Premiership - 25th August 2012

Swansea (evs) v West Ham (11/4)

Swansea dismissed suggestions that they’re in for a serious case of second season syndrome – at least for one week – with a superb 5-0 win at QPR, a performance which has understandably made them favourites for their first home game of the season against Sam Allardayce’s West Ham. Few could argue with that quote on a visual basis but Michael Laudrup’s men might find the Hammers much harder to break down. West Ham are unbeaten on their travels since February and picked up more points away from home than any other team in the Championship last season (45), while Sam Allardayce’s team are not going to be anywhere near as easy to pass as QPR – who had quite a few new faced and missed a few chances – were last week. There’s a slight worry that they have a poor record on the road in the PL but this outfit look solid and they’re worth a small play on getting 0.5 on the Asian handicap, which means anything but a loss would be a win. A small stake on no goalscorer might not go amiss seeing as Swansea were held 3 times at home last season.

Advice: 1 pt West Ham +0.5 on Asian H’Cap (4/5 general)

Aston Villa (2) v Everton (6/4)

Everton are undoubtedly going to be one of the one of the most popular picks on the coupon given how they outplayed  Manchester United on Monday night and a price of 6/4 on that basis is entirely fair but there’s a word of warning in the fact that six of the last seven Premier League games between Villa and Everton have been draws, all of them with both teams scoring. 2-2 has popped up three times in that period, which makes the price tempting enough at 16’s, and 3/1 about a score draw with Coral.

Advice: 1 pt Score draw (3/1 Coral)

Manchester United (2/7) v Fulham (10)

Manchester United were readily outplayed and sluggish in a 1-0 defeat to Everton but there are good reasons to think that was nothing more than a blip for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who were (and still are) unbalanced by a number of defensive injuries, with only new signing Shiniji Kagawa having a good game. Back on home turf against Fulham – a fixture which they've won to nil in each of the last five seasons – they should be far more comfortable and the evens on them scoring in each half is of interest (they did so 15 times home and away last year) while there’s 11/8 on them scoring 3 or more goals, which also tempts one.

Advice: 2 pts Manchester United to score in both halves (evs general)

Norwich (7/5) v QPR (2)

After suffering opening-day 5-0 hidings against Fulham and Swansea respectively, many have Norwich and QPR in for difficult seasons but they might have been quick to dismiss Mark Hughes’s side on their visit to Carrow Road. QPR bounced back from a home smashing last year to win at Everton and they can at least push Norwich hard here if taking some of the chances they create, for all that Rangers have gone 16 Premier League away games without a clean sheet. Both teams to score looks to be the best option, while 2-1 Norwich is 9’s with Bet Victor and too big for such a common score.

Advice: 3 pts Both teams to score (4/6 general), 1 pt 2-1 Norwich (9/1 Bet Victor)

Southampton (11/10) v Wigan (5/2)

After such a storming show on their return to the Premiership in going down 3-2 to Manchester City on Sunday, it’s understandable that Southampton are favourites for today’s game – they also had the best home record in the Championship last season – but bookmakers have been very quick to dismiss the chances of Wigan, who played a lot better than the 2-0 scoreline suggested when beaten by Chelsea. In reality both teams were a little flattered by those scores but served considerable notice of their talents and are sure to give eachother a good game here. Take both teams to score.

Advice: 2 pts Both teams to score (8/11 general)

Sunderland (39/40) v Reading (7/2)

Sunderland – who at this exact point of writing have just pulled off the Coup of signing Adam Johnson from Manchester City – will be happy with a point from their opening game against Arsenal, although Reading are likely to be no easy task themselves. The Royals were well subdued by Stoke at home though but suddenly burst into life against Chelsea, and they themselves are hard to predict properly. All in all it looks to be one to swerve, although under 2.5 goals would be the call if really pushed.

Advice: 1 pt under 2.5 goals (4/5 general)

Tottenham (8/15) v West Brom (11/2)

Tottenham may have lost 2-1 at Newcastle but they looked as strong as they ever did last season and lost no caste in losing to a top class side. Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale were both denied by the woodwork in the first half and Spurs had most of the play throughought the game, so look for them to bounce right back against West Brom, who were good but flattered against Liverpool with two questionable penalties and host of missed chances for the away side. Tottenham led all the way 14 times last season and that’s tempting at a best price of 13/10, which is bigger than the same odds offered on them to score in both halves – they did so 14 times as well last year. The Londoners also look worth putting in a double with Chelsea later on.

Advice: 3 pts double Tottenham and Chelsea (2.4 Paddy Power), 1 pt Tottenham/Tottenham (13/10)

Chelsea (4/7) v Newcastle (6)

This is the first test for the new look Chelsea side which currently leads the table and it’s a big one – last season’s fifth placed finishers Newcastle, who just three months ago beat Chelsea 3-0 and overturned a deficit to beat Tottenham last Saturday. A lot has passed since then however and the creativity and inventiveness of new arrivals such as Eden Hazard, who has lit the Premiership up with his brilliance so far, can see them to a win over Alan Pardrew’s men. It won’t be comfortable though and Chelsea have not kept a clean sheet in their last 5 Premier League games, so they may find that they have to work even harder than they did in midweek when beating off Reading. Chelsea are 2/1 to win while letting in a goal and that could prove to be a really sold shout, not forgetting that we already have them in our double with Tottenham.

Advice: 3 pts double Tottenham and Chelsea (2.4 Paddy Power), 2 pts Chelsea to win and concede (2/1 Coral)