Lays of the Weekend: Everton to end Man City hopes

15Mar 2013

Betfair

After another two-from-three success in his regular column last week, Christian Crowther is back to pick out a few more weekend victims...

Lay Man City to win at Everton @ 2.12

After Everton's home humbling at the hands of Wigan in the FA Cup, it would be easy to assume that the champions of England will go there and rub salt in the wound. It's true that Man City are in good form, winning their last four matches, though two of those came against Championship opposition in the FA Cup. Everton fans will expect a huge response after the Wigan debacle and Goodison Park should serve them well, as the Toffees have only given Chelsea three points there in the league this season. If City have a bogey team in the Premier League, it's Everton. The champs have only beaten their fellow blues once in their last seven league meetings, losing five times, including on their last three visits to Merseyside.

Lay Brentford to beat Preston @ 1.89

Preston are currently benefiting from a classic case of new-manager impetus since Simon Grayson made Deepdale his residence, replacing the unfortunate Graham Westley. League One's sleeping giants let Westley go after a third straight league defeat in the middle of last month and the decision looks vindicated now that the Lilywhites have gone five unbeaten, picking up three wins. A Saturday trip to automatic promotion chasers Brentford would have been an ominous prospect under their previous regime but the Bees are far from at their buzzing best at present, losing two of their last three league games.

Lay Sampdoria to beat Inter @ 2.52

Inter have endured a few days to forget having lost ground in the hunt for Champions League places with a shock 1-0 loss at home to Bologna after a Europa League chastening by Tottenham. Inter will have played their second leg with Spurs by the time they line up against Sampdoria, but the theory is that they will accept defeat in that tie in a bid to ensure their challenge for the European places is reignited. If Andrea Stramaccioni does opt to rest key players against Spurs, then a repeat of their October win against the same opponents looks far more achievable. Inter haven't lost to Sampdoria in their last four encounters, and the hosts were soundly beaten away to Cagliari last week.