[Mario]

English Premier League
12/22/2014

Stoke City vs Chelsea

Home - Stoke City
Last away matches - D-L-L-W-L-L

Stoke haven't really lit up their home ground this season. They have had three wins and three defeats there this season as well as one draw. They are not defensively sound at the back as they used to be and have conceded a goal in each of their last 10 Premier League games. What Stoke does not want to be reminded here is that they have failed to score in five of the last six Premier League games against Chelsea. Chelsea’s use of the wide areas of the pitch is one of their strong points as they look to stretch apart and attack the space or solitary defender. This will mean a busy match for Stoke’s full-backs who will have to judge when to sit back and cover alongside supporting the winger in front of him in attack.The work rate of Phil Bardsley will be important then for Stoke and the Scottish right-back has done well since his move to the club in the summer. Making more tackles than any other Stoke player with 42, Bardsley will need to be on the top of his game on Monday night.

Away - Chelsea
Last away matches - W-L-D-W-W-D

Chelsea's unbeaten run has come to an end after the defeat at Newcastle and then their away form took another hit after a draw with Sunderland. Now on Monday night they will be tested with a trip to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City. Meanwhile Stoke did beat Arsenal there but it is no longer a fortress there and their win over the Gunners was their only win in their last five matches A quick turn of pace to ghost past opposition defenders – something that has happened on 73 occasions this campaign Hazard is one of the most dangerous players in the Premier League.Scoring 6 goals in the league this season and getting 2 assists from 39 created chances, in tricky away matches like on Monday night, the Belgian international can do something special in the blink of an eye to help win the match

Asian Handicap
Home - (+0.75)
Away - (-0.75)
Pick - Chelsea (-0.75)
Odds - 1.76
Stakes - 10/10