The Four by Four column: A quartet of English football selections

Steven Fletcher is Sunderland's top scorer

Every weekend, four of betting.betfair's football writers will contribute one selection each from the top four leagues in English football, giving you, the readers, an exciting Multiple option...

Sunderland 2.01/1 v Aston Villa 3.613/5; The Draw 3.259/4

This a predictable pick and the price is a little shorter than I usually like but it's impossible to find a stronger case for a bet on one of Saturday's 15:00 Premier League kick-offs than under 2.5 goals in Sunderland v Aston Villa.

Sunderland have the division's most timid attack having struck just six times in eight games. Steven Fletcher grabbed five of those - the other was a Demba Ba own goal - and worryingly the Scotland striker has now gone four without netting.

Aston Villa are only marginally more productive, with seven goals to show for their first nine, and the pair have been involved in fewer matches with over 2.5 goals this season (two apiece) than any other clubs.

Thirteen of their combined 17 league fixtures in 2012/13 have featured two or fewer and their clashes with one another tend to be similarly incident-free, six of their last seven meetings fitting that pattern.

Michael Lintorn's selection: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.645/8

Birmingham 1.9520/21 v Ipswich 4.1n/a; The Draw 3.814/5

When Birmingham came from 3-0 down to snatch a draw away to Millwall 11 days ago I had a feeling that could well be a turning point in their season. Four days later Lee Clarke's men went to Elland Road and beat Leeds United, so it appears my hunch could well be correct.

It's no good taking four points from six away from home however if you can't follow it up with a win in your next home game; and the fact that Brum now face bottom-of-the-table Ipswich at St Andrews should mean that another three points is in the offering. The only reason I can offer for Birmingham being close to even money to win this game is the 'new manager syndrome' - surely the home side should be more near 1.68/13 or 1.75/7.

Ipswich hired Mick McCarthy in midweek but if recent evidence is anything to go by he has a massive task on his hands to turn the club's fortunes around.

The Tractor Boys have taken just three points from the last 33 available to them, and last Saturday's home loss to equally out-of-form Sheff Wed highlighted how poor, and devoid of confidence, they are a present. It will take a huge effort for McCarthy to get a win in his first game in charge so I'm ignoring the curse of the new boss and backing the home side to win comfortably on Saturday afternoon.

Mike Norman's selection: Back Birmingham to win @ 1.9520/21

Bournemouth 1.51/2 v Dagenham and Redbridge 5.25n/a; The Draw 3.7511/4

Since Eddie Howe returned to Bournemouth to replace the sacked Paul Groves, the Cherries are proving what a quality side they have. The form under Groves was miserable, which points to a lack of motivation and desire from the players for their previous boss.

However, it's all change since the golden boy came back to the coast. And players such as Harry Arter (who Howe signed) is enjoying a new lease of life. Although striker Lee Barnard won't be featuring this weekend, the hosts are well stocked in the scoring department, and Wes Thomas might be back in the frame following a decent loan spell at rivals Portsmouth.

Dagenham will be fairly direct, and from their days in League One, I recall them being a fairly strong and physical side.

However, the goals are flowing for the Cherries, they've hit Tranmere for three, drew 3-3 with
Notts County and hit Carlisle last weekend 4-2 on their travels. They will press out wide with the full-backs pushing on, as Howe will focus on getting plenty of balls into the box.

The crowd should be decent, and they are fiercely loyal to Howe so the atmosphere should be red hot
for home win.

Alan Dudman's selection: Back Bournemouth to win @ 1.51/2

Chesterfield 2.3211/8 Hartlepool 3.3512/5 Draw 3.613/5

When you are bottom of the league and have not won on your travels, the last place you want to be in the FA Cup is away from home to a lower division side. Hartlepool are managerless after Neale Cooper ended his disastrous second spell in charge. They might have mustered a second away point of the season at Brentford, under caretaker Micky Barron, but both their strikes in a 2-2 draw were own goals. They will think they deserve a fresh start. The cup often provides relief. But it also kicks you when you are down.

Hosts Chesterfield will be thinking of respite themselves after a less than marvellous start, but at least by comparison they have a decent points haul and some confidence. And while recent home form has been poor (three straight defeats) they at least have a new permanent manager to impress. Paul Cook, in his second game, can register his first win for the hosts.

Ian Lamont's selection: Back Chesterfield to beat Hartlepool @ 2.3211/8

Recommended Multiple

Back Under 2.5 Goals in Sunderland v Villa @ 1.645/8; Back Birmingham @ 1.9520/21; Back Bournemouth @ 1.51/2; Back Chesterfield @ 2.3211/8. The Multiple pays approximately 11.010/1

*Prices are based on our Fixed Odds product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.