Weekend football focus

Blackburn v Aston Villa
3pm Saturday, Ewood Park
Last season: 0-2 (S Moore, Angel)
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Facts: Blackburn, who have scored one goal in each of their past eight home Premiership games, are unbeaten at Ewood Park since Leeds defeated them 2-1 in April
Standout bet: Villa win - 15-8 (Bet365, P Power, S James)
Mark Hughes, having just started at Blackburn, signs off temporarily after this match to concentrate on plotting England's World Cup downfall next week. Often a pain in the posterior to opponents as a player, Hughes is so quiet and measured as a manager that he makes Sven-Goran Eriksson look manic. But even the Welshman temporarily lost his cool at Charlton on Monday night when Blackburn were denied a clear penalty which, if converted, would have earned them a point.
Verdict: CERT DRAW

Birmingham v Newcastle
3pm Sunday, St Andrew's
Last season: 1 (John) 1 (Speed)
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: Laurent Robert, who scored 12 goals for Newcastle last season, is yet to find the back of the net in eight appearances this term
Standout bet: 1-1 draw - 11-2 (generally available)
If things had gone differently, perhaps Steve Bruce might have been plotting Birmingham's downfall this weekend instead of attempting to move them up the Premiership table. But Graeme Souness got the nod from Freddy Shepherd and since he arrived the mood seems to have improved up at St James' Park. Bruce, still feeling a little delicate after grappling with car thieves, will want a big improvement from Birmingham.
Verdict: SO GLUM BRUM

Chelsea v Liverpool
4.05pm Sunday, Stamford Bridge - Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 0-1 (Cheyrou)
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Facts: Didier Drogba has found the net twice from 11 attempts in the Premiership. Milan Baros is yet to score against Chelsea in three appearances. Liverpool's win at the Bridge last season was their first since 1989
Standout bet: Chelsea (h-t & f-t) - 15-8 (BlueSq, Chandler)
Wednesday's Champions League win over Porto was a fairly tepid affair, but don't blame Chelsea for that. Jose Mourinho's men could have scored four or five against a Porto team who looked as though they would struggle to win an argument, let alone Europe's blue-riband club competition. Chelsea are sure to face a much sterner task against Liverpool, even though the Reds will be without the injured Steven Gerrard, who was a summer transfer target for Mourinho. Rafa Benitez's men need to bounce back from their Champions League defeat in Greece on Tuesday.
Verdict: GOOD TIMES STILL ROLL FOR JOSE

Everton v Tottenham
3pm Saturday, Goodison Pk
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Unsworth, Naysmith, Yobo) 1 (Carr)
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Spurs have not scored in their past 325 minutes of Premiership football. Everton have not conceded a goal in their past 443 minutes of Premiership football and are enjoying their best start to a season since 1978
Standout bet: Under 2.5 goals - 4-5 (William Hill)
It's easy when things are going well and everything in the jardin is lovely, but Jacques Santini showed his first signs of fallibility after Spurs' opening defeat of the season last weekend when he accused the referee of smiling too much around the Manchester United dressing-room at half-time. One more remark like that and the FA could confiscate his train set. Now is the time for Tottenham to show their character, although it won't be at all easy against an Everton side who have won their past three matches 1-0.
Verdict: NOT ALRIGHT JACQUES

Norwich v Portsmouth
3pm Saturday, Carrow Rd
Referee: Matt Messias (South Yorkshire)
Facts: Portsmouth have failed to score in five of their past six visits to Carrow Road and haven't left with the points since a 1-0 win in November 1987
Standout bet: Norwich win 1-0 - 7-1 (generally available)
The Premiership will certainly be accused yet again of being a 'closed shop' if the three promoted teams go back down next May but that, I'm afraid, is the way things are shaping up. It was thought that of the promoted trio, Norwich might have the best chance of survival. That may still be the case, but Nigel Worthington's side have to win a few first to make that a realistic possibility. This clash could be one of Norwich's best opportunities to earn that first elusive win.
Verdict: WORTHINGTON HALE

Man Utd v Middlesbrough
3pm Sunday, Old Trafford
Last season: 2 (van Nistelrooy, Giggs) 3 (Juninho 2, Job)
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Facts: Despite winning by four in Europe on Tuesday, United's Premiership wins this season have been by a one-goal margin
Standout bet: Wayne Rooney to score first - 11-2 (Skybet)
Manchester United may have given their main rivals a reasonable start, but with wonder boy Wayne Rooney available anything is possible. Rooney's performance against Fenerbahce on Tuesday night had everyone drooling apart from Middlesbrough's defenders - who were spotted looking a little pensive the following morning. Boro's season started well enough, but they have levelled out in recent matches.
Verdict: NO STOPPING WAYNE

Southampton v Man City
12.45pm Saturday, St Mary's - Prem Plus
Last season: 0-2 (Fowler, Wanchope)
Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)
Facts: Southampton have lost all five games in which they have trailed at half-time this season.
Standout bet: Man City +0.25 on Asian handicap - 4-5 (Stan James)
There is a story about a manager who, arriving for his first day at his new club, thought his days might be numbered when he saw his name on the office door written in chalk. Steve Wigley, who must step down in December, must have felt the same way. Manchester City aren't doing that much better, but Kevin Keegan seemed a lot happier following his side's improved performance against Arsenal.
Verdict: WORRIED WIGLEY

West Brom v Bolton
5.15pm Saturday, The Hawthorns - Prem Plus
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Co Durham)
Facts: Bolton are unbeaten at The Hawthorns since 1994 and have gone six games without defeat. West Brom have scored in all but one of their eight fixtures this season
Standout bet: Henrik Pedersen to score - 9-4 (Bet365)
If West Brom are to stay up, they should have a little look at Bolton. It wasn't long ago that Sam Allardyce's team were scrapping for their lives, but look where they are now. Not that Sam is complacent. His side tossed away a couple of points against Birmingham last week and he will be fuming if it happens again tomorrow.
Verdict: SAM SMILING AGAIN

Coca-Cola League

Crewe v Watford
3pm Saturday, Gresty Road
Away ticket info: £17 (£5-£14 concs). Pay at the turnstiles
Last season: 0-1 (Webber).
Referee: Trevor Kettle (Berkshire)
Facts: Crewe have lost all five games against teams from the top half of the table and all four when losing at half-time
Standout bet: Dean Ashton to score first goal - 11-2 (Bet365)
Dario Gradi has been working minor miracles at Crewe for more than 20 years, but the Railwaymen appear to have hit the buffers. Crewe have won just one of their past six games and face a relegation battle. Watford need to take the goalscoring burden off Danny Webber if they are to challenge for the play-offs.
Verdict: WIN FOR WATFORD

Millwall v Nottingham Forest
3pm Sunday, The Den
Tickets: £17-£23 (£7-£13 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 1 (Braniff) 0.
Ref: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire)
Facts: Millwall are yet to concede a first-half goal in any Championship game. Forest have won once in six away matches against Millwall
Standout bet: Home win for Millwall - 11-10 (William Hill, Stan James)
Dennis Wise may have convinced himself that the UEFA Cup is a trivial sideshow to the serious business of the Championship, but his players don't appear to be listening. Millwall's consistency has undoubtedly suffered and Wise will have to act against the danger of a Hungarian hangover against Forest.
Verdict: MILLWALL HOLD THEIR NERVE

Stoke v Queens Park Rangers
3pm Saturday, Britannia Stadium
Away ticket info: £19 (£9-£12 concs). Pay on the day only
Referee: Eddie Evans (Greater Manchester)
Facts: QPR's fifth straight league win on Tuesday leaves them three behind the club record of eight successive wins in the 1931-32 season
Standout bet: Home win for Stoke - Evens (BlueSq, Stanley)
The QPR board are either master motivators or arrogant meddlers who know nothing about football after questioning Ian Holloway's suitability as manager. Since then, QPR have had a 100 per cent record and Holloway has been named manager-of-the-month. Jamie Cureton is in top scoring form and will take some stopping.
Verdict: RANGERS MARCH ON

West Ham v Wolves
3pm Saturday, Upton Park
Tickets: £24-£35 (£10-£17.50 concs). Tel: 0870 112 2700
Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)
Facts: West Ham have not scored more than once in their five home league matches this season
Standout bet: Home win for West Ham - 10-11 (generally available)
Alan Pardew blamed Sunday's defeat at Nottingham Forest on "six minutes of madness" and an atmosphere of insanity appears to have been dragging the club down for years. But, in a mediocre division, West Ham should reach the play-offs at least. Wolves are struggling to adjust to life outside the Premiership and should be there for the taking tomorrow.
Verdict: MAULING FOR WOLVES

Brentford v Oldham
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £13-£17 (£3-£12 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Last season: 2 (Hutchinson, Rougier) 1 (Holden)
Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands)
Facts: Oldham have never won at Griffin Park but have drawn on four of their past six visits
Standout bet: Deon Burton to score a hat-trick - 16-1 (Bet365)
With just 16 first-teamers at his disposal, Martin Allen doesn't really have a squad to rotate, but he did his best on Tuesday, playing nine youngsters in Brentford's LDV Vans Trophy defeat to MK Dons. The Bees' big guns will return tomorrow and Allen's side should extend their 100 per cent league record at Griffin Park.
Verdict: BEES BOUNCE BACK

Notts County v Leyton Orient
3pm Saturday, Meadow Lane
Away ticket info: £18 (£4-£11 concs). Pay on the day
Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex)
Facts: Notts County haven't won in nine home matches. Orient have failed to score at Meadow Lane since 1980
Standout bet: Youssef Sofiane to score first goal - 12-1 (Bet365)
Orient's excellent start to the season has stuttered recently but they remain within striking distance of the leaders. Notts County have won just one of their past seven games and the visitors can add to their misery.
Verdict: ORIENT SETTLE FOR A POINT