A much-needed second win of the campaign at Bolton eased the pressure on Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, pushing his side closer to mid-table and bookies fancy the Black Cats to kick-on by carding another victory, Betfred offering 6/5 for them to get the better of Aston Villa at the Stadium of Light today.

The visitors, Victor Chandler's 13/5 outsiders, are 23/10 with Totesport to earn a point and as Villa have three draws in four away games to their name, the stalemate, alongside Parybets' 11/2 for the contest to finish one-each could prove popular with neutrals.

However, home supporters will be feeling a touch more optimistic this week and noting that Aston Villa are winless on the road, some will like the look of Ladbrokes' 7/1 for the Black Cats to grab the only goal, as they did in the corresponding fixture last season.

A higher-scoring 2-1 triumph, at 9.0 (8/1) via Betdaq will appeal more to punters backing the match to produce three or more goals (43/40, bet365) while in the first scorer betting, Skybet make Stephane Sessegnon a 7/1 shot to bag the opener for the second weekend running.

Last weekend's narrow victory against Wigan took Newcastle's unbeaten tally in the league to nine and Betdaq rate the Magpies at 3.75 (11/4) to move it into double figures by collecting a maximum haul at Stoke on Monday.

The Potters however, tend to be strong on their own patch and Boylesports make them 5/4 favourites to be the first team to overcome United in the Premier League.

In the circumstances, Ladbrokes' 23/10 chalked against the stalemate isn't unattractive ahead of the Britannia Stadium meeting, where Totesport offer a 1-1 scoreline at 11/2 and Betfred quote 4/1 for both halves to finish all square.

Victor Chandler meanwhile, make Newcastle a 6/4 chance in their ‘Draw No Bet' market, however, more appealing to travelling fans could be Skybet's 15/2 for United to finish on the right side of a 1-0 scoreline or Sportingbet's 14/1 chalked against an opening goal from Yohan Cabaye, who has struck twice in the space of a few days.

At the other end, Paddy Power price a clean sheet for Pardew's charges at 11/4 and it's 8/11 with Stan James for the match to produce fewer than three goals

Middlesbrough got back to winning ways last weekend, beating Derby 2-0 but Tony Mowbray's charges face a real test of their promotion mettle today as they head to Championship leaders Southampton.

Saints have a hundred percent record at home and accordingly, they're Totesport's odds-on 10/11 favourites while Boro are 10/3 outsiders with Ladbrokes and it's 11/4 via Victor Chandler to finish all square.

The latter isn't out of the question and as the hosts' goal tally at St Mary's points to a match tally of more than 2.5 goals (5/6, Betfred), Sportingbet's 14/1 marked against a 2-2 scoreline might attract the bold.

In the handicaps, Stan James hand Mowbray's side a goal start at odds of 20/21 but optimistic fans might instead prefer Boylesports' 14/1 for Boro to shade it 2-1 or a Marvin Emnes opener at 7/1 (Skybet).

In League One, Stan James offer 5/2 for Hartlepool to hold leaders Charlton to a draw at Victoria Park, where Victor Chandler price a home win at 11/4 and in the FA Cup, Ladbrokes quote Darlington at 4/9 to get the better of Hinckley.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

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