Against All Odds: Bluebirds and Black Cats to go wild

“I just think there is plenty of added spice to this match up with the home fans certainly going to be vocal and both teams seeing it as a winnable game.”

Lay Under 2.5 goals in Cardiff v Sunderland @ 1.768/11 

In the Premier League this evening, Paul Robinson thinks the goals will flow between Cardiff and Sunderland, with all the action live on Sky Sports 1 at 17:30 GMT.

In one of the most drawn out dismissals of recent times, Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was finally given his marching orders by club owner Vincent Tan yesterday. While the Welsh outfit court the likes of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his replacement, it’s Mackay’s former assistant David Kerslake who is expected to take charge of first team affairs for tonight’s clash.

Whether you think Mackay was harshly treated or not, the fact of the matter is that their results just haven’t been good enough. The 3-0 defeat in front of their own fans on Boxing Day was probably their worst of the campaign and it was the second game in a row where they had conceded three goals. 

There aren’t many other goal stats in our favour for this selection, however things can often turn on their head with a new man at the helm and the players are certainly capable of scoring goals themselves – Campbell, Bellamy and Odemwingie all being top class on their day.

Sunderland remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League but there are signs that Gus Poyet is turning things around. The Black Cats are now four unbeaten in all competitions and it’s five points from a possible nine in the league. They beat Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday and while they were aided by the early dismissal of Tim Howard, they showed strong resolve to stop The Toffees from scoring.

Like their opponents, the goal stats don’t exactly back up our bet as Sunderland’s last five on the road have all gone under 2.5 goals. In fact, the goal on Boxing Day was their first away from The Stadium Of Light since they netted at Selhurst Park back in August. 

I just think there is plenty of added spice to this match up with the home fans certainly going to be vocal and both teams seeing it as a winnable game. That points to a few goals for my money, so with under 2.5 currently trading at around the 1.768/11 mark, I have to make it my lay of the day. 

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Lay Under 2.5 goals in Cardiff v Sunderland @ 1.768/11