Betting: Newcastle United backed to make it seven in a row at Deepdale
'Same again?' might be a refrain frequently heard in the pub, but it's increasingly heard around St James's Park too.
Although, backers expecting Newcastle to repeat their 6-0 midweek thumping of Preston in the EFL Cup when the pair lock horns at Deepdale tomorrow are likely to be disappointed. Probably.
Newcastle travel to Lancashire as Coral’s firm 4/6 favourites to register a seventh successive victory in all competitions.
They’ll also hold a massive psychological advantage over a team they tore apart on Tuesday, albeit that their opponents were down to ten men.
Preston kick off as Betfred’s 4/1 underdogs, but the overwhelming weight of punters’ cash has been directed towards backing an away win in various guises.
For example, Newcastle can be backed at 2/1 (Skybet) to win when starting with a one-goal deficit, while Marathonbet offer 9/5 against them leading at 45 and at 90 minutes.
The correct score markets have been pored over by backers anticipating another comprehensive victory, but the most popular result is a 1-0 away victory, priced at 11/2 by 188bet.
As insurance, however, punters may consider the draw (11/4, Bwin) to offer decent value.
Sunderland were desperately unlucky to concede an injury-time goal at West Ham last week and their position in the league table could only be described as ‘perilous’.
Even with the benefit of home advantage, they’re still 8/1 (Ladbrokes) to win, whereas Arsenal, yet to lose away from home, kick off as William Hill’s 2/5 odds-on favourites; Skybet post 9/2 about the draw.
Yet the draw has attracted plenty of punters’ cash, ostensibly because seven of the pair’s last dozen league duels have ended all-square; indeed, there have been three goalless outcomes in their last eight encounters.
The likelihood of it finishing as a score draw is rated a 5/1 shot by Matchbook.com. While 10bet rate the chances of it ending goalless at a staggering 19/1.
As statistics show that most league contests display a bias towards the goalscoring action being concentrated in the second half, the 20/1 offered by bet365 against the Black Cats emerging victorious following a drawn first period is worthy of note; alternatively, BetVictor.com post an enormous 25/1 against Sunderland recording a 1-0 win.