Premiership - 1st September 2012

West Ham (31/20) v Fulham (2)

West Ham were well beaten 3-0 at Swansea last week but two of those goals were criminal errors and the biggest worry was a lack of potency upfront, although Matthew Jarvis looked threatening at times when trying to supply Cartlon Cole – who himself has scored six goals in his last six Premier League appearances against Fulham – and the arrival of Andy Caroll is a tremendous fillip. With a strong home record as far as the PL is concerned and their physical style of football more likely to work at Upton Park, it’s no surprise to see support for the home side but Fulham have made a sparkling start to this season, were excellent at Old Trafford last week, and may not go down easily. Although Fulham have only scored 11 goals in their last 15 Premier League away games and have only won four of 49 Premier League London derbies away from home, they’re the more tempting of the two and are worth supporting to get a draw at best on the Asian handicap.

Advice: 1 pt Fulham +0.25 Asian H’Cap (4/5 Bet365)

Swansea (6/5) v Sunderland (14/5)

Taking into account the goals they were gifted against QPR and West Ham, this might well be Swansea’s toughest test of the season so far although the way Michel Laudrup’s men have dominated those two games has to be applauded after many had tipped them for relegation at the beginning of the season. Sunderland are likely to prove resolute at the back though if their first games against Arsenal was anything to go by, and with Swansea having failed to score in both Premier League games against Sunderland last season, the overriding temptation is to go for under 2.5 goals, which was a feature of nearly 70% of games at the Liberty last season.

Advice: 2 pts Under 2.5 goals (4/5 Bet Victor)

Tottenham (2/5) v Norwich (9)

Tottenham can count themselves unlucky not to have more than one point from two games given the amount of chances they’ve had but they should get off the mark against Norwich, who are 34 Premier League away games without a clean sheet and may have lost the element of surprise more than Swansea this season. That said, there doesn’t seem to be much value in Villas Boas’s outfit and if they were to keep on missing chances then they may struggle to put away Norwich, who scored 52 goals last year.

Advice: 1 pt Norwich +1.5 on Asian H’Cap (8/11 Paddy Power)

West Brom (23/10) v Everton (6/4)

Two of the most impressive teams so far face off in what should be quite a clash at the Hawthrorns. Picking between the two is hard but Everton genuinely battered Manchester United and Aston Villa while West Brom were fairly fortunate with the chances that Liverpool and Tottenham missed, so the visitors get the vote on that basis, with draw no bet looking the best option – WBA have kept six clean sheets in their last eight Premier League games at The Hawthorns.

Advice: 2 pts Everton draw no bet (8/11 Betfred)

Wigan (5/4) v Stoke (13/5)

Wigan are famed for late runs to seal their safety but they’ve made a strong start to this year and look worthy favourites to beat a Stoke side with one win in 15 and one of the worst away records in the league, with just 11 goals on the road last season. Martinez’s side should be boosted by a neat win at Southampton last weekend and are likely to take the game to Stoke on their home patch, so make some appeal.

Advice: 2 pts Wigan (5/4 Stan James)

Manchester City (2/9) v QPR (14)

This will be forever associated with one of the greatest games in Premiership history on that balmy afternoon but things should be much more routine for Mancini’s men this afternoon with QPR finding their feet after signing a raft of players in the transfer window. City scored 3 or more goals at home 14 times last season at home, 10 of those coming against teams who finished outside the top 7.

Advice: 3 pts Manchester City to score 3 or more goals (4/5 Bet Victor)

Newcastle (4/6) v Aston Villa (9/2)

Aston Villa shouldn’t be fighting relegation under Paul Lambert but his new style and signing might take a bit of time to bed in for a team who have won only one away game in 2012. Newcastle have beaten Aston Villa at St James’s Park in each of the last three seasons and rate banker material on this week’s coupon.

Advice: 5 pts Newcastle (4/6 general)

Southampton (11/2) v Manchester United (6/10)

Southampton were terrific against Manchester City and a little unlucky against Wigan but have found the harsh nature of the Premiership to cost them on both occasions and a visit from Manchester United is not ideal. United topped the away table last season and have a like for like replacement for the absent Wayne Rooney in Robin Van Persie, while the return of Johnny Evans at least pushes Carrick back into midfield. The 6/10 offered by Hills looks generous.

Advice: 3 pts Manchester United (6/10 Hills)