English Premiership 2009/2010

English Premiership 2009/2010

Bolton Wanderers V Tottenham Hotspur

Kick-off: Saturday 3^rd October – 15:00 GMT

Venue: The Reebok

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: LLWDW

Bolton surprised many with their victory away at Birmingham last Saturday, beating Alex McLeish’s side 2-1 at St. Andrews. Goals from Tamir Cohen, his third of the season, while new signing, Chung-Yong Lee, scored his first ever goal at Bolton with a neat little finish inside the Birmingham box. Somewhat surprisingly, that was not only Bolton’s fifth goals of the season but it was also their second away win this term, but, however, Bolton return back home to The Reebok, a venue they’ve have failed to win at in three attempts this season, may not be welcomed with open arms. An even worse statistic for Gary Megson to digest is the one where Bolton haven’t won in six home games, stretching back April this year.

Bolton’s poor record at home in recent outings simply has to be rectified if they are to cling onto their Premiership status. However, they won’t appreciate being handed a fixture with an inform Spurs, a side who have won twice on their travels already this season. The Bolton fans will need to come out in their droves and urge their players on if they are to attain a positive result from what is a very touch home fixture.

Sunderland & Liverpool have both gotten the better of Bolton at The Reebok stadium, whilst Stoke City caused Bolton all sorts of problems when they came a calling, holding Bolton to a 1-1 draw in Bolton’s most recent home encounter in the league. The Reebok needs to be a fortress if Bolton are to have an enjoyable season but it’s hard to see where their regular goals will come from, despite the fact that Bolton have scored in four games on the spin now, five if you include their 3-1 victory in the Carling Cup against West Ham. For now, the likes of Tamir Cohen & Matty Taylor are chipping in but Bolton fans need their strikers to come good. Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander really do need to become a lot more clinical in the final third because the pair seriously aren’t cutting it at the moment.

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 4^th

Recent Form: WWLLW

Tottenham responded in emphatic fashion to two straight defeats against two of the ‘Big Four’ by smashing Burnley off the park in last weekend’s clash at White Hart Lane. Robbie Keane bagged four on the day while Jermaine Jenas scored his first league goal of the season, with Spurs comfortably running out 5-0 victors over Burnley. That was Tottenham’s fifth win of the season, their third at home, but now they travel to a tough venue where an awkward Bolton side lye in waiting.

The trip to Bolton does present manager Harry Redknapp will a completely different assignment to the one last weekend against Owen Coyle’s, Burnley. Bolton are a side that look to use their physical aurora to their advantage so Redknapp may have to make a few changes for Tottenham’s fourth away fixture of the season. Peter Crouch was left out of the starting line-up against Burnley but his aerial ability does make him a solid pick against a Bolton side with plenty of height. A player who would have been ideal, but isn’t available, is Johnthan Woodgate. The former England international is apparently nowhere near returning to training so Tom Huddlestone and Corluka could form an unconvincing centre-back partnership.

Tottenham, despite two defeats recently against Chelsea & Manchester United, are in a very prominent position in fourth position, just three points adrift of leaders Man Utd. They shown great resilience and character at the weekend by hammering Burnley after those two disappointing results and it appears Spurs are back to their confident, free-scoring self. However, Jermaine Defoe will be a minor doubt after dislocating a finger in their win over Burnley at the weekend but he should be fine to start, whether that’s alongside a four-star Robbie Keane or Peter Crouch is anyone’s guess.

Head-to-Head:

Bolton Wanderers W: 5 Tottenham Hotspur W: 3 Draws: 2

Bolton haven’t actually faired too bad in previous meetings, actually, they’ve done extremely well, especially at The Reebok. Tottenham have failed to beat Bolton at The Reebok in their previous nine visits in all competitions. Four of the last five encounters at the home of Bolton have gone the way of the home side, with Bolton winning 3-2 in the very last meeting between the two at The Reebok last season. Tottenham’s better results against Bolton have generally come at White Hart Lane.

Over 2.5 Goals: 4 Under 2.5 Goals: 6

In general, this has been a tight affair, with normally a goal or two enough to determine the winner. Last season the pair played out a thrilling 3-2 home win, whereas the previous three encounters at The Reebok has finished with no more than 2 goals. Just two of the last eight meetings in Bolton have finished Over 2.5, so not the ideal game to be backing goals in.

Match Verdict: Draw – 5/2 Bet365

This will be seen as a strange selection,m especially as just two of the last eight meetings at The Reebok have finished in a draw. However, the home advantage for Bolton should cancel out the class and form of Tottenham Hotspur. This hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Spurs in the past and, with that in mind, we fancy both sides to be fairly happy with a share of the spoils in a DRAW. Although Tottenham did score five at the weekend, Bolton don’t generally concede too many at The Reebok, so a tight game is expected, with goals perhaps few and far between.

Match Odds:

Bolton Wanderers – 16/5 SkyBet

Tottenham Hotspur – Evens Boylesports

Draw – 5/2 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Under 2.5 Goals – 43/40 Bet365

Manchester City V West Ham United

Kick-Off: Monday 28^th September – 20:00 GMT

Venue: The City of Manchester stadium

Manchester City

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: WWWWL

After a morale sapping defeat away at local rivals Manchester United, Mark Hughes takes his City side back to a happy hunting ground – The City of Manchester Stadium, a venue where City have won all their home fixtures thus far, two in total. Victories over Wolves and Arsenal have given them a perfect home record and a win over West Ham on Monday night would not only maintain their winning start on home soil this season but also stretch their winning streak at The City of Manchester stadium to six wins after City won their remaining three home fixtures at the end of last season.

Man City are starting to turn The City of Manchester stadium into a fortress under Mark Hughes, although, the blank cheque did help somewhat. Still, credit where credits due, not only have the City players done themselves proud when playing at home but so have the fans, they’ve come out in their thousands to support their mega rich side in a bid to drive City up the table and in amongst the big boys.

City’s defeat last Sunday at the hands of Manchester United will have been a bitter blow to what has been a superb start to the season for Man City. However, with the exception of a home fixture with Arsenal, that was City’s first real test of the season after a more than generous opening few fixtures. However, you can only beat those put in front of you and City have done just enough in each of their opening encounters.

Craig Bellamy scored two for City last weekend and it’s just as well that the former Welsh international has regained some form as Emanuel Adebayor will not only miss this fixture with West Ham but also City’s next fixture away against Aston Villa, a very tricky away trip indeed. The absence of the Togo international will be felt by everyone at City as Adebayor has already found the goal in each of his four league starts in a City shirt. He has been the catalyst to City’s early success and the million dollar question is how will City cope without their inform striker. If the United game was anything to go by, they might not struggle as much as we first thought.

United may have dented the early momentum City had built but the richest side in the land will still be buoyed by their early success that has seen them win four of their first five fixtures. Scoring hasn’t been their strongest forte with two of City’s wins coming by a narrow 1-0 scoreline. However, City scored four in their last home fixture, beating Arsenal 4-2, whilst their three goals at Old Trafford last weekend now means that City have scored seven goals in their last two league outings.

West Ham United

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: WLDLL

A promising start has turned seriously sour with West Ham losing two games on the bounce and without a win in four games after defeat at home to Liverpool last Saturday. The live encounter in front of the ESPN cameras seen West Ham push Liverpool all the way but unfortunately, like the West Ham of old, the Hammers came up short, losing 3-2 at Upton Park. Although the result was bitterly disappointing, their performance on the day was a valiant one and they should take great heart from their display and out in another battling display away in Manchester.

West Ham seem to thrive on the underdog status as they often cause the big sides all sorts of problems when they take on the top four. They pulled off two surprising draws away at Liverpool and Chelsea last season while they gave United a run for their money as well so West Ham certainly have the credentials to pose a few problems on their day. However, West Ham still lack that cutting edge which would enable them to go one further in these tight games and actually record a morale boosting win over a huge side.

West Ham have a real talent in forward Carlton Cole and he will net them at least 15 goals this season but, however, they still have tonnes of problems at the back which will let them down throughout the course of the season. Fernando Torres strolled past several defenders to score Liverpool’s first on Saturday while Torres scored a second and eventual winner by out jumping two West Ham defenders. To add to West Ham;’s defensive woes, their best defender in Matthew Upson limped off in their 3-02 defeat against Liverpool and he is a doubt for this game.

That defeat at home to Liverpool was their second on the spin and that poor result now leaves West Ham without a win in four games. That’s a bad run and one that has to come to an end sooner rather than later as with every win less game comes a drop in team morale and player confidence. However, this does look another very tough game for Gianfranco Zola’s men and their win drought looks set to continue here as City are the short priced favourites to compound the recent misery of the West Ham supporters.

Head-to-Head:

Manchester City W: 5 West Ham United W: 3 Draws: 2

In recent seasons, City have enjoyed themselves in this fixture, especially at home, winning three of the previous four encounters at The City of Manchester stadium. West Ham’s last away success in this fixture came way back in the 2002/2003 season when they narrowly won 1-0. However, City won this meeting convincingly last season when they cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Hammers at this very same venue.

Over 2.5 Goals: 2 Under 2.5 Goals: 8

This is an amazing statistic that just two of the last ten meetings has produced three or more goals. However, both of those two rare goal filled games did come at Eastlands, with the very last meeting ending in a 3-0 win for City. West Ham have failed to score at Eastlands in two of the last three encounters in Manchester, which could be the reason why goals are few and far between.

Match Verdict: Manchester City to WIN –1/2 Expekt

Despite City’s recent setback, we fully expect them to bounce back against a West Ham side still licking their wounds after losing a close fought battle with Liverpool. Adebayor will of course be out with suspension but Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez should be more then suitable replacements to fill the huge shoes of a free scoring Adebayor. Bellamy scored two last weekend while Tevez set up Gareth Barry for City’s first so both are full of confidence after a creditable display last Sunday. City have the talent to make an instant comeback from their weekend woes and we quite the odds on offer for a City win despite them looking very short.

Match Odds:

Manchester City – 1/2 Expekt

West Ham United – 7/1 PaddyPower

DRAW – 10/3 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Sean Wright Philips FGS – 17/2 Bet365

Sunderland V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Kick-off: Sunday 27^th September – 16:00 GMT

Venue: The Stadium of Light

Sunderland

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: LWLWL

After being completely outplayed at the weekend, Steve Bruce takes his squad back home where a rejuvenated Wolves take to the Stadium of Light. Sunderland were on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat away at Burnley last week, although, Steve Bruce will take some compensation from the fact that Burnley have a 100% record at Turf Moor. However, there will be no excuses if Sunderland fail to deliver on their home turf. 

After a decent start, with three wins from six games, Sunderland still find themselves in the top ten. A big positive for any potential Black Cat backer will be the fact that two of Sunderland three victories this season have come at The Stadium of Light. They beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1, while they smashed Hull City off the park in a 4-1 rout of the Tigers. With these results in mind, and taking into consideration their away woes, Steve Bruce & Sunderland will certainly need to capitalise on home advantage as it’s clear Sunderland won’t pick up too many points on their travels after losing two away games on the spin.

Sunderland did have their moments against Burnley, with Darren bent embracing the score sheet with a sleek one-on-one finish. He’s extended his goal tally to 5, just one behind Wayne Rooney who has six league goals to his name. Bent has been immense for Sunderland so far and he will be their biggest goal threat in this fixture with Wolves.

Sunderland do look a lot more compact than last season although they do still look a tad vulnerable at the back. However, Burnley’s goals were pretty emphatic with David Nugent scoring two beauties, while an Alexander penalty, due to a rash Ferdinand tackle, sentenced Sunderland to their third defeat of the season. Were they to tighten up at the back and reduce the amount of rash mistakes they make, Sunderland could become a decent side.

Wolves

League Position: 12th

Recent Form: WLDLW

Wolves fans will feel they are on cloud nine this week after their side secured their second set of three points this season. A narrow 2-1 win at home to Fulham has given fans a new found optimism and the players should be buoyed by their recent success, which should stand them in good stead as they face a Sunderland side suffering a weekend hangover away at Burnley.

Mick McCarthy got his tactics spot on against Fulham as his side overran Fulham in the middle of the park, which is a big achievement as Fulham do posses some workmanlike players in the centre of midfield. Goals from Kevin Doyle & David Edwards was enough to hand Wolves just their second win of the season and their first at Molineux. However, they now face a rather daunting trip to the Stadium of Light but, despite the quality on show at Sunderland, Wolves are the inform side of the two, after their victory last Sunday, and they will feel confident of making it two games without defeat and possibly recording their first back-to-back wins of the season.

Wolves were awful in their latest away outing when they capitulated away at Blackburn, losing 3-1 at Ewood Park. Blackburn were hardly in glorious form that day but Wolves simply failed to turn up and another dreadful display like that and Wolves will struggle to get anything out of the game. Wolves can and do create a hat full of chances but they lack a quality forward to convert the many opportunities they do carve out. Kevin Doyle scored his first goal in a Wolves shirt but we aren’t too confidence in him scoring too many this season, but, over the horizon is the return of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake. The former United trainee was the clubs top goalscorer last season with 25 goals and his absence through injury has left a big void up front, one Mick McCarthy has yet to find a suitable replacement for.

Head-to-Head:

These two have never played each other in the Premiership but they have took on one another four times back in The Championship, with Sunderland certainly getting the better of Wolves in the head-to-head. Sunderland have beaten Wolves twice in two meetings at The Stadium of Light, while the Black Cats recorded two satisfactory draws back at Molinuex. However, it’s been three three season since these two last met and there has been a lot of changes within the squads since then.

Match Verdict: Sunderland to WIN – 5/6 SkyBet

Steve Bruce will be eager to put Sunderland’s weekend woes away at Burnley firmly to bed and a win at home to Wolves would certainly do the trick. Home advantage is key here as Sunderland have performed extremely well at The Stadium of Light, even when they lost 3-1 to Chelsea they still had their moments with Darren Bent on form that day as well. He will be pivotal to Sunderland’s chances on Sunday but we fancy the England hopeful to come good and at least score his sixth goal of the season against a Wolves side that has serious troubles in converting chances.

Match Odds:

Sunderland – 5/6 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 4/1 PaddyPower

DRAW – 13/5 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Darren Bent to score a BRACE (Two or more goals) – 5/1 SkyBet

Wigan Athletic V Chelsea

Kick-Off: Saturday 26^th September – 15:00 GMT

Venue: The DW stadium

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: LLLWL

Wigan feels must be feeling a tad short changed after a dramatic turn of fortune which has seen them go from beating Aston Villa at Villa Park to a resounding 4-0 defeat away at Arsenal. The fact that Wigan went down at The Emirates didn’t surprise us nor most punters but that was Wigan’s fourth defeat in six games and, after the hype surrounding Wigan’s opening day success at Villa, to see their team go onto record such drastic form must be deflating to say the least.

It’s down to manager Roberto Martinez to amend Wigan’s recent woes and get the club back on the winning track. However, another game with one of the title favourites won’t be what Martinez nor what the fans wanted. However, Wigan must compete each and every game and, despite the likelihood of Wigan getting nothing out of another game, Roberto Martinez will be trying his utmost to get something out of an almost impossible fixture.

Wigan were never fancied to cause an upset at The Emirates, against Arsenal last Saturday, but their performance was very poor on the day. They rarely troubled the Wigan goal, although they did rattle the post near the end. However, by then, Wigan were dead and buried and they will need to a much better start to this game then their last if they are to get anything from it. Wigan’s defending was also woeful and this is an area that needs to be addressed.

For Wigan to attain points in this fixture they would need one colossal performance from every individual who starts. They have a very good goalkeeper in Chris Kirkland and they can play pretty football at times but defending seems to be their biggest issue right now, with their defence often found wanting and missing at The Emirates last week. Both Paul Scharner & Mario Melchiot have bags of Premiership experience for Wigan in defence but they will need to step up to the mark and be the leader the Wigan defence needs if they are to keep an inform Chelsea at bay this Saturday.

Chelsea

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WWWWW

With Man City’s 100% record in tatters, Chelsea currently remain as the only team left with an immaculate winning start in the Premiership after beating Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti guided Chelsea to their sixth successive win of the season and in a comprehensive fashion. Their first goal came via a rare source in the form of full-back Ashley Cole, whereas their second came from Michael Ballack and then a confident Didier Drogba tapped home their third. All in all a comfortable Sunday afternoon for Chelsea as the momentum and confidence keep on building.  

Didier Drogba has been a right handful for every opponent he has faced thus far and his fine individual effort against Spurs took his tally to five goals in six league games. That’s a phenomenal start for a player that has had his critics over the last year or so. He was instrumental in their victory at the weekend, supplying Ashley Cole for Chelsea’s first and then adding the icing on the cake with Chelsea’s third. He has been their most influential player this season, with his sheer presence and strength in the ball his biggest attributes, in combination with one lethal strike of the ball. However, Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea will be without their figurehead up front as he limped off with just minutes to go at Spurs, and he will be massively missed by both the manager and the fans.

Tottenham did have their moments in the game but Chelsea had them at bay for the vast majority of the game, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side never really looking like relinquishing any of the available three points. Chelsea have now gone three points ahead of United in second and they remain firmly in the driving seat.

This should be another comfortable afternoon for Ancelotti’s men as Wigan will be licking their wounds after a 4-0 bashing away at Arsenal last weekend. A huge positive for the manager was that no one had to come off with any injuries of niggles so Ancelotti will have a full strength side to choose from and he could name an unchanged team for this game at the DW stadium.

Head-to-Head:

Wigan Athletic W: 0 Chelsea W: 7 Draws: 1

Chelsea dominate the head-to-head between the two with Wigan’s only success in this fixture being a 1-1 draw back at Stamford Bridge. However, that was two seasons ago and Chelsea have won the following three meetings. However, more importantly, Chelsea have won all four meetings at The DW stadium, with all but one being by just a one goal margin.

Over 2.5 Goals: 3 Under 2.5 Goals: 5

Previous meetings have generally been close run affairs, with often one goal separating the two. The last two encounters at The DW stadium have both finished Under 2.5 with Chelsea winning 1-0 last season and 2-0 the season before. Wigan have never beaten Chelsea at home and the Latics have only managed to score in one of the previous four meetings at home to Chelsea. That was a 3-2 defeat back in 2006.

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 2/5 Expekt

Everything points in the direction of another Chelsea win. The away side have the form, the quality and a vastly superior head-to-head record and, despite their short and unappealing odds, they should comply without too many scares. However, the absence of Didier Drogba could be costly as his five goals this season have been key to Chelsea’s early success. We’re hoping and somewhat expecting Nicola Anelka to come good for the Blues now and make that lone striker role his own while Drogba recovers.

Match Odds:

Wigan Athletic – 11/1 SkyBet

Chelsea – 2/5 Expekt

DRAW – 4/1 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Nicolas Anelka to Score Anytime – 5/4 Bet365

Tottenham Hotspur V Burnley

Kick-off: Saturday 26^th September – 15:00 GMT

Venue: White Hart Lane

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: WWWLL

Before Tottenham took on Manchester United and Chelsea, Spurs were outrageously being touted as possible title candidates after a surprisingly good start for a team that generally starts rather sluggishly. However, although they may have gotten the better of Liverpool on the opening day of the season, Spurs have come completely undone against the next pair of quality sides to contest a fixture with Harry Redknapp’s team. Man Utd somewhat strolled to a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago while Chelsea gave Spurs fans a firm reality check at Stamford Bridge last weekend, with the Blues dishing out a 3-0 beating. That’s now two defeats on the spin and, after a sensational start, will Tottenham’s early momentum have come to a firm halt?

The defeats against both United & Chelsea were hardly surprising but the manner in which they lost was a big shock after Spurs had shown signs of significant improvements in their early encounters. Although Harry’s side did have their moment in both games, Tottenham rarely troubled either of the big guns, with those two defeats reiterating how far Tottenham are from mounting a serious challenge on the top four.

It’s vital that Harry Redknapp rebuilds the confidence lost from those two successive defeats because Spurs have looked a dangerous side in their opening few games and, providing the players recover quickly from their recent setbacks and below par displays, they shouldn’t have too many problems dispatching Burnley at White Hart Lane. However, Redknapp will have to do without Ledley King and possibly Sebastien Bassong after both suffered injuries in their defeat to Chelsea that could keep them sidelined for weeks to come, although, early indications are that Bassong could be back in action sooner then most had expected. With Michael Dawson & Johnathan Woodgate still out of contention, Tottenham now look extremely lightweight at the back and that has to be a major concern and a huge negative for any Spurs backer.

Burnley

League Position:

Recent Form: WWLLW

Burnley worked their socks of at the weekend and they duly got their reward in a rather convincing 3-1 win at home to Sunderland. They were by far the better side on the day but, despite the superb result and display from the team, we mustn’t forget that it was at Turf Moor, the venue where all three of Burnley’s wins have come thus far, and Owen Coyle’s side will have to travel for their upcoming fixture, with Tottenham Hotspur aiming to capitalise on Burnley’s recent away woes this season at White Hart Lane.

That win over Sunderland was enough to send Burnley into the upper half of the table and a unsurprising win away at Tottenham, or even possibly a draw, would ensure that Burnley remain in the upper reaches of the table and well above the drop zone. However, Burnley and travelling just don’t go together, with Owen Coyle’s team losing all three of their away encounters in the league thus far. Defeats away at Stoke City (2-0), Chelsea (3-0) and Liverpool (4-0), ensured Burnley remain pointless on their travels this season. However, as you can clearly see, Burnley have had some torrid away fixtures against two of the top four so they can easily be forgiven for their recent away woes.

We will let Burnley off for their recent away defeats but they won’t appreciate having to contest another very tricky game away at White Hart Lane, the home of Tottenham Hotspur. Owen Coyle will be desperate to end Burnley’s run of three away defeats but this game with an slightly off-form Spurs doesn’t represent the best opportunity for Burnley to end their away drought.

Burnley’s euphoric home support has been the key to them adding vital points to their league tally as they bid to stay well clear of the drop zone but, without the fabulous support of their home fans, Burnley have struggled on the road, severely. They’ve conceded nine goals in three away games, scoring a whopping zero! So not only are Burnley without a point on their travels but they’re also without a single goal. It doesn’t look nor bode well for Owen Coyle’s men and another disappointing away result appears to be on the cards.

Match Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur to WIN – 2/5 Boylesports

As this will be the very first meeting between the two in the Premiership, Burnley could be seen as the dark horse as Spurs could miss a trick with Burnley. However, Harry Redknapp is a wise old codger and with the wide array of talent on show at Tottenham, we expect Spurs to away from White Hart Lane with their fifth win of the season and their third on home soil. The absence of Ledley King will be huge, especially as Spurs don’t have adequate cover right now, but even though Spurs will be a lot lighter at the back, we can still envisage Tottenham comfortably outscoring Burnley.

Match Odds:

Tottenham Hotspur – 2/5 Boylesports

Burnley – 8/1 Bet365

DRAW – 15/4 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Tottenham Hotspur (Half-Time / Full-Time) – EVENS PaddyPower

Stoke City V Manchester United

Kick-Off: Saturday 26^th September – 15:00 GMT

Venue: The Brittania

Stoke City

League Position:

Recent Form: LDWLD

The Stoke manager, players, fans, well… basically everyone at the club, will be bitterly disappointed with just the draw they got against Bolton last weekend. Before the match kicked off we’re sure manager Tony Pulis will have snapped your arm off if you offered him a point at The Reebok, although, Stoke really could and probably should of gotten a lot more out of that game. Their failure to concentrate for the full 90 minutes, the basics in winning football matches, cost them dear and they paid a heavy price when Matty Taylor converted an 89^th minute penalty to spoil the Stoke celebrations.

In the end, I’m sure Tony Pulis will settle for the point and we’re pretty confident it won’t take him too long to rally the troops in time for one of the most highly anticipated arrivals of the season for Stoke fans, and that comes in the form of a Manchester United arriving at The Brittania stadium. Stoke frustrated United for large periods of the game last season, with Stoke’s in your face attitude nearly earning them a well earned point. However, United do appear a tad weaker this time around so Tony Pulis will be confident of his sides chances of sneaking a surprise result on Saturday at home to the champions. 

They are strong, tall, tireless, and resilient, however, everyone knows everything there is to know about Stoke City nowadays. They play the same tactics, the same style and in the same vigour in each of their games. With this in mind, it makes the opposing managers job a whole lot easier and you definitely don’t want to give Sir Alex Ferguson a head start in a tactical affair.

As far as form goes, Stoke’s is patchy at best. Stoke have shown that they can compete against the lesser sides but they’ve consistently come a cropper against those with real quality. They have two wins from six, with both those wins coming against sides of similar or worse stature in Burnley (2-0) & Sunderland (1-0). You may notice that both their victories, their only league victories thus far, have come at The Brittania, the venue for this game with United. If Stoke are to finally beat a ‘BIG’ side you would feel it would come on Stoke soil and not away from fortress Brittania.

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: LWWWW

The current champions of England displayed about every characteristic under the sun when they took on Manchester City, their bitter local rivals, at Old Trafford in Sunday’s live encounter, and what an encounter it turned out to be. United may have won the game 4-3 but some would argue that Sir Alex’s men rode their lucky on several occasions, with Man City perhaps a little unfortunate not to have taken at least a point away from the stadium of the dreams.

The Manchester derby was a proper thriller, with both sides going at it tooth and nail. However, it came as little surprise to see the ‘Red Devils’ coming out smelling of roses when Michael Owen slotted home from inside the box, just seconds away from the finally whistle, or seconds after when the final whistle should have gone. Their was only meant to be an initial four minutes of added time but Owen’s winner came well into the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Enough about the controversy, now let’s discuss how United played, both the positives and negatives. United dominated large periods of the game with some crisp and intelligent passing which, evidentially, helped them to four goals. However, although United were clinical in the final third, well, at least from set-pieces, the United defence certainly left a lot to be desired. Rio Ferdinand was at fault for City’s third goal but goalkeeper Ben Foster has been struggling for consistency all season, and it was his costly mistakes that nearly threw away two vital points for Man Utd. The lack of confidence from Foster appears to be contagious as the United defence looks the shakiest I’ve ever seen with a nervy Ben Foster watching on.

Fergie will need to get his defence in order though this weekend as they could be in for a rough ride if they are anywhere below par like they were against City. Stoke are a team with no morales, they will do whatever they can to grind out a result and United will need to be wary of the threat their opponents will cause from set-pieces.

Head-to-Head:

Stoke City W: 0 Manchester United W: 2 Draws: 0

The pair met for the very first time last season and it was United who recorded back-to-back wins over Stoke, albeit by the slimmest of margins. United thrashed Stoke 5-0 when the pair met at Old Trafford but at the home of Stoke, The Brittania, Stoke nearly did the unthinkable and hold the ‘red Devils’ to a 0-0 draw. However, Carlo Tevez scored a late winner for United that day to spoil the Stoke party. United are without Tevez this time around so will Stoke exert some form of revenge?

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 4/9 PaddyPower

We were tempted to pluck up the courage and back the draw but Stoke’s lack of quality up front has put us of any potential such bet. United will be buoyed by their derby win over Man City and they will see this as a fabulous opportunity to carry on their charge up the table as they bid to keep up the momentum which has seen them win their last four fixtures in the Premiership. This will be tough and we don’t think United will win this comfortably but it’s hard to see Stoke causing United too many problems, apart from the odd set-piece here and there. Providing United don’t underestimate their opponents they should record their fifth successive victory.

Match Odds:

Stoke City – 15/2 Bet365

Manchester United – 4/9 PaddyPower

DRAW – 7/2 SkyBet

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Manchester United to WIN to NIL – 11/10 SkyBet

Liverpool V Hull City

Kick-off: Saturday 26^th September – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Anfield

Liverpool are firm favourites to notch up their fourth win in succession but they’ve been far from convincing of late, although, they probably won’t need to be at their absolute best to beat an hapless Hull City, a team that held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield last season. A similar result would be dreadful for those on Merseyside, unless you’re an Everton supporter of course. However, that does look extremely unlikely as we fully expect this game to not only go the way of the form book but also the way of the side with far more quality within their ranks.

Liverpool

League Position:

Recent Form: WLWWW

Liverpool may come into this home fixture, their fourth of the season, with three wins under their belts, but their performance in at least two of those wins were well below par. However, like all good sides do, Liverpool did just enough to grind out the wins required to keep them firmly in the hunt for their first title in over 18 years, despite the ‘Reds’ not being at their glorious best.

Wins over Bolton (2-3), Burnley (4-0) and now West Ham (2-3), will hardly set the world alight but they are wins nevertheless and nine points that will significantly bolster their lacklustre point tally, or what was a lacklustre point tally. Rafael Benitez’s side still find themselves well off the pace of the leaders but they’re slowly and surely getting into the gear needed to remain intact with the early pacesetters.

Fernando Torres stole the show in Liverpool’s 3-2 win away at Upton Park against West ham. For the first time this season, Fernando Torres looked his pacey, workmanlike self, which made a change from the lazy Spaniard we’ve been watching in recent weeks for Liverpool. His two goals were both sublime finishes, especially his first solo effort, and that should give him bags of confidence as he heads into a game where he could score a hat full of goals.

However, although Liverpool did look a lot more clinical in the final third last week, their defensive frailties were there for all to see. Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel looked lost at times, with the pair showing no signs of communication nor did they even appear to be on the same wavelength. The pair gave the ball away on countless occasions from defence and they were duly punished in conceding two goals. Zonal marking is just the root of a big problem for Liverpool in defence this season, with the normally watertight Liverpool having already shipped nine goals in six games. That’s unheard of for any Liverpool team in recent seasons and it’s an issue that needs to be rectified sooner, rather than later.

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LWDLL

The alarm bells are already ringing down at The KC stadium, despite the season being just six games old. One win in six comes as little surprise when you consider that Hull went as many as eleven games without a win in the latter part of last season. However, Phil Brown did guide Hull to survival last term but that was mainly due to their stunning start. They’ve haven’t made a fruitful start this time around and the dreadful form which nearly sent them back down to the Championship at the latter part of last season has crept back into their play, with Hull registering just four points from a possible eighteen.

Form is crucial in any league as with positive results comes positive morale, something the Hull players are clearly lacking at this moment in time. They’ve now lost two on the bounce and this daunting trip to Anfield looks almost certain to produce another fruitless 90 minutes for the Tigers. However, Phil Brown’s players will take great confidence from the fact that they did manage to frustrate Liverpool at Anfield last season, earning a memorable point in a 2-2 draw on Merseyside. However, you can get on 2-2 at as big as 45/1 with SkyBet, which just reiterates how unlikely Hull recording a similar result this time around is.

Hull’s problems is mainly down to no confidence, as they do posses a few players who do actually look dangerous and half-decent. That’s the thing with Hull, because of Phil Brown’s attacking intent and mindset, all the limelight shines on their forwards, so when Hull do flop, which is more often then not, the forwards get the brunt of the blame. However, the acquisition of Jozy Altidore appears to be a shrewd capture as his strength and vision on the ball could bare fruit for Hull this season. While Kamel Ghilas, their other newest capture, has also looked a handful in recent outings for Hull, whereas the rest of the side have looked ordinary at best.

Hull appear to be in a catch twenty-two here. Playing on the front foot will be dicing with death while, on the other hand, Hull aren’t capable of putting men behind the ball, harassing the opposition and defending for the full 90 minutes. That’s just not in Hull’s nor Phil Brown’s repertoire. That will now leave Hull having to, or attempting ,to play attacking football, leaving them exposed and vulnerable at the back. For a Hull side that shipped four goals in their last away outing away at Sunderland, that looks a potentially catastrophic tactic.

Head-to-Head:

Liverpool W: 1 Hull City W: Draws: 1

Hull were a nuisance side for Liverpool last season when the pair clashed for the very first time in a Premiership fixture. Liverpool did record a 3-1 victory at The KC stadium but Hull did manage to hold Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield, with Hull actually blowing the lead twice in that game. However, Hull were riding on the wave of their immense start to the season when they pulled off that surprise draw and we will stick our neck on the line and say Hull have no chance of holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw this time around.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1/6 SkyBet

It will come as no surprise that we’re backing Liverpool to make it four from four at the expense of a Hull side struggling for form. Liverpool come into this game off the back of three victories while Hull have the horrors of another home defeat against Birmingham fresh on their minds. The momentum is with Liverpool, they certainly have more than quality to handle whatever Hull will throw at them and they should cruise to a comfortable victory at home against a hapless Hull City.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1/6 SkyBet

Hull City – 18/1 Bet365

DRAW – 6/1 PaddyPower

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Liverpool to Score 3 or more goals – 10/11 SkyBet

Fulham V Arsenal

Kick-Off: Saturday 26^th September – 17:30 GMT

Venue: Craven Cottage

TV Coverage: ESPN

Fulham

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: WLLWL

Fulham will feel the Europa League is a curse after Fulham suffered their first defeat following directly from a European tie. However, very few of Fulham’s first timers actually travelled to Bulgaria in midweek so the players can have no excuse whatsoever for their weekend slip up away at Wolves. Roy Hodgeson seen his side completely outplayed,outworked and outfought at Molineux, and Fulham got what they deserved in a 2-1 defeat against one of the potential relegation candidates.

The normally solid and reliable Fulham were made to look ordinary by an ordinary Wolves outfit. Wolves had previously failed to win in either of their opening two home fixtures so for Fulham to become the first side to fall at Molineux doesn’t bode well for their chances as Arsenal come to town. However, Fulham will be buoyed by the fact they have become a very frustrating team at Craven Cottage, although, Chelsea have already come and gone at the Cottage and taken all three points for their efforts. Will another London rival do the same?

Fulham’s biggest attribute is their superb work rate, especially in defence. However, this was missing last Saturday and another performance like that would make them an awful proposition against an Arsenal side with regained optimism after putting four past Wigan at The Emirates last Saturday. If they are to have any ambitions of taking anything out of this game then they will need to work their socks off, especially in defence, as Fulham will spend the vast majority of this game on the back foot.

Arsenal

League Position: 7th

Recent Form: WWLLW

Arsenal put their recent on pitch difficulties and below par performances to one side last Saturday when they gave Wigan a jolly good spanking at The Emirates. Arsene Wenger’s team were starting to come under fire from punters and press alike and, although Wigan were never going to be much competition for the Gunners, Arsenal cruised to a comprehensive victory with a fine team display to back up a convincing win.

With their victory over Wigan to one side, as it was an expected result for Arsenal, we now move onto how we think they will fair away at Fulham, a venue they came up short at last season, losing 1-0 at Craven Cottage. Arsene Wenger will be doing his utmost to produce a tactical master-stroke in a bid to avoid a similar scoreline this time around, especially as Arsenal can ill-afford any more slip ups.

The victory at home to Wigan put an end to Arsenal’s two match losing run after defeats against both Manchester outfits. However, there are still concerns over Arsenal’s title credentials this season, with their defence being the main catalyst for the criticism. Thomas Vermaelen scored two against Wigan last weekend as he aims to stick two fingers up to those who undermined his defensive abilities while the clean sheet will have done Arsenal’s defensive the world of good in terms of confidence.

However, keeping it tight at home and ensuring your defence stays watertight on the road is a different kettle of fish. The Gunners have already played in three away encounters in the league, with Arsenal yet to keep a single away clean sheet. Everton put one past them at the start of the season while Man Utd scored twice and Man City smashed four past the Gunners defence in their most recent away outing. That’s now a tally of seven goals conceded in three away games, an average of over two-a-game.

Now, Fulham are hardly a force to be reckoned with in the final third but, if Arsenal’s defence doesn’t buck their ideas up when travelling, Arsenal could find themselves having to fight it out once again just to keep their top four status, let alone actually challenge for the league title. This game away at Fulham does represent a glorious opportunity for Arsenal to record their first away clean sheet of the season but our money certainly won’t be going on it.

Head-to-Head:

Fulham W: 2 Arsenal W: 8 Draws: 2

A home victory for Fulham is very rare when these two clash at Craven Cottage but that was the outcome last season when the pair met. Fulham defending stoutly in last seasons clash between the London sides, winning 1-0. That was Fulham’s second win over Arsenal at Craven Cottage in as many season but overall Arsenal have had the upper hand at the Cottage. Arsenal have won in six of the last eight encounters at the Cottage but Fulham are starting to fight back in recent years. However, it’s there for all to see that Arsenal have dominated the head-to-head between the two and they are firm favourites to continue their rich vein of form against their London rivals.

Over 2.5 Goals: 7 Under 2.5 Goals: 3

Thanks to Arsenal’s quality up top, this has been a largely entertaining fixture in recent seasons. Four of the previous five meetings at Craven Cottage have produced three of more goals but, however, a big negative for any goal backer is the fact that Fulham frustrated Arsenal last season, both home and away, beating the Gunners 1-0 at the Cottage and holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw at the Emirates.

Match Verdict: Arsenal to WIN – 8/13 SkyBet

Arsene Wenger may have failed to get the best out of his troops twice against Fulham last season, but we’re sticking our hard earned pounds on him learning from his harsh lessons and making a mockery of Fulham’s success in this meeting last season. The Gunners recent success at home to Wigan, a game which seen them score four goals, should provide the Arsenal squad with a big boost in confidence and enable them to stride towards their second victory in relatively quick succession.

Match Odds:

Fulham – 5/1 PaddyPower

Arsenal – 8/13 SkyBet

DRAW – 14/5 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Arsenal (Half-Time/ Full-Time) – 6/4 PaddyPower

Birmingham City V Bolton Wanderers

Kick-Off: Saturday 26^th September – 15:00 GMT

Venue: St. Andrews

Birmingham City

League Position:

Recent Form: WDLLW 

Alex McLeish will have been ecstatic with his sides weekend antics when Birmingham not only went to the KC stadium to frustrate Hull City but they also stole all three points as Gary O’Connor netted a vital winner for the away side in game that had the potential to be a six pointer. Those points has enabled Birmingham to breathe a little easier as they now find themselves four points above the relegation zone, and it’s a fine result they simply have to build upon, especially back on home soil.

Were Birmingham not to make it back-to-back wins in the league then you would have to feel Birmingham have massively disappointed. They did all the hard work back at The KC stadium against Hull City so securing the right result at home against a Bolton side that struggled in front of their home fans last weekend, should be a walk in the park, or so you would think. Birmingham do already have a home success under their belts when they beat Portsmouth by the narrowest of margins, winning 1-0.

Scoring at St. Andrews has been a problem for Birmingham, with Alex Mcleish’s side managing just one goal in three home fixtures, and even that came against a Portsmouth side without a single point to their name. That’s a terrible statistic, especially as Aston Villa & Stoke City are far from unbeatable, those were the two other sides that have played at St. Andrews this season. To make matters worse, Birmingham haven’t looked like scoring in all three so the goal at Portsmouth actually flatters them, and, we mustn’t forget that Birmingham’s 1-0 defeat of Portsmouth was via a 90^th minute penalty.

We do like Birmingham this year as they’re a solid side, and their defensive record of conceding just four goals in five games underlines this, with Birmingham conceding just one at home this season. However, they lack the quality needed to score the goals up front to make their solid defence actually worthwhile. They simply have to take more chances if they are to pick up more points and they should at least have a go against Bolton.

Bolton Wanderers

League Position:

Recent Form: LLLWD

Bolton were nearly outdone by their twin last weekend when Stoke’s rustle & Bustle approach met Bolton’s tireless workers at The Reebok. Gary Megson’s side didn’t quite adapt to Stoke’s game plan and it was the away side who took the lead just after half-time when Dave Kitson headed home. However, Bolton put in a spirited second half performance and eventually, via an 88^th minute Matty Taylor penalty, Bolton pulled level to claim a vital share of the spoils. Not the result they had in mind considering it was a home fixture but a hard earned point nevertheless.

That draw at the weekend now brings Bolton’s point tally to four points and that solitary point was enough to lift them out of the bottom three. The incentive for the Bolton players should be there, secure at least a point at Birmingham and you could be safe for another weekend, from the bottom three that is. However, defeat at St. Andrews could send Bolton back to the pits once again.

If Bolton are to have any success in this fixture then they have to scrap their passive style of play. They didn’t cause Stoke nearly enough problems and never looked liked they would take all three points in that game. The problem for Gary Megson is he has no quality up front. Kevin Davies will always remain a threat from set-pieces but if you’re relying solely on set-plays for your main bulk of goals this season then you’re a side in big trouble, and that could very well be Bolton.

Head-to-Head:

Birmingham City W: 5 Bolton Wanderers W: 4 Draws: 1

Since 2002 these two sides have met on ten occasions in the Premiership, with Birmingham edging the head-to-head record between the two. It’s also important to know that home advantage is often key in recent meetings with Birmingham winning the previous two matches at St. Andrews, and they’ve won four out of the last five encounters on home soil. Bolton, on the other hand, have had the better fortune back at The Reebok so make of this what you will.

Over 2.5 Goals: 4 Under 2.5 Goals: 6

Although there may have been four encounters which featured a few goals, the vast majority have been extremely low scoring affairs, with the few overs games being somewhat of anomaly. The last two encounters at St. Andrews have only featured one goal in each, with Birmingham winning both by a 1-0 score line.

Match Verdict: DRAW – 12/5 Boylesports

Despite Birmingham coming into this fixture off the back of a creditable away win, and Bolton only managing a draw at home to Stoke last weekend, we fancy Bolton to do just enough and frustrate Birmingham at St. Andrews. The pressure will be on the home side but they’ve failed to cause teams many problems previously at home and with an inform Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Bolton goal, this has the makings to be another dull, low scoring affair, with the draw a logical prediction. However, we must bring this little fact to light that none of the previous five encounters at St. Andrews have ended in a share of the spoils. We’re banking on that run to coming to an end this weekend.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 6/5 BetFred

Bolton Wanderers – 11/4 SkyBet

DRAW – 12/5 Boylesports

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Under 2.5 Goals – 8/13 Bet365

Blackburn Rovers V Aston Villa

Kick-Off: Saturday 26^th September – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LLDWL

Blackburn went down to their third defeat of the season on Saturday when they were comprehensively beaten and outplayed at Goodison Park, against Everton. Blackburn did have their moments, mainly with El Hadji-Diouf producing some sparkling runs down the right but, all in all, Everton ran out comfortable winners in a game Blackburn could of possibly got something out of, especially as Everton were severely lacking in league form beforehand.

Sam Allardyce will now need to rally his troops in time for this crucial clash with Aston Villa, an inform Aston Villa we must say. This is a fixture in which Blackburn haven’t faired too well in recent meetings, especially at Ewood Park. Rovers have lost the previous three meetings on home soil and they’ve shown very little of late to indicate that they may halt the Villa express and record their first points against Villa in three home meetings.

For Blackburn to take something out of this game they will need to be a lot more adventurous in the final third. Diouf was their only player to come away from Goodison with any real credit but his endeavour down the flanks came to nothing as rarely was their a Blackburn forward nor player in the Everton box. Someone has to gamble and take a chance on their wingers putting in a decent cross as another negative display will almost certainly see Blackburn come up short once again.

Aston Villa

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: LWWWW

Martin O’Neill’s squabble with influential figure; Nigel Reo-Coker, didn’t interfere with Aston Villa’s pre match preparations nor did it affect their team morale as Aston Villa avoided any potential slip up at home to a lacklustre Portsmouth last Saturday. Villa cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory at Villa Park to record their fourth win in succession, lifting them up to fifth in the Premiership table.

Villa are a young and exuberant team and last season they were in a similar position where Martin O’Neill’s side were prominent in terms of challenging the top four. Because of their youthful nature, Villa have had terrible issues with consistency, but four wins on the trot does send out a signal of intent to the top four that they are serious contenders this time around. To be brutally honest, were Villa not to be there or thereabouts then it would be a disappointing season in the eyes of the Villa fans. They should have learnt their harsh lessons from last season, which seen them let slip a healthy lead in fourth position, but with results going their way and fourth spot just over the horizon, barring they maintain their winning run, will Villa handle the added pressure or will they falter once again?

The answer to the above question is one we unfortunately don’t know right now. The early indications are that they might have matured since last season as they have approached their games this season in a more sensible yet vigorous manner, with mistakes few and far between now. Their defence has come on leaps and bounds since last season, the recruitment of Richard Dunne looks an immense capture, while the pace and skill they posses in midfield will be a right handful for the best of sides. Their striking department does look, on paper anyway, pretty prolific and full of goals. Both Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew should compliment the pace and wit of James Milner & Ashley Young down the flanks, with the England U21 internationals increasingly improving their crossing ability which should pay dividends with the aerial prowess of their striking duo.

Villa are rapidly becoming a decent little package. Solid at back, a midfield full of creativity and a forward line with pace, strength and potential. However, that is Villa summed up to a tee, a team with potential. They are the most youthful side currently in the Premiership, with the exception of possibly Arsenal, and with youth often comes arrogance. If Villa’s young hopefuls can carrying on improving then Villa could be a big force in seasons to come, but, for the time being at least, that is a big ‘IF’.

Head-to-Head:

Blackburn Rovers W: 1 Aston Villa W: 7 Draws: 2

Aston Villa have been the dominate team in recent meetings, with seven of the last ten encounters going the way of Villa. However, a stunning statistic is the fact that Villa have beaten Blackburn in their previous three visits to Ewood Park. You have to stretch back to the 2005/2006 season for Blackburn’s last home success against Villa and it’s clear Villa hold somewhat of a voodoo over Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Over 2.5 Goals: 4 Under 2.5 Goals: 6

Two of the previous three meetings at Ewood Park have resulted in a game filled with goals. However, the most recent encounter on Blackburn soil came up just shy of Overs when Villa beat Blackburn 2-0. The fact that just four of the last ten meetings have finished with three or more goals may look disappointing but three of those have all come at Ewood Park.

Match Verdict: Aston Villa to WIN – 6/4 SkyBet

The Villa voodoo will drag on here as we expect Blackburn to come up short once again against Martin O’Neill’s side. Villa are in sensational form and they haven’t looked back since their opening day defeat at home to Wigan, winning their following four fixtures, two of which were away from home. Blackburn’s biggest threat of a goal will come from set pieces but Villa should be well equipped to deal with the aerial threat posed by Rovers with the heigh of Curtis Davies and Richard Dunne at the back. Villa, however, have several players and methods of scoring a goal and they will be a right handful for Blackburn this weekend, too much we feel.

Match Odds:

Blackburn Rovers – 21/10 Bet365

Aston Villa – 6/4 SkyBet

DRAW – 23/10 Expekt

Football-Betting.co.uk Tip: Aston Villa to WIN by ONE GOAL (winning margin)- 10/3 Bet365