Middlesbrough have not won in the Premiership since early November, posting a 0-4-4 record in the league since then. They managed to win 2-1 at home in the FA Cup on Saturday, though this against a Barrow side that's 20th in the Conference!

Alves scored two goals in the FA Cup, but has managed just three all season in the league and the lack of a consistent scorer is hurting Boro.

Boro currently lie in 17th, having scored just 17 goals (the second lowest in the league). They have lost their last three in the league, scoring nil and conceding five.

Sunderland, 2-1 winners over Bolton in the Cup last weekend (a turnaround from the 1-4 defeat last month which ended Roy Keane's reign as manager at the club), are now up to 15th in the league, but did lose 0-3 last time out at Everton.

The Black Cats have improved since Ricky Sbragia was promoted from assistant manager. They have shown enough in the past three or so weeks to suggest they should be just safe come May and that's down to more reliable forward line.

Kenwyne Jones and El-Hadji Diouf have played their parts, but Djibril Cisse remains the key man for the team in attack.

Match Betting Previews 10-11 January 2009 >>> Premiership: Arsenal v Bolton - Aston Villa v WBA - Everton v Hull - Fulhan v Blackburn - Middlesbrough v Sunderland - Newcastle v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man City - Stoke v Liverpool - Man United v Chelsea - Wigan v Spurs La Liga: Deportivo v Sevilla - Valencia v Villarreal - Osasuna v Barcelona Serie A: Inter v Cagliari - Juventus v Siena - Roma v Milan Ligue 1: Lyon v Lorient - Bordeaux v PSG

Sunderland may have only scored in 11 of their league games, but Cisse has scored in 8 of those games. He did so again in the win over Bolton last week.

Middlesbrough can't be expected to give too much away - their defensive record is not terrible - but their in a run of form at the minute where they look likely to concede at least one goal each game.

Cisse to score first goal is available at $7.50 from Bet365, but it may be safer to go with the French international to score anytime, available at $3.10 from Paddypower instead.

BETZINE UK TIP *****

Bet: Cisse to score anytime Odds: $3.10 Stake: 3.5pts Bookies: Paddypower

Match Betting Previews 10-11 January 2009 >>> Premiership: Arsenal v Bolton - Aston Villa v WBA - Everton v Hull - Fulhan v Blackburn - Middlesbrough v Sunderland - Newcastle v West Ham - Portsmouth v Man City - Stoke v Liverpool - Man United v Chelsea - Wigan v Spurs La Liga: Deportivo v Sevilla - Valencia v Villarreal - Osasuna v Barcelona Serie A: Inter v Cagliari - Juventus v Siena - Roma v Milan Ligue 1: Lyon v Lorient - Bordeaux v PSG