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FOLLOWING last weekend’s impressive 4-2 victory over West Ham, Tony Pulis takes his West Bromwich Albion charges to Stoke City on Saturday for what promises to be a cagey affair.

Albion completed a league double over the Potters last season, a rarity in this fixture, as the match stats team at bettingexpert.com reported. The last time it happened was in 2008-09 when Stoke beat the Baggies home and away.

West Brom prepare for the fixture as Ladbrokes’ 9/4 underdogs, while winless Stoke open at a short 13/10 with BetVictor.com; the draw is available at 11/5 with Betfred.

Albion have managed just one away goal this term, while Stoke have scored only once at home. The stat suggests that backing Unibet’s 8/1 for it to end goalless could pay handsome dividends.

Aston Villa face a huge test when they welcome the inconsistent Newcastle to Villa Park on Saturday teatime for a match they kick off as Bwin’s 2/1 underdogs. There has been sustained support for the draw (12/5, 188bet) after bettingexpert. com reported that five of the pair’s last 11 meetings finished all square; the other six were settled by a single goal – Villa are 10/3 (Unibet) to enjoy a one-goal margin of victory.

Yet it’s impossible to ignore the pair’s recent history – and few punters appear to. The most popular result in the correct score market is 1-1, priced at 13/2 by online firm Matchbook.com, while Coral’s 9/2 for both halves to end on level terms also found favour.

Blues consolidated an early season play-off berth with a spirited comeback against Sheffield Wednesday last week and their mettle will be tested again at QPR where they kick off as Betway’s 23/10 outsiders.

City haven’t won at Loftus Road since 2006 and while the home side are Paddy Power’s 6/4 jollies, this is a fixture that many Blues’ fans suspect their team can win. Punters who concur can get 4/1 (Coral) against City leading at the half-hour mark, while they’re 14/5 (Marathonbet) to be in front at 45 minutes and 11/1 (Skybet) to register a second successive 2-1 win.

Wolves deserve great credit for beating Newcastle last weekend, and bookies expect more of the same when the men in old gold welcome Brentford to Molineux on Saturday for a contest the home team kick off as 6/5 favourites (Winner.com).

The Bees are no slouches, as they proved when thrashing Preston 5-0 last weekend but their 5/2 odds (888sport) appear a little too frothy. Wolves backers can get 13/2 (Unibet) against the Wolves winning 1-0.

Odds supplied by www.smartbets. com, the customisable odds comparison site

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