Blackburn and Hull both enjoyed dramatic opening fixtures last week, with both sides coming from behind to win late in their respective games; Blackburn’s 3-2 win away to Everton was their first under new manager Paul Ince, and Hull’s 2-1 win at home to Fulham was their first win in the top flight of English football.

Though the mood at Hull will be nothing short of euphoric, manager Phil Brown may be urging his side not to get too carried away; Fulham were winless away last season until April and are typically poor on their travels – there are many harder games in store.

Blackburn’s miraculous win last week has done much to restore morale at the club after rumours of players’ unrest but Paul Ince, too, despite a perfect start to his reign, will be urging his players not to become over-confident as Everton looked ragged last week and presented opportunities to his side.

Considering the sides’ respective home and away form last season, Blackburn’s best price of $1.67 to win actually seems quite generous - Blackburn were very good against the worst sides in the Premiership at home last season; 7 of their 8 wins at Ewood Park last season were against sides in the bottom half (with 5 of those being by more than one goal) and they were unbeaten against sides lower than 8th.

Also, Hull were not particularly strong away from home in the Championship last season; their 10 away losses in the Championship last season was one more than Leicester, who were relegated.

Match Betting Previews 23-25 August 2008 >>> Premiership: Blackburn v Hull - Liverpool v Middlesbrough - Newcastle v Bolton - Stoke v Aston Villa - Spurs v Sunderland - WBA v Everton - Fulham v Arsenal - Wigan v Chelsea - Man City v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man Utd Bundesliga: Dortmund v Bayern - Werder v Schalke - Stuttgart v Leverkusen Ligue 1: Le Havre v Marseille - Lyon v Grenoble - Bordeaux v Nantes Champions League: Arsenal v Twente - Liverpool v Standard - Atletico v Schalke

Blackburn should have too much quality for Hull, who will find their first away game in the Premiership a lot tougher than their first home game; the handicap win at $3.00 from Bet365 is worth considering due to Blackburn’s good record over poorer sides at home.

However, with 10 of Blackburn’s 15 wins in the league home and away last year being by just the one goal, the fixed odds may be a safer option, as it still seems over-generous at the price.

BETZINE UK TIP *****

Bet: Blackburn to win Odds: $1.67 Stake: 8pts Bookies: Ladbrokes

Match Betting Previews 23-25 August 2008 >>> Premiership: Blackburn v Hull - Liverpool v Middlesbrough - Newcastle v Bolton - Stoke v Aston Villa - Spurs v Sunderland - WBA v Everton - Fulham v Arsenal - Wigan v Chelsea - Man City v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man Utd Bundesliga: Dortmund v Bayern - Werder v Schalke - Stuttgart v Leverkusen Ligue 1: Le Havre v Marseille - Lyon v Grenoble - Bordeaux v Nantes Champions League: Arsenal v Twente - Liverpool v Standard - Atletico v Schalke