Leicester and WBA wins tough tasks for Saints and Magpies
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Midlands men Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion have certainly turned their seasons around, with both clubs in formidable form as they seek to secure their Premier League survival.
In these thrilling 3pm kick-offs, the Foxes face Southampton, who have sunk to seventh spot in the league, while Albion encounter a Newcastle United side without a win in eight.
Leicester City v West Bromwich Albion
Nigel Pearson, for all his bizarre press conferences, has deservedly been named manager of the month for April after steering his side to four wins out of five and out of the drop zone.
Leicester also smashed Newcastle 3-0 last time out, and their recent form at the King Power Stadium makes them a superb punt at 8/5 with Coral to sink the Saints. Still far from safety, the fearless Foxes need to keep momentum going and are 9/4 to split the spoils, yet with relegation deciders against Sunderland and QPR coming up, Leicester require a bigger points cushion.
Classy and composed Esteban Cambiasso (5/1 in the anytime market), electric Marc Albrighton (6/1) and vivacious Jamie Vardy (2/1) have all been vital clogs in Leicester’s bid for survival, while Argentine attacker Leonardo Ulloa bagged a brace last time out and is 8/1 to do so again, or 11/2 to strike first.
Meanwhile, Southampton’s slump continues and, as Ronald Koeman’s men have lost their last five on the road and are without a victory in any of their last three, a win at 17/10 seems optimistic.
One plus point in the return to form of poacher Graziano Pelle, who is 6/4 to score anytime, while Sadio Mane hit the Saints’ only goal last time out and is 6/1 to draw first blood.
Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion
Having failed to win since February, the Magpies’ miserly run means they are unlikely 8/5 chances to triumph, but much better value at 9/4 to draw. With nine points left to play for, Newcastle really need to start notching up wins if they are to escape the relegation scrap.
West Brom will surely be bullish after beating giants Manchester United at Old Trafford, so are an excellent shout at 17/10 to take all the spoils, and 4/1 to win to nil having kept three clean sheets in a row.
The Baggies boast firepower in Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye, who are respective 6/1 and 13/2 prices to net first and last, while the Magpies while be counting on Spanish starlet Ayoze Perez (2/1 in the anytime market after scoring in the reverse) and dangerous Dutchman Siem de Jong (also 2/1).
