Premiership Preview

100% from Tom here: Manchester United 4-1 Middlesborough and Birmingham 3-2 Wigan. Good stuff.

A real test for the ‘new’ Arsenal on Sunday as they go to Anfield. That is the highlight of what looks a very decent weekend of punting opportunities and I have a couple of wagers selected, both from games taking place on Saturday.

Middlesbrough have caused Manchester United problems in the past, but I feared for Boro’ at the start of the season and at the moment they are in free fall. No wins in what is rapidly approaching two months is not good news for any side and surely it can only get worse on Saturday at Old Trafford.

While the Red Devils started the season sluggishly it is now four goals in each of their last three games; a run which taken them second in the Premier League. Rooney and Tevez all of a sudden look like the dream partnership, allaying any early doubts, while the return to form of Cristiano Ronaldo is obviously a welcome boost.

Sir Alex may choose to rest a couple of senior players, but the young guns are taken to batter the visitors and I’ll be backing them giving up 1.75 goals. At 1.90, it certainly looks the call given that the champions are just a 1.20 shot to prevail outright.

While I was dismissive of Boro’s chance before the season got underway I was optimistic that Birmingham would have a decent year and I think they have been unlucky so far. I’ve watched them a few times and they probably should have a point or two more.

There is no doubt Steve Bruce would take a fourteenth place finish right now, the position they currently occupy, but I think they can do better than that and like the look of them at odds against on Saturday. They host Wigan, who are not in the best of form, and the Blues will have targeted this as a game they can win. I’ll be taking the 2.10 on offer that says they can.