Round 7, 22nd&23rd September

Saturday, 22nd September

Arsenal v Derby
(-, -, -, -, -, 1-0)

Derby no goals and no points away from home, conceded 1, 3 and then 6 last time at 'Pool. If that trend continues then Arsenal should rack up double figures. Derby are bound to be boosted by their first win of the season at home to Newcastle. Arsenal though are getting more confident by the week, and with Fabregas in majestic form, this should be an easy home win.
Result: 5-0


Fulham v Man City
(1-3, 2-1, 1-1, 2-2, 0-1, -)

Only 1 win in last 5 meetings here for Fulham, and only 1 win in their 3 home matches so far. City lost last 2 away 1-0, but no shame, tough fixtures at Arsenal and Blackburn. All Fulham's home games have been overs so far, but by contrast, since City's opening day 2-0 win at West Ham, their following 5 fixtures have ended 1-0 or 0-1.

Fulham lead the half-time league so far this season with 5 wins and 1 loss. (Last season they finished rock-bottom of the HT league, with only 4 wins all season...)
Result: 3-3



Liverpool v Birmingham
(-, 1-1, 0-1, 3-1, 2-2, -)

Surprisingly bad record for 'Pool at home to Brum, only 1 win in last 4 meetings.
Result: 0-0

Middlesbrough v Sunderland
(-, 0-2, -, -, 3-0, 2-0)

A win, a loss and a draw at home so far for Boro, nothing surprising. Sunderland were stuffed at Wigan but battled hard at Utd, eventually losing 1-0. Moral-boosting win at home to Reading last weekend.
Result: 2-2

Reading v Wigan
(3-2, -, -, -, -, -)

Reading are in a dire run and SSS (second-season-syndrome) looks to have hit them. Wigan are no push-overs, they fought hard with 10 men at SJP, going down finally to a goal in the 87th minute. If you like these sort of guidelines, Wigan were unlucky to be held to a draw at West Ham in August, while the Hammers rogered Reading 3-0 on their own patch in Reading's last home fixture.
Result: 2-1


Sunday, 23rd September


Aston Villa v Everton
(1-1, 4-0, 1-3, 0-0, 3-2, 0-0)
Good record for Everton historically at Villa, only 1 defeat in last 4 meetings, they have led at HT in 2 of the last 3 historically. 2 wins out of 3 away from home for Everton so far this season and they have led 2/3 at HT. Villa trailed both 'Pool and Fulham at HT at home, but last home fixture was o-o at HT to fading Chelsea.
Result 2-0



BlackburnvPortsmouth
(3-0, 2-1, 1-0*, 1-2, -, -)
Good record for Blackburn here, 3 wins from last 3 historically. They are unbeaten so far this season despite some tough fixtures. Portsmouth have faced Chelsea and Arsenal in their last 2 away and are looking at a 3rd straight loss here.

*That 1-0 win 3 yrs ago was Hughes first as Blackburn manager.
Result 0-1


Bolton v Tottenham
(2-0, 1-0, 3-1, 2-0, 1-0, 1-1)
Great record for Bolton at home to Spurs, but Bolton have started so badly this season that they are unrecognisable from the team that created that record. Both teams low on confidence, Spurs given a slight boost in mid-week by scoring 6 goals in the UEFA Cup, but really that was to be expected, playing a team from Cyprus. Both managers jobs in peril, will it be reflected on the players. Goals look likely: all 3 of Bolton's at home have been over 2.5 while Spurs drew 3-3 last time out at Fulham.
Result 1-1

Man Utd v Chelsea
(1-1, 1-0, 1-3, 1-1, 2-1, 0-3)
Erm... events of the week make this hard to comment on. Chelsea should be in disarray, but how often do we see teams over-perform just after a managerial change. Most interesting here could be seeing who Abramovic... er I mean Avram picks. Utd have come in from 2.34 to 2.02 since Mourinho's shock departure.
Result 2-0

Newcastle v West Ham
(2-2, 0-0, -, -, 4-0, 3-1)
Hard to predict this one also. Toon's 2 home diplays have been unconvincing, 0-0 and 1-0 against Villa and Wigan. Will the loss at Derby be a confidence-sapper of a kick up the arse? Hammers seem a lot happier and in better form than the home side. Unbeaten since their opening day loss at home to City, they have won both away easilty games at Birmingham and Reading. Playing away seems to suit Curbishley's side where they can soak up pressure and hit teams on the break. Will miss Bellamy's pace in this respect, if he does not recover from injury.
Result 3-1