Baggies to Bounce Back against Pallid Potters

Most of the League One & Two sides are in cup action this weekend so our regular bread winners have had to be deserted but we think there is money to be made by backing a couple of decent teams to bounce back against some low scoring dodgy travellers in the Premier League & Championship. We're looking for yet another profitable weekend, last time was middling but still profitable thanks to 3 out of 5 selections obliging including the 9/4 draw in the Charlton v Huddersfield game.

West Bromwich Albion vs Stoke City

In the Premier League, West Bromwich Albion entertain Stoke City at the Hawthorns, West Brom sit in 4th place with eight victories so far whilst Stoke are just above mid-table in 9th spot. The sides come into this one on the back of conflicting results with Stoke battling back impressively to win 2-1 after falling behind against out of form Newcastle & West Brom conceding 3 goals in the first half to lose 3-1 to Swansea.

 (Steve Clarke has already had plenty of reason to celebrate in his new job as manager)

Steve Clarke has made a seamless transition from a right hand man to manager & has earnt plenty of plaudits for their impressive start. Clarke has learnt his trade under a number of different managers, most notably Jose Mourinho, & has always had the reputation of making sure the sides he's involved with are well organised & defensively solid. When you add into the mix three strikers in Shane Long, Peter Odemwingie & loanee Romelu Lukaku who have 14 league goals between them then we can see why they have started so well - of course the outstanding Roy Hodgson's role in setting West Brom on the right path should also not be underestimated. West Brom are particularly strong at home where they have won six out of seven league games with their only failure coming with a defeat against defending champions Manchester City.

Stoke are now a established Premier league side these days but have always struggled on the road & so far this season it's been no different. They have failed to win any of their seven away league fixtures with four draws & three defeats against Manchester United, Chelsea & Norwich City. All season they have struggled to find the back of the net with only 13 goals at less than a goal a game & leading scorer Peter Crouch hasn't found the net since September.

Although the Baggies lost to Swansea on Wednesday they face very a very different style of opponent here & if they can get their midfielders on the ball they will fancy themselves to score & with Stoke so goal shy they'll fancy themselves to bag all 3 points - back West Brom to continue their excellent home form at the general price of 21/20.

Leicester City vs Derby County

Leicester disappointed on Tuesday night with a loss away to Leeds but Elland Road can be an intimidating stadium & we like the look of them to make the most of their home advantage against a merely average Derby side this Saturday.

(Kasper Schmeichel & the rest of the Leicester defence can keep Derby at bay)

Derby got themselves a good result with a 1-1 draw at home to high flying Cardiff in midweek but were maybe fortunate to run into the Bluebirds when they were suffering from several injuries & they were 1-0 down until Craig Noone got himself red carded after fouling twice in quick succession. Derby do have an excellent youngster in Will Hughes & the 17 year old midfielder is reportedly catching the eye of big clubs in this country & around Europe but his best form has tended to be at home much like the rest of his teammates. Derby have lost 5 of their 9 away games & only Ipswich have scored less goals on the road & that doesn't bode well coming up against Leicester's excellent defence that have only conceded 17 in 19 games. Theo Robinson is certainly proving a threat up front for the Rams but he very much needs service to thrive & he might not get that in away games.

Leicester really felt the absence of their star striker David Nugent against Leeds but still offered a threat with the improving Martyn Waghorn hitting the bar - ironically Nugent is out with a neck injury & Waghorn himself has no neck at all but it doesn't stop him from being a skillful player. The Foxes are hopeful of getting Nugent back & fit for this one but even without him they'll feel confident of getting all 3 points with their strong defence continuing to impress, Kasper Schmeichel has always been a decent enough young keeper but he eventually seems to be really making his mark & thriving in the Midlands. With 7 wins from 9 home games we think Leicester should be shorter than 7/10 to beat Derby who sit 19th in the away form league table.

Selections:
West Bromwich Albion to beat Stoke City at 21/20 (various)
Leicester City to beat Derby County at 7/10 (BlueSquare, 888Sport & William Hill)