Aston Villa vs Sunderland Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg serves a one-match ban but Craig Gardner is fit after a back problem so will replace him. Manager Martin O'Neill has no fresh injury concerns. Sunderland are still without Dickson Etuhu who has a knee problem but striker Anthony Stokes has recovered from illness and may return. Daryl Murphy, Kieran Richardson and Michael Chopra all missed the defeat by Chelsea and could also return.
Sunderland without a single goal in the last 4 games and drawing a blank in 5 of the last 6 - only Wigan failing to hold them at bay in a 2-0 defeat. And their overall away record is rather embarrassing: 0 wins in 15 attempts, 12 defeats and a paltry 9 goals scored with 33 conceded. Oh dear. Having said that, they've become mighty stuffy at the back of late. Villa haven't won in 3 but that's a 1-1 draw at Arsenal, 1-1 at home to Middlesbrough who have been proving much more difficult to beat in recent weeks and a 2-0 loss at Portsmouth who have only been beaten twice at home all season - not the easiest run.
Having said that, their lack of goals recently is a concern as is Sunderland's sudden meaness at the back: 5 in a row under 2.5 for Sunderland and 3 in a row for Aston Villa so what price the unders? Well, I can see under 2.5, 1.85 @ Betfair which the stats suggest is no' bad son. And how about Villa to win by 1 goal @ 3.20 with Bet365 - in the bag!
Blackburn v Wigan
Blackburn are without Brett Emerton (groin), but boss Mark Hughes hopes he will be fit to return next week. New signing Johann Vogel is yet to receive international clearance while skipper Ryan Nelsen remains sidelined. Wigan's Antoine Sibierski is unlikely to play because of a calf injury, while Jason Koumas begins a three-match ban. Striker Emile Heskey is still struggling with a foot injury but he and Marcus Bent (shin) should both be available for the match.
Stat attack! Wigan have kept 4 consecutive clean sheets and 5 from the last 6. What do you need to break through these fellas? A Blackburn Rovers perhaps? Well I'm not convinced with Blackburn only scoring more than a goal in one of the last five. Again, I'm looking at the under 2.5 with Wigan going under six times from six and Blackburn four times from six. If that doesn't scream unders then I don't know what does. I see 1.71 @ Betfair which isn't too bad considering those stats. Amen brother.
Bolton v Man City
Bolton duo Kevin Nolan and Gary Cahill could both return for Bolton, although they are struggling with back and foot injuries respectively. Gavin McCann is another doubt after sustaining a calf injury in Wednesday's defeat at Manchester United. Manchester City expect striker Benjani Mwaruwari to be fit despite suffering from a minor hamstring problem. Midfielder Martin Petrov returns from suspension but Dietmar Hamann completes his two-match ban.
Bloody hell - another two teams who can't score goals and obviously both struggling to win because of this. We're in for a classic! Bolton have only scored two more than Derby over the last ten matches for goodness sake. Lets just stick this one down as a big, fat DRAW and move on huh? Especially as it's now 11:30am Saturday morning and I still have a squillion games to do. Yes, yes, I'll be better prepared next week. Forgive me? Cool!
Everton vs West Ham
Everton look almost certain to be without Andrew Johnson (groin), but fellow striker Victor Anichebe could be in the squad after a hip injury. Midfielder Tim Cahill (hip) remains a major doubt, but Manuel Fernandes has overcome a groin problem. West Ham defender Matthew Upson should be fit despite a calf problem, while Luis Boa Morte returns from suspension. Striker Bobby Zamora is struggling to overcome painful blisters and Carlton Cole (dead leg) is also a concern.
Looking at the form, you have to say Everton look good for the win. They aint half hot mum. One defeat in ten with seven victories and a ridiculous three goals conceded in that time - no one is tighter than that (insert Scotsman joke here if you're into that kind of shallow, stereotpying). A wee blip at struggling Fulham though, losing 1-0. Make of that what you will but West Ham's last two away games have ended in 4-0 defeats. Haha! In fact, they had three consecutive 4 goal defeats. Ah-hahaha! Ok, I can't see Everton winning 4-0 but a narrow win is on the cards surely? Come on? Right. Next!
Middlesbrough vs Derby
Middlesbrough striker Mido begins a three-match ban while midfielder Fabio Rochemback is banned for two games. Defenders Robert Huth (foot) and Emanuel Pogatetz (calf) are doubtful, but Andrew Taylor is in contention. Derby goalkeeper Roy Carroll is fit after suffering a slight groin problem in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at Pride Park. Defender Alan Stubbs is out with a calf injury, and midfielder Stephen Pearson (hernia) is unlikely to figure.
Ok. Give me one good reason why Derby will avoid losing here? You can get 1.50 for the home win at Stan James or Tote you know? I said on day one of the season that Derby would struggle to win ANY games and by jove I was right. Huh? Uh huh. Their record is shocking. Appalling. Laughable. They can't score, they can't defend, they can't do anything right. Tenner says they're a better pool team than football. Bitchy! Truth be told though, I don't actually think it'll be that easy for the home side. There's a bit of pressure on when you're down the bottom and expected to pulverise someone. It could be nervy stuff and it's not like Middlesbrough score goals for fun. Anyone willing to chance the home side HT/FT @ around evens? Go on then. Be a devil.
Newcastle vs Fulham
Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has no fresh injury problems. Shay Given is out for six weeks after groin surgery, while James Milner (foot), Emre (calf) and Stephen Carr (hamstring) also remain sidelined. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Newcastle on Saturday. Hodgson is likely to remain loyal to the strikeforce of Eddie Johnson and Brian McBride as they try to win their first away game for 18 months.
Yeeech! What a horrible looking match to try and predict. Both struggling; Newcastle in particular with no wins in ten. Gee whizz. Neither side can score goals either with Fulham's away tally only two goals better than.... Derby's! Roy Hodgson is an experienced manager though and no doubt will have Fulham set up nice and tight and will be looking to build on their impressive 1-0 win over in form Everton. This one is a bit coin-flippy isn't it? On paper there could be a case made for the X2 and the under 2.5 (as usual) but I'm ready to scarper from this match. Yuck.
Reading vs Birmingham
Reading have no new injury worries ahead of the visit of Birmingham. But defender Graeme Murty (knee), midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) and winger Glen Little (heel and hamstring) remain unavailable. Birmingham's Martin Taylor is available after his three-match ban for the red card against Arsenal for the tackle which resulted in Eduardo's broken leg. But Blues boss Alex McLeish is set to continue with the centre-back pairing of Liam Ridgewell and Radhi Jaidi.
What to make of this one? Birmingham one win in ten but five draws... Reading two wins in ten but eight defeats. Tut tut. Birmingham scoring a bit more than their rivals but both equally tight at the back while Reading's home record quite a bit better than Birmingham's away. I just don't know. Put a gun to my head and I'd say Birmingham won't lose. Put a loaded gun to my head and I'd squeal, "First goal after 28th minute @ 2.05 and Birmingham to win by one goal @ 5.50, both bets with Bet365!!"
Tottenham vs Portsmouth
Oh, this one kicks off in 15 minutes so I'll just quickly say.... Spurs... always over 2.5 aren't they? Five in a row I see. Take the overs, sit back, and enjoy. 1.85 @ Betfair or 1.83 @ 10bet. Quickly now. Go, go.
