Blues must emulate Burnley's form.

Byline: AlanMcInally

IT WASN'T the best of weekends for our sides last time out.

Blues' fingers were burnt by Bolton and they can't afford many more St Andrew's slip-ups.

Tomorrow's opposition Burnley have been immense at Turf Moor, where they've shown the form Blues must look to emulate.

Three wins from three at home have offset their terrible run on the road and Big Eck's boys will have to fight hard to be the first team to leave with anything.

The Clarets have made their home ground a fortress and will look to use this as a springboard to safety.

I remember it was never easy visiting newly-promoted sides - every game's a cup final for the supporters and they make a right old racket.

They've already overturned Manchester United and Everton with 1-0 victories. I reckon it'll be tight again with a stalemate probably Blues' best hope.

I didn't know whether to take Manchester City seriously at first, which is why I was keen for a closer look at them and happily took my chance on Monday night.

The missus was expecting to be taken out for a meal which, to be fair, she got, just not where she expected.

I had my money riding on Tevez to score first in a 3-0 win so wasn't best pleased with Carlton Cole.

But she put a tenner on City to win 3-1 at tens - her 'women's intuition' got me out of jail there!

Anyway, having seen City first-hand I can only applaud Mark Hughes' work and think they could gatecrash the top four.

Villa have picked up points without hitting top form and the visitors will provide a real test in a game that will have added spice as Richard Dunne and Gareth Barry both line up against former clubs.

I'll sit on the fence for this one and put my money on a draw on Betdaq.

Portsmouth have been properly out of sorts but were unfortunate against Everton.

Paul Hart is moulding a team from scratch and, despite results, seems to be doing a good job with the players.

That game could turn their season - I can see them getting something at Molineux.

Mick McCarthy was saying to me after the Hull game that Wolves need to create more chances. They will also need to show greater consistency and can't afford to take Pompey lightly in order to prove me wrong.

I'll be at Deepdale for Albion's visit to Preston. I'd have predicted an away win last week but Robbie's side have gone a bit Jekyll and Hyde since my last column and form dictates I'll have to go against the Baggies.

The results this week have shown the Championship is the toughest league and North End are a physical outfit with 'the Beast' Jon Parkin up front causing most of the trouble.

Finally, just a quick one to say fair play to Jens Lehmann. At Bayern I often popped into Munich's Oktoberfest for a stein or three and can think of no better reason for being fined for missing training like he was.

Alan's Punts Burnley v Blues: under 2.5 goals at 13/18 Villa v Man City: draw at 12/5 Wolves v Portsmouth: draw at 12/5 Preston v Albion: Lay Baggies on Betdaq