Premiership Betting preview Saturday 29th March

March 28, 2008

Birmingham v Man City

Birmingham are hanging dangerously just above the relegation zone after just one solitary win in their last twelve games, whilst Manchester City are heading for their best-ever Premiership finish in Sven Goran-Eriksson’s first season in charge at Eastlands.

Dietmar Hamann should return from suspension to make his 50th Appearance for Man City, whilst Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell starts his suspension with this game.

Birmingham v Manchester City Match Odds:

Birmingham - 7/5 (Bet 365)

Draw - 23/10 (Bet 365)

Man City - 21/10 (VC Bet)

Bolton v Arsenal

Third-from-bottom Bolton host Third-from-top Arsenal at the Reebok this weekend, as we enter the business end of the season. Both teams need the points desperatel, with Arsenal facing Liverpool in their next three matches, followed by a trip to Old Trafford which could well determine the outcome of their Premiership title challenge.

If Arsenal fail to win, it will be the longest run of games without a win (six) since Arsene Wenger took over as manager. That fact will not be helped by the fact that Bolton have won the last three home games against Arsenal.

Bolton v Arsenal Match Odds:

Bolton - 9/2 (totesport)

Draw - 11/4 (Boylesports)

Arsenal - 4/5 (Ladbrokes)

Derby v Fulham

This game looks like the battle of the doomed, and Roy Hodgson will know that only a victory over Paul Jewell’s men will give them any hope of pulling off the great escape. For Derby however, this could be the match that mathematically relegates them back to the Championship, a day that has been coming since at least September 2007.

Fulham have not won away from home in more than 18 months, whilst Derby have failed to win a Premier League match in their last 25. Sunderland’s record as the worst-ever Premier League team looks to be under threat too, as failure to beat Fulham would equal Sunderland’s 26 without a win, and the final points tally of 15 looks like a mountain to climb with seven games to go, having taken just 10 from the last 31 matches.

Derby v Fulham Match odds:

Derby - 21/10 (VC Bet)

Draw - 23/10 (Bet 365)

Fulham - 7/5 (Bet 365)

Man United v Aston Villa

Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa are the guests at Old Trafford for the Saturday Teatime kickoff (Live on Setanta Sports 1), and victory for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men could send them eight points clear at the top of the Premier League if Arsenal fail to beat Bolton in the 3pm kickoff. United have never lost at home to Villa in the Premier League.

Manchester United have won 9 of their last 11 games, including their last five in a row, and have yet to concede a goal in more than six hours of football. Villa on the other hand have failed to keep a clean sheet in 17 games, and could potentially fall to ninth place with defeat at Old Trafford.

Man United v Aston Villa Match Odds

Manchester United - 1/3 (Boylesports)

Draw - 9/2 (VC Bet)

Aston Villa - 11/1 (Bet 365)

Portsmouth v Wigan

Portsmouth go into this match seven points off fifth placed Everton with 7 matches remaining, so their best hope of European qualification may lie in the FA Cup, where they are the only reminaing Premiership team, and will face Championship side West Brom at Wembley next weekend.

Wigan meanwhile have more modest ambitions, and will be content with Premier League survival for the third year in a row. They are currently five points above the relegation zone, having averaged a point a game. They will be wary of getting sucked back into the relegation scrap however, having witnessed Sheffield United’s freefall last season which saved them from the drop.

Portsmouth v Wigan Match Odds

Portsmouth - 4/5 (Bet 365)

Draw - 13/5 (Bet 365)

Wigan - 4/1 (VC Bet)

Reading v Blackburn

Reading host Blackburn Rovers at the Madejski on Saturday having turned around an eight-match losing streak to record three victories in their last four games, and propel themselves five points clear of the drop zone. Another victory against Mark Hughes’ team at home will go a long way to securing their Premiership status for a fourth season.

Blackburn meanwhile are eight points off the fifth-place UEFA Cup qualification place, and may have to be content with ending the season in the top-half of the table, unless they can string together a fantastic run of victories to propel them above Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Everton into the final UEFA Cup place.

Reading v Blackburn Match Odds

Reading - 7/5 (Bet 365)

Draw - 27/20 (VC Bet)

Blackburn - 41/20 (VC Bet)

Sunderland v West Ham

Sunderland host West Ham at the Stadium of Light as they look to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation zone as they try to avoid dropping back down to the Championship at the first attempt for the third time in a row. Roy Keane’s side currently lie two places and four points above the relegation places.

West Ham meanwhile will be hoping to do the double over Sunderland, and get their third Premiership win in a row over Sunderland as they finish off the season in the top half of the table, which will be extremely welcome after their flirtation with the relegation struggle last season.