Arsenal’s recent improvement in the Premier League has seen them secure an impressive three consecutive wins, but they should still be after more victories if they are to reach the all important top four in the tournament. The Gunners are our hot favourite to defeat Newcastle at 4/9, but they will need to play their best in order to secure the three points.
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Man United moved six points clear at the top of the Premier League table last weekend with a 3-2 win over their local rivals Manchester City and could increase the gap further with a win over struggling Sunderland this afternoon. Martin O’Neill’s side haven’t had the best start to the season with only three wins and currently sit 15th in the table with this match being a much needed win for the North East England club.
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Norwich will be looking to continue with their impressive Premier League form as they host Wigan today, and they are our 13/10 favourite to do so. After being unable to win in their first seven fixtures Norwich have since improved and now remain unbeaten in their last nine, including impressive victories over Man United, Arsenal and most recently a 4-3 win over Swansea. This has seen them move to twelfth in the table and they should be keen to climb higher, with only two points separating them and seventh placed Arsenal.
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The Premier League is seeing Stoke host Everton this afternoon in what could be a tight game. The two teams have taken similar results this season with only three points separating them, and a win for Stoke would see them level out on points. Stoke are not our favourite here however at 2/1, with Everton at 7/5.
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This is set to be an exciting London derby between QPR and Fulham in the Premier League this afternoon. QPR are still yet to win this season and in desperate need of points at the very bottom of the table. Fulham have had a bag of mixed results including five wins and are fresh off the back of a 2-1 win over Newcastle last Monday so will certainly be full of confidence, however their away record still isn’t great and they will no doubt have to put in the work here.
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Spurs will be aiming to return to the top four of the Premier League with a win over Swansea this afternoon as they host Michael Laudrup’s side in the early kick-off.
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Nobody could have predicted West Brom’s genuine progress in the Premier League this season and the same could be said for their opponents this afternoon. West Ham have made an impressive start since being promoted from the Championship, however both sides have had a slight dip in form with the Baggies on three straight defeats and West Ham also losing three of their last four matches.
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The last time these two teams met the score line ended 7-5 to Arsenal in the Carling Cup. This time they meet in the Premier League where points are crucial for the home side who are at the very bottom of the table in the relegation zone.
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The Premier League takes a break for the international action this week but here we look back on another weekend of high drama in England’s top flight.
1 – The real Manchester United finally showed up
After what has been a stuttering start to the season from Manchester United, finally we got to see Sir Alex Ferguson’s side’s true colours on Sunday as the 3-0 win at Newcastle proved they are very much title contenders again this term (United 2/1 – Premier League Outright).
St James’ Park remains one of the toughest places to get a result in the top flight but the way the Red Devils tore the Toon apart in the opening half hour should be an ominous warning to Manchester City, Chelsea and co.
They may have lost twice already this season but United appear back to their best and the rest of the league should be worried.
2 – But City click into gear too
If United’s start had been below-par then City, while unbeaten heading into Saturday’s home clash with Sunderland, could hardly be described as looking like defending champions in the early weeks of the season.
Draws at Stoke, Liverpool and at home to Arsenal, coupled with narrow victories over Southampton and Fulham, have led to questions marks over whether Roberto Mancini’s side can handle the pressure that comes with being champions (City 13/8f – Premier League Outright).
However, the utterly convincing 3-0 win over the Black Cats – that could easily have been five or six – suggests they too are now ready to prove the doubters wrong.
3 – Paul Lambert has plenty to do at Aston Villa
Paul Lambert’s arrival at Villa Park over the summer was greeted with cheer by the fans, but a thoroughly underwhelming start has left them scratching their heads.
Villa, who are 3/1 to be relegated, have won just one game so far and only really impressed in that victory over Swansea and in fits and starts since.
Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Spurs was a meek surrender after they had held their own in the first 45 minutes while Lambert’s decision to again start proven goalscorer Darren Bent on the bench is baffling.
4 – Diving remains an issue to be tackled
Another weekend in the Premier League and another Monday is dominated by talk of how to combat players diving.
Luis Suarez (9/1 – Premier League Top Goalscorer) has drawn plenty of criticism from managers for it in the past and Stoke boss Tony Pulis described his going to ground in the second half of his side’s 0-0 draw at Anfield on Sunday as “embarrassing”.
The ‘dive’ was laughable with no Stoke player even making a challenge let alone contact with the Uruguayan, although the Liverpool striker will claim in his defence – if it is one – that he has had three legitimate spot-kicks turned down this season already by referees in earlier games.
Gareth Bale was also guilty of it in Spurs’ win over Aston Villa so is it now time for retrospective action to be brought in by a panel of experts assessing the weekend action?
5 – Hughes must pick up points soon
Despite receiving the backing of chairman Tony Fernandes this week, QPR boss Mark Hughes must now be under some degree of pressure at Loftus Road after another weekend defeat (QPR – 2/1 To Be Relegated).
Despite heavy summer investment, the Rs look like a side without a structure and, at times, appear totally disjointed. The arrival of so many new faces is bound to unsettle things and they will need time to gel.
There is talent in the ranks at Loftus Road and Fernandes will clearly stick by Hughes but wins are what is needed after the 3-2 reverse at West Brom on Saturday.
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With the Premier League and Championship taking a break during the international period, League One takes centre stage on the domestic front this weekend.
There is a double-header in the third tier on Sunday afternoon, with Coventry City entertaining Stevenage (home 13/10, draw 9/4, away 21/10) and troubled Portsmouth travelling to Crawley Town (home 4/5, draw 5/2, away 7/2).
Momentum plays a key role in modern football and the clubs on show have experienced contrasting fortunes in recent years.
Portsmouth and Coventry, two sides relegated from the Championship last term, have struggled to adapt to life in League One.
In Pompey’s case, that is completely understandable. Michael Appleton saw all of his senior players leave Fratton Park in the summer as the financially-stricken club moved towards liquidation.
The Portsmouth boss fielded a near-youth team in the Capital One Cup first round, with nine players under the age of 21. He brought in 10 new players on short-term contracts and four on loan ahead of their League One opener on August 18, and has continued to add to his squad in the time since.
As you would expect the new-look outfit has struggled to gel and Pompey have amassed just two points from four games.
They travel to Crawley (14/1 – League One outright) this weekend, a club which has achieved back-to-back promotions in the last two seasons. The Reds have had no issues adapting to life in League One – winning three of their opening four matches.
Loanee Nicky Ajose and the experienced Gary Alexander (First Goalscorer and Crawley 2-0 – 25/1 – Scorecast) have led the line superbly and will pose a significant threat to Portsmouth’s backline.
A second relegation in as many years is a real possibility for Pompey and they will not be afforded any favours at Broadfield Stadium (Crawley/Crawley – half-time/full-time – 13/8).
Managerless Coventry, who have financial problems of their own, have yet to win in their first season in the third tier in 48 years.
The Sky Blues established themselves as a top-flight club throughout the latter part of the last century but stood still following their relegation to the Championship in 2001. In their case, they could not find any kind of momentum.
Coventry (Correct Score 1-0 – 7/1), under caretaker bosses Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley, will be desperate to open their account at home to unbeaten Stevenage.
Like Crawley, Boro went straight from the Conference to League One in two seasons. They reached the play-offs in their first season in the third tier and are a good bet to repeat the feat this term.
They are unbeaten in the league going into tomorrow’s clash but will face their most difficult challenge to date at the Ricoh Arena.
Coventry’s desperation for points gives them the edge and should see them get their campaign underway (Draw/Coventry – half-time/full-time 4/1).
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