Some really eye-catching fixtures in the Premier League this weekend but the best value is found at the Stadium of Light in one of the lower profile matches.
Sunderland host Reading in a clash which sees both sides bring opening day draws into the contest but the hosts are favoured and even money about the Black Cats appears fairly generous.
I’m not too keen on Sunderland’s overall prospects this term but each game needs to be dealt with individually from a match odds point of view and there was enough about the north-east club’s efforts against Arsenal last Saturday to suggest they can take care of the Royals.
Somewhat surprisingly, Sunderland were not overly stretched against Arsene Wenger’s men and they will have taken great encouragement from that draw in the capital.
Reading were fortunate to share the spoils against Stoke in a fairly uneventful curtain-raiser in Berkshire, Adam LeFondre’s injury-time penalty salvaging a point, and were then undone in a spirited display at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, eventually going down 4-2.
Reading had led at Chelsea despite falling behind to an early Frank Lampard penalty and new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak looks like a shrewd acquisition.
The Russian was a success last term at Fulham before moving down the M4 but I fear he might lack support more often than not this season and finding the net frequently enough could be problematic for Reading.
Sunderland’s overall record in front of their owns last season was decent enough against those in the bottom half and only Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton triumphed at the Stadium of Light from mid-December onwards.
In Stephane Sessegnon, James McClean and new signing Louis Saha, Sunderland possess enough of a goal threat to trouble the visitors and with the likely arrival of England international Adam Johnson, too, the atmosphere is sure to enrich the chances of the home team.
1pt Back Sunderland (vs. Reading) @ 2.00 (Betfair)