Villa may have the edge again

I thought Novak Djokovic held a strong favourite’s chance against Roger Federer in the US Open Final and I hope you made it pay. Federer was in good form and the crowd was right behind him but the Serb is easily the best defensive player in the world, absorbed all the Swiss could throw at him and won in four sets. Andy Murray remains the player most likely to beat Djokovic but it will be a few months before it’s put to the test again.

I watched a fairly dull game between West Brom and Southampton last week. There is no doubt the Saints should ha e won but all their possession yielded very few clear chances in a goalless draw and there was always the faint chance that the Baggies would nick one through Berahino’s pace. They couldn’t possibly have sold him because he is their only dangerous player.

Tim Sherwood will have to learn to handle interviews after disappointments. He contributed very little on Match of the Day after Aston Villa had lost a two-goal lead at Norwich and was clearly gutted – in modern parlance. But Villa created chances and I’m not sure Albion will be able to contain them in the local derby on Saturday. Of course, Tony Pulis will have them organised and this may be another dull affair but Villa will be safe enough this season whereas that is not bound to be the case with West Brom. The home team are ok value at 13/10 with three firms.

Southampton will give it a real go against Manchester United on Sunday and the 23/10 about them is fair. United suffered a sickening blow with the loss of ex-Saint Luke Shaw in the Champions League this week and are not scoring many goals. The home team are lacking a bit in that respect as well, and I’m not sure Graziano Pelle is a long-term solution up front. However, he seems guaranteed a place and Shane Long struggles to get in. It looks close to me but it’s a measure of United’s hesitant start to the campaign that the bookies offer them at 7/5 – most unusual when they come to St Mary’s.

I should think both teams will score when Bristol City – better than their early league position suggests – take on Reading at Ashton Gate, while Bury have impressed in recent weeks and can keep things going by beating Port Vale in League One.

ASTON VILLA 20 units at 13/10 to beat West Brom

SOUTHAMPTON 10 units at 23/10 to beat Manchester United

Bristol City v Reading Both Teams To Score 20 units at 10/11

BURY 15 units at 13/10 to beat Port Vale