Saturday
Fixture: Stoke 1-0 Man City
Venue: Britannia Stadium (Stoke home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: What was most encouraging about Man City's win over Newcastle (apart from the fact that we went big on it) was the performance of new signing Craig Bellamy who looked like the missing piece of the jigsaw up front. Their latest target Shay Given, along with Bellamy and De Jong, conclusively prove what most people know Mark Hughes knows his onions. Stoke are set in a pattern of defeats and praying for defeats around them in the relegation zone. Difficult to see them pulling clear after defeat to fellow struggler Spurs.
Betting Advice: 2pts Man City to win at 13/10 (2.3 generally)
Fixture: Fulham 3-1 Portsmouth
Venue: Craven Cottage (Fulham home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Home form has been the key for Fulham this season, who have taken 21 out of 26 points at Craven Cottage. Portsmouth continue to look like dead men walking under Tony Adams who continues his therapy-speak as excuses for defeats. Tony, if you want to win a game ever again, "STOP PLAYING CROUCH ON HIS OWN UP FRONT." Therapy session over.
Betting Advice: 4pts Fulham to win at 11/10 (2.1 at Skybet)
Fixture: Hull 2-2 West Brom
Venue: KC Stadium (Hull home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Of course, there is always a good reason why something is 11/4 to a three-horse race, but West Brom are playing well enough at the moment to warrant a look here. They may be bottom still, but only on goal difference and are just a win away from 13th, it's that tight down there. And results have been good recently if you ignore the Man Utd defeat in midweek. They've beaten Middlesbrough, Tottenham and Man City in their last five league games, all deservedly. The Man Utd 5-0 stuffing has probably helped the price become a little more generous. It was a freak result as WBA lost a player early on and were not helped by some incongruous refereeing. Hull haven't won in the league since the beginning of December and, worryingly, that run of losses included 4-1 and 5-1 defeats to Sunderland and Man City respectively. A major concern.
Betting Advice: 1pt West Brom to win at 11/4 (3.75 at Skybet and Ladbrokes)
Sunday
Fixture: Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea
Venue: Anfield (Liverpool home)
Kick-off: 4pm GMT
Verdict: The consensus of opinion after Rafa Benitez adopted a more cautious approach against Wigan during the week is that the visit of Chelsea is a certain draw bet. While I see the logic, and certainly understand that Chelsea would be happy with a draw, I feel that Liverpool could win this one and will be all out for it. Chelsea were not impressive against Middlesbrough in midweek and some frustrated home fans got on the back of the players at half-time. Liverpool will know there are weaknesses at the back (post!) for Chelsea and will be all-out to exploit. It is the perfect opportunity to set down a marker for the final third of the season and they are no champions if they cannot beat Chelsea at home.
Betting Advice: 3pts Liverpool to win at 6/4 (2.5 generally)
NO BETS
Saturday
Arsenal are probable winners against West Ham at home, but the price is difficult to justify (1/2) after their draw at Everton.
Aston Villa (4/6) play one of my identified danger teams in Wigan and, while I imagine them good enough to take the three points at home, Wigan are more than capable of spoiling as Liverpool found out in midweek.
Bolton let slip a two-goal advantage against Blackburn on Wednesday, while Tottenham were impressive at home. But both have concerns.
Both Middlesbrough and Blackburn are both unbackable at the moment. Boro would get the nod on home advantage alone, which is no way to back a team. It'll probably be a draw.
Leaders Manchester United continue to be the team to beat, but I wonder about this match. Everton are sensational away from home and may grab at least a point: certainly the league leaders are no value at 2/5.
Sunday
Newcastle showed again in midweek that relegation is still on the cards. I am tempted to back Sunderland, but the Tyne-Tees derby factor brings this fixture into dispute on betting grounds.
