DEC 28: ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW

LOOKS like my Swansea Super Single tip has split opinions but I'm quietly confident the Welsh side will win at Aston Villa.

Villa look a side really lacking spark and the man who can give it to them, Christian Benteke, is missing – as is influential defender Ron Vlaar.

Paul Lambert's men would need to improve massively from the home form they've shown. They've lost six in front of their own fans and failed to net in five of their last six at Villa Park.

The latest debacle was a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Thursday and if you accept Swansea are better than Tony Pullis's men you have to believe they look decent value at 13-8 with Betfred and Ladbrokes.

I'm also going against Swansea's rivals Cardiff following the sacking of Malky Mackay. They looked terrible in losing 3-0 at home to Southampton on Thursday and a change of boss shouldn't have any effect.

In fact it might make it worse as by all accounts the players – and fans – were on Mackay's side and would rather have seen owner Vincent Tan disappear back to Malaysia.

Sunderland are improving up after reaching the Capital One Cup semis and stunning Everton at Goodison on Thursday. Sure, that was result was achieved thanks mainly to Tim Howard's early sending-off and they were battered after that but will take huge confidence from keeping a clean sheet.

Ex-Celtic midfielder Ki Seung-Yung scored against Chelsea and Everton – winning and potting the penalty that toppled the Toffees.

He looks a threat for Gus Poyet's men and is 11-1 at 888sport to net at anytime and 23-1 to score first.

Cardiff players could react two ways to losing their boss but the atmosphere at the stadium is likely to be more poisonous than usual and Sunderland look huge at 12-5 with bet365.

At that price you can play safer and take them draw no bet at 7-5 with McBookie.

In the other games Hull could edge out Fulham but a draw would be no surprise while West Ham v West Brom looks a stalemate.

Now to the two Manchester clubs. Both hit back from behind to win on Boxing Day and can follow up with wins today.

All the Premier League clubs in action today played on Thursday so sides with bigger squads will cope better.

There are none bigger than City's and they should extend their 100 per cent home record against Palace.

Without Sergio Aguero they weren't as deadly as usual against Liverpool but still have Alvaro Negredo who always scores at the Etihad these days. He is 10-3 at Coral to hit the opener.

Skipper Vincent Kompany has netted in his last two and is 10-1 at Betfred to make it three in a row.

City are a best 1-33 with Ladbrokes which must be the shortest price I've seen for a Premier League side. That means you must go to -2 at 10-11 with bet365 for a decent handicap punt and they should cover it.

Man Utd made it five wins in a row as they hit back from 2-0 down to beat Hull and can make it a super six at a Norwich side who lost in injury time to Fulham at Carrow Road.

United are 3-5 at Ladbrokes and McBookie and I'll be on Wayne Rooney at 6-5 with bet365 to score.

Antonio Valencia is out after his red card at Hull and will be a loss after his recent good form but Davie Moyes will be rotating his squad during this busy period anyway.

Recommended Bets

Swansea
(13-8, Ladbrokes, Betfred)

Negredo to score first
(3-1, Coral)

Man City -2
(10-11, bet365)

Rooney to score
(6-5, bet365)

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