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Wolves v Newcastle preview

Newcastle face Wolves at Molineux hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

The Magpies go into the game sitting in fourth place in the table after three wins and three draws in their opening six games.

Much of their current form can be owed to strikers Leon Best and Demba Ba.

Ba had not scored until last weekend, when he netted a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Blackburn, while Best has also claimed three goals this term.

But it is not just in attack where the Magpies have had success this season; they are the only side in the league not to have conceded two or more goals in a game.

In stark contrast, Wolves have struggled since their encouraging start to the season and have lost their last three games.

Mick McCarthy's side have conceded seven goals in those three games while scoring just once - a consolation strike away to Liverpool in last week's 2-1 defeat at Anfield.
Team news

Defender Richard Stearman had to be withdrawn from the game on Merseyside due to a toe injury which could also keep him out of Saturday's clash.

McCarthy admitted the full-back was a major doubt for the clash and if he fails to make the starting line-up, 19-year-old defender Matt Doherty will deputise.

Striker Steven Fletcher is fighting for a place in the starting XI after scoring against Liverpool as a second-half substitute last week after recovering from a groin injury.

But the midlands club are still without a host of players, including Ronald Zubar, Kevin Foley, Jody Craddock and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Newcastle are set to hand a debut to deadline day signing Davide Santon, who is in the squad after recovering from a knee injury.

The Italian defender made the move from Inter Milan in August and completed 90 minutes in a reserve game against Swansea in midweek.

Striker Shola Ameobi is a doubt for the clash as he looks to recover from a shoulder injury while defender Mike Williamson is a month away from making a return to action.

Possible starting XIs

Wolves: Hennessey, Doherty, Johnson, Berra, Elokobi, Hunt, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis, Fletcher, Doyle

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon, Obertan, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ba, Best

Source: www.skysports.com

Sunderland v West Brom preview

Bruce seeking home comforts as Baggies visit

Sunderland face West Brom at the Stadium of Light on Saturday with Black Cats boss Steve Bruce eager to put a difficult week behind him.

It started with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Norwich on Monday evening before defender Titus Bramble was arrested and then bailed for an alleged sexual assault and possession of a Class A drug.

The 30-year-old was swiftly suspended by the club until the police investigation is completed with Bruce keen to switch the attention back to matters on the pitch.

Not that things are much better on the field. The north east club are back in 15th with just five points from their opening six games.

That poor form stretches back into last season, particularly at the Stadium of Light.

They have won just three matches at home since the turn of the year, with one of those against Stoke a fortnight ago.

That 4-0 win over the Potters looked to have got Sunderland's stuttering season going, before this week's defeat at Carrow Road set them back once again.
The club's home displays proved to be the backbone of a solid start to the last campaign and Bruce is hoping a return to that form will lead to an early season revival.

Things haven't been much better for West Brom either. Roy Hodgson's men have won just once all season and currently sit second bottom in the table.

The former Liverpool boss is desperate for the club to avoid a repeat of last year, where a mid-season slump, which led to Hodgson replacing Roberto Di Matteo, meant they needed a remarkable run of results to keep themselves in the Premier League.

That feat, of course, was famously achieved but the Baggies will be keen not to make life difficult for themselves in the final third of the season by picking up some early points to lift them up the table.

Recent history suggests that Sunderland could be the ideal opponents for the Midlands club. The Baggies have taken more points away from home against the Wearsiders - seven - than against any other Premier League opponent and have won their last three games against the Black Cats.
Team news

Bramble will definitely miss the game after being suspended by the club until an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and possession of a Class A drug has been completed.

Midfielder Sebastian Larsson has been playing after having pain-killing injections in a broken toe and his condition will be assessed, while striker Connor Wickham (groin) is a doubt and Craig Gordon and Fraizer Campbell (both knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.

West Brom central defender Gabriel Tamas is available for selection after completing a three-game suspension. But he faces a battle to regain his place following an impressive performance by summer signing Gareth McAuley in last weekend's goalless home draw with Fulham.

Defender Craig Dawson is expected to recover from the illness which meant he was unable to train on Thursday, but midfielder Zoltan Gera and striker Marc-Antoine Fortune are still sidelined through injury.

Possible starting XIs:

Sunderland: Mignolet, Brown, Richardson, O'Shea, Turner, Larsson, Gardner, Vaughan, Elmohamady, Sessegnon, Bendtner.

West Brom: Foster, Olsson, Shorey, McAuley, Brunt, Reid, Thomas, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Long, Odemwingie.

Source:www.skysports.com

Aston Villa v Wigan preview

Aston Villa will be hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the Premier League season when they come up against a Wigan side on a three-match losing streak.

Villa have been in consistent form during the early part of the campaign to take up a place in the top half of the table but manager Alex McLeish will feel it could have been even better.

They came within seconds of securing victory against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last weekend, only for Richard Dunne to score his ninth own goal in the Premier League in stoppage time.

It was Villa's fourth consecutive draw and McLeish will now be determined to return to winning ways at home to the Latics on Saturday.

McLeish has been boosted by the news that several key players are set to be fit, with on-loan Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas in contention to make his debut after recovering from a thigh problem.

Record signing Darren Bent has shaken off a groin injury, while fellow striker Emile Heskey is also in the frame after a recent hamstring setback.

Carlos Cuellar, Chris Herd and Eric Lichaj remain sidelined, but McLeish will give a late fitness test to defender James Collins who suffered an ankle knock against QPR.
Charles N'Zogbia is set to line up against his former club after sealing a switch from Wigan during the transfer window, despite making a slow start to his time at Villa and admitting he would rather play on the right wing than the left.
Wigan news

Roberto Martinez has backed the Frenchman to come good but will be hoping it does not happen this weekend, as the Latics look to maintain an impressive recent record at Villa Park.

Martinez was targeted for the managerial role at Villa over the summer but opted not to go anywhere as he felt he could take the Latics further.

Wigan's impressive start to the new season has unravelled somewhat following three straight defeats, although they have not lost four in a row since October 2008.

The 2-1 loss to Tottenham last time out left Martinez's men 15th in the table on five points, but they can draw level with Villa by winning in the Midlands.

Wigan defender Emmerson Boyce is close to a recall having recovered from the hamstring problem which has kept him out of the last two league matches.

His return would be welcome as Steve Gohouri is suspended having been sent off against Tottenham last week.

Fellow defender Antolin Alcaraz (thigh) and striker Hugo Rodallega (knee) are unavailable.

Possible starting XIs

Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Petrov, Delph, N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor, Bent.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Van Aanholt, Boyce, Caldwell, Figueroa, Watson, Gomez, McCarthy, Diame, Moses, Di Santo.

Source:www.skysports.com

Man Utd v Norwich preview

Manchester United host Premier League newcomers Norwich looking to bounce back from their midweek draw with Basel.

The Premier League champions were two goals to the good at Old Trafford in the UEFA Champions League clash before the Swiss side looked like causing a shock with three unanswered goals.

Ashley Young's last-minute effort saved the Red Devils' blushes and boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be demanding a reaction against the Canaries as his side aim to maintain their perfect home league record.

But the Canaries go into the game on a high after beating Sunderland 2-1 at Carrow Road on Monday night to rise to the heady heights of ninth in the table.

That victory followed a 1-0 win at Bolton as Paul Lambert's side have now fully found their feet in the top flight.
Team news

Danny Welbeck may find himself back on the bench when Norwich visit despite scoring two goals in the Champions League in midweek.

For Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez are back from injury for the visit of the Canaires.

Chris Smalling (groin), Nemanja Vidic (ankle) are still missing and could return after the international break, but Jonny Evans has recovered from his ankle injury and is available to bolster Ferguson's defensive options.

Midfield duo Tom Cleverley and Darron Gibson are long-term absentees with foot and ankle problems respectively.

For Norwich, Lambert has confirmed striker James Vaughan will be out for several months with a knee injury.

The 23-year-old hobbled off after coming on as a second-half substitute during the Canaries' defeat of Sunderland on Monday night.

Source: www.skysports.com

Blackburn v Man City preview

Manchester City will be looking to prove a point at Blackburn on Saturday as they return to action following the latest Carlos Tevez saga.

The unsettled striker refused to come off the bench during Tuesday night's UEFA Champions League game at Bayern Munich, sparking outrage amongst City fans and consternation across the footballing world.

It would be optimistic for City to think they can put the episode behind them this weekend - this story will run and run.

But manager Roberto Mancini will be hoping for a performance that shows he can put out a team which is committed to the cause and capable of maintaining a title challenge amid the intense media scrutiny that has surrounded the club this week, and will inevitably continue to surround them all season.

City's 2-0 defeat in Munich was their first of the season and means they have ground to make up if they are to make the knockout stage, but the Blues are flying high in the Premier League.

City are level with neighbours United again at the top of the table after last week's hard-fought win over Everton, which saw the Blues get back to winning ways after dropping their first points at Fulham the week before.

Mario Balotelli came on for Edin Dzeko against Everton and turned the game in City's favour, scoring the opener and putting in perhaps his best performance in a sky blue shirt.

Dzeko actually sparked the midweek drama, reacting angrily after being brought off for fit-again midfielder Nigel de Jong. And although Mancini insists all is forgiven following Dzeko's apology, Balotelli could be handed his league start of the season after being suspended in midweek.

City's troubles will no doubt encourage Blackburn, who managed to upset another of the big boys in their last home game, taking advantage of Arsenal's turbulent start to claim a welcome 4-2 win.

That eased the pressure on manager Steve Kean although Rovers were unable to build on that at Newcastle last week, suffering a 3-1 defeat which saw them slip back into the bottom three.
Rovers have failed to beat City in their last seven meetings, with Dzeko scoring the only goal at Ewood Park last April, and they picked up several injuries in the Newcastle game.

But Kean has challenged his fringe players to make the most of their chance to impress and they know another upset on Saturday could send them as high as 11th.
Team news
Scott Dann, Michel Salgado and Gael Givet have joined Rovers' injury list, while Martin Olsson is suspended following his red card at Newcastle.

Ryan Nelson (knee) is also unavailable, although David Dunn, Morten Gamst Pedersen and David Goodwillie are expected to be back in contention.

Simon Vukcevic, Radosav Petrovic, Jason Roberts and Ruben Rochina are also pushing for a starting spot.

City have suspended Tevez for two weeks while Balotelli could replace Dzeko and partner top scorer Sergio Aguero up front.

De Jong is in contention after coming on for his first appearance in six weeks in Munich, although fellow midfielder Owen Hargreaves is still not ready to start a Premier League game.

Mancini may recall Joleon Lescott in the centre of defence after giving Kolo Toure a surprise start in midweek.

Possible starting XIs:

Rovers: Robinson, Hanley, Samba, Nzonzi, Petrovic, Pedersen, Dunn, Hoilett, Formica, Roberts, Yakubu.

City: Hart, Richards, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy, Barry, Y Toure, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli.

Source:www.skysports.com