Betting: Draw would suit Norwich City more than Everton

Friday, February 22, 2013
12:11 PM

Norwich City’s failure to win any of their last nine Premier League matches means they’re probably still at least 10 points short of top-flight safety – hardly an ideal scenario for any side preparing to play host to Everton, let alone one enduring a poor run.

However, the pair’s last three meetings have each ended as score-draws and another tomorrow, priced at 15/4 by BetVictor.com, would probably suit the Canaries more than the Toffees.

In fact, City’s record against teams in the Premier League’s top half is respectable – they’ve won four and drawn three of 13 such duels – although their recent run of indifferent form accounts for their status as bet365’s 13/5 underdogs.

Everton, of course, continue to harbour realistic Champions League ambitions and as they’ve lost only three away matches all season, it’s easy to understand why Stan James install them as their 11/10 favourites to register three points. Yet the pair have drawn 23 league matches between them this season, a statistic which casts Stan James’s 5/2 price for it to end in stalemate in a positive light.

More precise backers will appreciate the appeal of Skybet’s 10/1 for it to end 0-0, while for those intent on hedging their bets, Coral post 4/5 about the match yielding fewer than 2.5 goals.

Elsewhere, Ladbrokes chalk an attractive 9/2 against Norwich winning by a one goal margin, while BetVictor.com post a massive 12/1 about a 1-0 home victory.

In other markets, bet365’s 9/2 for both halves to finish all square cannot be ignored, nor can Skybet’s offer of 6/1, posted about a 1-1 result.

Punters backing the Canaries to secure a much-needed, if narrow, success can get 12/1 (William Hill) about them winning 2-1, while Paddy Power chalk even money against the game’s final goal arriving after the 73rd minute – something that has happened on each of the last three occasions the sides have met.