Weekend football focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Arsenal v Birmingham
3pm Saturday, Highbury
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury)
Facts: Three of the last six meetings between these sides at Highbury have ended in 0-0 draws. Birmingham last won away against Arsenal in 1957
Standout bet: No goalscorer - 14-1 (Premierbet, Sky, VC Bet)
Arsene Wenger still persists in the "Crisis, what crisis?" approach but six points from their last six matches speaks volumes for all the worried Arsenal fans around the place. Tomorrow, Wenger's side begin a massive week when they play hosts to Birmingham, who are struggling themselves this season. That is followed by a crucial Champions League tie against Rosenborg before the eagerly awaited collision against Chelsea which is already being billed as a title decider.
Verdict: ARSENAL RELIEF

Aston Villa v Liverpool
3pm Saturday, Villa Park
Last season: 0-0.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Liverpool have won four and drawn two of their last six games at Villa Park. Villa's last win in this fixture came when Stan Collymore scored twice in a 1998 2-1 victory
Standout bet: Away win for Liverpool - 15-8 (Premierbet)
The FA took a dim view of Lee Hendrie's slow-motion walk following his red card against Manchester City last weekend. He may look like a schoolboy but that's no excuse for acting like one and it's about time he matured a little. Talking of school, Liverpool played something akin to a youth team against Spurs this week - and still ended up winning.
Verdict: POINTS SHARED

Blackburn v Tottenham
5.15pm Saturday, Ewood Park - live on Sky Sports 2
Away ticket info: £24 (£5-£14 concs). Tel: 0870 420 5000
Last season: 1 (Carr og) 0.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Facts: Paul Gallagher has found the net in each of his last three games for Blackburn and has ended up on the losing side once on the five occasions he has scored for Rovers
Standout bet: Jermain Defoe to score 1st goal - 11-2 (various)
Jermain Defoe was undoubtedly a silly boy when he took off his Tottenham shirt to reveal the birthday message to his girlfriend but he could have started a trend. You can see people stripping off everywhere to reveal, if you'll excuse the expression, something personal about their loved ones. If you want to save money on cards, it could even be extended to Christmas. However, Martin Jol will forgive the little striker if he scores the winner against Blackburn.
Verdict: DON'T PUT YOUR SHIRT ON SPURS

Chelsea v Newcastle
12.45pm Saturday, Stamford Bridge - live on Prem Plus
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 5 (Johnson, Crespo, Lampard, Duff, Gudjohnsen) 0
Referee: Rob Styles (Waterlooville)
Facts: In conceding six Premiership goals, Chelsea have let in fewer than any team in Europe's top leagues
Standout bet: William Gallas to score - 10-1 (Bet Direct)
There are some players who attract controversy and Newcastle's Craig Bellamy is one. When he lets his football do the talking, as he did with a splendid goal against Everton last weekend, he attracts plenty of admirers but then he loses it and you feel like locking him in a room with Janet Street-Porter. Chelsea, though, have little to worry about other than ordering up a nice big trophy cabinet.
Verdict: BLUE IS THE COLOUR YET AGAIN

C Palace v Charlton
4.05pm Sunday, Selhurst Park - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Home - £30-£40 (£16-£24 concs) Tel: 08712 000 071. Away - £35 (£21 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Referee: Matt Messias (South Yorkshire)
Facts: This is the first top division meeting between the sides since April 1990, when Palace enjoyed a 2-0 victory
Standout bet: Four goals or more - 13-5 (Blue Square)
Palace chairman Simon Jordan is surprised and delighted at his pulling power this season, though enough about his relationship with Alex Best. Jordan's side are also punching above their weight, with manager Iain Dowie making up for what he lacks in beauty with brainpower. Palace have already beaten their London rivals once this season and another victory should not be discounted.
Verdict: SUNDAY BEST FOR PALACE

Everton v Bolton
3pm Saturday, Goodison Pk
Last season: 1 (Ferguson) 2 (Djorkaeff 2)
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: Everton have failed to score in only three of their 15 league games to date. After 15 Premiership games last season they had drawn a blank eight times
Standout bet: Everton to win 1-0 - 17-2 (Skybet)
Everyone has had their say about El-Hadji Diouf so why not Focus? The FA saw fit to ban the Bolton striker for three matches after spitting in the face of Portsmouth's Arjan De Zeeuw last weekend. It should have been three months. Serial spitter Diouf is a lucky man because the Dutchman showed admirable self-control. If he had done something similar on a Sunday morning, he would still be in intensive care. Bolton are better off without him.
Verdict: SCORE DRAW

Man Utd v So'ton
3pm Saturday, Old Trafford
Last season: 3 (Saha, Scholes, Van Nistelrooy) 2 (Phillips 2) Referee: Barry Knight (Orpington)
Facts: Southampton haven't lost a game when Kevin Phillips has scored since he struck twice in this fixture last January
Standout bet: United to win 4-1 - 14-1 (Paddy Power, S James)
Manchester United, after such a stuttering start, are quietly and effectively clawing their way back up the Premiership table and will be confident of another three points tomorrow. Southampton, meanwhile, continue to struggle and it seems inevitable that, sooner rather than later, manager Steve Wigley will have to make way. In that event, Harry Redknapp, just a few miles up the road, would seem to be the perfect candidate to take over now he has vacated his post at Portsmouth.
Verdict: NO SWEAT FOR UNITED

Norwich v Fulham
3pm Saturday, Carrow Rd
Away ticket info: £30 (no concs). Tel: 0870 442 1234
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: First ever top division meeting of these sides. Fulham are unbeaten in six against Norwich since 1986
Standout bet: Score draw - 7-2 (Bet365)
Chris Coleman was spitting feathers following his team's abject performance against Blackburn but was much happier in midweek after Fulham went down gloriously to Chelsea in the Carling Cup. They will need more of the same at Carrow Road on Saturday against draw specialists Norwich.
Verdict: COLEMAN'S MUSTARD AT NORWICH

Portsmouth v WBA
3pm Saturday, Fratton Pk
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire)
Facts: West Brom have won three of their last six at Portsmouth but have gone 10 without an away win. Pompey have gone seven without a draw at home
Standout bet: David Unsworth to score - 5-1 (Bet365)
Milan Mandaric has said he wants to draw a line under Harry Redknapp's departure from Portsmouth and so say all of us. Mandaric's task now is to find a successor who will keep Pompey in the Premiership. For tomorrow's opponents that goal is looking more and more tricky.
Verdict: HOME WIN

Coca-Cola League

Millwall v Sheffield United
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: £17-£23 (£7-£13 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 2 (Harris, Ifill) 0.
Referee: Iain Williamson (Berkshire)
Facts: Millwall have won eight straight home games against Sheffield United, who haven't even scored in their past four visits to The Den
Standout bet: Millwall win - 6-5 (Bet Fred, Blue Square, Stan James)
Like Natalie Appleton with a case of jungle fever, Millwall are reluctant travellers and can't handle being away from home. Dennis Wise's side have won just once away and will be grateful for The Den's home comforts, taking solace in the rows of empty seats, the reassuring sight of Burberry and the comforting stench of the power station. All of which will make United wish they had stayed at home, where they will return empty handed.
Verdict: COMFY WIN FOR MILLWALL

Nottingham Forest v QPR
3pm Saturday, City Ground
Away ticket info: £25 (£10-£17 concs, £1 under-16s), available at turnstiles
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Facts: Rangers, who have never won at the City Ground, have gone four away games without a victory
Standout bet: Draw (half-time); QPR (full time) - 11-2 (Stan James)
Having begun the season telling everyone Ian Holloway was going to be sacked and lining up an unknown Argentine as replacement, QPR's board have suddenly realised their manager knows his onions, offering the king of analogies a three-year contract to replace his current one-year rolling deal which, with apologies to the great man, seems akin to buying some flowers for the missus after you've just failed to dump her. Holloway missed training with illness this week, but an away win would hasten his recovery.
Verdict: LAST LAUGH FOR HOLLOWAY

Sunderland v West Ham
3pm Saturday, Stadium of Light
Away ticket info: £23 (£17 concs). Tel: 0870 112 2700
Last season: 2 (Kyle, Whitley) 0.
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)
Facts: Bottom-half teams Leicester, Plymouth, Crewe, Coventry, Wolves and Cardiff have all scored more away league goals than West Ham
Standout bet: Home win - Evens (Bet Direct, Blue Sq, P Power, S James)
Alan Pardew has been at West Ham for more than a year now and the misplaced confidence that afflicts all associated with the club is obviously catching. The Hammers boss insists that his side are strong enough to win automatic promotion, despite the fact that they have won just two of their past seven games - an attitude that will go down well with the ever-optimistic faithful. Sunderland, six points ahead and up in third place, are in a far better position to challenge and should show their class tomorrow against the team in sixth.
Verdict: HAMMERS CURSED BY BLACK CATS

Watford v Stoke
3pm Saturday, Vicarage Road
Tickets: £20-£25 (£15 concs). Tel: 0870 111 1881
Last season: 1 (Helguson) 3 (Taggart, Akinbiyi 2)
Referee: Alan Kaye (West Yorkshire)
Facts: Watford haven't lost a game in which Heidar Helguson has scored since a 3-1 reverse at Stoke in March - a run of 12 matches
Standout bet: Home win - 6-5 (totesport)
After silencing the Pompey chimes, it's time for Ray Lewington to start blowing his own trumpet. The Watford manager has fashioned an entertaining young side from an inexperienced group of players on meagre resources and, if they can start turning draws into wins, they have the ability to reach the play-offs. Stoke have slumped slightly after a great start to the season and Watford can take advantage.
Verdict: WIN FOR WATFORD

FA Cup second round

Hinckley Utd v Brentford
2pm Sunday, Middlefield Lane - BBC1
Away ticket info: All ticket. £12-£15 (£8-£12 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Facts: Brentford have gone six away games without a win
Standout bet: Brentford to score three goals or more - 3-1 (Bet365)
Martin Allen is a managerial oddity in prioritising the indulgent cakes of the FA Cup over the bread and butter of the league and if Brentford reach the third round he may throw his own tea party - as they should, in spite of Hinckley's miracles thus far.
Verdict: BEES BUZZING

Oldham v Leyton Orient
3pm Saturday, Boundary Park
Away ticket info: £18 (£9 concs). Pay at the turnstiles
Facts: Oldham have signed 38-year-old Rob Lee on a month's contract
Standout bet: Home win - 10-11 (Bet Direct, totesport, VC Bet)
Leyton Orient stopped the rot with a win at Mansfield last week, though beating any team managed by Carlton Palmer is less satisfying than stealing the sweets of a particularly slow-witted child. Oldham will be a tougher test, but a draw is within reach.
Verdict: ACTION REPLAY

Slough Town v Yeading
3pm Saturday, Windsor & Eton FC
Away ticket info: £12 (£8 concs) - tickets available at the turnstiles
Facts: Ryman Premier League side Yeading have not drawn in 13 games
Standout bet: Slough to win from behind 11-1 (Bet365)
Hailing from near Heathrow Airport, Yeading are well placed to throw some not-so-friendly footballing bombs on Slough tomorrow. The Ryman Premier League leaders have already drawn at Slough this season and can reach the third round.
Verdict: SLOUGH OF DESPOND

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