Back goals at both ends as Everton scythe Saints

To say Everton will have been surprised to lose their first home game under Roberto Martinez against a Sunderland side that was winless on the road all season would be an understatement.

However, the despondent Toffees will be welcoming the next red and white striped visitor to Goodison Park with open arms, as Southampton are yet to win a game there this decade.

This makes the 4/5 price for a home win very appealing indeed, while Southampton’s odds of 7/2 to record a first victory at this venue since 1997 should be swerved along with the 5/2 for the draw.

Victory against a Cardiff outfit arguably distracted by behind the scenes dramas last time out represents the Saints only away-day success since their last visit to Merseyside, where they beat Liverpool 1-0.

They failed to win the next six in all competitions, prior to their latest road trip, and this less-than-stellar away form, in tandem with a poor record at this venue, renders backing against a home victory a fool’s errand.

If the water in the match betting pool is too cold for a dip, the both teams to score offering can’t be knocked.

A price of 5/6 says both keepers will retrieve the ball from their respective onion bags at least once in the match and, despite enduring a relatively tough time of it on the road of late, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have given the traveling support something to cheer in every game bar two this term.

Norwich and Arsenal are the only hosts to stop them scoring and, although Everton failed to breach the Sunderland backline in their last outing, they had plundered 11 in the three home games that preceded this blemish on an otherwise spotless record.

Combining these two aspects – Saints dismal record at Everton and the guarantee of both teams to bag – betting on a Toffees win paired with both teams scoring looks a steady course to punting paradise and, at 29/10, it can’t be argued with.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date

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