Birmingham v Manchester City
It's just one point from the last nine for Birmingham but there have still been plenty of encouraging signs as they seek to avoid the drop,
They've only been beaten in two of their last seven and have scored in every single one of those games, not something you'd normally associate with a side flirting just one place above the drop zone.
And their home form since Alex McLeish took over at the start of December has been more than respectable - just one defeat in eight and that was a narrow one against Chelsea.
They took full advantage against a Spurs side with little to play for at the start of this month and it could be argued that City come into the same category.
They've mustered just five points from the last 15, a marked step down on their form from earlier in the season and their record on their travels - just three wins - is easily the worst of the top 10.
However the fact they are in the top half of the table is well worth underlining because Birmingham haven't managed a single win against top-10 opposition in 15 attempts this season.
They've also got skipper Liam Ridgewell suspended for this game (which could mean a high profile recall for Martin Taylor) while striker James McFadden is also out after undergoing keyhole surgery on a knee injury.
It all suggests there's going to be little between this pair - it was 1-0 to City in the reverse fixture - and the draw should be a big runner at 23/10.
Birmingham have drawn six of their 15 fixtures at St Andrews - including five of the last eight as the pressure has mounted - and it's a similar story for City.
They too have shared the points in six out of 15 away from home and that includes recent stalemates with Birmingham's fellow strugglers Bolton (last week) and Derby.
Verdict: Birmingham 1 Manchester City 1 (JT)
Bolton v Arsenal
They may have played some of the best football we've seen this season but the Premier League title is starting to slip away from Arsenal.
Sunday's defeat at Chelsea means Arsene Wenger's side have now not won in the league for five games, picking up only four points - their worst run for nine seasons.
And while the Stamford Bridge defeat was no disgrace, especially as they led heading into the final 20 minutes, draws with the likes of Middlesbrough, Wigan and Birmingham are of far more concern.
Bolton could easily be bracketed with that trio and they've also got a decent home record against the Gunners, winning the last three against them at the Reebok in the league.
Indeed you have to go back to 2002 for the last time the Trotters lost at home to Arsenal in the top flight so it hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Wenger's men.
The problem for Bolton is that ever since they sold Nicolas Anelka - the man who inspired them to victory over Arsenal last season and whose introduction from the subs bench helped Chelsea sink the Gunners last Sunday - they've struggled to find the net.
His last game for them was on January 2 and since then Bolton have fired blanks in no fewer than eight of their 13 games.
They've managed a pitiful six goals in those matches and their last win in the Premier League was on February 2 so it's no wonder they've slipped into the bottom three.
There's no real reason why that pattern should suddenly change which puts Arsenal's 'problems' into some sort of perspective and suggests the Gunners aren't a bad price at 4/5 to get back on the winning trail.
Verdict: Bolton 0 Arsenal 2 (JT)
Derby v Fulham
Paul Jewell must be wondering just how low Derby's season can sink but this match represents their best chance of claiming a first Premier League win since September.
For it's bottom v second bottom and the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage should have provided the Rams with their opening away victory of the campaign.
For Fulham were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time and only a string of great saves from keeper Antti Niemi kept the Rams at bay, the game eventually finishing goalless.
However since then things have gone from bad to worse for both sides, though there have at least been a few signs that Fulham are finally beginning to improve under Roy Hodgson.
They beat Champions League hopefuls Everton a fortnight ago and the return from long-term injury of Jimmy Bullard has been a real fillip, his last-gasp freekicks helping them pick up points against both Aston Villa and Blackburn.
In fairness Derby too have perked up slightly - though they couldn't get much worse - judged on their recent displays against Manchester United and Middlesbrough.
They were guilty of missing some gilt-edged chances in the latter match though and with confidence so brittle at present we're going for Fulham to give themselves a lifeline by taking the points in this.
However a side that last won away in the league in September 2006 simply isn't a betting proposition at no better than 7/5.
Verdict: Derby 0 Fulham 1 (JT)
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Recent records don't always count for a lot but there are some pretty strong trends which are hard to ignore this weekend - and none more so than in this game.
For United have now won an astonishing 13 in a row against Villa, including twice already this term at Villa Park.
You have to go back to 1995 for Villa's last league win over the Red Devils - and 1983 for the last time they triumphed at Old Trafford.
So with United gunning for the Premier title and on the back of five straight league wins it's hard to see that sequence coming to a sudden halt.
That's especially the case now that Villa's season appears to be fizzling out badly. They became the first side to lose at home to Sunderland last week and have managed just one point from nine since they so nearly beat Arsenal at the Emirates.
The problem is that all this is reflected in the prices on offer and the bookies have also finally gone odds-on across the board about Ronaldo getting on the scoresheet once again.
His remarkable season shows no signs of slowing down and a record of scoring in five of his last seven matches suggests 5/6 is actually a pretty fair price.
However he wasn't at his brilliant best against Liverpool at the weekend so we'll resist the temptation to get involved for a change.
Verdict: Manchester United 2 Aston Villa 0 (JT)
Portsmouth v Wigan
There were plenty of people who expected Portsmouth's league form to dip once they became the only top-flight team to make it through to the FA Cup semi-finals.
However they followed up their famous quarter-final win over Manchester United at Old Trafford with league successes over Birmingham and Aston Villa.
And there were plenty of mitigating cirumstances last week when the run came to a half at Tottenham for they were missing defensive lynchpin Sol Campbell through injury, suspended midfielders Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop as well as striker Jermain Defoe following his move from Spurs at the end of the January transfer window.
That clearly had a big effect on the spine of the side but they still managed to hold out until the final 10 minutes when the introduction of Tottenham subs Darren Bent and Jamie O'Hara turned the game.
Campbell, Bouba Diop and Defoe should all be back to strengthen them here against a relegation-threatened Wigan side which has found a bit of resilience in recent weeks.
The Latics drew with both Manchester City and Arsenal before winning a real six-pointer against Fulham despite playing for 85 minutes with ten men.
However they were beaten last week in a feisty clash at Blackburn and head into this game with problems of their own as Steve Bruce faces a crisis in midfield as Michael Brown, Wilson Palacios and Jason Koumas are all suspended.
Pompey's home record wasn't anything too special earlier in the season but since the turn of the year they've won four and drawn the other (against Chelsea) so they surely merit a close look at 4/5 to take the points.
Verdict: Portsmouth 3 Wigan 1 (JT)
Reading v Blackburn
Three wins out of four have got Reading out of real trouble although they still need to put more points in the bank before they can start planning for a third season in the top flight.
The pleasing thing for season ticket holders at the Madejski is that Reading have got their home form back.
The Royals had an excellent home record of won six, drawn one, lost two after beating Sunderland just before Christmas but that went to pot after a run of five successive home defeats.
But back-to-back wins over Manchester City and Birmingham mean Reading are back in the black at the Madejski and, indeed, only six teams can better their tally of eight home wins.
However, Rovers are a tough nut to crack on the road and Mark Hughes' side have only lost four on their travels and two of those were at Arsenal and Manchester United.
With Reading having only drawn one of their 16 home games, a positive result must be fancied so do we fancy the 7/5 Reading or the 2/1 Blackburn?
The 2/1 about Rovers looks best although there's another Blackburn wager at the same price which takes preference.
Blackburn have scored nine goals in their three Premier League meetings with Reading so don't have trouble finding the net.
And therefore the prolific Roque Santa Cruz has to be fancied to add to his 18 goal tally.
The Paraguay striker has scored three in his last two games and it's worth noting that 11 of his 18 have come on the road.
Blackburn break fast and Santa Cruz is expert at finishing it off with a goal.
Verdict: Reading 1 Blackburn 2 (DT)
Sunderland v West Ham
Sunderland finally put an away win on the board last week after Michael Chopra's late strike gave them a precious three points at Aston Villa.
It mean that Roy Keane's men, as they've pretty much done all season, kept their heads above relegation waters and another couple of wins should be enough to secure survivial.
This represents a decent chance although there must be a worry amongst the Black Cats fans that they're running into West Ham at the wrong time.
A couple of weeks ago, the Hammers were reeling after a trio of 4-0 hammerings but they got back on track with a 2-1 home win over Blackburn before they fought back to get a 1-1 draw at Everton in a game they deserved to win.
Although Sunderland have a good record at the Stadium of Light, it would be typical of a team in their predictament if they followed a first away win with a dip at home and West Ham are playing well enough to condemn them to defeat.
Only the top six can boast more away wins than the Hammers and they've won three and drawn one of their last six visits to the Stadium of Light.
Backing Alan Curbishley's men at over 2/1 looks decent business.
Verdict: Sunderland 1 West Ham 2 (DT
HAMMER BLOW FOR BLACK CATS: Bettingzone Football Betting News - Premier League Betting, Champions League, Previews, Odds & Data.
Bettingzone & Racingpost Selections 28-30th
