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Derby starts weekend action

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 24/10/2009
Football betting

Last Saturday had more than its fair share of Premier League drama, so this weekend certainly has plenty to live up to.

The day certainly begins on a high note with a local derby involving Wolves and Aston Villa.

Wolves welcome Villa to Molineux in the first league meeting between the two sides since March 2004.

On that occasion Villa romped to a 4-0 victory, with Juan Pablo Angel adding a double after Thomas Hitzlsperger and Olof Mellberg had given the visitors a two-goal cushion.

In fact you have to go back to May 1978 for Wolves' last success against Villa on home soil, a run which Mick McCarthy's side will be keen to end this weekend.

Meanwhile, high-flying Chelsea welcome Sam Allardyce's Blackburn Rovers to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

Carlo Ancelotti's sportsbook favourites will want to make up for their disappointing reversal at Aston Villa last time out, while the visitors will still be buzzing following their epic 3-2 derby success over fierce rivals Burnley.

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Sunderland boss Steve Bruce heads back to one of his former clubs when the Black Cats travel to St Andrew's to take on Birmingham City.

The Blues have recently been boosted by the takeover of the club by Carson Yeung and while they lost 3-1 at Arsenal at the weekend, Alex McLeish's side gave a promising performance.

Sunderland have made a strong start to the season following the arrival of new manager Bruce, culminating in last weekend's beach ball-inspired 1-0 win at home to Liverpool.

Burnley face a second local derby in two games when Wigan Athletic are the visitors to Turf Moor on Saturday.

Last time out the Clarets suffered a 3-2 reverse at Blackburn Rovers, but back on home soil Owen Coyle's men will be full of confidence.

Recently Roberto Martinez's men also defeated Chelsea at the DW Stadium, but their last away trip ended in a disappointing 2-1 defeat at lowly Hull City.

Although the Premier League season is only a couple of months old, the meeting of Hull City and Portsmouth at the KC Stadium is already being billed as a relegation six-pointer.

Pompey currently prop up the table, while the Tigers are third bottom after falling to a 2-0 defeat Fulham on Monday evening.

Tottenham Hotspur play host to Stoke City hoping to build on their impressive start to the new season.

Harry Redknapp's side are currently up in third place in the Premier League, just three points behind leaders and reigning champions Manchester United.

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