9th Apr 2012 | Football
Fulham v Chelsea Tip
It was 1-1 in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge. But Fulham are formidable at home.
The televised clash on Easter Monday in the top flight throws up another obvious value bet. The bookies’ ‘big team bias’ is alive and well with Chelsea a highly opposable 5/4 (BetVictor) to take three points at Craven Cottage. Fulham look like a smart alternative at a best price of 13/5 with Ladbrokes.
The case for Martin Jol’s side is pretty compelling. They produced one of their best performances of the season in resoundingly beating an in-form Bolton 3-0 at the Reebok on Saturday. At the same time the Blues were labouring to a frankly unmerited 2-1 success over plucky Wigan; both Chelsea’s goals should have been ruled out as offside. Is their luck about to run out?
The Cottagers have won more games (8), collected more points (28) and scored more goals (31) at home than Chelsea have managed on their travels this season. They have triumphed in six of eight games down by the Thames this calender year so the domestic record is only getting stronger.
Crucially, Premier League victories over Arsenal, Newcastle and Liverpool suggest that they can get the better of teams of Chelsea’s calibre on their own patch. Quite simply, the odds are all wrong and the hosts should be backed.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 10:09 9th Apr, 2012 but subject to change
