Weekend Premiership

50% here from Tom, as ‘Boro obliged, but City stunned Utd 2-1.

A stonking weekend of Premier League games in prospect and the two very best ones are televised and back to back. The Manchester derby precedes Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool at the Bridge on Sunday but there is plenty of decent action 24 hours previously too.

Such is the congested nature of the bottom half of the Premier League that the majority of games at present seem to have a baring on relegation matters. Just nine points covers eight teams from Fulham upwards and and they are all in action Saturday.

Reading, without a win in for ages, and Newcastle are the two sides in most desperate form at present and I don’t think either will pick up any points at Everton or Aston Villa respectively. Bolton face a struggle against Portsmouth while Birmingham will not fancy the trip to in-form West Ham.

Arguably the two most important games both take place in the north east this Saturday as Middlesbrough host Fulham and Sunderland entertain Wigan. Both look tough assignments for the away sides and, at the prices, I make Boro’ another decent bet. I’ve been impressed with them recently and the arrival of Alfonso Alves might give them a much needed boost.

Gareth Southgate’s side have been doing OK of late and a run of six games unbeaten in all competitions has seen them rise to thirteenth. Although obviously not out of it yet, I expect them to be safe with something to spare and near even money against a very poor Fulham outfit looks fair.

Roy Hodgson endured a torrid start to his managerial reign at Craven Cottage but his side will have been buoyed by their win against Aston Villa on Sunday and the return of Jimmy Bullard is a massive plus. That said, they are severely lacking in quality and have not won on their travels for what seems like a lifetime. I don’t think they’ll manage to score against a stingy Boro’ defence and perhaps Alves can be the one to fire the hosts to all three points. His record in Holland certainly suggests he is capable of doing so.

And so to Sunday and the clash at Old Trafford where emotions are sure to run high just days after the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash. Lets just hope it passes without incident.

To the game itself, I think United will badly miss Wayne Rooney who is suspended. Crisitano Ronaldo is the champions chief goal threat but the Englishman’s work rate keeps United ticking over and I think they could struggle to break City down. Ultimately, I think they will but with Elano missing for the away side, also out through suspension, Sven will surely come to protect the 0-0 they start with.

At the prices, the under 2.50 goals looks a steal at 2.15 or thereabouts. City have drawn on four of their last six visits to Old Trafford, all either 0-0 or 1-1, and the circumstances look set to dictate more of the same.