Previews

Fireworks expected in Birmingham

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 13/09/2009
Football betting

The first Birmingham derby of the new Premier League season will be contested on Sunday when Aston Villa make the short journey to St Andrew's.

Fulham entertain Everton on the same day, but the focus is definitely on the first second city derby of the campaign which kicks-off at 12pm.

City boss Alex McLeish knows that bragging rights are very important and he will be looking to get one over on counterpart Martin O'Neill.

Unfortunately for McLeish, he has several injury problems ahead of the game with Cameron Jerome (ankle), Gregory Vignal (hip), Marcus Bent (hamstring), Martin Taylor (foot), Scott Dann (thigh) and Liam Ridgewell (broken leg) all notable absentees.

The Blues have made an indifferent start to their Premier League campaign after their successful Championship promotion back in May.

Their home form is solid with a 1-0 win against Portsmouth and a 0-0 draw when Stoke City visited.

On the road they have lost both games but with home advantage they will be looking to further consolidate their place in mid table.

The online betting favourite Villains themselves will not want to fall at the feet of their near neighbours and the shrewd O'Neill will be pulling out all the stops to come away with a win.

He has to choose a squad without Curtis Davies (dislocated shoulder), Luke Young (thigh) and Stewart Downing (foot) who are all missing for the foreseeable future.

The two foes last met in the Premier League during the 2007/08 season and, at St Andrew's, Villa walked away with a 2-1 victory.

In the return clash, Villa resoundingly won 5-1 with Ashley Young scoring twice in between a John Carew brace. Agbonlahor added a fifth late on to prove a thorn in City's side once again.

Which team will have bragging rights in Birmingham on Sunday - Latest Football Betting

Down in the capital, Fulham host Everton in a meeting of two sides who finished in the European qualifying places last season.

David Moyes' Everton will have been glad to see the international break come along when it did as it has allowed for the dust to settle on Joleon Lescott's departure.

After a disastrous start to their own campaign - losing 6-1 at home to Arsenal and 1-0 at newly promoted Burnley - the Toffees recorded a much needed win at home to Wigan Athletic to release some pressure on the management.

Last season a late headed goal from Frenchman and former Fulham man Louis Saha proved the match winner for Everton at Goodison Park in a 1-0 victory.

At Craven Cottage, the Blues took the spoils once again with diminutive midfielder Leon Osman scoring a brace which also ended a 43-year winless streak for the Merseyside club at Fulham.

The clash could be a tight affair and it will be a good workout for both sides as they prepare for their Europa League fixtures next week.

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