Palace can take a big step here

It is always good to see one solid bet go in and Bournemouth were the only fancies last week for 50 units. They accounted for a modest Huddersfield team 4-0 despite playing the second half with ten men and I think, notwithstanding their surprise victory over Manchester United, the Terriers will do well to survive.

I’m not a big fan of away bets, where value is hard to locate. Having said that, BOURNEMOUTH may well follow up at Swansea and 7/4 strikes me as fair enough. Small stakes, though, and the same comment applies to SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY at Reading, though I think the Owls are hitting their stride now. Reading have not gone on from their near miss in last season’s play-offs.

I nominated ASTON VILLA as a team to follow a couple of weeks ago and they have looked the business, especially with Albert Adomah regularly on target. I expect them to beat Ipswich a shade more comfortably that they managed against Sunderland in midweek.

Roy Hodgson looked unhappy and out of his depth when managing England at Euro 2016 and his record at club level is patchy as opposed to impressive. But there are clear signs that he is starting to turn things around at Selhurst Park, where CRYSTAL PALACE should have held on against Everton recently. They may make up for it against Stoke, who may have more than one worried look over their shoulder before the season is over. With Palace, I always feel that they have the goalscorers to make a difference. I doubt that they’ll go down, whereas Southampton, who possibly have the better nucleus of talented players, have no one to hit the proverbial barn door from ten yards. They have to beat Everton before a frightening sequence if fixtures but the bookmakers continue to misread the situation and they are not genuine odds-on chances. I do think they’ll score one or two this time, though, and Gabbiadini is the likeliest first scorer.

ASTON VILLA 20 units at 8/13 to beat Ipswich

CRYSTAL PALACE 15 units at 11/10 (Hill’s) to beat Stoke

BOURNEMOUTH 10 units at 7/4 to beat Swansea

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 10 units at 7/4 to beat Reading

5 units win accumulator