The Anorak: Potters primed to sink Swans

Published on 29/09/2012 02:08

IT IS not often I find myself headlining a team that is winless in the league approaching October. However, another way to look at things is that Stoke City should still be unbeaten had the referee not somehow arrived at a not guilty verdict on David Luiz for his challenge on Jonathan Walters – Chelsea then nicked a winner minutes later to leave Tony Pulis and his players fizzing at the final whistle.

The Potters have turned the Britannia into a fortress once again, holding both Manchester City and Arsenal this term already and they have added craft and firepower in Michael Kightly and Michael Owen.

I think Michael Laudrup is a talented manager and will keep the aesthetically-pleasing Swansea City in the Premier League, but the loss of their best defender Neil Taylor has been showing, especially last week when Everton seemed to score at will. There is no doubt that Stoke will have looked at the Swans’ defensive frailties with glee, and they are taken as the banker bet of the weekend, with odds of 10-11 generally available.

Barnsley at 6-4 Betvictor, on the back of their 5-0 away walloping of Birmingham City, can perhaps end Paul Jewell’s tenure at second-bottom Ipswich Town today.

Brighton did this column proud last weekend by landing the banker bet, and Gus Poyet’s high-flying Seagulls can stay top of the Championship by winning against the aforementioned Birmingham.

Big-spending Rotherham have been League Two’s underachievers so far this season, but can get back on track against injury-hit Oxford today, and are also recommended at 5-6 with Corals.

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