NJ's Midweek Premier League Preview

By Nishant Joshi

With Christmas around the corner, back these bets to hopefully buy your bint that faux version of the diamond bracelet she always wanted...

Sunderland vs Aston Villa



15th December 19:45 GMT

I strongly fancy the chances of two lively AGS shots for this match. Darren Bent has scored 10 goals in the Premier League this season, and is still available at 2.88 with Boylesports. Snap it up before it disappears, as I'd have been happy to have a punt at anything over 2.4.

Likewise, Gabriel Agbonlahor is available at 2.88 with the same firm to score for Aston Villa. After a recent scoring spurt, culminating in bagging the winner at Old Trafford on Saturday, Bent's fellow England hopeful now has eight goals in the league. Often playing as a lone striker, he's high in confidence and is certainly worth a punt here.

Birmingham vs Blackburn



15th December 29:00 GMT
Sky Sports 2 (19:30-22:15)
Sky Sports HD2 (19:30-22:15)

Birmingham's 1-0 win over West Ham collected us a cool 4.8pts worth of profit on Saturday, and I'm only too happy to back them again. Despite being fairly goal-shy at home, Birmingham have ground out the wins to extend their record at St Andrew's this season to 4-2-2. Birmingham have now picked up four wins on the trot without causing too much of a stir with the layers, and they're now unbeaten in their last seven games.

Blackburn have been a 'nothing' team for me this season, stabilising in unglamorous fashion after a woeful start. With a 1-1-6 away record, Birmingham are an outstanding play at odds-against.

However, as a caveat, it should be noted that Blackburn have hit 3 0-0's in a row in the league, and have failed to score in their last four. Instead of taking paltry cover on the 0-0, and considering that Christmas is around the corner, I fancy doubling up - instead of going for the 'Birmingham to win to nil' option, I'm happy to back the Birmingham win along with the 'Birmingham clean sheet' option, providing us a timely Christmas bonus if Birmingham can grind out a win, and still returning a profit if it finishes 0-0.

Manchester Utd vs Wolves



15th December 20:00 GMT

Rooney has scored 11 goals in the league this season and despite Wolves managing to grind out an impressive 1-0 win against Spurs on Saturday, I fancy Manchester United to bring them back down to earth at Old Trafford on Tuesday. With United likely to play Rooney up front by himself, I'm happy to take on William Hill, who are dangling 5.5 on Shrek's distant cousin to score two or more.

Chelsea vs Portsmouth



16th December 19:45 GMT

Didier Drogba tops the goal charts this season with 12+1 goals from just 15 games. He should get plenty of chances against his former boss Avram Grant, who makes his maiden return to Stamford Bridge in a top vs bottom clash. Just like with Rooney in our previous bet, William Hill offer a short AGS price - 1.6 for Drogba to score at least once - but being in prime form, I'm more than happy to once again dabble in Drogba to score two or more at 5.5.

Liverpool vs Wigan



16th December 20:00 GMT

Liverpool's only saving grace this season has been the abject failure of rivals Everton, and even those pithy crumbs of comfort will do no good to assuage Rafa Benitez's mounting concerns. They were absolutely woeful in the second half against Arsenal, resorting to 'hoof ball' and earning the ire of the fickle Kop End, not even managing a single shot on target during the last 45 minutes. Liverpool's season is essentially over, having been dumped out of the Champions' League and out of the title race by October.

If Wigan were admitted to my surgery today, I would no doubt diagnose them with acute schizophrenia at the moment. They are arguably the most unpredictable side in the league at the moment, involved in a number of bizarre matches. Having managed to be the first side to beat Chelsea this season, Wigan miraculously contrived to lose 9-1 at Tottenham, twice threw away the lead at home to Birmingham, and most recently, missed a late penalty away to Stoke - all this despite Maynor Figueroa scoring the most incredible 'video game-esque' dream goal to put them 2-1 ahead.

Liverpool have often been incredibly sterile at home over the past 18 months, notably during midweek games. Extrabet offer 0-0 at a stand-out 15.0, which looks a few points too big to me.

NJ's Midweek Bets:

Darren Bent to score - 3pts @ 2.88 (Boylesports)

Gabriel Agbonlahor to score - 2.25pts @ 2.88 (Boylesports)

Birmingham to beat Blackburn - 4.5pts @ 2.25 (VCBet)

Birmingham to keep a clean sheet - 2.25pts @ 3.0 (VCBet)

Wayne Rooney to score 2 or more - 2pts @ 5.5 (William Hill )

Didier Drogba to score 2 or more - 2pts @ 5.5 (William Hill )

Liverpool vs Wigan 0-0 - 1.25pts @ 15.0 (Extrabet.com)