Weekend Football Focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Birmingham v Wimbledon
3pm Saturday, St Andrew's
Referee: Uriah Rennie (Yorkshire)
Facts: Birmingham are unbeaten in three at home but have lost six in a row against Wimbledon. Dons striker Dean Holdsworth has scored 18 FA Cup goals - the last coming for Coventry against Cardiff in a third-round replay last year
Standout bet: Wimbledon to cause a shock: 9-1 (Bet365)
Five years ago, Birmingham would have been hoping to upset Premiership Wimbledon, but a win for the Dons tomorrow would be one of the shocks of the fourth round. Steve Bruce has added some quality to Birmingham's lean, mean men while Wimbledon are almost the opposite, pleasing to watch but hopelessly inexperienced. Stuart Murdoch's youngsters will just be glad to have a week off from the relegation struggle, but their Cup adventure is about to end.
Verdict: GAME OVER FOR DONS

Portsmouth v Scunthorpe
3pm Saturday, Fratton Park
Referee: Graham Barber (Hertfordshire)
Facts: Scunthorpe's 2-0 win over Barnsley in their FA Cup third-round replay is their only victory in 10 matches. Portsmouth beat Scunthorpe 6-1 when these teams last met at Fratton Park, in a Division Four fixture in 1979
Standout bet: Portsmouth to win both halves: 5-4 (Bet365)
The last time these sides met, Scunthorpe carved out a scrappy 1-0 victory, but as that game was played in the Fourth Division 24 years ago it should not be taken as an omen. Portsmouth have twice climbed up to the top flight since then, whereas Scunthorpe have gone approximately nowhere and their interest in this season's FA Cup is likely to end tomorrow
Verdict: SCUNTHORPE IRONED OUT

Scarborough v Chelsea
12.30pm Saturday, McCain Stadium - live on Sky Sports 2
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Barry Knight (Kent)
Facts: Scarborough beat Chelsea 4-3 on aggregate when these sides met in a Littlewoods Cup second-round tie 14 years ago. Martin Russell's penalty gave Scarborough a 3-2 win in the second leg.
Standout bet: Chelsea to score a penalty: 4-1 (Tote)
Erosion in recent years has meant that bits of Scarborough have fallen into the sea - and there are some who can't wait for the rest of it to follow. Chelsea will be hoping the ground opens up and swallows them if they mess up tomorrow. However, Claudio Ranieri's side should have no problems here and the Blues will then return to more pressing business, such as how the devil can they prise Scott Parker away from Charlton?
Verdict: SCARBOROUGH ALL AT SEA

Telford v Millwall
3pm Saturday, Bucks Head
Away ticket info: Sold out.
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Facts: Millwall, who last reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in 1995, have gone three away games without defeat. Telford have claimed 11 league scalps in the FA Cup, including Stockport (twice), Burnley, Preston and Stoke
Standout bet: Millwall to win without conceding a goal: 6-4 (Bet365)
Could this be Tony Warner's swansong for Millwall? There is certainly a club, whose colours are old gold and who are not a million miles from Telford, who would dearly like to sign him before the deadline, but Lions manager Dennis Wise would love the goalkeeper to stay at The Den. The south London club should come through here.
Verdict: TRICKY BUT TA-TA TELFORD

Liverpool v Newcastle
5.35pm Saturday, Anfield - live on BBC1
Referee: Graham Poll (Hertfordshire)
Facts: This is the first FA Cup meeting between these sides since 1984 when Liverpool won 4-0 in a third-round tie at Anfield. Newcastle are unbeaten in their past five away matches. Alan Shearer has scored once in seven games, while Michael Owen has found the net once since September
Standout bet: Michael Owen to score the first goal: 9-2 (Blue Square, Coral, Skybet)
These two giant clubs must have begun this season thinking they were in with a realistic chance of winning something, but since then it's gone largely pear-shaped for both. While Newcastle at last seem to be getting their act together, though, Gerard Houllier's team continue to misfire. Liverpool now have both Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard back but they couldn't stop Wolves gaining a draw in midweek. Should Liverpool be comprehensively beaten tomorrow at Anfield, the studious Frenchman will come under pressure yet again from those who feel he's been given enough time to turn things around.
Verdict: SNEAKING FEELING FOR MAGPIES

Everton v Fulham
3pm Sunday, Goodison Park
Away ticket info: £25-£27 (£14 concs). Tel: 0870 442 1234
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Facts: Fulham's last win in a match which did not involve Louis Saha came in last year's FA Cup fourth-round victory over Charlton. Fulham's Luis Boa Morte has not scored in his past 10 appearances. Everton have gone three games without a win
Standout bet: Home win for Everton: 6-5 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
Fulham's experience of life after Louis has not begun well, but a shortage of strikers is not always a bad thing as Everton would testify. David Moyes has five supposed hitmen at his disposal in a variety of shapes and sizes from Wayne Rooney to Duncan Ferguson, but none of them appear capable of hitting a barn door. Both sides have beaten each other at home already this season so Everton should make their advantage tell.
Verdict: HOME SWEET HOME FOR EVERTON

Manchester City v Tottenham
1pm Sunday, City of Manchester Stadium - live on BBC1
Away ticket info: £20 (£10 concs). Tel: 0870 420 5000.
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: Tottenham won 4-2 when these sides last met in the FA Cup. Nayim scored a hat-trick and Steve Sedgley was also on the scoresheet in a televised game in March 1993. City have not won in eight home games
Standout bet: Gary Doherty to score a goal: 7-1 (Bet365)
With a few million quid burning a hole in Daniel Levy's pocket following the share issue, Spurs will undoubtedly be looking for a few bargains. In the meantime, however, they face a tricky-looking tie against a Manchester City side that cost a small fortune to build but who have produced zilch so far. Spurs' improved recent form will certainly give their fans hopes of a decent Cup run, but they may need two tries to go through.
Verdict: REPLAY LOOMS

Northampton v Man United
4.05pm Sunday, Sixfields Stadium - live on Sky Sports 1
Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Facts: Ryan Giggs has scored just once in 11 league games, while United have drawn a blank in their past two matches. Northampton striker Richard Walker, on loan from Blackpool, has scored six goals in his past seven games
Standout bet: 3-1 win for Manchester United: 12-1 (Bet365)
I bet the pampered millionaires of Old Trafford can hardly wait to leave the sunshine of Dubai and return home in time for their fourth-round tie at Northampton. The Cobras, as the owner in my Chinese local takeaway called them the other day, will be relishing the visit of United on Sunday, although, realistically, the Sixfields Stadium is unlikely to be the venue of one of the great all-time Cup shocks. It may not be a breeze for Sir Alex's star-studded team, however.
Verdict: NO BALL FOR COBBLERS

Wolves v West Ham
2pm Sunday, Molineux
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Facts: This is the first FA Cup meeting between these sides, who haven't played each other since 1993. West Ham, who last won at Molineux in 1983, have lost only one away match since September - and that was after extra time at Spurs
Standout bet: David Connolly to score the first goal: 8-1 (Bet365, Blue Square)
West Ham fans must be the only ones in the country who the bigger their team's lead, the more nervous they become. The wag in the crowd at Bramall Lane who, when the Hammers went 3-1 up, shouted out: 'We need one more for the draw,' was not that far out. Alan Pardew will take a lot of positives from his side's first-half performance, though, and although Wolves are much improved, the east London side will fancy their chances a bit here.
Verdict: BACK TO UPTON PARK

Nationwide League, Divisions One, Two and Three

Bradford v Crystal Palace
3pm Saturday, Valley Parade
Away ticket info: £17 (£7-£11 concs). Tel: 08712 0000 71
Last season: 2 (Atherton, Francis) 1 (Whelan)
Referee: Mike Pike (Cumbria)
Facts: Palace, for whom Andy Johnson is set to make his 50th league start, have lost just one of their past six league matches. Bradford have lost four of five home games
Standout bet: Away win for Palace: 6-4 (Paddy Power, Tote, Blue Sq, Coral, Sky, S James)
Crystal Palace are offering their ever-dwindling band of loyal fans the chance to win a 50-year season ticket, which sounds more like a life sentence than a prize, but at least the faithful will travel to Bradford in good spirits after last week's 5-1 win at Watford. Bryan Robson's struggling side are enjoying their own mini-resurgence, with two wins from their past three league games, but Palace should make it two wins on the spin to climb towards mid-table.
Verdict: PALACE ON THE UP

Bournemouth v QPR
3pm Saturday, Dean Court
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
Facts: Andy Thomson scored both goals to give Rangers a 2-1 victory when they last visited Bournemouth, in 2001. Bournemouth's Carl Fletcher has not scored this season
Standout bet: QPR (half-time), draw (full-time): 16-1 (Bet365, Tote)
Ian Holloway will not want to see the sea ever again after Tuesday's hammering at Southend, but that 4-0 defeat at least ensures his team will not dare coast at Bournemouth. The Cherries have not beaten Rangers in nine attempts since 1965 and the visitors should bounce back to record their fifth straight league win.
Verdict: IAN KING OF THE SANDCASTLES

Brentford v Wrexham
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £14-£18 (£3-£13 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire)
Facts: Wrexham haven't drawn any of their past 21 away fixtures. Brentford have gone 10 matches since a win but have drawn their past three. Striker Tommy Wright has gone 12 games without a goal
Standout bet: Game to finish in a 2-2 draw: 14-1 (Tote)
Ken Livingston has put his weight behind Brentford's plans to build a new stadium at Lionel Road, but not even such a big cheese as Red Ken can effect the Bees' dire form. Wally Downes's side put six goals past Wrexham last season but would settle for 1-0 tomorrow after their recent poor run.
Verdict: RARE WIN FOR BRENTFORD

Yeovil v Leyton Orient
3pm Saturday, Huish Park
Away ticket info: £11 (£4-£8 concs), Orient fans pay at turnstiles
Referee: Mark Warren (West Midlands)
Facts: Gary Alexander's brace against Mansfield last weekend was his first double since he scored a hat-trick for Hull in September 2002. Leyton Orient have gone four away games without a win
Standout bet: Gary Alexander to score the first goal: 8-1 (Bet365)
Martin Ling is adamant that Orient can make the play-offs, but for the dream to become reality his side must win games such as this. Yeovil's automatic promotion hopes have faded after winning just one of their past five games.
Verdict: DREAM IS ALIVE FOR ORIENT

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