Archived Premiership Football Betting Tips (24th September 2005)

The Chelsea battering ram goes thundering on and there look to be no signs of it stopping; they are the only side to have a 100% record and additionally, they are yet to concede a goal. When it looks like opposition defences are containing them they have the calibre of player in all areas to up the tempo and produce goals of the sublime variety. Not the same can be said of a Villa side who have only picked up a solitary point away from home and looked to be going out of the Carling Cup in the 3rd round against Wycombe after being 3-1 down at half time. However, they managed to turn this around in the second half with an explosive 7 goals; sadly O'Leary would probably have been hoping that they could have saved some of these goals for the Premiership and potential points. Chelsea must be certs to win this one and should do it without conceding.

All the talk has been of Rooney this week, first his dismissal in Europe for an obviously regrettable reaction to a referee's decision and second for his crowning of World Young Player of the Year by FIFPRO. He will always be a topic of conversation but there is no doubt that Ferguson will be the manager to get the best from this young talent; he has had a history of developing young players such as Giggs and Beckham, and there's no reason why Rooney can't be any different. United are still undefeated and have only conceded a single goal and should continue this vein of form with a win against a Blackburn side who collapsed after conceding a first goal to Newcastle. Blackburn were the better side before conceding but never really look like being convincing in front of goal. There's no doubt that they will set out to frustrate United, a strategy epitomised by Savage, but United should break them down in the second half.

These two were both at the other end of expected results last weekend; Newcastle were on the right end of an emphatic win over Blackburn whilst City were on the wrong end of an injury time Bolton winner after dominating the game and hitting the woodwork 5 times. Though Newcastle beat Blackburn by 3 clear goals it still did not hide the cracks that exist in the Newcastle defence and an under strength midfield, and they were only the better team after Shearer scored from a free kick. Shearer and Owen will always cause problems but only as long as they get the required service. City have shown they are a good side with Barton improvng all the time in midfield; the loss to Bolton should have shocked them and Newcastle won't find it easy against them especially as City are a much better side than Blackburn. Sinclair will miss out through injury but City should be fancied to get a draw, even though the Geordies think they've turned the corner.

The Baggies certainly didn't give up at the weekend in what was looking like Sunderland's first 3 points of the season. It showed commendable spirit from Robson's side when Gera finally headed the equaliser after continuous pressure but now they need to take that a step further and get a result against a side at the top end of the league. Charlton lost their 100% record after their home defeat to Chelsea but they matched the Champions for the majority of the game. In their 3 away games Charlton have maximum points and have scored 7 goals conceding just the one but the question is just for how long will their infamous good start to the season continue. Bent should get more chances against West Brom's back line than he did against Chelsea so expect him to be the difference.

Bolton haven't made a very consistent start to the season and were not too impressive away at Man City but still managed to sneak the winner at the bitter end completely against the run of play. Bolton's work rate is usually so high for 90 minutes that they are well positioned to take advantages of any such lapses as they are always pressuring the opposition. However they will need to pick up against a Portsmouth side who are renowned for poor away form, although they did sneak 3 points at Everton after a Ferguson own goal, and last weekend could not break down a 10 man Birmingham side with 45 minutes to play. Not sure that Portsmouth will feel like mixing it when they turn up at the Reebok so have to go for a Bolton win.