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I wasn't bowled over by Saturday's show, not in the slightest. In fact, if week two was high on quality, then week three was distinctly average at best, with only two or three acts performing to the standard we've come to expect.

The star of the show - arguably for the third week in a row - was painter and decorator Matt Cardle. He took a huge risk singing Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time, the song that was famously 'killed' by former pop-style reality TV contestant Darius Danesh. But Cardle's acoustic version of the song was lovely on the ear (is that even a saying?) and completely error free, so much so that all four judges were drooling over this year's favourite once again.

But I have a problem with Cardle's performance - not quite in the 'he should be disqualified' type of way, but more in the 'what is going on here?' sense. And that's because he played the guitar. I'm really struggling to remember when another X Factor contestant was allowed to play their own instrument on the show. In fact if I remember correctly, there was once a time when someone turned up at an audition with an instrument and they were told it wasn't allowed. So has the rule changed? If it has then I only wish I was made aware because I'm sure I would have went a lot further than just the audition stage if I was allowed to play my kazoo!

I got a lot of stick - which I welcome by the way - for saying that One Direction performed brilliantly in week two. On reflection they weren't brilliant but they were still good, and they were just about as good on Saturday. For me they are one of the few acts who will get better and better as the weeks go on and I certainly rate them the biggest danger to Cardle.

In this year's Winner market Matt Cardle is available to back at 2.84, just ahead of One Direction (4.2) and Rebecca Ferguson (6.4) who has come in for support following her excellent performance that had Louis Walsh declaring, "Liverpool has definitely got a brand new popstar".

As Sod's law would have it, John Adeleye - who was my selection to be eliminated in week two - was the fifth act to be eliminated from this year's show. It was noticeable to see that Adeleye - who performed ok I thought - was in one of the two graveyard slots and that now means that he, Storm Lee, and FYD have all been eliminated after performing first or second in that week's line-up.

For that reason then I hope Cher Lloyd gets to sing first or second this week as I just can't stand the girl. It's clear to me that the judges are protecting her - probably because she's had some bad press and is only 17-years-old - by giving her excellent comments each week when quite frankly she doesn't deserve them. Take Cheryl Cole's comments about Mary Byrne for example. Cole criticised Byrne for singing the same type of song week in week out, yet Lloyd has rapped every week but receives praise. How does that work? Tell Lloyd to sing, not rap, and if she can't do it, let's have her off the show.

Wagner is the 3.2 favourite in the 6th Elimination market but I'm in total agreement with my friend (or is it foe?) Jack Houghton on this one. Wagner is rubbish, but he at least gets people talking - and more importantly, voting - which is more than can be said about similar rubbish acts Belle Amie (3.4 to be eliminated this week) and Paije Richardson (8.0). You've also got to understand that some of the voting public are completely bonkers, so whilst there are some 'boring' rubbish acts still in the competition, Wagner - in true Jedward style - is likely to last a bit longer yet.

By Mike Norman