Weekend Premiership

Tom Allen got it right with a tip to lay Fulham on Saturday. Sunderland helped us cash in by prolonging their impressive start to the season with a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage

A big relief to wave goodbye to the recent round of international fixtures where late goals proved very costly. That said, this weekend’s Premier League games don’t look particularly punter-friendly and value appears thin on the ground.

I expect the ‘Big Four’ to all record victories, Chelsea are the only one of the esteemed quartet to play away from home but they should have no problems at the Riverside against Middlesbrough, and my focus of attention is on two sides in the lower reaches of the league table. Stoke’s clash with Spurs on Sunday sees the bottom pair go head to head, Tottenham fans won’t like to hear that, but the best, and only, bet of the weekend comes at Craven Cottage and I want to be against Fulham at home to Sunderland.

Fulham’s recovery at the end of last season was nothing short of miraculous and they seemed to thrive on that experience at the start of this term. Four defeats in a row however, including at Burnley in the Carling Cup, has brought about a new sense of gloom to the West London club and Roy Hodgson must be scratching his head. Jimmy Bullard has committed his future to the Cottagers but Andrew Johnson has barely kicked a ball since his big money move from Everton and another long, hard season lies in store.

Sunderland, in contrast, are a club on the up and Roy Keane has added real quality at the Stadium of Light since his appointment as manager. Last season it was all about survival but anybody that considers the Black Cats as relegation candidates this time around is wide of the mark and they should be able to achieve safety with something to spare.

Djibril Cisse is a top class centre forward that has provided some much needed zest to Sunderland’s attacking play and once he is joined by Kenwyne Jones in attack, when the Trinidad & Tobago striker returns from injury, then they will be even more potent going forward.

Sunderland were recommended on the handicaps last time at home versus Arsenal and they duly obliged. The 1-1 score line that day was harsh on the hosts however, Cesc Fabregas equalising in the 94th minute, and I think they are gaining in confidence week by week. Anton Ferdinand looks to have found a manager he actually wants to play for and he provides Craig Gordon with excellent protection. The Scottish stopper is superb between the sticks though and is one of the reasons that Keane’s men concede so few goals.

While Sunderland’s relative success last season was built upon a solid home record this campaign they have proved more effective on their travels and their only defeat so far away from the north east came at Villa Park. That is no disgrace, Villa are now among the Premier League’s elite, and I think Sunderland will be good enough for at least a point on Saturday.

At the prices the away side aren’t quite big enough to warrant a bet at 3.50 but Fulham are certainly opposable at just 2.30 on Betfair. That looks plenty short enough for a side that hasn’t won for over a month and they should be taken on with confidence.