Weekend football focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Aston Villa v Chelsea
12.45pm Saturday, Villa Park - live on Prem Plus
Away ticket info: £23 (£13 concs). Tel: 0870 300 2322
Last season: 3 (Vassell, Hitzlsperger, Hendrie) 2 (Crespo 2).
Referee: Rob Styles (Portsmouth)
Facts: Darius Vassell and Didier Drogba (along with Dominic Matteo) have committed the most fouls in the Premiership (13). Olof Mellberg has scored with both efforts on goal
Standout bet: Chelsea to win by one goal - 11-4 (Paddy Power)
Jose Mourinho wasn't spotted in Katowice this week, which shows good judgement on his part, but it is likely the methodical Chelsea head coach will have had a full report of Carlton Cole's excellent display for England Under-21s against the Poles. Cole, on loan at Villa, is precluded from playing against Chelsea tomorrow, which is just as well, but if the big, young striker continues to do the business, he could be back at Stamford Bridge next season.
Verdict: BLUES KEEP THEIR RHYTHM

Bolton v Manchester United
3pm Saturday, Reebok Stadium
Last season: 1 (G Neville og) 2 (Scholes, Van Nistelrooy).
Referee: Matt Messias (York)
Facts: Ryan Giggs leads the Premiership crossing charts with 25. Bolton haven't recorded a home win over Manchester United since 1978
Standout bet: Home win for Bolton - 3-1 (Bet365, Coral, Victor Chandler)
Manchester United may boast the biggest selection of strikers since Paris 1968 but they're not much use if they keep withdrawing their labour. It's a bit premature to say they're in crisis, but another defeat could leave them 10 points behind Arsenal and Chelsea after just five games. Pigs will fly before Big Sam gets a big job but the Trotters are doing just that and can add to United's misery.
Verdict: BOLTON FLYING HIGH

Fulham v Arsenal
3pm Saturday, Craven Cottage
Tickets: Fulham: £32-£44 (£16-£34 concs). Tel: 0870 442 1234 Arsenal: £32 (£16-£22). Tel: 020 7704 4040
Last season: 0-1 (Reyes).
Referee: Mike Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Jose Reyes's average of a goal every 58 minutes is the best in the Premiership. Thierry Henry has managed seven assists to go with the four goals he has scored
Standout bet: Arsenal to win both halves - 11-4 (Bet365))
Fulham's defence looked as full of leaks as a Whitehall department when they conceded four goals to Portsmouth and Chris Coleman, a former defender of some repute, will need to address that frailty sooner rather than later. Arsenal have picked up where they left off last season and should cruise this one.
Verdict: ARSENAL A CLASS ABOVE

Liverpool v West Brom
3pm Saturday, Anfield
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: West Brom have failed to win in the league this season and last left Anfield with the points in April 1967
Standout bet: Liverpool to come from behind and win - 13-2 (Bet365)
Despite the departure of Michael Owen, there are the usual great expectations at Liverpool and it would be good for the game to see them challenging for honours again. For West Brom, there are no such lofty ideals. Their manic manager Gary Megson, who will surely do permanent damage to his vocal chords soon, will be happy if his team are playing Liverpool again next season.
Verdict: LIVERPOOL COME THROUGH

Manchester City v Everton
3pm Saturday, City of Manchester Stadium
Last season: 5 (Wanchope 2, Anelka, Sibierski, Wright-Phillips) 1 (Campbell)
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Facts: Everton's Gary Naysmith and City's Richard Dunne are two of only three players to be red-carded so far this season
Standout bet: Three goals or more - 5-6 (Victor Chandler)
Wayne Rooney said he was Everton through and through but we all know that, in football, even loyalty has a price. It will be interesting to see how much Rooney is missed but the money will definitely come in handy. For Manchester City, Shaun Wright-Phillips has been in sparkling form and was unlucky not to feature in either of England's World Cup qualifiers.
Verdict: HONOURS EVEN

Newcastle v Blackburn
3pm Saturday, St James' Park
Last season: 0-1 (Gallagher).
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury)
Facts: Two out of form (and managerless) sides with Newcastle winless in nine and Blackburn six. Andy O'Brien has scored just once since March 2002 before his goal against Villa recently
Standout bet: Keiron Dyer to score the first goal - 14-1 (Bet365, Paddy Power)
Appointing Graeme Souness as Newcastle manager is a bit like inviting Fulton Mackay to teach at a particularly lawless kindergarten and the results could be similarly messy. The fiery Scot insists he doesn't mind being 100th choice for the job though several thousand Geordies feel differently. Souness will not be around to harangue either team tomorrow as he doesn't start work until Monday so Newcastle should celebrate their first win of the season with a last big night out down the Quayside. Lock up your daughters!
Verdict: BIG NIGHT OUT FOR THE TOON

M'boro v Birmingham
3pm Saturday, Riverside Stadium
Last season: 5 (Mendieta, Maccarone 2, Southgate, Nemeth) 3 (Forssell 2, Morrison).
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Birmingham have gone 14 away games since a win. Boro have scored at least twice in five of their last six Premiership matches
Standout bet: Home win for Boro - Evens (Sean Graham, Totalbet)
Steve McClaren should make the most of matches like this because, if some people have their way and Sven-Goran Eriksson is sent home to pack his dishwasher, the Middlesbrough manager could soon be drinking from the FA's poisoned chalice. Tomorrow he faces Steve Bruce, who is linked with most jobs which come up these days.
Verdict: BORO TO CLEAN UP

Portsmouth v C Palace
5.15pm Saturday, Fratton Park - live on Sky Sports 2
Away ticket info: £30 (£22 concs). Tel: 08712 000 071
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Facts: Portsmouth have scored in each of their last 13 Premiership matches and in every home league game since February
Standout bet: Yakubu to score the first goal - 5-1 (Bet365)
Harry Redknapp, who once signed Iain Dowie for West Ham, will be able to tell the Palace manager just how important it is to get points on the board nice and early, before injuries and suspensions play havoc with small squads. For both these clubs survival is the limit of their ambition, although Pompey look better equipped to stay in the Premiership.
Verdict: PALACE ON THE POVERTY LINE

Tottenham v Norwich
4.05pm Sunday, White Hart Lane - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: £25-£37 (£13-£15 concs). Tel: 0870 420 5000
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: The two players with the most offside decisions against them - Darren Huckerby (15) and Jermain Defoe (11) come face-to-face
Standout bet: Defoe to score the first goal - 9-2 (Bet365)
Once upon a time English goalkeepers were revered all over the world of football. Now, like trains on the Circle Line, there don't seem to be too many about. But at White Hart Lane on Sunday, you certainly have two of the brightest in Tottenham's Paul Robinson and Norwich's Robert Green. Spurs should have too much for the visitors.
Verdict: CANARIES GROUNDED

Charlton v Southampton
8pm Monday, The Valley - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: £20 (£10-£15 concs). Tel. 020 8333 4010 Last season: 2 (Euell, Cole) 1 (Prutton).
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Southampton are still awaiting their first clean sheet this season. There has never been a 0-0 between these sides at The Valley
Standout bet: Southampton (half-time), Charlton (full-time) -
Some suspect white powder was discovered at Charlton this week. Officials tested it and found it to be flour, so the story suggesting the players were last seen swinging from the crossbar and morris-dancing around the corner flag proved to be false. Charlton, meanwhile, should need no stimulation other than an Alan Curbishley team talk before going out to beat Southampton on Monday night.
Verdict: CHARLTON CRACK ON

Coca-Cola League

QPR v Plymouth
3pm Saturday, Loftus Road
Tickets: Limited availability. Tel: 0870 112 1967
Last season: 3 (Gallen 2, Thorpe) 0.
Referee: André Marriner (W Midlands)
Facts: Plymouth have avoided any ultra-lengthy away trips in their successful start to the season - so far travelling only as far as Brighton, Cardiff, Yeovil, Watford and now QPR
Standout bet: QPR home win 8-5 (Ladbrokes)
After a couple of years off screen the QPR soap opera is back, with senior officials briefing against the manager and mysterious investor Dunga initially refusing to interrupt his pizza to discuss his plans for the club. All of which may provide more entertainment than the average Rangers performance but is no laughing matter to Ian Holloway, who is facing a turbulent time just months after winning promotion. Rangers have lost their last two home games and in-form Plymouth could make it an unwanted hat-trick.
Verdict: HOLLOWAY A LONE RANGER

Sheff Utd v West Ham
3pm Saturday, Bramall Lane
Away ticket info: £20 (£14 concs). Tel: 0870 112 2700
Last season: 3 (Peschisolido, Shaw, P Jagielka) 3 (Carrick, Harley, Harewood)
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)
Facts: Sheffield United have conceded only two goals in the league so far this season. It is 15 years since West Ham last won a league match at Bramall Lane
Standout bet: Sheffield United win - 5-4 (Sky, Hills, Stanley)
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has been doubling up as a taxi driver this week, driving striker Andy Gray back from Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in Glasgow, whereas West Ham have been playing like a bunch of off-duty cabbies. The Hammers' season has yet to really get going and they are likely to stall again in Sheffield.
Verdict: HAMMERS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR

Watford v Brighton
3pm Saturday, Vicarage Road
Tickets: £20-£25 (£5-£15 concs). Tel: 0870 111 1881
Referee: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire)
Facts: Watford's Danny Webber and Wigan's Nathan Ellington are the top scorers in the Championship with five goals. Chelsea midfielder Alexis Nicolas is on loan at Brighton
Standout bet: Watford home win - 5-6 (Stanley, Paddy Power)
Watford's need to raise funds to buy back Vicarage Road may be desperate but asking supporters to pay £415 to attend a fans' karaoke night, or even an Elton John concert, is surely going too far. Fortunately the club's match-day admission prices are more reasonable and another home win should provide good value for money.
Verdict: WATFORD KEEP PUNTERS HAPPY

Ipswich v Millwall
1pm Sunday, Portman Road - live on Sky Sports 1
Away ticket info: £24 (£8.50-£17 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 1 (D Bent) 3 (Harris 2, Ward).
Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire)
Facts: Ipswich are unbeaten in six home games. Millwall have yet to lose away from home this season
Standout bet: Away win for Millwall - 100-30 (Hills)
Millwall's players may have one eye on their European debut against Ferencvaros next week but Sunday's trip to Ipswich could be even more daunting. Joe Royle's side are one point off the top after four straight wins and with Darren Bent firing on all cylinders, Millwall could be in for a torrid afternoon at Portman Road.
Verdict: BENT SHOOTING STRAIGHT

Torquay v Brentford
3pm Saturday, Plainmoor
Away ticket info: £14-£15 (£5-£12 concs). Pay at turnstiles only
Referee: Steve Tanner (S Gloucestershire)
Facts: Brentford have lost all four away games so far this season and last won an away match against Torquay in a Division Four meeting in 1975
Standout bet: Torquay home win - 8-5 (Ladbrokes)
Brentford are advertising for a fence erector, whatever that is, and while they're addressing structural problems they could do with someone to help them with their defensive walls. Martin Allen's side have had more away-day spankings than Wayne Rooney recently, conceding 12 goals in four games this season, and must become more solid if they are to build on their excellent home form.
Verdict: BRENTFORD TIGHTEN UP

Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers
3pm Saturday, Brisbane Road
Tickets: £16 (£10 concs). Tel: 020 8926 1010
Last season: 1 (Ibehre) 1 (Tait).
Referee: Gary Lewis (Cambridgeshire)
Facts: Penalty taker Matt Lockwood and striker Gary Alexander scored their first goals of the season in Orient's 2-1 win at Kidderminster last weekend
Standout bet: Home win for Orient - 8-5 (Stanley)
After battling against relegation for the past two years Leyton Orient have surprised even themselves by climbing to seventh in League Two, but tomorrow's game should provide a better guide to their prospects. Ian Atkins's side are unbeaten and Orient will be pleased with a point.
Verdict: ROVERS RETURN UNBEATEN

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