Saturday
Fixture: Burnley 3-1 Sunderland
Venue: Turf Moor (Burnley home)
Kick-off: 12.45pm BST
Verdict: Burnley's attacking spirit is commendable, and anyone who watched them last year will tell you that their forward-thinking style is what got them into the Premier League in the first place. Unfortunately, what tends to happen at a higher level is that the opposition is slightly better at both scoring behind you and keeping you out. So, we have seen Burnley get two spankings on their travels. They have, however, been a little tighter at home, but that was for scoring early and finding an opposition firing blanks at the time.
Now, they face a Sunderland side that they must be on their list of three-point must-haves if they are going to survive.
Likewise, newly freescoring Sunderland must be thinking that this is a game to be won. I suspect it will be open and attacking, which will suit Sunderland most.
Betting Advice: 2pts Sunderland to win at 8/5 (2.6 at totesport, Paddy Power, expekt.com); 2pts more than 2.5 goals at Evens (2.0 at Paddy Power and Skybet)
Fixture: Hull 0-1 Birmingham
Venue: Kingston Communications Stadium (Hull home)
Kick-off: 3pm BST
Verdict: Hull's biggest weakness this season was their main strength last season - manager Phil Brown. The man who inspired The Tigers to promotion the season before and then to maintain their lofty status against all odds is becoming a liability because of a personality that at best is creative and, at worst, is pathological. He kept the players on the pitch against Man City last March, which was inspirational. However, since then he has been more than erratic, bought substandard replacements for decent players leaving - and is rapidly losing the dressing room. Hull are also in worrying financial ground as they have failed to file company accounts for 2007/8 - the only Premier League club yet to do.
Meanwhile, Birmingham's treatment room is bursting at the seams, which would suggest that they will be making the trip north with a less than perfect top 11.
Hull have not scored two in their last 19 matches. Birmingham are a solid defensive unit (conceded four goals all season).
Bore draw.
Betting Advice: 2pts 0-0 draw at 17/2 (9.5 at Victor Chandler); 4pts less than 2.5 goals in match at 4/6 (1.67 generally)
Sunday
Fixture: Man Utd 4-3 Man City
Venue: Old Trafford (Man Utd home)
Kick-off: 1.30pm BST
Verdict: There is no doubt that United have found their mojo, but this is the best chance Man City have of putting their newfound wealth to good use (as far as their fans are concerned). The 4-2 win against Arsenal will have them believing, and the bookies are offering an incredibly generous price on it happening.
And it is a derby, after all.
Betting Advice: 1pt Man City to win at 5/1 (6.0 at Bet365, Extrabet)
NO BETS
Saturday
Arsenal say that the late victory at Standard Liege on Wednesday has kickstarted their season. I believe them and they should beat Wigan, but it's a mean price
Res: 4-0
Aston Villa had a real result against Birmingham last weekend, but the bookies have the measure of them at home to Portsmouth
Res: 2-0
Bolton against Stoke should be played behind closed doors to protect humanity as a whole. Can't predict the score. Don't care
Res: 1-1
West Ham could spring a surprise against a Liverpool side who are a real hit-and-miss affair this season
Res: 2-3
Sunday
Fulham travel to Wolves high on hopes after a good win at home to Everton last weekend, but I'm not so sure....
Res: 2-1 (Wolves home)
Everton are another who are hit and miss this season and should be avoided against a Blackburn side better than most expected them to be.
Res: 3-0
Chelsea at home to Tottenham is a fascinating affair, but we had our fingers burned by Tottenham last week, so avoid
Res: 3-0
