The English Premier League is four Rounds away from wrapping it all up as the matches of the Round 35 are set on the schedule this weekend. Season is coming to an end and most teams have to go all-in if they want to achieve their goals. Here, we have prepared for you a two-match preview for the games that will be played at the Stadium of Light between Sunderland FC and AFC Bournemouth and at The Hawthorns between West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City so let’s take a closer look.
SUNDERLAND AFC vs. BOURNEMOUTH AFC
3-Way: 1: Sunderland FC +215; X: +265 Draw; 2: Bournemouth AFC +140
Spread +0.5: Sunderland FC -143; Bournemouth AFC +140
Total +2.5: Over -128; Under +125
SUNDERLAND FC
The Sunderland FC team is 99% in the Championship next season as they currently rank last in the English Premier League table with 21 points in 33 games. They are winless since February 4th and their last win at the Stadium of Light occurred on December 17th, last year (1:0 against Watford).
They are 0-2-6 in the last eight games and 0-2-2 in the last four home matches. Home record this season is 3-5-9 with 16-31 goal difference (26-59 overall) and they rank 20th in the home league table with only 14 of 51 possible points earned. Sunderland scores 0.94 goals and concedes 1.82 goals per game this season (0.79-1.79 overall) and most common results at home are 0:3 loss, 2:2 and 0:0 draws (all occurred twice).
Leading scorer for the Sunderland in the English Premier League is Jermain Defoe with 14 goals while Victor Anichebe and Patrick van Aanholt scored three times each this season. Adnan Januzaj tops the team in assisting with three while passing segment belongs to Didier Ndong with 850 total passes. Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford (24 appearances) and Vito Manone (nine appearances) collected 151 saves and have five games with clean sheets this season.
Paddy McNair (ACL Knee) and Duncan Watmore (ACL Knee) are out for the season while Jan Kirchoff (Cartilage Knee) and Bryan Oviedo (Hamstring) are both major doubts for Saturday. Jack Rodwell (Groin), Jason Denayer (Dead Leg), Darron Gibson (Groin) and Lee Cattermole (Achiles Tendon) will all have late fitness tests.
BOURNEMOUTH AFC
The Bournemouth AFC looks to be out of the danger zone but they are on the good way to get play the English Premier League soccer next season. They rank 13th with 38 points in 34 games and they are seven points above the relegation line. When it comes to the team’s recent form they are solid with 3-3-2 record in the last eight games but they are winless in the last four road games.
The Cherries are 0-3-1 in the last four away matches and their overall record on the road is 2-5-10 (71% of total points have been earned at home). Goal difference on the road is 18-37 (49-63 overall) and the rank 14th in the away league table with 11 of 51 possible points earned. Most common results on the road are 3:1 loss and 2:2 and 1:1 draw (all occurred three times).
Joshua King leads the team in scoring with 14 goals while Callum Wilson and Benik Afobe scored six each so far. Junior Stanislas is the team’s leading assister with five while Harry Arter and Steve Cook top the passing segment with 1694 and 1477 total passes. Goalkeepers Adam Federici (two appearances) and Artur Boruc (32 appearances) collected 110 saves and they have nine games with clean sheets this season.
Adam Federici (cartilage knee) is a major doubt for Saturday with unspecified date of return while Callum Wilson (ACL) is out for the season. Andrew Surman (knee) and Jack Wilshere (broken leg) are also out with unspecified dates of return while Dan Gosling (calf) is expected to be out until at least May 6th.
If Sunderland AFC losses this game they could lose even the theoretical chances of playing in the English Premier League next season but it could happen because the chances of staying in the top competition with a win in this game are also very small. The AFC Bournemouth, on the other side, could definitely secure the survival and I would put my money on that result.
MY PICK: AFC Bournemouth (+140)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (-128)
WEST BROMWICH ALBION vs. LEICESTER CITY
3-Way: 1: West Bromwich Albion +175; X: +240 Draw; 2: Leicester City FC +190
Spread 0: West Bromwich Albion -108; Leicester City FC +106
Total +2.5: Over +112; Under -118
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
The West Bromwich Albion team ranks eighth in the English Premier League right now with 44 points in 33 games with no worries about the survival and no hope about bringing some European competitions games at The Hawthorns next season.
Team also plays poor lately as they are winless in the last four games (including three consecutive defeats) and are also goalless during that span. They are 2-1-5 in the last eight games and 1-0-3 in the last four home games. Overall record at home is 9-2-6 with 27-20 goal difference (39-42 overall) and they rank tenth in the home league table with 29 of 51 possible points earned. They score 1.59 goals and concede 1.18 goals at home this season (1.18-1.27 overall) and most common result at home is a 3:1 win (occurred four times). 53% of their home matches had over 2.5 goals and 41% of their home games had over 3.5 goals in total.
Salomon Rondon tops the team in scoring with seven goals while Gareth McAuley and Nacer Chadli have six and five in their accounts. Matt Phillips leads the team in assists with eight while passing segment belongs to Darren Fletcher with 1090 total passes. Goalkeeper Ben Foster played in every game this season for Albion and he collected 102 saves and he has six games with clean sheets.
Hal Robson-Kanu (Hamstring) and Matt Phillips (Hamstring) are both expected to be out until at least May 13th.
LEICESTER CITY FC
The Leicester City FC is still not all set up for the survival in the English premier League this season after winning it last year with 37 points in 33 games (six points above the relegation line). They started to play very good after firing Head coach Claudio Ranieri and recorded five consecutive victories but they are winless in the last three matches.
They are 5-1-2 in the last eight games and 1-1-2 in the last four away matches. They are one of the worst teams on the road this season with 1-4-12 record and 15-36 goal difference (41-54 overall). They rank 18th in the road league table with only seven of 51 possible points earned and they score 0.88 and concede 2.12 goals per game away (1.24-1.64 overall). Most common results on the road are 2:1 and 1:0 losses (both occurred three times).
Jamie Vardy tops the team in scoring with 11 goals while Islam Slimani and Riyad Mahrez have seven and five in their accounts. Marc Albrighton leads the team in assists with five while Vardy and Christian Fuchs have collected four each. Danny Drinkwater tops the passing segment with 1644 total passes. Goalkeepers Kasper Schemiechel (25 appearances) and Ron-Robert Zieler (nine appearances) have 102 saves and seven games with clean sheets combined.
Molla Wague (dislocated shoulder) and Namplays Mendy (Ankle) are major doubts for Saturday while Islam Slimani (Groin) and Wes Morgan (Hamstring) will have late fitness tests.
The Leicester City FC needs the points in order to secure the survival completely and West Bromwich Albion is in a bumpy period when it comes to results. My bet here would be at least one goal scored by both teams.
MY PICK: Both teams score YES (-115)
