It’s Premier League action once more this weekend before the dreaded international break disrupts the flow of domestic football for a fortnight and there is little doubt about which fixture captures the imagination.
Manchester United host Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday evening and, while there is plenty of talk about Manchester City and Tottenham threatening the dominance of the so-called “Big Four”, both sides in action in the north-west are still very much part of the quartet of teams the challengers have to beat.
While Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger will have been pre-occupied on Thursday evening with the draw for the group stages of the Champions League (the Frenchman, I’m sure, can hardly believe his luck; Fergie will also be satisfied) the two sets of players will have had this in mind for some time and it promises to be a match to savour.
United, a best-priced 2.25 with Sky Bet to register a win, will be eager to limit the damage of dropped points at Burnley ten days ago but they face opponents that could hardly have started the season in more impressive fashion. The Red Devils look short enough at a fraction over even money, plenty will be willing to take a chance on the visitors at 3.60 with Paddy Power, and it surely serves as a watching brief rather than a betting heat.
While I’m happy to keep my money in my pocket on Saturday evening Blackburn must be opposed a couple of hours earlier when they entertain West Ham at Ewood Park.
The Hammers dominated the front and back page headlines in midweek following the disgraceful scenes at Upton Park during their Carling Cup clash with Millwall but they ultimately came through a tough test thanks to a double strike from youngster Junior Stanslas and can return to London with at least a share of the spoils.
I can only assume that Blackburn’s prohibitive price, no better than 2.25 with a variety of bookmakers, is based on their solid showing at the Stadium of Light last time out against Sunderland but they were beaten that day, despite taking the lead through Gael Givet, and Sam Allardyce’s men are still to register a point this season.
Although there was no disgrace in losing to big spending Manchester City on the opening day Blackburn also struggled for large periods last season and the visit of West Ham guarantees anything but three points. We’ll be in profit if the away side can claim at least a draw and, with Gianfranco Zola bound to demand his side are in the news for all the right reasons, I’m confident they can.
While it would be lovely to be able to lay the 2.25 available with the fixed odds firms we must be content with siding against the hosts at 2.32 on Betfair but that still looks fair enough to me. In Carlton Cole, West Ham have a striker seemingly playing at the very top of his game and having given pacesetting Tottenham a run for their money last time out the London side will fancy their chances of adding to their points tally.
West Ham finished last season ten points and six places in front of Saturday’s opponents and proved they were more than capable on their travels when registering an impressive five victories. The likes of Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker form a formidable looking spine and trips to places such as Ewood Park should hold no fears.
’'’2pts Lay Blackburn (vs. West Ham) @ 2.32 (Betfair)’’’
*The number of points (pts) reflects the confidence in the bet (1-10).