Football Tips: Against All Odds

Paul Robinson / 09 April 2012 ?20 Free Bet View Market

Everton have had a remarkable second half to the season and are up to seventh in the table with 44 pints from 32 matches.

David Moyes' side are also into the FA Cup semi finals and they face arch rivals Liverpool this coming Saturday. That could pose a few problems for Everton backers today as before their last big cup game, the manager rested a few key players and the Toffee's squad isn't exactly that deep.

While they are unbeaten in their last four league fixtures, they were held by Norwich at the weekend and there are just a few small signs that the players have dropped their intensity levels a touch. The last time Everton met Sunderland at Goodison Park it resulted in a 1-1 draw and I really can't see the boys in blue getting a better result than that this afternoon.

Sunderland, like Everton have also turned their season around and are ninth in the table with 42 points after flirting with the relegation zone under Steve Bruce.

Martin O'Neill has got the players believing in themselves and the likes of Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner have flourished under his management. While Bendtner faces a late fitness test today O'Neill does have the option of Frazier Campbell in his squad, who recently made his England debut.

The Black Cats have won just once in the last six, but they haven't been playing that badly and they only lost two of those matches. Two draws in the last two with Manchester City and Tottenham show that they can mix it with the best and the players will no doubt be looking to get revenge for the FA Cup defeat.

I had identified this fixture as being my lay of the day as early as two weeks ago as I strongly believe that Sunderland will be much more up for the game than Everton. Everton's price of [1.91] is farcical to me and I have to make it my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet

Lay Everton against Sunderland @ [1.91]

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