Saturday evening sees an Everton side that must have been gutted about the international break after their 2-0 win over Man City host a Stoke side that is already flicking through the holiday brochures.

Everton are understandably the heavy favourites at a best price of 4/7 with Bet Victor, whereas Stoke can be backed at a lengthy 7/1 with Blue Square, who also offer the best price on the draw, available at 3/1.

There’s something to admire about Stoke’s distinct lack of work ethic. Every March, pretty much without fail, they just shrug their shoulders, and stop being arsed. They’re already pretty much safe from relegation, they don’t see the point in busting a gut for a couple of extra league places, and they just go through the motions for the last two months of the season, until they can officially go to Cancun for the summer – we should all be so lucky. Stoke have ambitiously decided to stop playing early this year – 2012 early. A single win in 14 games, against basement team Reading, suggests an apathy to the league that would make most teenagers blush.

Everton historically the polar opposite – March is where they start going to work. Everton are essentially the Bowser of the Mario Kart world – hideously slow starters, but when they hit top speed they’re pretty much unstoppable. Just to labour the Mario Kart analogy slightly more, Everton started this season by hitting a mushroom, beating Man Utd on the opening day, and haven’t really slowed down since – they’re currently in sixth, and the Champions League is definitely not out of the question.

Everton should, and probably will, win this game, but the manner of victory is less than certain. Their 2-0 win against Man City last time out was their first clean sheet in 10, and they’ve only kept six clean sheets in 44 games in all competitions this season. However Stoke have only scored 9 away goals in the league this season, and only 2 in their last seven away from home. In the battle of the blunt attack vs the porous defence i’m siding with the defence this time out, backing an Everton win to nil at 13/10 with Bet365.

An interesting stat is that Everton have scored a higher percentage of first half goals than any other team this season, with 57% coming in the first half. Following this through, a HT/FT of Everton/Everton is available at 6/4 with BetVictor, which seems pretty appealing given the circumstances. Finally, i reckon that whilst Everton will win, it’ll be a fairly routine and possibly turgid affair (which normally happens when Stoke are playing…) therefore a correct score of 2-0 at 13/2 again with BetVictor again appeals.

Everton vs Stoke Betting Tips

Everton win to nil @ 13/10 (Bet365)

HT/FT Everton/Everton @ 6/4 (Bet Victor)

Correct Score – 2-0 @ 13/2 (Bet Victor)

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