English Premier League Saturday Matches Preview: October 2, 2010

Joe LazarOct 1, 2010

Wigan forward Di Santo could be making a quick return to the side after picking up a minor ankle injury last week, which is pretty good news seeing as Wigan need every front man they have because they are one of the lowest scoring clubs so far this season.

The same can not be said for the club captain Caldwell who whilst being back in training will not be considered for a start until after the international break. Wigan desperately need a win to claw out of the relegation zone and this is probably one of the best chances that they are going to have for a while with Wolves only sitting above them on goal difference.

Guedioura is likely to be out for up to six months after fracturing his tibia. Van Damme could make his return to the first team squad after he proved his fitness in the reserve team.

Wolves are winless in their last five league matches and they aren’t a side which is well known for their away performances, at least not in a good way. They are really going to have to pull something magical from up their sleeves if they are going to win here, a draw on the other hand, is completely plausible.

Birmingham vs Everton

Birmingham will be without Gardner, who is serving a three-match suspension, Fahey is expected to be recalled to the side and Bowyer to play in the centre midfield. At home their form has been pretty good with them being undefeated since September 2009. On the other hand they don’t tend to win all too often.

Traditionally this fixture is a match which Birmingham would be expected to struggle in, but when it comes to form they certainly look like a better side at the moment, even if on paper that would be more than just a little bit debatable.

Everton are in a dangerous position now, and it’s fair to say that Moyes has given the standard first team enough chances to prove themselves this season and he has now said that some players are going to be dropped from the side although he has not named the players in question. The Toffees are the only side to not have scored an away goal so far this season.

If shaking the side up just a little bit then who knows, maybe they could start playing the way that most people expect them to and actually win a match. If they keep playing in the same manner that they have been then this is going to be Birmingham’s match.

Stoke vs Blackburn

Stoke are waiting till the last minute to decide on the fitness of Wilkinson and his minor knee injury and there are also concerns about Pennant, but again he will face a late fitness test. Fuller may also return to the side as his injury was not as bad as what doctors originally suggested.

The Potters still haven’t managed to keep a clean sheet so far this season which doesn’t bode well for the chances of them picking up a win against a side which is, on paper, better than they are. They have only managed to win two of their last ten home matches in the Premiership.

Blackburn will be looking to pick up some valuable away points against a side which doesn’t tend to perform all too well at home. Generally speaking Rovers tend to draw a lot of their away matches, they have only won six of their last 32 games, but on the other hand they have only lost one of their last seven.

This should be Blackburn’s game, they are a better side and on better form, for the most part. The only downside to this match is that both sides have made a habit of drawing home and away respectively, which could lead to a dull match.

Sunderland vs Manchester United

Welbeck will not be able to play due to the fact that United are his parent club, Ferdinand could be returning to the side although Richardson and Mensah will not be able to play. Bent is as always the man to watch for the Black Cats, but United aren’t half going to know about it, Sunderland may be best off playing for a draw, because if they over extend themselves, they will be made to pay.

Sunderland aren’t a side which creates a lot of chances in fact they have had fewer shots on target than any other club so far this season, a win just doesn’t really seem to be on the cards.

United should win this match, and they should do it quite convincingly, Rooney will be absent despite claiming that he is fit to play, but with Berbatov on form it is debateable whether he will really be missed.

Carrick and Ferdinand, however, will undergo late fitness tests to decide whether or not they are fit to play. United are trailing the title race by three points and they need to keep winning successively if they want to keep up with Chelsea, who have only lost one match all season.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa

Ledley King’s continuing knee problems are likely to keep him ruled out for another match. Tottenham are likely to view this match as a huge opportunity, with Villa sat in the place where the home side wants to be (in the league table) a win here is a good old fashioned six pointer.

And the good news for the home side is that the Villains don’t tend to travel to White Hart Lane and play particularly amicably. Tottenham have earned eight points from six games which is four less than Tottenham had at this point last season although it is not a terrible start by any means.

Carew and Dunne are expected to return to the side after recovering from their respective injuries. This is good news as this is a relatively important match, and if Villa win this it will be the first time that they have had successive wins since April, which makes it quite impressive that they’ve managed to settle in fifth place.

One of Villa’s big problems seems to be away performances with them conceding 12 goals in their last four away matches. This could be anybodies game depending on if Villa can tighten up at the back.

West Brom vs Bolton

Bednar is looking to make a start now that he’s fit again after missing last week’s shock win against Arsenal. At home West Brom are quite a decent side, they’ve managed to go their last 13 matches unbeaten, technically West Brom are topping Septembers for table and judging by the way they have been playing this match should go in their favour and possibly by quite a considerable margin.

There is something to be said for watching West Brom, with them not being involved in a goalless draw for 38 games, so odds are we’ll see some goals.

Bolton will be seeing the return of Cahill after he finished his three-match ban. Historically these two teams have been pretty even when they have met in the past. Bolton may struggle with this match despite their not being too much between then two sides in terms of class and quality.

West Ham vs Fulham

Dyer is suffering from an upset stomach and will be ruled out of playing the West Ham match. Reid, Spector and Ilunga will all be given a late fitness tests ahead of the match with Fulham. West Ham are in the danger zone and Fulham are not going to be the best side for them to pick up a few points against.

Carlton Cole has scored in each of his last four matches against Fulham, odds of him scoring another might be quite high. West Ham are dangerous from set pieces, if they can get any opportunities from good positions then they may actually have a chance, other than that they are quite likely to struggle.

Fulham will be looking to take advantage of one of the leagues struggling sides as they hope to claw their way up the table. Fulham have drawn five of their first six matches, which does seem to be a very average start to the season. Another draw seems very possible considering the fact that they have only won three London derbies out of the 41 that they have played away from home.

Picking up all three points then might not be the most likely result for Fulham although this is about as good a chance as they will get to help improve their statistics.