Yet more shocking defending in the premiership last weekend resulted in another 37 goals being added to the impressive total so far this season, but I suppose with Burnley and Hull having faced trips to sides featuring some of the best strikers in Europe, it was always inevitable that the goals would flow. Chelsea's defeat at Wigan has given renewed hope to Liverpool and Arsenal in particular, whose two early defeats each had led to them being written off as title challengers after just a few games, and it looks as though the battle to avoid relegation will be just as keenly fought as it was last season, with any number of clubs looking as though they might join Portsmouth in the Championship next year.

Another international break is nearly upon us, but in the meantime, we have another round of Premiership fixtures to look forward to, starting at the Reebok:

1) Bolton v Tottenham: It's not often you get to report that Bolton are on a four match unbeaten run in League and Cup, but Gary Megson has got his side doing exactly what they need to do to survive, by taking points from all of the weaker sides in the division that they have faced during September. You certainly can't place Tottenham in that bracket, though, as last Saturday's 5-0 mauling of Burnley cemented their challenge for a top four place at the end of the season. Visits to Bolton have been pretty fruitless for Spurs recently, and, quite incredibly, they haven't won there in the League since 1996. However, I can't remember a time when they had three strikers in such great form, so we may be about to witness that run ending in a high scoring encounter.

2) Burnley v Birmingham: Boasting a 100% record against three strong sides at Turf Moor this season, I suppose it would be inevitable if that run ended against the masters of anti-football on Saturday, particularly as Birmingham haven't been defeated there on their last five League visits dating back to 1980. Burnley have ridden their luck to some extent in all three of their home victories so far, but a large number of people expected Stoke's home form to drop off last season and the victories kept on coming, so it would be unwise to assume the same about the Clarets. Assuming David Nugent starts this match, Burnley may try to force the pattern of play, which they were unable to do in the early stages against Man.U., Everton and Sunderland, so it will be vital for them to take the lead, since we witnessed in City's last away match at Hull how capable they are of snatching a late winner if they have succeeded in boring their hosts into a state of torpor. One to leave out of your betting selections.

3) Hull v Wigan: Is the fixture computer having a laugh this week? At least we will probably see some goals, as Hull have now conceded fifteen in their last four League and Cup matches, and you may remember they took a right gubbing in this fixture last August with Wigan romping to a 5-0 victory. We will never know whether Wigan's admirable win over Chelsea would still have happened without the sending off of Petr Cech, but they certainly have talented enough players to take advantage of Hull's current malaise, as they proved in their opening day win at Villa Park. With City in such disarray, it would be unwise to back against the visitors.

4) Wolves v Portsmouth: OK, so no points after seven matches is a pretty worrying state of affairs, but the last couple of defeats have seen Pompey's performances warranting far greater reward. In particular, Tim Howard put in a quite unbelievable display to thwart Portsmouth in Everton's narrow and rather fortunate win at Fratton Park last Saturday, so it surely can't be too long before the odd point is won here and there. The fixture list is also starting to provide Pompey with a few more reasonable opportunities over the next few weeks, and where better to get off the mark than at Molineux, where the hosts are taking inconsistency to new levels this season. Each of their two victories so far has been sandwiched between two defeats, but it is the inept defending they displayed on Sunday at Sunderland that will be of most concern to Mick McCarthy. The last five renewals of this fixture have ended all square, and given that Portsmouth will gain points eventually, I think at least the first one will be in this match.

5) Man.United v Sunderland: Speaking of inconsistency, Sunderland's League record this season reads, WLWLWLW. How about another L to add onto that list as they try to achieve their first win at Old Trafford since 1968?

6) Arsenal v Blackburn: The Gunners made rather hard work of winning at Fulham on Saturday, but held on against dogged opponents to climb back into contention at the top end of the table. This Saturday they face a visit from a side who have scored on only one of their last eight visits to Arsenal in League and Cup, and that was in a 6-2 tonking! Rovers will, however, have been boosted by their late victory over Villa last weekend, but their away form remains poor, with one goal scored and five conceded in two defeats so far. They will give it a go, but may well be demolished if Arsenal don't pick up injuries in the Champions League in midweek.

7) Everton v Stoke: Four clean sheets and four consecutive victories in League and Cup. It looks like a formidable record even though there was an element of fortune about Everton's latest win as discussed earlier. However, as the Toffees face a daunting trip to Bulgaria on Thursday, this match becomes all the more difficult to predict as we are unable to quantify the effects that the journey will have on the players selected, or even whether a youthful reserve side will be picked on Thursday, leaving David Moyes with a fresh group of players with which to take on the Potters. Judging by last season's meeting, Stoke may be due for a difficult day, as they lost 3-1 to a similar looking Everton team. With the recent addition of Peter Reid to the coaching staff at Stoke, I fear the ratio of defeats to victories will only rise for them over the next few months, starting here. Incidentally, it was interesting to note that the Thailand FA, who seemingly appointed Peter Reid as their manager for his former skills as a player rather than his coaching ability, appear to have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire now that Reid has departed. His replacement in Bangkok? Bryan Robson. No appearance in the World Cup anytime soon, then.

8) West Ham v Fulham: For probably the first time since he took over, Gianfranco Zola displayed the air of a frustrated man after Monday night's defeat at Man.City, as he struggled to find answers as to why his players are under-performing this season. Only Hull and Portsmouth now sit below the Hammers, but a home match against the team directly above them provides an instant opportunity to pull away from the danger zone, particularly as Fulham haven't won in the League at Upton Park since 2001. On the other hand, Fulham are probably slightly unfortunate to find themselves in such a lowly position as they have already had to face Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and Villa, and put in a strong display against the Gunners last Saturday before coming up just short of taking a point. West Ham were punished by one of their former strikers on Monday, and if they allow Bobby Zamora as much space and time as they gave Carlos Tevez at City, their place in the bottom three could be cemented.

9) Chelsea v Liverpool: Neutrals will be hoping that this match follows the pattern of the sides' last two Champions League meetings at Stamford Bridge, which featured 11 goals between them, rather than the League meetings during the same period, which featured just one. Given the form of Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres in particular, I'm not of the opinion that this match will be as tight and restricted of opportunities as those previous League meetings were, and a breathless afternoon surely awaits the viewing public. As for the outcome, who knows? This fixture has developed into a fascinating one on both the domestic and European fronts, but one that is entirely unpredictable.

10) Aston Villa v Man.City: Speaking of attractive fixtures for the viewing public, how about this one to round off the weekend's entertainment? City's amazing match at Old Trafford remains their only defeat of the season so far, and they also boast a decent recent record at Villa Park, with just one defeat in their last seven visits in League and Cup. That solitary defeat came last year as City struggled in the early part of the season, and were destroyed by a Gabby Agbonlahor hat-trick in a 4-2 loss. With the same player having scored in his side's last five matches, a tough test awaits City's defenders, but with Emanuel Adebayor having served his three match suspension, City will carry a potent threat themselves, and it would be no surprise to me if that 4-2 scoreline was reversed this time around.

It's always tricky trying to suggest a betting opportunity for the weekend prior to the midweek fixtures having been played, but I see no reason to believe that a treble involving Queen of the South, Partick and Dundee shouldn't pay dividends. A £10 stake would return £30.96 with Coral if all won their matches. Back again in two weeks after the international break.

Good Luck!