Premier League / Robert Hughes / 14 November 2008 / Leave a comment

Robert Hughes gives us the nuts and bolts of this weekend's non-televised matches where it's business as usual for Man Utd at home to Stoke, a good chance for Fulham to end Spurs' good run and a tricky home tie for Arsenal after last week's heroics against Man Utd.

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Arsenal confounded their recent poor form and injuries by beating Man Utd last week, and they have a good home record, having won four out of six at the Emirates. Meanwhile, Villa's ambitions of breaking into the Top 4 this season seem to be fading, and they have lost their last two games.

However, this season Arsenal seem to go from sublime one week to mediocre the next, and if you think Villa might make life difficult for them here, you might want to consider the draw at [4.2]. I'd expect a few goals here, as matches featuring these two have produced an average of 3.09 goals per game - and Over 2.5 Goals is available at [1.7]. Meanwhile Theo Walcott can be backed at [3.4] to add to his three goals so far this season, while Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor is currently around [4.0] to score in this one.

Blackburn v Sunderland

Blackburn were predictably beaten at home by Chelsea last Sunday, and really seem to have lost their way this season - they have failed to win in their last six matches. They also have a poor home record, with only one win and three defeats.

Their opponents this weekend are scarcely doing any better though, having lost three consecutive games - and they have just one away win to their name this season. With both teams struggling for form, the draw looks the most tempting option, at [3.45], while a 0-0 scoreline can be backed at [11.5]. Looking at the goalscorer options, Djibril Cisse has had a decent start to his Sunderland career, scoring four goals so far, and is currently around [3.75] to find the net here.

Fulham v Tottenham

Fulham's form has improved of late, as they showed when beating Newcastle last week, and they have a good home record, with four wins out of six. Meanwhile Tottenham are going from strength to strength - they are now unbeaten in four League matches, and picked up their first away win last week at Man City. However, despite Tottenham's good form, I'd still consider the [3.5] available for a Fulham win, given their strong home record and the fact that they have conceded just 10 goals in 11 games.

The draw is currently available for around the same price, while Spurs can be backed at [2.26] to come away with a win. Of the 10 goals Fulham have conceded, 7 have been in the second half, so you might want to consider some of the options in the Half Time / Full Time market, such as Fulham / Draw, at [16.5].

Man Utd v Stoke

United suffered their second defeat of the season at Arsenal last week, and they are still falling short of their form of the last two seasons. However, they are still as strong as ever at home, having picked up 13 points out of 15 so far, and have won four games in a row at Old Trafford. Stoke's draw with Wigan meant they are now unbeaten in their last three matches, but they are still without an away win this season.

It might be difficult to see beyond a home win here (currently available at [1.15]), but if their opponents demonstrate the kind of resilience they did at Anfield earlier in the season, it may not be an emphatic victory. With this in mind, a 2-0 home win can be backed at [6.6], while in the Half Time / Full Time market, Draw / Man Utd is available at [5.0].

Newcastle v Wigan

Newcastle's defeat at Fulham last week put an end to their mini-revival, although they do have a reasonable home record, with three wins out of six. After a promising start to the season, Wigan have slumped badly over the last few weeks - their goalless home draw with Stoke meant they have won just once in their last three games. They have won two, drawn one and lost three away from home so far.

Given their poor form, Wigan may be happy to come away from this with a point, and this outcome can be backed at [3.4], while a home win is available at [2.14]. Wigan's top scorer Amr Zaki is currently around [3.75] to add to his eight League goals so far, while Damien Duff can be backed at around [4.5] to score for Newcastle.

West Ham v Portsmouth

West Ham are another team who seem to be in freefall recently. Their home defeat against Everton last week, though perhaps undeserved, nevertheless meant that they now have no win and five defeats in their last six matches. Portsmouth's victory at Sunderland was their first under new manager Tony Adams, and they have picked up two wins and a draw from six away games so far.

West Ham can be backed at [2.64] to rediscover their form and take all three points here. Given that these two teams' matches have produced a total of 69 goals so far (an average of 2.88 per game), I would consider backing Over 2.5 Goals, at [2.06]. West Ham's 18-year old Freddie Sears, unlucky not to score against Everton, is available at around [3.75] to score his first of the season here.