The Cheeky Punt's Weekend Preview

Bolton v West Brom
Both these teams were unceremoniously dumped out of the Carling Cup in midweek and having watched the Baggies' lamentable effort against Hartlepool in the flesh I can testify that their stay in the Premiership will be brief unless boss Tony Mowbray can take a leaf out of fellow Teessider Paul Daniels' book and start weaving some magic.

Record signing Borja Valero had a mare against the Monkey Hangers and on that showing I wouldn't have given ten bob and a pickled onion for his services, never mind £4.7million. Bolton are no great shakes themselves mind so it's with no great confidence that I plump for a home win here.
Betting: Bolton to beat West Brom at 10/11 (Stan James)



Everton v Portsmouth
After last season's heroics Pompey have looked flatter than a fat dog's fart so far this season. In their defence they have endured a torrid start to the campaign having been forced to play Premiership super powers Chelsea and Manchester United early doors but one wonders if things will get worse before they get better for 'Arry and the boys at Goodison Park?

The Toffees were comfortable 3-1 winners in this fixture last season with Yakubu bagging a brace and I fancy 'The Yak' to continue his fine start to the season in this one.
Betting: Yakubu to score anytime at 15/8 (Paddy Power)



Hull v Wigan
A few years ago you would have got long odds about these two meeting in English football's top flight. However that's the situation we have in 2008 and while the bookies are convinced Hull's Premiership sleepover won't last beyond next May they have started very well thank you very much having snared four points from their opening two games.

In stark contrast Wigan are struggling and so I'm sure Hull will be popular choices on any self-respecting accumulator this weekend. In gambling though you sometimes have to fly in the face of logic to nick a few quid and so for this reason I'll be tickling the away win at 2/1 because I don't think Hull are as good or Wigan as bad as the current Premiership table indicates.
Betting: Wigan to beat Hull at 2/1 (Boylsports)



Middlesbrough v Stoke
The wise guy pundits claiming Stoke would be this season's Derby County are already being forced to gorge on large slices of humble pie after The Potters' 3-2 win over Aston Villa last week helped them to their first Premiership win. No matter than Stoke's entire attacking strategy seems to be trying to win throw-ins so that Rory Delap can hurl the ball into the mixer in the vain hope of getting a nod on.

Middlesbrough's attacking play so far has been a touch more expansive and thoughtful and for this reason I fancy them to claim three points on Teesside. They played well without reward at Anfield last Saturday but I think they'll get what they deserve this time round and with Mido in red hot form look for them to cover the match handicap at 15/8.
Betting: Middlesbrough (-1) to beat Stoke at 15/8 (bet365)



West Ham v Blackburn
Blackburn and new boss Paul Ince have made a solid enough start to the season and so for the life of me I can't see why they are as big as 2/1 to beat a West Ham side who have looked a shambles in their last two games. With Anton Ferdinand having left for Sunderland and Craig Bellamy rumoured to be after a move these are testing times for Alan Curbishley and his not so happy Hammers.

Curbs is 7/4 to be the first Premiership boss to lose his job and I'd have been all over that bet had I not done my conkers betting on the women's BMX-ing at the recent Olympics. I do aim to claw a few quid back from the bookies though by backing Blackburn here and reckon a speculative play on a 3-1 scoreline might be the way to go.
Betting: Blackburn to beat West Ham 3-1 at 33/1 (Blue Square)



Arsenal v Newcastle
The Geordies were no strangers to the Emirates last season but in three fixtures daan' saarf they were hopeless, losing three times and shipping eight goals in the process. However hope springs eternal in the land that spawned Cheryl Tweedy and after a very solid start to the season look out for thousands of very excitable drunk and topless Toon fans in North London this weekend. Michael Owen isn't fit but he is firing right now and I wouldn't put anyone off backing the one-time boy wonder to score first here.
Betting: Owen to score first at 10/1 (Paddy Power)


SUNDAY

Chelsea v Tottenham
Spurs look as though they have landed Roman Pavlyuchenko, a player almost as famous for his drinking exploits back in Russia than for his displays on the park. He revealed to British journalists recently how he has an uneasy relationship with John Barleycorn. "The worst case was on the eve of my marriage. I drank so much I almost fell off my hotel balcony." Lovely stuff. With quotes like that he is well on the way to becoming my second favourite Russian after the girl who piped me off in Amsterdam last November.

I fancy the home win here but not at 2/5 so will be backing Chelsea to edge it by the odd goal in three.
Betting: Chelsea to beat Tottenham 2-1 at 8/1 (extrabet)



Sunderland v Manchester City
Citeh did the double over the Black Cats last season and got back on track by thumping West Ham 3-0 last week. Sunderland's start to the season has been pretty swish but they struggled to get past Nottingham Forest in the League Cup on Wednesday. All things considered a draw wouldn't be the worst result in the world for all concerned.
Betting: Sunderland and Manchester City to draw at 12/5 (Skybet)



Aston Villa v Liverpool

On paper everything in Liverpool's garden looks rosy right now. Maximum points from their first two Premiership games? In the hat for the Champions League group stages? The job's a good 'un surely? Personally I'm not convinced.

They didn't impress against either Sunderland or Boro and I'm still scratching my head as to how they got past Standard Liege over two legs in Europe. With the talismanic Stevie G also sidelined for the foreseeable Martin O'Neill's men look proper tempters to me here at better than 2/1.
Betting: Aston Villa to beat Liverpool at 23/10 (Canbet)

>Degsy Bilton