Weekend Football Focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Arsenal v Manchester United
4.05pm Sunday, Highbury - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Henry 2) 2 (Van Nistelrooy, Giggs).
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: United last won at Highbury in August 1999 when Roy Keane scored twice in a 2-1 victory. Freddie Ljungberg has scored just one Premiership goal since November
Standout bet: Arsenal home win: 11-10 (Bet365, Paddy Power, Premierbet)
As soon as the aches begin to subside from one big match, the next looms large on the horizon. United will perhaps be thinking that, following Arsenal's Champions League collision with Chelsea, they are going to be knackered but Arsene Wenger's squad are made of sterner stuff. A bit of tinkering by Arsene and they will be up and running again.
Verdict: GUNNERS WIN TO KEEP UNBEATEN RECORD INTACT

Birmingham v Leeds
12.30pm tomorrow, St Andrews - live on Sky Sports 2
Last season: 2 (Devlin, D Johnson) 1 (Bowyer).
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Mikael Forssell has scored four in four games and 16 for Birmingham this season. Stephen McPhail's goal against Manchester City on Monday was his first since December 1999
Standout bet: 2-2 draw: 14-1 (Bet Direct, Coral, Ladbrokes, Stan James)
Several questions have yet to be answered as to Leeds's long-term future. Will Elland Road be sold and turned into an exercise yard for nearby Armley Jail? Is Peter Lorimer planning to come out of retirement? And what type of fish is Gerald Krasner planning to hire for the boardroom? Leeds beat Manchester City on Monday but a Birmingham side dreaming of Europe will be less obliging.
Verdict: FUTURE BLEAK FOR LEEDS

Blackburn v Portsmouth
3pm tomorrow, Ewood Park
Referee: Paul Durkin (Dorset)
Facts: Portsmouth, who have gone 12 away games since a victory, last won at Ewood Park in 1988. Blackburn have gone seven home matches without a win
Standout bet: Blackburn minus one on handicap: 11-5 (Blue Square)
It's one thing booting everything that moves when you are young and in your prime but it's not quite the same when you're like Graeme Souness and too slow to kick a habit, let alone Dwight Yorke. Despite the passing of the years, Souness does still seem full of angst at times but at least he's passionate about his job.
Verdict: SOUNESS KEEPS HIS COOL - AND THE POINTS

Charlton v Aston Villa
3pm tomorrow, The Valley
Tickets: £20 (£10-£15 concs). Tel. 020 8333 4010
Last season: 3 (Euell, Johansson 2) 0.
Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)
Facts: Nolberto Solano hasn't scored in the league since netting the only goal of the game for Newcastle against Sunderland in April. Charlton have gone nine matches since a draw Standout bet: Claus Jensen to score the first goal: 16-1 (Coral)
Charlton may have lost at Newcastle last weekend but they are going to have to suffer a catastrophic end to the season if they are to slide down the table as has happened before. Five defeats at The Valley this season have prevented them from climbing to an even more elevated position in the table, but Aston Villa's defeat by Blackburn last Saturday suggests they could be there for the taking.
Verdict: NO WEAKENING FROM CHARLTON

Chelsea v Wolves
3pm tomorrow, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: Sold out
Referee: Steve Dunn (Gloucestershire)
Facts: Adrian Mutu hasn't scored a home Premiership goal since September. Eidur Gudjohnsen has found the net four times in his past five matches
Standout bet: Draw (half-time), Chelsea (full-time): 9-2 (Stan James)
Going from a Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal straight to a Premiership encounter with Wolves could be tricky for Chelsea - a bit like having tea at The Savoy followed by dinner at a whelk stall. Wolves manager Dave Jones was at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and some of the football played would not have filled him with any confidence that his team can win.
Verdict: BLUES GET THE JOB DONE

Everton v Middlesbrough
3pm tomorrow, Goodison Park
Last season: 2 (Campbell 2) 1 (Nemeth).
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Facts: Wayne Rooney has scored four goals in Everton's run of four games without defeat. Brian Deane and Juninho scored for Boro when they last won at Goodison in May 2000
Standout bet: Draw with Everton minus one on handicap: 10-3 (BlueSq)
Only one man - a certain Mr Duncan Ferguson - could succeed in taking the heat of the public's anger away from the Leicester Three. The Everton striker's extraordinary neck-wringing of Steffen Freund in last week's 1-1 draw may have brought approval from the errant midfielder's missus but it did not impress the Football Association, who are expected to hand Ferguson a three-match ban. These sides have produced a single goal in two deadly dull games this season, so expect another stalemate tomorrow.
Verdict: BORO BORES DRAW

Leicester v Liverpool
3pm Sunday, Walkers Stadium
Referee: Philip Dowd (Staffordshire)
Facts: Leicester have drawn four and won one of their past five Premiership matches. Danny Murphy has not scored a Premiership goal since netting against Newcastle in December
Standout bet: Liverpool (h-t), draw (f-t): 16-1 (Bet365, BlueSq, Lads, Sky)
Liverpool may have sneaked home against Wolves with a goal in the last minute but they still don't look right and the pressure on Gerard Houllier will only have grown after last night's UEFA Cup exit at Marseille. Michael Owen remains a big problem, despite the Liverpool manager's PR exercise. Usually such an effervescent player, the England striker has looked, at times this season, as though he's not enjoying his football and to cap it he's injured his hamstring again.
Verdict: POINT ONLY FOR LIVERPOOL

Manchester City v Fulham
3pm tomorrow, City of Manchester Stadium
Away ticket info: £20 (£10 concs). Tel. 0870 442 1234
Last season: 4 (Anelka, Benarbia, Foe, Wright-Phillips) 1 (Malbranque)
Referee: Jeff Winter (Cleveland)
Facts: Fulham have conceded 11 goals in three away games against Manchester City. Joey Barton has gone 30 matches without a goal Standout bet: City to win by two goals or more: 5-2 (Bet365)
We wish Kevin Keegan well following his back problem. Mind you, from the way Manchester City have been playing at times, his midfield weren't all that clever, either. Keegan's side have perked up a little of late, however, while Fulham manager Chris Coleman will demand a much-improved performance on his side's anaemic display at Chelsea. Whether he will get it is anyone's guess.
Verdict: TONIC FOR KEEGAN

Southampton v Tottenham
3pm tomorrow, St Mary's
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Beattie) 0.
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)
Facts: Spurs haven't scored in an away game at Southampton since November 1999. Kevin Phillips has netted five goals in seven matches Standout bet: Four goals or more: 5-2 (Blue Sq)
Paul Sturrock has a puckish sort of face and would be ideal as an extra in Lord of the Rings. But there is obviously a tough side to the new Southampton manager. At least the Saints have someone in charge, while Tottenham fans continue to wait with baited breath until their new man at the top is announced. Spurs could move up the table a little before season's end and three points here would help.
Verdict: SPURS ON TOP

Bolton v Newcastle
2pm Sunday, Reebok Stadium - live, pay-per-view game
Last season: 4 (Okocha, Gardner, Ricketts 2) 3 (Shearer 2, Ameobi)
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Facts: Shola Ameobi has scored just one away league goal this season. Bolton have gone seven games without a win
Standout bet: Match to finish in a 1-1 draw: 11-2 (Bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes, Skybet, Stan James)
Hardman Craig Bellamy has been boasting of his friendship with Joe Calzaghe, but the public's respect for the Newcastle striker would be increased if the two Welsh Wonders went toe-to-toe in the ring. Even the BBC would pay to show that fight. Bobby Robson must at least have been a little cheered by the North-East's answer to the Spice Boys scoring in the UEFA Cup win last night but Robson himself shows no signs of tiring and signed a new contract to stay at the club next season. With such a lust for life, perhaps he should follow Des O'Connor into a late fatherhood.
Verdict: ROBSON STILL GOING STRONG

Nationwide League

Walsall v Millwall
3pm tomorrow, Bescot Stadium
Away ticket info: £16 (£12 concs). All-ticket match for Millwall season ticket holders and members
Last season: 1 (Junior) 2 (Harris, Ifill)
Referee: Steve Tomlin (E Sussex)
Facts: Four of Tim Cahill's 11 goals this season have come in his past three games. Millwall last lost at Walsall in 1998
Standout bet: Away win for Millwall: 6-4 (Stan James)
Ray Wilkins blamed Wednesday's scrappy display against Wimbledon on a hangover from Sunday's hammering of West Ham and his players are not the only ones with sore heads following the derby demolition. Millwall's transformation under Dennis Wise and Wilkins this season is nothing short of staggering.
Verdict: MILLWALL MARCH ON

Watford v Wigan
3pm tomorrow, Vicarage Road
Tickets: £15-£20 (£5-£10 concs). Tel. 01923 496 010
Referee: Paul Danson (Leicestershire)
Facts: Wigan have gone three away games without a win. Paul Devlin has scored twice in 31 appearances for Watford
Standout bet: Wigan to win both halves: 15-2 (Bet365)
Like the Vengaboys before them, Watford are going to Ibiza but are leaving their records at home. The players are under strict instructions to behave themselves on the pre-season tour, even though they also like to party, and could even come home with some silverware if they triumph in the prestigious Copa de Ibiza. The sun, sea and sandcastles will be more enjoyable if Watford are still in the First Division and a draw tomorrow would keep them on track for that magical 50-point mark.
Verdict: WATFORD EDGE TO SAFETY

WBA v Crystal Palace
3pm tomorrow, The Hawthorns
Away ticket info: £20 (£11 concs). Tel. 08712 0000 71
Referee: Paul Robinson (E Yorkshire)
Facts: Palace haven't beaten West Brom at The Hawthorns since 1995 when a Dean Gordon hat-trick gave them a 3-2 win
Standout bet: Fewer than two goals in the game: 12-5 (Blue Sq)
Iain Dowie used to be indecisive but now he's not so sure. Having agreed to sell Darren Powell to Reading this week, he changed his mind and ordered the centre-back to stay and fight for his place. It'll take something special in training to get in Dowie's team at the moment, though, and after beating leaders Norwich last week they will be aiming to take a point off second-placed West Brom.
Verdict: POINT FOR PALACE

West Ham v Gillingham
3pm tomorrow, Upton Park
Tickets: £22-£32 (£10-£15 concs). Tel. 0870 112 2700
Referee: Andy Penn (W Midlands)
Facts: West Ham have won just two of their past six league matches and have now scored five own goals this season. Gillingham visit Upton Park for the first time in their history
Standout bet: Patrick Agyemang to score first goal: 8-1 (Ladbrokes)
If there's one thing that West Ham fans hate more than their own board of directors then it's losing to Millwall, so season ticket holders are probably still fishing lovedones out of the Thames following last week's capitulation. The Hammers hardcore were denied the opportunity to let off some steam by the new peaceloving beatniks who now dwell at The Den so will have to recover their pride by giving Gillingham a good beating instead.
Verdict: HAMMERS BOUNCE BACK

Hartlepool v Brentford
3pm tomorrow, Victoria Road
Away ticket info: £15 (£7 concs). Brentford fans can pay at the turnstiles
Referee: Michael Ryan (Lancashire) Facts: Brentford have won just one of the 21 league matches in which their opposition scored the first goal Standout bet: Home win for Hartlepool: 4-6 (Blue Sq)
Barnet are taking Brentford to court over the theft of a mad dog, but the Bees are determined to stand their ground and throw the Conference club the odd bone. After making a dog's dinner of most of their season, last week's win over Rushden has convinced fans they can beat the drop.
Verdict: BEES SURVIVE THE DOGFIGHT

QPR v Luton
3pm tomorrow, Loftus Road
Tickets: £17-£20 (£9-£10 concs). Tel. 0870 112 1967
Last season: 2 (McLeod 2) 0.
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)
Facts: Rangers are unbeaten in eight games and 14 home matches, while Luton last won at Loftus Road in 1984 Standout bet: Kevin McLeod to score the first goal: 14-1 (Ladbrokes)
Ian Holloway blamed their draw at Wycombe on the winds but that excuse was just hot air. Despite recent slip-ups, QPR's fate is in their own hands and they must win ahead of next week's six-pointer at Bristol City.
Verdict: HAPPY HOLLOWAY

Scunthorpe v L Orient
3pm tomorrow, Glanford Park
Away ticket info: £14 (£8 concs). Orient fans can pay at the turnstiles
Last season: 2 (Sparrow, Kilford) 1 (Smith)
Referee: Lee Cable (Surrey)
Facts: Orient have gone seven games without a win and five since an away victory. Scunthorpe's Steven MacLean is Division Three's top scorer with 21 goals
Standout bet: Scunthorpe win: 6-5 (Blue Sq)
After Orient's poor run, Martin Ling has mentioned relegation, though it would take an amazing collapse for his team to go down now. A few wins would secure a top-10 finish and they can start at Scunthorpe.
Verdict: ORIENT EXPRESS BACK ON TRACK

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