a stirring finish at Watford on Saturday.
It means they almost clambered off the bottom of the league to give the fans a chance to celebrate a little over New Year but let’s not become too carried away over one of the worst teams in the section.
Their double-figure odds might have been nibbled at on the back of that Hertfordshire hoodwinking but 10/1 is a fair reflection of their chance against a team containing the most productive player on the planet currently and collectively rested up having not played a game since Boxing Day.
There is not exactly a great deal of time either for Carvalhal to get out on the training pitch and put in some more work due to the quick turnaround so although Saturday’s win won’t have done any harm, it is tough to see them getting anywhere near this Spurs side at the moment.
There is a slight worry over jewel in the crown Harry Kane, who celebrated scoring a second consecutive hat-trick and the most Premier League goals in a calendar year by retreating to his sick bed with a cold.
He is hopeful of recovering in time though and his presence will be a boost even if he is unable to keep up his scoring streak at the current rate of knots.
Expectations might have lifted slightly for the Liberty Stadium faithful but I want a bit more evidence and hefty slice of reality is back on the agenda for Swansea and their new management team.
Kane or no Kane, this rival is about three levels up from the Hornets and although Swansea produced one of their better performances earlier in the season to hold Spurs to a 0-0 draw at Wembley, expect some retribution and a one-goal handicap given up by the visitors at evens looks a steal.
Prediction: Swansea 0-3 Tottenham - Sky Bet odds: 7/1
Southampton v Crystal Palace (1945)
Palace have suddenly become a team for the big occasion and they were within 12 yards of sinking runaway leaders Manchester City on New Year’s Eve.
The Eagles took the scalps of Chelsea and Arsenal last season under Sam Allardyce and Roy Hodgson almost managed to eclipse those achievements but for Luka Milivojevic lacking any real conviction with his late spot-kick at Selhurst Park.
That is not the first time in recent weeks they have had some trouble converting such an opportunity but no doubt the philosophical Hodgson would have settled for a point at kick-off with a clean sheet thrown in as well.
The outcome was as much down to a rather flat display from City as perhaps the last week of continual activity seemed to catch up with them but full credit to the hosts for repeating what only Everton have managed this season.
The overall analysis is that although Palace remain in the heat of the battle at the wrong end of the table, there are clear signs Hodgson has them moving in a direction that should ultimately see them pull clear of trouble.
The symmetry of this fixture is beautiful as Southampton held Manchester’s other Premier League outfit to a goalless stalemate too over the weekend with a confident effort at Old Trafford.
It could have been even better if Shane Long’s first-time shot had gone either side of David De Gea but the miss once again highlighted a consistent lack of end product when Charlie Austin is missing that is holding back an attractive team to watch with some skilful ball-players.
I am a big fan of Palace but there is hardly time to draw breath after Sunday’s considerable exertions while the injuries continue to pile up after both Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon were stretchered off the field.
That could give the hosts just enough of an edge to pinch a narrow but important victory and a 1-0 final scoreline is worth supporting.
Prediction: Southampton 1-0 Crystal Palace - Sky Bet odds: 11/2
West Ham v West Brom (1945)
The Baggies are second bottom in the table as we get under way in 2018 and Sunday’s battling point at home to Arsenal represents exactly how they will get out of trouble if it is at all possible this season.
Hard graft and a rub of the green at the right time is what Alan Pardew must rely on as this is a team currently without the quality to put enough points on the board allied to a distinct lack of goals flowing at regular intervals.
Sunday’s dodgy penalty decision was just what they needed and judged on the way Pardew had his back turned to Jay Rodriguez when he stepped up from 12 yards suggested he was expecting the worst.
West Brom remain on a dreadful winless run and clearly need some help over the next month during the transfer window but I guess one point against a somewhat lacklustre Gunners is something to build on.
Trying to topple odds-on chances but fellow relegation candidates West Ham at the London Stadium is next on the agenda and rather like Spurs, the Hammers have had an extended break since Boxing Day to get ready.
A bonkers finish and a very questionable late equaliser to make it 3-3 was the upshot of their visit to Bournemouth the last time we saw them in action and I have to admit to being worried about them having shipped a treble both there and at home to Newcastle either side of Christmas.
This is not the David Moyes way of going about things and I doubt there will be an angrier man in the south of England if this leaky trend continues considering they face a side that has found the target just five times away from home all season and never more than once on any occasion.
Moyes, on the other hand, should at least be happy his side have some goals in them and with a week to freshen up and work on strategy, this goes down as a home win.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 West Brom - Sky Bet odds: 13/2
Manchester City v Watford (2000)
Phase one of Manchester City’s title charge has come to a conclusion as we head into the new year and some changes may well be in order for manager Pep Guardiola.
Their lengthy winning run was brought to a halt by Crystal Palace but more costly than a couple of dropped points could be injuries picked up at Selhurst Park to Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne.
Both were carried off and we await to see how long the influential duo will be ruled out - De Bruyne is not as bad as first expected - with Guardiola now forced into using his rotation policy in less pleasant circumstances.
Whether one or both incidents will hasten the arrival of Alexis Sanchez remains to be seen but it is time to quickly regroup and move on before the chasing pack get any silly ideas that they can be caught at the summit.
With the pair missing, City are slightly uneasy 1/6 favourites at the Etihad Stadium and some big prices have been hoovered up on the visitors to spring an almighty upset.
They were victims of a shock themselves over the weekend as Marco Silva’s side allowed Swansea to nab all three points in the dying moments at Vicarage Road, moments after their own striker Andre Gray blundered away a gilt-edged chance to put the match to bed and go 2-0 ahead.
It was another painful blow for Marco Silva and his men with the delight of beating Leicester on Boxing Day short-lived and just four points from the last eight games might lead to a few worried glances around Vicarage Road despite their currently healthy position in the table.
Let’s be honest, this is a free spin at the roulette table for Watford and they don’t have a great deal to live up to following City’s 6-0 victory in the reverse fixture back in September.
Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan aren’t exactly huge drop-offs when it comes to catering for any gaps and with Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and perhaps David Silva available again, I would expect Guardiola to shuffle his considerable pack successfully and get back on the winning trail.
Prediction: Manchester 3-1 Watford - Sky Bet odds: 9/1
Recommended bets:
2pts Tottenham (-1) to beat Swansea at evens
1pt Southampton to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 at 13/2
2pts West Ham to beat West Brom at 10/11
Posted at 1210 GMT on 01/01/18.
