Weekend Football Focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Arsenal v Bolton
3pm Saturday, Highbury
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Henry, Kanu) 1 (Farrelly).
Referee: Graham Barber (Hertfordshire)
Facts: Bolton last won a league game at Highbury in 1962. Thierry Henry has scored in seven of Arsenal's past eight Premiership matches
Standout bet: Arsenal to win both halves: 11-8 (Bet365)
Bolton are the latest side to undertake football's mission impossible. Apart from kidnapping Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and a few others, I'm struggling to think of just how anyone can beat the Highbury invincibles at the moment. Just a quick glance at the table will indicate the sheer superiority of the Gunners.
Verdict: BOLTON WIN - ONLY JOKING!

Chelsea v Fulham
3pm Saturday, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Goma og) 1 (Boa Morte)
Referee: Neale Barry (Lincolnshire)
Facts: Since netting the only goal of the game against Everton on 1 November, Adrian Mutu has scored just once in the league for Chelsea
Standout bet: Adrian Mutu to be first scorer: 5-1 (Corals)
If you believe all the rumours, Claudio Ranieri has as much chance of still being at Stamford Bridge next season as the Leicester trio have of being invited back to La Manga to give a demonstration of the Dunbolo. Whatever the future for Ranieri, however, he's made an exceedingly good fist of the job this season, as has his Fulham counterpart, Chris Coleman, now restored to the rudest of health.
Verdict: DERBY DOUBLE FOR BLUES

Leicester v Everton
3pm Saturday, Walkers Stadium
Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)
Facts: Leicester have gone nine games without a home win but are unbeaten in four. Everton have not won in six away matches and have conceded six goals in their past two on the road
Standout bet: Draw (half-time), Leicester (full-time): 4-1 (Corals)
The antics of the so-called 'Leicester Three' may have brought shame on their fair city but the miscreants' team-mates are doing their best to lift the gloom. Last week's surprise win at Birmingham has given the Foxes genuine hope of avoiding relegation and a victory over inconsistent Everton would take them further away from the bottom three.
Verdict: FOXES SCORE AGAIN

Liverpool v Wolves
3pm Saturday, Anfield
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
Facts: Steve Mardenborough scored the only goal for Wolves when they last visited Anfield in 1984. Dave Jones's side have gone 16 games without an away victory
Standout bet: Michael Owen to score a hat-trick: 14-1 (Bet 365)
From zero to hero in a few days - that's the lot of high-profile footballers such as Michael Owen. His improved performance against Portsmouth on Wednesday had Gerard Houllier waxing lyrical but the nagging feeling remains that the England star may have looked at David Beckham at Real Madrid this season and decided he wouldn't mind a piece of that sort of action.
Verdict: HAPPIER HOULLIER

Manchester United v Tottenham
3pm Saturday, Old Trafford
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Van Nistelrooy) 0.
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Facts: Tottenham's clean sheet against Newcastle was their first in the league since 10 January. Manchester United have gone four Premiership games without a win
Standout bet: Draw (half-time), Tottenham (full-time): 14-1 (Ladbrokes)
The obvious unease of Manchester United in recent days has given rise to great concern among the legions of their supporters, but elsewhere in the country there has been much glee and gloating. Unfortunately for Tottenham, when a wounded beast is cornered it tends to come out spitting and fighting and David Pleat's team may just suffer some sort of backlash tomorrow.
Verdict: UNITED NOT FINISHED YET

Aston Villa v Blackburn
3pm Saturday, Villa Park
Last season: 3 (Dublin 2, Barry) 0.
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)
Facts: Blackburn have gone four games without a victory and have won just one of their past nine Premiership matches. Juan Pablo Angel has now scored 20 goals for Villa this season
Standout bet: Aston Villa (half-time), Aston Villa (full-time): 7-4 (Paddy Power)
Any flies on the wall of the Blackburn dressing room this week will have had plenty to talk about, having witnessed enough in-fighting for an episode of Footballers Behaving Badly. Graeme Souness and Dwight Yorke have reportedly abandoned traditional methods of communication in favour of kicking each other, while Andy Cole has taken his manager to the Professional Footballers' Association claiming he's been victimised. He wants more days off apparently, poor lamb. All of which is not the best way to prepare for a trip to in-form Villa, whose main concern is keeping hold of top-scorer Juan Pablo Angel. At least amateur travel-writer Lucas Neill will be able to add to his collection with a postcard from Aston.
Verdict: NO JOY FOR ROVERS

M'boro v Birmingham
3pm Saturday, Riverside Stadium
Last season: 1 (Queudrue) 0. Referee: TBA
Facts: Birmingham haven't won away against Middlesbrough since 1980 and have gone six away games without a win
Standout bet: Mikael Forssell to be Birmingham's first scorer: 11-4 (Paddy Power)
Both these clubs have done well this season in their own way, Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup and Birmingham going brilliantly in the Premiership. Despite all that, however, this is not a fixture to set a neutral's pulse racing. Nevertheless, Steve Bruce can further enhance his reputation if his City side can stay the course while Steve McClaren has been linked with the England job this season.
Verdict: POINT EACH

Newcastle v Charlton
5.30pm Saturday, St James' Park - live, pay-per-view game
Away ticket info: £28 (£9-£24 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Last season: 2 (Griffin, Robert) 1 (Bartlett). Referee: TBA
Facts: Newcastle have gone 11 games in all competitions since keeping a clean sheet. Charlton last won at St James' Park in 2000
Standout bet: 2-3 goals: Evens (totesport)
Apart from the Charlton fans, who love him to bits with every justification, there are many neutrals who would be intrigued to see how Alan Curbishley would fare at another club. He's been at The Valley for what seems like aeons and continues to do a fantastic job but the time is approaching when he may need a new challenge. Until then, Curbishley's side must try to cope with an erratic Newcastle team who can overtake them if they win.
Verdict: TOUGH CALL FOR CURBS

Portsmouth v So'ton
4.05pm Sunday, Fratton Park - live on Sky Sports 1
Referee: Mark Halsey (Hertfordshire)
Facts: Southampton have gone six games without an away win and are unbeaten at Fratton Park since 1963
Standout bet: Southampton to score a penalty: 13-2 (bet365)
Portsmouth's plight illustrates perfectly the size of the task for clubs promoted to the Premiership. Harry Redknapp's side won the First Division by a proverbial street but, despite reasonable investment from their chairman, Milan Mandaric, they are now in grave danger of returning whence they came. Three points from what is always a feisty south coast derby would, however, give Pompey great heart.
Verdict: HARRY MAKES A POINT

Leeds v Man City
8pm Monday, Elland Road
Last season: 3 (Barmby, Viduka, Keane) 0.
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffs)
Facts: Robbie Fowler has scored four goals in his past four games.
Standout bet: Leeds to win: 8-5 (Hills)
Despite all their problems I keep expecting Leeds to put a decent run together and somehow haul themselves out of the mire, but time is running out almost as fast as the money for the Elland Road club. Kevin Keegan's Manchester City are showing Leeds how to collect a few points and climb out of immediate trouble and last weekend's memorable win over their great rivals was the creme de menthe of victories, as a certain Mr Derek Trotter would say.
Verdict: LOOKS EVEN GRIMMER FOR LEEDS

Nationwide League

Crystal Palace v Norwich
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: £19-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 08712 0000 71
Last season: 2 (Adebola, Black) 0.
Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset)
Facts: Palace have gone five home games without defeat and are unbeaten at Selhurst Park against Norwich since 1996
Standout bet: Crystal Palace to win: 6-4 (Ladbrokes, Coral)
Iain Dowie has turned Palace's season around through sheer enthusiasm and the odd nutty idea, but after two games without a win the play-offs look out of reach. Norwich are on a fast track to the Premiership - with their former Palace players Marc Edworthy and Leon McKenzie - and should consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Verdict: CANARIES FLY AWAY

Ipswich v Watford
Noon Saturday, Portman Road - live on Sky Sports 2
Away ticket info: £24 (£9-£13 concs). Watford fans can pay on the day
Last season: 4 (Miller, Naylor, Counago, M Bent) 2 (T Smith, Cox)
Referee: Paul Robinson (East Yorkshire)
Facts: Ipswich have lost each of their home league games against the other three clubs from London this season
Standout bet: Heidar Helguson to be first goalscorer: 7-1 (bet365)
Ray Lewington answered the boo-boys by orchestrating Tuesday's 2-1 win over Derby and the Hornets faithful will at least be singing from the same hymn-sheet at Ipswich. Watford may have opened up a five-point gap to the relegation zone but are by no means safe from the dreaded drop. Ipswich are desperate for a win to maintain their play-off charge so a draw would be a decent result.
Verdict: RAY MAKES HIS POINT

Millwall v West Ham
Noon Sunday, The Den
Tickets: Home: £15-£25 (£9-£15 concs). Away: £25 (£15 concs). Fans of both clubs must be either a season-ticket holder or member to purchase a ticket. Tel: 0870 112 2700. Beamback at Upton Park: £5
Referee: Jeff Winter (Cleveland)
Facts: Paul Ince scored the only goal when West Ham last won away against Millwall in 1988
Standout bet: Match to end in a draw: 9-4 (generally available)
Football Focus touted Dennis Wise as a potential Chelsea manager three weeks ago and now Theo Paphitis has recognised he could be poached by the big boys. The Millwall chairman is determined to keep hold of his Wise man and will have a much better chance if the Lions can get into the Premiership. Millwall have an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon but must maintain their play-off push and West Ham's generous back four will give them every chance of moving into the top six.
Verdict: Millwall on the up

Brentford v Rushden
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £14-£18 (£3-£13 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Referee: Mick Fletcher (Worcestershire)
Facts: Stephen Hunt scored the winner for Brentford when these teams met at Rushden's Nene Park in September
Standout bet: Brentford to win: 7-5 (Ladbrokes)
Since Brentford are no longer a bunch of Wallies the hope is they might stop playing like them. With Downes gone, it's up to Martin Allen to prove he made the right decision in swopping one set of Bees for another. If nothing else, life promises to be interesting.
Verdict: MAD DOG HAS HIS DAY

Wycombe v QPR
3pm Saturday, Causeway Stadium
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 4 (Faulconbridge, Rammell, Devine, Simpson) 1 (Furlong)
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Facts: Wycombe have gone five home games without a win. QPR have never won away against Wycombe
Standout bet: QPR to win: Evens (Ladbrokes)
Tony Adams and Ian Holloway may have inhabited different stratospheres as players but only one man is likely to win their first managerial contest. Queens Park Rangers have been denied victory at Wycombe by several dubious refereeing decisions in recent years but they should have no problems against the division's bottom team tomorrow.
Verdict: NO SYMPATHY FOR THE ADAMS FAMILY

Leyton Orient v Lincoln
3pm Saturday, Brisbane Road
Tickets: £12-£16 (£7-£10 concs). Tel: 020 8926 1010
Last season: 1 (Thorpe) 1 (Futcher).
Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire)
Facts: Orient are unbeaten in 11 home fixtures. Lincoln last won at Brisbane Road in 1999
Standout bet: Leyton Orient to win: 7-5 (Chandler)
Orient are collapsing quicker than the West Indies cricket team and after aiming for the play-offs are in danger of slipping out of the top half. Martin Ling's side are desperate for a first win in seven games but Lincoln will be no pushovers.
Verdict: ORIENT FRUSTRATED

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