Football Focus

Bolton fans got a fright this week when Sam Allardyce was pictured lunching with David Bellion, but despite losing out on Rivaldo the Trotters manager is not that desperate. Bolton reached the Carling Cup Final and are guaranteed their best Premiership finish.

Verdict: BEST EVER FOR BOLTON

Charlton v Southampton
3pm tomorrow, The Valley
Tickets: £25 (£15-£20 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010 Last season: 2 (Parker, Lisbie) 1 (Beattie)
Referee: Jeff Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)
Facts: Charlton have gone five games since keeping a clean sheet Standout bet: Paolo Di Canio to score last goal: 13-2 (Bet365)

Charlton's season came to an end the moment Scott Parker went on strike in January. But if their fans are disappointed with a top-10 finish, it shows just how far the club have come. A home win would give the Addicks a best-ever eighth place in the Premiership.

Verdict: ADDICKS RELISHING SUMMER HOLIDAY

Chelsea v Leeds
3pm tomorrow, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: £37 (£15-£23 concs) members only. Tel: 0870 300 2322
Last season: 3 (Gudjohnsen, Lampard, Matteo og) 2 (Kewell, Lucic) Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Facts: Chelsea have gone eight home games without defeat. Leeds have gone five matches since a win
Standout bet: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to score: evens (Bet365, P Power)

For Chelsea fans crying into their caviar after a trophyless season, the arrival of Leeds should remind them things could be a lot worse. The Yorkshire club have gone from Champions League to Football League in three years. Claudio Ranieri will get a rapturous send-off before the sword of Roman Abramovich is plunged into his heart.

Verdict: RANIERI WINS HIS LAST STAND

Liverpool v Newcastle
3pm tomorrow, Anfield
Last season: 2 (Hamann, Owen) 2 (Speed, Shearer).
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)
Facts: Newcastle haven't won a league game at Anfield since a 2-0 victory in April 1994. Newcastle have gone four matches without a win Standout bet: Half with most goals - second: 11-10 (P Power)

Just when Gerard Houllier began dreaming of the second-rate French League players he could buy, courtesy of the Thai taxpayer, along came building tycoon Steve Morgan to deliver the ultimate wake-up call. If Morgan gets a seat on the board or possibly even the chairman's throne, his next move could be to guillotine M Houllier.

Verdict: GERARD'S CROSS

Manchester City v Everton
3pm tomorrow, City of Manchester Stadium
Last season: 3 (Anelka 2, Radzinski og) 1 (Unsworth)
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: Everton last won away against Manchester City in 1995 when goals from Joe Parkinson and Daniel Amokachi gave them a 2-0 win
Standout bet: Over 3.5 goals in game: 12-5 (V Chandler)

Just as Colin Montgomerie is the fattest golfer never to win a major, Manchester City and Everton are vying for an unwanted place on the list of teams to have survived in the Premiership on fewer than 40 points. Expect Kevin Keegan's boys to get their noses in front.

Verdict: EVERTON UNDER PAR

Portsmouth v Middlesbrough
3pm tomorrow, Fratton Park
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Portsmouth's last home win over Boro came in 1993 when goals from John Durnin and Paul Hall gave them a 2-0 victory
Standout bet: Middlesbrough to win by one goal: 7-2 (Bet 365)

This is Teddy Sheringham's last game in a Pompey shirt and he is unlikely to be the only departure from Fratton Park this summer. Chairman Milan Mandaric wants to bring in a new "super-coach" to replace Jim Smith and Kevin Bond, but Harry Redknapp is furious.

Verdict: VINTAGE SHERI

Wolves v Tottenham
3pm tomorrow, Molineux
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Facts: Jermain Defoe has scored six goals in 14 appearances for Tottenham. Henri Camara has scored six in eight games for Wolves
Standout bet: Spurs plus one on handicap: 8-15 (Blue Sq)

It's not been a great year for caretakers and after eight months in temporary charge at White Hart Lane that jolly janitor David Pleat could be about to hang up his overalls. Who gets the manager's job is anyone's guess and, despite spending the best part of a season shuffling cvs, chairman Daniel Levy doesn't appear to know either.

Verdict: PLEAT GIVEN THE BRUSH OFF

Division One Play-off semi-finals, first leg

Crystal Palace v Sunderland
8pm tonight, Selhurst Park - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: £20-£25 (restricted view). Tel: 08712 000 071 Result this season: 3 (Johnson, Shipperley, Freedman) 0.
Referee: Richard Beeby (Northants)
Facts: Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart hasn't scored in his past seven appearances. Palace have kept five clean sheets in seven home matches Standout bet: Crystal Palace to keep a clean sheet: 13-8 (Bet365)

Mick McCarthy wants Sunderland fans to abandon the Mexican wave, describing it as "minging". What would be minging is if Palace fans have to wave bye-bye to Iain Dowie in yet another false dawn at Selhurst. Maybe promotion will convince Dowie to ignore the growing speculation linking him with Leeds. So come on Palace, put him on the road to Cardiff instead by matching the recent 3-0 win over Sunderland.

Verdict: PALACE WIN TO STAVE OFF THE MING DYNASTY

Ipswich v West Ham
12.15pm tomorrow, Portman Road - live on Sky Sports 1
Away ticket info: Sold out
Result this season: 1 (Wright) 2 (Defoe, Connolly).
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Co Durham) Facts: Richard Naylor, who has six goals to his name this season, has gone 16 games without scoring. Bobby Zamora has found the net five times in 15 matches for West Ham Standout bet: Ipswich to win 2-1: 15-2 (Coral, P Power, V Chandler)

Darren Bent was questioned by police in connection with a shooting incident, which will come as no surprise to supporters who have witnessed his criminal finishing. The Ipswich striker has no need to worry, though, as everyone knows he can't shoot straight. West Ham fans will be hoping Bent lives up to his name by firing all over the place and Alan Pardew's side should have the upper hand against the boys in blue.

Verdict: HAMMERS GAIN THE INITIATIVE