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Simon is smarting from another poor week but is putting his faith in Fulham's newest acquisition as well as a Premier League goals double at 11/5

Another week and another loss; things have not been going well after a decent start to the season.

Normally I would take stock and try to change tack but in honesty, I genuinely believe the thought process that has been going into the bets of late has been solid. So rather than go all radical on you, I am going to plough on and continue what I am doing in the hope of a change of fortune.

Swansea were the big let-down for me, succumbing to Aston Villa’s young side 2-0, despite seeing a lot of the ball during the game. However, Villa deserved it in the end and Paul Lambert seems to have got a squad of largely average players and is starting to turn them into a decent footballing unit.

We did have one winner during the week though, with Spas Gorgov taking the weekly £20 free bet from Paddy Power for sending us the best winning tip of the week.

He correctly tipped a Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Inter Milan treble which paid just under 10/1 so congratulations and enjoy your free bet!

There’s another round of competition this week so make sure you get your entries in. Details on how to do so and the password for this week are below.


Dimitar Berbatov to score anytime at 21/10 (3.10) with Paddy Power

So, onto the weekend’s action and I am starting with a bet in the Wigan vs Fulham match. These teams could not have registered two more different results on their last outing if they had tried; Wigan suffering a 4-0 loss away to Manchester United whilst Fulham beat a decent looking West Brom side 3-0 at Craven Cottage.

"Martin Jol has stamped his style all over this team and with the addition of a certain Mr Berbatov, they have a genuinely class striker to lead the line" - Simon on why he's backing Berbatov this week

In fairness to Wigan, a 4-0 loss at the hands of a title contender, away from home is no major worry in reality but it still will not fill them with confidence come Saturday afternoon.

In the last six Premier League meetings between these two sides, Fulham have avoided defeat every time and have won four of those games. Martin Jol has stamped his style all over this team and with the addition of a certain Mr Berbatov, they have a genuinely class striker to lead the line.

Berbatov scored twice on his home debut last week and looked in good form doing so and it is he that I will be backing again this week.

At time of writing, he is 21/10 (3.10) with Paddy Power to score at any time against a Wigan side that has conceded a minimum of two goals in every Premier league game thus far and conceded ten goals in total. £20 of my bankroll goes on the Bulgarian.

Double: West Brom v Reading (over 2.5 goals) and Southampton v Aston Villa (Both to score)

My next bet is a £10 double in the Premier League paying just under 11/5 (3,19) and combines the West Brom vs Reading game and the Southampton vs Aston Villa game.

Historically the West Brom/Reading match has seen a lot of goals, with four of the last six games going over 3.5 goals, let alone 2.5 goals.

The Baggies have already shown that they can score and will score goals, whilst, despite their lack of results, Reading have shown enough decent football and have scored in every one of their games so far.  Therefore, I will be going with over 2.5 goals in this game.

In the Southampton vs Villa game I will be taking both teams to score. The Saints have very publicly declared that their season starts against Villa, having already faced Arsenal, Man Utd and Man City and therefore, at home I expect them to be firing on all cylinders.

They have also scored plenty against those top sides so scoring goals is definitely not their problem. Defensively they have looked suspect and Villa have improved of late; regardless of the result, I do expect both teams to score.

Wherever you are this weekend, enjoy your football and your betting and remember that we've got a £20 free bet to give away each week thanks to Paddy Power. To win just email your best tip for the weekend with the word "Winpower" in the subject line.

Be it a well-priced single, an ambitious multiple or any other bet available in all of Paddy Power's football markets around the world for games taking place from 22nd-24th September; surely you can find a winning tip! Just send in your selection, the price available at Paddy Power, and include "Winpower" in the subject line before midday on Saturday to enter. Good luck!

Diary of a Punter: Simon's Selections this week

Balance at the start of the week: £434.50

Profit on the season: -£65.50

Dimitar Berbatov to score anytime: £20 at 21/10 (3.10) with Paddy Power

WBA v Reading (Over 2.5 goals) and Southampton v Aston Villa (Both teams to score - £10 Double at 11/5 (3.19) with Paddy Power

Total staked this week: £30

Sign up with Paddy Power for up to £250 in free bets

Simon Pilkington is a sports writer, an avid supporter of Liverpool FC and has been betting on sports for the past 13 years. Follow Simon on

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