This Sunday sees another double header in the Premier League, with the Weir Tees derby the first offering. Sunderland and Middlesbrough will be looking to register their first wins of the season in a huge North East clash. The following fixture sees West Ham and Bournemouth look to bounce back from their opening day defeats and it is the Hammers first match at the Olympic Stadium.
Sunderland vs Middlesbrough – Sunday 21st August 2016 – 13:30 - Sky Sports 1
Sunderland kick off their second fixture in the Premier League at home against newly promoted Middlesbrough.
New manager David Moyes and his men got off to a bad start last weekend, they lost 2-1 against Manchester City, with a Paddy McNair goal late on settling the tie.
It was a good performance away from home, to have it ripped away from them in the dying in the moments of the match will be difficult for Moyes to accept.
The match itself was a thoroughly entertaining affair, that saw few options created from both sides but in the end, City proved to be far more clinical than Sunderland.
Sunderland did well to restrict City to just 4 shots on targets, especially when you consider they had four times as many shots overall.
Optimistic Start To Season
That result will give the club a huge sense of optimism that they can return to past glories and erase last season's disappointing campaign.
David Moyes brings with him a record of stabilising clubs, given his past record at Everton he is ideally suited to finally move Sunderland up the league.
He is very short of player's though, the departure of Younes Kaboul to Watford also leaves another gap in defence.
However, he will have been delighted to sign Adnan Januzaj from Manchester United, with the young forward needing to prove himself again at this level.
This is a match that sees newly promoted Middlesbrough travel to the Stadium of Light and they will be full of confidence after their opening draw against Stoke last weekend.
Sunderland will be delighted that they are able to put last week right in a game of this magnitude, with the Weir- Tees derby a huge motivational tool for people in the North East.
Especially as close rivals Newcastle have been relegated to the Championship for this season.
Sunderland will be looking to continue their good record against Middlesbrough. In 105 matches they have won 48, lost 31 and drawn 26 times.
Sunderland are the favourites at 7/5 with Jermaine Defoe the favourite to score first at 9/2.
Middlesbrough kicked off the new season with a good performance in the 1-1 draw against Stoke, with the point at home one that Aitor Karanka will be looking to build on.
They took the lead late in the 11th minute through on-loan striker Alvaro Negredo, who is familiar with the Premier League after his time with Manchester City.
The Spaniard looks to be an excellent signing and along with the experience of Victor Valdes between the sticks, they look to be a side more than capable of staying in the Premier League.
Stoke did equalise in the 67th minute courtesy of a Xherdan Shaquiri free kick that beat Victor Valdes.
This result will enhance the belief of the club that they can survive in the league, given how much they have invested it will be money well spent.
Middlesbrough In Great Shape
Middlesbrough will be looking to improve their shots conversion, from 12 shots they were only able to register two on target and one of them was the goal.
The presence of Gaston Ramirez is another reminder of the class that Middlesbrough have in the squad.
High scoring Championship striker Jordan Rhodes will be looking to prove he can make the step up in the coming weeks as well.
Karanka will be looking to register his first win as a Premier League manager in only his second game, with a derby result the perfect away win.
Middlesbrough are the underdogs at 21/10 with Alvaro Negredo the favourite to score first at 6/1.
West Ham vs Bournemouth – Sunday 21st August 2016 – 16:00 - Sky Sports 1
West Ham kick off their second fixture in the Premier League at home against Bournemouth.
Slaven Bilic and his men kick start life in their new stadium, the Olympic Stadium and will be looking to christen it with a win.
They come into this match on the back of a narrow 2-1 defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League and they will count themselves serious unlucky.
It was a good performance away from home, to have it ripped away from them in the dying in the moments of the match will be difficult for Bilic to accept.
The match itself was a thoroughly entertaining affair, that saw plenty of chances created from both sides but in the end, Chelsea and Costa proved to be far more clinical than West Ham.
Chelsea got off to a fast start, and it wasn't until Michail Antonio fouled Cezar Azpilicueta in the penalty area in the 47th minute, that Eden Hazard converted from the spot.
Optimistic Start To Season
That result and the draw against Astana on Thursday will have given Slaven Bilic plenty of food for thought.
The injury to record signing Andre Ayew is a bitter blow, with the former Swansea man due out of action for four months.
They have signed Jonathan Calleri on loan, whether he will be enough to fill the huge void left by Ayew remains to be seen.
Interest in Benteke earlier in the transfer window does seem to have cooled, he is a signing that would have only enhanced the Hammers and they will be wishing they had signed the classy Belgian.
This is a match that sees Bournemouth travel to the Olympic Stadium and they will be looking to bounce back after their opening weekend defeat.
West Ham won the home fixture last season with a 3-1 victory, Bournemouth will be highly motivated after their opening defeat to Manchester United.
Meaning that this match has added significance for both sides.
West Ham will be looking to continue their even record against Bournemouth. In 2 matches they have won 1 and lost 1.
West Ham are the favourites at 19/20 with Andy Carroll the favourite to score first at 4/1.
Bournemouth kicked off the new season with a poor performance in the 3-1 defeat at home against Manchester United.
They were the architects of their own downfall after Bournemouth captain Simon Francis not only deflected the ball into the path of Spaniard Mata, but in attempting to make up for the initial mistake helped to remove his keeper as well.
Mata will have rarely received a gift so far away from Christmas but he duly obliged to make it 1-0.
Wayne Rooney made it 2-0 in the 59th minute after Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed back into the path of the England and United captain, who couldn't miss from just 5 yards away.
Zlatan put the icing on the cake with a 25-yard screamer in the bottom corner and at that stage Bournemouth had the stuffing truly knocked out of them.
The home side did manage to grab a goal through Adam Smith in the 69th minute, that was only a consolation for Eddie Howe's side.
Bournemouth Rusty In Opener
Bournemouth will be looking to improve on their overall performance, they looked very rusty and the nature of the first goal really did kill the Cherries off.
Eddie Howe announced mid-week that they had all but finished their business in the transfer market, meaning that the squad he has available will be the one that competes to stay in the Premier League.
Howe has no injury concerns ahead of this fixture and another loss could be detrimental to Bournemouth's hopes of staying in the Premier League.
Bournemouth will be looking to register their first win in the Premier League this season and will be looking to win their second match against West Ham.
Bournemouth are the underdogs at 11/4 with Callum Wilson the favourite to open the scoring at 13/2.
Betting Tips
Negredo to score first @ 6/1 and a 2-2 draw @ 16/1
Carroll to score first @ 4/1 and West Ham to win 2-1 @ 7/1