Weekend Football Focus

Leicester v Charlton
3pm Saturday, The Walkers Stadium
Away ticket info: £22 (£17-£20 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Referee: Graham Barber
Facts: Charlton have lost only one away game in the Premiership this season - conceding just four goals - but are without a win at Leicester since October 1991. The Foxes have scored in all but two league matches this term and gone nine since a draw
Stand out bet: Away win for Charlton: 13-8 (Stanley)
How about Charlton v Barcelona in a Champions League tie at The Valley? Keep it serious, I can hear you say, but Charlton fans everywhere are dreaming about just such a prospect as their side moved quietly but efficiently into fourth place in the Premiership table. The big question is, can they stay there? The answer is probably not in the long term but there is certainly no reason why Alan Curbishley's side can't maintain the pace for now. They would, for example, be expected to clock up another three points with a win at struggling Leicester, even though Micky Adams' team has, for the moment anyway, climbed out of the bottom three.
Verdict: CHARLTON KEEP WINNING HABIT

Southampton v Chelsea
3pm Saturday, St Mary's Stadium
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Fernandes) 1 (Lampard).
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
Facts: Southampton have failed to score in five of their last six Premiership games. Chelsea have kept 10 clean sheets in all competitions and hit the net in every league game bar one, with leading marksman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on target six times
Stand out bet: Chelsea to win by two or more goals: 7-4 (Bet365)
It did the heart good to see five Chelsea players on the Old Trafford pitch in last Sunday's international, six if you count Dane Jesper Gronkjaer. Claudio Ranieri said from early on that he wanted the backbone of his team to be English and he has been as good as his word. Tomorrow, the buoyant Blues travel to Southampton amid rumours that their manager, Gordon Strachan, could be going to Leeds. The wee Scot would seem to have less chance of success there than the security adviser at the Palace but the rumours must have unsettled things down at the south coast club.
Verdict: BLUES IN THE MOOD

Tottenham v Aston Villa
4.05pm Sunday, White Hart Lane - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: £25-£37 (£13-15 concs). Half-price for U-16s in South Stand. Tel: 0870 420 5000
Last season: 1 (Redknapp) 0.
Referee: Jeff Winter
Facts: Tottenham have picked up only one point and scored just one goal in the Premiership since striker Freddie Kanoute has been injured. Aston Villa last won at the Lane in April 1999 with Dion Dublin netting two in a 4-2 victory
Stand out bet: Draw: 23-10 (Chandler)
Tottenham were terrible at home to Bolton and David Pleat and his team will be acutely aware they are by no means clear of danger. Just two points separate Pleat and his team from the bottom three while, for Sunday's opponents Aston Villa, it's even more marginal. We're constantly hearing that Villa are a big club and although that doesn't quite ring true anymore, the fact remains that they should be doing better than they are. Come to that, the same applies to Spurs, which makes this match a big game for both clubs.
Verdict: THAT'S BETTER, SPURS

Birmingham v Arsenal
3pm Saturday, St Andrew's
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 0-4 (Henry 2, Pires, Lauren).
Ref: Paul Durkin
Facts: Birmingham manager Steve Bruce last played against Arsenal when the Midlanders lost 4-1 in a Coca-Cola Cup tie in October 1997. Birmingham last beat Arsenal in March 1983 with goals from Pat van den Hauwe and Kevin Dillon cancelling out an Alan Sunderland strike
Standout bet: Thierry Henry to score anytime in the game: evens (Bet365)
Nearly a third of the way through the season and the Premiership is already a three-horse race. Arsenal still just have their noses in front but with the top three teams covered by just two points, that means little at this stage. St Andrew's is always a tricky place to go but a couple of weeks ago feisty Charlton proved that Steve Bruce's Birmingham can be beaten on their home patch. Arsenal, led by an inspired Thierry Henry destroyed Birmingham there last year and Arsene Wenger and his team will be fully aware that they have to keep their unbeaten run going otherwise the Chelsea glitterati will be ruling the roost before long.
Verdict: NO SLIP-UP FROM ARSENAL

Nationwide Division 1

Millwall v Derby
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: £15-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 3 (Wise, Harris 2) 0
Referee: Paul Danson
Facts: Millwall have won both home games without letting in a goal since Dennis Wise became playermanager. George Burley's Derby were beaten 3-0, 2-1 and 3-0 in their last three away trips
Stand out bet: Paul Ifill to score the first goal: 12-1 (Bet365)
Derby are learning the hard way about the value of experience. Last week's win over Burnley was the first in nine games for George Burley's young side, which includes two 16-year-olds, and they will struggle to get anything at Millwall. Old Den will be glad to be back at the New Den after two defeats on the road and his side should get their play-off charge back on track.
Verdict: CHILD'S PLAY FOR LIONS

Walsall v Crystal Palace
3pm Saturday, Bescot Stadium
Away ticket info: Tel: 0871 200 0071
Last season: 3 (Corica, Junior 2) 4 (Johnson 3, Freedman)
Referee: Tony Leake
Facts: Palace have won only one of their last 14 league games but have not lost against Walsall since 1976 - a run of 10 matches. Neil Shipperley scored Palace's last winning goal on 4 October
Stand out bet: Home win for Walsall: evens (Stan James, Chandler)
Never mind the latest royal rumblings, the most shocking security breach at the Palace recently was when Steve Kember spent several months pretending to be the club's manager. Fortunately, he was apprehended and slung out before any real damage could be done and Kit Symons still has time to salvage the season. The Welshman better get a move on, but the Bescot Stadium is as good a place to start a revival as any. Palace have not lost to Walsall in the last 27 years.
Verdict: KIT-START FOR PALACE

Watford v West Ham
3pm Saturday, Vicarage Road
Home tickets info: £20-£25 (£5-£10 concs). Tel: 01923 496 010
Away tickets: Sold out
Referee: Phil Prosser
Facts: West Ham have won their last five league matches at Vicarage Road by one goal. Their most recent was a 2-1 victory in March 2000, with goals from Steve Lomas and Paulo Wanchope. Watford replied through Heidar Helguson
Stand out bet: Draw: 12-5 (Tote)
Terry Brown and the leader of the free world may have little else in common but, like Bomber Bush, the West Ham chairman would be advised to avoid a public walkabout at the moment. Brown is public enemy No1 among Hammers fans and faces a vote of confidence from shareholders. Confidence is also pretty low on the pitch after a dismal run of seven games without a win, but it could be restored with a victory over Watford. Incredibly, West Ham have won their last 13 games against the Hornets.
Verdict: RELIEF FOR HAMMERS