EPL Preview: Saturday, August 28, 2010 Matches

Blackpool vs Fulham

This will be Blackpool’s first ever home match in the top flight of football; let’s hope for their sake that it isn’t another 6-0 thrashing like the one they suffered last week. The seasider’s surprised everybody in opening week with a staggering victory, and away from home at that.

Of course Arsenal (their opponents last week) were in another class and picked Blackpool apart without any difficulty. This match should be interesting then as the Premiership’s new boys have already proven themselves an unpredictable side and one that we may come to expect large score lines from one way or another.

Fulham will want to build on the solid performances that they have put in so far this season. Even though they haven't registered a win in the league yet, they’re also still unbeaten. Whilst their performances haven’t been bad enough to call poor, they have had a rather dull start to the new season.

Even their last minute scraped draw against United didn’t really come from a game that was in any way brilliant. It is possible that summer signing and Belgian star Dembele will make his first Premiership start for the club after his amicable performance in the Carling Cup.

Chelsea vs Stoke

Well, after what we’ve seen so far this season from both these sides, Stoke must be quivering, and this is not an understatement.

You can say what you like to the press about having confidence, but there can’t be much of that to go round after losing both of their last two matches. Having seen what Chelsea have been doing to teams who are not entirely different in terms of class to the Potters. This match may be a case of damage limitations for Stoke.

Chelsea burst out of the starting gates this season with two back to back 6-0 victories, and if they carry on playing like they have been, there is no way they can lose this match, another 6-0 win here and we can pretty much call the Premiership Chelsea’s this year, turn off our televisions until the relegation battle starts and say decisively we know how this season is going to end.

Chelsea have scored 21 goals in their last three premiership home games; they’ve lost only two of their last 22 home matches and last time this fixture was played they thrashed Stoke 7-0. If you’re betting on Chelsea you better get some good odds from your bookie. It is possible that Ramires could get his debut for Chelsea; although he is likely to start on the bench he might make an early appearance if Chelsea rack up the goals early on.

Tottenham vs Wigan

Cudicini will step in for the injured Gomez who suffered a groin injury mid week. Defoe may start although it is doubtful as he may have to undergo surgery depending on what the results from his next fitness test are.

Last season Tottenham hammered the lactic 9-1 in this fixture and with Wigan’s defence-leaking goals at a rather alarming rate they look pretty likely to have a repeat performance. Tottenham’s start so far has been pretty average and this is certainly going to be their opportunity to get in on the high scoring action we’ve already seen.

This has not been a good start for Wigan, that being a huge understatement. They’re defence has been shambolic, they’re attack has been reasonable at best, and they need to pull something out of the hat soon or they’ll find themselves on a very slippery slope.

The problem for the Lactics is that their away form has been bad for a long time and it’s a shame because they could desperately use some points, even taking one away from White Hart Lane might be enough to get some confidence back into the side. Wigan have lost their last six away games and only won one of their last nine matches, things don’t look too good for the clubs survival chances this year.

Wolverhampton vs Newcastle

Michael Mancienne went straight into the Wolves squad after returning to the club on yet another loan spell. Added to Wolves growing squad Flethcer and Henry are expected to recover in time to start the match against Newcastle.

Wolves are coming off the back of a very respectable draw against Everton, and their recent record does speak for itself. They have only lost one of their last seven league matches so they are certainly a side which appears to have improved greatly in the last few seasons.

Newcastle didn’t exactly have an inauspicious start to their Premiership campaign with their return to the top flight marred by their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United. The Magpies were made to look substandard to the challenges that the Premiership has to offer.

However, they came back and, short of it being Chelsea on the end of the 6-0 thrashing they gave Villa they couldn’t have looked any better.

Newcastle may be a side of ups and downs this season only time will tell whether they’re really ready to be back in the Premiership. However, last week’s results will silence more than a few critics and give Wolves something to worry about even from Newcastle’s rather injury ridden squad.

Xavier - live scores and live sports