Weekend Football Focus

Raoul Simons|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

13 April 2012

Aston Villa v Man City
2pm Sunday, Villa Park
Last season: 1 (Vassell) 0
Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)
Facts: Gareth Barry hasn't scored a Premiership goal since December. City's draw against Fulham was their fourth league 0-0 this season
Standout bet: Home win for Villa: Evens (Premierbet)
Aston Villa's mission for a European place was hit by a friendly-fire incident on Wednesday when oafish defender Olof Mellberg launched himself at Darius Vassell. Mellberg's scrap with Sweden team-mate Freddie Ljungberg during the last World Cup was merely a warm-up for his 'tackle' on Vassell during the England game in Gothenburg, which is likely to rule the striker out of this match. Even without the pacy striker, David O'Leary's side should have too much firepower for Manchester City who are finding every game a comedown after the climax of beating Manchester United.
Verdict: OLOF LAUGHS LAST

Fulham v Birmingham
3pm Saturday, Loftus Road
Tickets: £26-£33 (£12-£26 concs). Tel: 0870 442 1234
Last season: 0-1 (Kirovski)
Referee: Mike Riley (Birmingham)
Facts: Fulham last won a home league match against Birmingham in 1968. Steve Bruce's side have gone seven away games without a victory
Standout bet: No goalscorer: 9-1 (totesport)
However much the Fulham players love Loftus Road, the fans just haven't settled - despite the eight 'home' wins, which are key to Premiership survival. Chris Coleman will be hoping for more of the same when the converted loft is exchanged for a renovated cottage next year. Uneasy travellers Birmingham can be victims number nine.
Verdict: LOFTY HEIGHTS FOR FULHAM

Leeds v Leicester City
8pm Monday, Elland Road - live, pay-per-view game
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Leicester are unbeaten in their past six games. Leeds have gone 13 matches without keeping a clean sheet
Standout bet: Leeds to win from behind: 7-1 (Bet365, Paddy Power)
Leeds's defence displayed more holes than a Zurich cheese shop during their 4-1 thumping at Birmingham. Improvements will be required against drop-zone rivals who have demonstrated their own defensive qualities - both on the pitch and in the courtroom - in recent weeks. Paul Dickov will get a grim reception from an Elland Road crowd that doesn't tolerate badly behaved footballers.
Verdict: LEEDS IN MELTDOWN

Liverpool v Blackburn
3pm Sunday, Anfield
Last season: 1 (Riise) 1 (Cole)
Referee: Jeff Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)
Facts: Liverpool have won 3-1 on both previous occasions that Jeff Winter has refereed them this season. Blackburn haven't won a league game at Anfield since 1993
Standout bet: Blackburn value: 5-1 (Bet365, Bet Direct, Ladbrokes, Skybet)
Graeme Souness ceased to be Liverpool manager 10 years ago and on Sunday he returns with the latest incumbent fearing the Kop chop. The fiery Scot also wielded the axe during his Anfield tenure, booting current Liverpool coach Phil Thompson out of the boot room. The pair have never made up, so the action on the touchlines could well be more exciting than what happens on the pitch.
Verdict: PHIL PUTS THE BOOT IN

Middlesbrough v Bolton
3pm Saturday, The Riverside
Last season: 2 (Ehiogu, Geremi) 0
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Bolton striker Kevin Davies has gone eight Premiership games without a goal. Boro striker Szilard Nemeth has scored three goals in five matches
Standout bet: Boudewijn Zenden to score the first goal: 12-1 (Stan James)
Unwelcome repeats are normally reserved for the Christmas TV schedules, but tomorrow the Premiership has come up trumps. The Carling Cup Final was no classic, yet at least there was a trophy at stake. Three points now would mean little to either of these mid-table non-entities, so expect a small crowd and another bunch of sour grapes for Sam Allardyce.
Verdict: SAM SLAMMED

Newcastle v Everton
3pm Saturday, St James' Park
Last season: 2 (Shearer, Li Tie og) 1 (Campbell)
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury)
Facts: Newcastle have gone seven home games without defeat. Everton haven't won away since their 2-1 victory at Portsmouth in December
Standout bet: Score draw: 15-4 (Paddy Power)
Everton should take note of the 18th birthday bash Wayne Rooney organised for his fiancee and show more fight in the Premiership. But lingering relegation fears are unlikely to be eased at fortress St James' Park where Newcastle's only concern is the mental wellbeing of Laurent Robert. The moody winger this week described the call-up of Liverpool's Bruno Cheyrou to the France squad ahead of him as a "huge blow to the head".
Verdict: PARTY'S OVER FOR WAYNE

Tottenham v Chelsea
3pm Saturday, White Hart Lane
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Facts: Jermain Defoe scored four goals in the six games he played for West Ham against Chelsea. Claudio Ranieri's team have kept clean sheets in three away league games in a row Standout bet: Chelsea minus one on handicap: 7-2 (Stan James)
What Tottenham need is a manager who knows how to beat Chelsea. The last time they won this league derby at White Hart Lane - in August 1987 - Ossie Ardiles was in the team, Defoe was five and Roman Abramovich lived in the Soviet Union. Spurs triumphed 1-0 thanks to a Nico Claesen strike. And who masterminded this famous victory? Step forward, Mr David Pleat.
Verdict: CLOUDS LIFT FOR CLAUDIO

Wolves v Southampton
3pm Saturday, Molineux
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Southampton have gone seven away games without a win. Kenny Miller has not scored in seven matches for Wolves since netting against both Manchester United and Liverpool in January
Standout bet: Home win for Wolves: 13-8 (Premierbet)
Write off Wolves at your peril. If Dave Jones could list five opponents he would wish to meet at Molineux during the relegation run-in, it would not differ much from Southampton, Bolton, Middlesbrough, Everton and Tottenham - who they play over the next six weeks. The Saints have only had two away victories all season which explains why they are not chasing a European spot.
Verdict: WINDIANA JONES

FA Cup

Arsenal v Man United
Noon Saturday, Villa Park - live on BBC1
Arsenal ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Graham Barber (Hertfordshire)
Facts: Thierry Henry has scored Arsenal's last four goals against United. Ryan Giggs, who netted the winner when these teams last met in an FA Cup semi-final in 1999, started that game on the bench before replacing Jesper Blomqvist after 61 minutes Standout bet: United win: 9-5 (Bet Direct, Blue Square)
Thierry Henry is peeved with United players for telling tales out of school, or more specifically at the back of the tunnel, following Sunday's draw at Highbury. But he has an immediate opportunity to gain revenge. The Frenchman is likely to start on the bench but will, no doubt, be called upon to add his own variety of va va voom. Ryan Giggs was the hero the last time these sides met at Villa Park, but a few grey hairs have since appeared on that most magnificent of chests and Arsenal are well placed to match the United team of 1999.
Verdict: TREBLES ALL ROUND!

Sunderland v Millwall
1pm Sunday, Old Trafford - live on Sky Sports 1
Millwall ticket info: Season-ticket holders and members can purchase up to two additional tickets for non-member guests from The Den up to 7pm tonight. Tel: 020 7231 9999
Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset)
Facts: Millwall have gone six games without defeat and have already beaten Sunderland twice this season in the league. Sunderland have gone nine matches since a loss
Standout bet: Tim Cahill to score at any time: 11-4 (William Hill)
All right-minded Londoners will be cheering on Sunderland in this FA Cup semi-final, not because of any antipathy towards Millwall, but to prevent Theo Paphitis displaying his column next to Nelson's. The Millwall chairman has promised to run around Trafalgar Square naked if his club qualify for Europe and should be preparing for a celebratory streak. Millwall have already beaten Sunderland twice this season and can secure a memorable hat-trick at Old Trafford.
Verdict: THEO GRINS AND BARES IT

Nationwide League

Reading v West Ham
12.30pm Saturday, Madejski Stadium - live on Sky Sports 2
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Phil Joslin (Nottinghamshire)
Facts: Matthew Etherington has scored one away goal for West Ham. Alan Pardew won 102 of 212 matches as Reading boss. At West Ham he has won 11 of his 31 games in charge
Standout bet: Home win for Reading: 8-5 (Bet Direct)
Alan Pardew returns to Reading for the first time since he swapped the training ground for the allotment, but all is not well in the West Ham garden. Pardew's side are on course for the play-offs but have the consistency of a particularly wobbly blancmange and, with Millwall and Sunderland seemingly unbeatable, need to finish the season strongly. Reading are also in the play-off picture but only one of them will make it, so tomorrow's game is vital.
Verdict: CRUNCH TIME FOR HAMMERS

Brentford v Chesterfield
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £14-£18 (£3-£13 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Last season: 2 (Hunt, Vine) 1 (Brandon)
Referee: Steve Tomlin (East Sussex)
Facts: Chesterfield last won at Griffin Park in 1995. Michael Dobson's winner for Brentford at Hartlepool was his first goal in 147 league appearances
Standout bet: Jay Tabb to score the first goal: 16-1 (Bet365)
A mad dog is better than a dead dog, it seems, and Martin Allen has breathed fresh life into Brentford's season, although he was also responsible for their trip to the courtroom on Monday. But Brentford can't stop winning at the moment - Allen has already masterminded two victories on the pitch - and easily saw off Barnet's briefs. Tomorrow they have a classic six-pointer against relegation rivals Chesterfield, who will not be travelling with confidence.
Verdict: WOOF, WOOF

Bristol City v QPR
3pm Saturday, Ashton Gate
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Murray) 3 (Connolly 2, Gallen)
Referee: Tony Leake (Lancashire)
Facts: Rangers have been beaten just once in four visits to Ashton Gate. Since their run of 11 league victories in a row, Bristol City have won just one of their past seven games
Standout bet: Away win for Rangers: 15-8 (Stan James, William Hill)
Bristol City fans like nothing better than to get their metaphorical teeth into former Rovers players, so there should be plenty of gnashers on display when Queens Park Rangers - who boast three players from the other end of Bristol - turn up at Ashton Gate tomorrow. City's recent form has been less than impressive and Ian Holloway will be happy with a point to stay in the automatic promotion slot.
Verdict: RANGERS ON COURSE

L Orient v Huddersfield
3pm Saturday, Brisbane Road
Tickets: £12-£16 (£7-£10 concs). North Terrace season-ticket holders will be relocated to the South Stand as Huddersfield fans will be on the North Terrace. Tel: 020 8926 1010
Referee: Paul Danson (Leicestershire)
Facts: Orient have gone eight games without a win. Huddersfield defender Anthony Lloyd has scored two goals in two games and three times in his first season as a professional
Standout bet: Huddersfield win: 6-4 (Stan James)
Leyton Orient have been on the slide in recent weeks and they need a win as much as their rickety ground needs a good lick of paint. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to get either in tomorrow's clash against Huddersfield. Peter Jackson's youngsters are the form side of the Third Division and should soon be performing on a grander stage. Or, failing that, the Second Division.
Verdict: NO JOY FOR Os

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