Saturday Soccer

Weekend Soccer – By Chris.

The Premiership

Birmingham - Manchester City 2.43 - 3.25
One win in their last ten games and no wonder that Birmingham are in trouble one point above the drop zone. They play some decent offensive football, using both wings, but I have to say that they are bit naive defensively. They will be missing their centre back L Ridgewell tomorrow with M Taylor his likely replacement. J McFadden will be missing again but hopefully O Kapo will be able to play some part.

City went for the 0-0 draw at Bolton last week but I expect Sven's team to be more ambitious against Birmingham. As I said last week, Bolton never were the favourite opponent for City, but they will not mind facing Birmingham. They are more of a footballing side, like M City. D Hamann returns for City. No doubt that Birmingham have more to play for but they will not get more than one point from this fixture. X2 then!

Valitse 1 2,55 paf

Bolton - Arsenal 5.50 - 1.80
Numerous chances were produced by Bolton last week in their home game with Man City, but their final touch let them down. Now they are up against one of their favourite opponents, Arsenal, a side that Bolton have defeated in the last three meetings at the Reebok Stadium. Unfortunately Bolton will be without their suspended skipper Kevin Nolan and R Gardner is out injured.

Allowing ten man Birmingham the late equaliser and having Eduardo severely injured in the same game changed the Arsenal season for the worse. No wins since that day and they can forget about the title. All that matters is their Champions League encounters with Liverpool, starting with the first leg next week. Not that coach Wenger will agree, but that is his job. New on their injury list is Sagna. I cannot avoid backing the home win (5.50).

Valitse 1 Bolton 5,65 paf

Derby - Fulham 3.10 - 2.55
It is perfectly simple, Fulham have to win this match, or else they can start preparing for the Championship. Just recently Sunderland visited Derby in a similar situation, but they could not win the match (0-0). Sunderland dominated the match and they should have won it. So Fulham have to win an away game. They are 0-6-9 this far away from home and it was the much the same last season. The come with the same squad that lost to Newcastle last week. They look OK, but they are bit wanting offensively. I am prepared to back the away win after all (2.55). Why not a 0-1 result!

Valitse Tulosveto 0-1 6,10 paf


Sunderland - West Ham 2.38 - 3.35
Easy choice for this game, home win (2.38). The way I see it the Sunderland players will work their socks off to win this match and I cannot imagine that the West Ham players will be able to match that motivation. W Ham drew their away game with Everton last week? Yes, I know, I watched the match and they deserved their draw. Kind of low key Everton display that day, in my opinion. Anyway, the Hammers boss Curbishley is building for the future and he included two teenagers in his squad last week, Tomkins and Sears. Dean Ashton is looking sharp again and W Ham have come back from their 3 x 0-4 in a strong way.

Sunderland gave Aston Villa no space at all last week. I expect the same shutting down tactics from Sunderland tomorrow but they will probably get more scoring chances of their own at the Stadium of Light. They won against Villa without their big man up front, K Jones, but he will most likely be back for this match. C Edwards however, is a major doubt. Sunderland to win (2.38).

Valitse 1 Sunderland 2,30 paf

Manchester Utd - Aston Villa 1.33 - 11.50
Villa have offered some disappointing displays in the last couple of weeks and pretty soon they are bound to deliver a top performance. I cannot imagine that their season will go to waste just because they have gone through this present lean spell. I am not saying for sure that it will happen this weekend, but it is not out of the question. No pressure on Villa this time. O Mellberg will be back to play for Villa replacing the injured C Gardner.

Even if Villa should be on top of their game they will probably lose to United. That is the depressing reality for the Villa supporters. Facts you should not ignore are the midweek internationals and the United vs Roma fixture this coming Tuesday. It could happen that the United players will have something of an off day against A Villa. In other words I will not be backing this low priced home win. No way! (1.33).

Valitse Tulosveto 3-1 10,00 paf


Birmingham - Manchester City
1    2,55
Bolton - Arsenal
1    5,65
Derby - Fulham
0-1    6,10
Sunderland - West Ham
1    2,30
Manchester United - Aston Villa
3-1    10,00

Triplasysteemi 10 riviä