Weekend football focus

Raoul Simons|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Birmingham v West Brom
Noon Saturday, St Andrews
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)
Facts: Birmingham have gone six home games without a win. West Brom's five goals in their last three away games have yielded them just two points.
Two Manchester United legends will meet at St Andrews tomorrow but both Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson are struggling to replicate the glory of their playing days in the dug-out. Birmingham challenged for a European place under Bruce last season but are finding it harder going this time around, while West Brom do not look like extending their stay in the top flight. Robson's side are without a victory in nine games and, having orchestrated a win over Aston Villa on Sunday, Bruce is in line for another derby success.
Verdict: BRUCIE PLAYS HIS CARDS RIGHT

Blackburn v Everton
3pm Saturday, Ewood Park
Last season: 2 (Babbel, Yorke) 1 (Radzinski)
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Facts: Blackburn striker Paul Dickov's last goal against Everton came when he was part of a Manchester City side that won 5-0 in a Premiership game at Maine Road in December 2000
Jose Mourinho has predicted that Chelsea will collect the Premiership Trophy on 30 April but if Everton sustain their tremendous form he may have to postpone the celebrations until the first week of May. David Moyes's side have been the surprise of the season and, though the Premiership title remains a distant dream, last week's win over Liverpool has created a real belief that they can qualify for the Champions League. Blackburn, by contrast, appear to be heading for the Championship and are unlikely to add to last season's two wins over Everton.
Verdict: MOYES MARCHES ON

Bolton v Manchester City
3pm Saturday, Reebok Stadium
Last season: 1 (Nolan) 3 (Fowler 2, Charlton og)
Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield)
Facts: Bolton have gone six games without a win and striker Henrik Pedersen, who has scored seven goals this season, has not netted in his last five matches. City scored nine goals in two Premiership wins over Bolton last season
Nicolas Anelka's temper tantrums seem to come around as quickly as the annual Christmas rush and the French striker has been at it again, claiming he wants to leave Manchester City to join a big club. Le Incredible Sulk has apparently apologised to the City board but if there's any justice in the world they'll soon sell him to Bury. Bolton have produced some pretty sorry performances lately, losing four of their last five games but should have enough at home to add to Kevin Keegan's woes.
Verdict: BOLTON BOUNCE BACK

Chelsea v Norwich
3pm Saturday, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: Sold out
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Facts: Norwich haven't won at Stamford Bridge since goals from Ruel Fox and ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton gave the Canaries a 2-1 victory in October 1993. Chelsea have scored at least four goals in five Premiership matches this season.
On the last occasion these sides met in the Premiership, Norwich ran out 3-0 winners, but back in 1994 Roman Abramovich was still selling rubber ducks out of the window of a Moscow apartment. How times change. Both Abramovich and Chelsea have gone up in the world since then and the only duck that matters in west London is ending the Blues' 50-year wait for the title. Norwich have come into some form recently but anyone backing them to get a third win in five matches must be completely quackers.
Verdict: CHELSEA STROLL IT

Man United v Crystal Palace
5.15pm Saturday, Old Trafford - live on Prem Plus
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: Palace last scored in a league game at Old Trafford in December 1989, which was also the occasion of their last away win against United - two Mark Bright goals giving them a 2-1 victory
With the demands of keeping his club in the Premiership not enough for a man of his many talents, Simon Jordan has set his heart on getting The Specials back together, but there is more chance of the Beatles reforming than Palace winning at Old Trafford. Manchester United have rediscovered their fluency in recent weeks and Palace have also reverted to type: hard-working journeymen who couldn't score in a brothel. Iain Dowie's side have not won for seven league games and it looks like being a miserable Christmas in Croydon.
Verdict: PALACE NOT SO SPECIAL

Middlesbrough v Aston Villa
3pm Saturday, Riverside
Last season: 1 (Job) 2 (Barry, Crouch)
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Facts: Juan Pablo Angel has not scored an away Premiership goal since 2 October. Boro have won just one of their last six home games against Villa
The grapes tasted exceedingly sour for David O'Leary after last week's derby defeat by Birmingham City. "We're the better team," the Irishman moaned. "We're above them this season." So, by the same playground logic, fifth-placed Boro are a better team than seventh-placed Villa. Another impressive display by Stewart Downing and more comedy goalkeeping from Thomas Sorensen could help underline O'Leary's point.
Verdict: ASTON SMARTING

Portsmouth v Arsenal
4.05pm Sunday, Fratton Park - live on Sky Sports 1
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Yakubu) 1 (Reyes)
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: Arsenal would be top of the Premiership if all games had finished at half-time. Referee Howard Webb has issued 30 yellow cards in nine Premiership matches
A rocky spell of just one win in their last four Premiership matches and suddenly Arsenal can't defend. They are weak on set-pieces, say the critics, the zonal system isn't working. But hold on, isn't this the same Arsenal defence that went 49 matches unbeaten? Surely they must have been doing something right. No doubt, it will be a case of "crisis? what crisis" after their visit to a club who really do have problems. With Harry Redknapp gone, Portsmouth are in a mess and it remains to be seen if Velimir Zajec is the man to clean things up.
Verdict: WENGER BOYS IN THE ZONE

Tottenham v Southampton
3pm Saturday, White Hart Lane
Tickets: £25-£37 (£13-£15 concs). Tel. 0870 420 5000
Last season: 1 (Kanoute) 3 (Beattie 2, Gardner og)
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Facts: Only Blackburn's Paul Dickov (33) has been caught offside more than Jermain Defoe (32) in Premiership matches this season
Santa Claus has already visited Martin Jol's house and presented him with the Yuletide fixture list. Gift opponents Southampton, Norwich and Crystal Palace should all be gobbled up to leave the Spurs head coach sitting prettier than a Christmas fairy with a conifer fetish. Southampton's only Premiership win since August came against Portsmouth in last month's south coast derby but, given Harry Redknapp's subsequent career choices, we'll leave that one to the conspiracy theorists.
Verdict: TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOL

Liverpool v Newcastle
1.30pm Sunday, Anfield - live on Sky Sports 1
Last season: 1 (Owen) 1 (Ameobi)
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Liverpool, who are still awaiting their first win in December, have scored in each of their last 10 home league games against Newcastle. Patrick Kluivert has found the net three times in 12 Premiership appearances. This is the 150th league fixtures between these sides
Home win this one. If Graeme Souness can't even trust his players to go to a party in Edinburgh, how can he have any faith in them winning a football match in Liverpool? The Scot was about as popular on Merseyside as The Sun crossword during his spell as Anfield boss, which is a shame because it tarnished his proud image as a player. Steven Gerrard will, as always, be Liverpool's key man, but will he be putting a red or a blue stocking up for Santa to fill this Christmas?
Verdict: GERRARD'S THE BOSS

COCA-COLA LEAGUE

Coventry v Watford
3pm Saturday, Highfield Rd
Away ticket info: £25-£30 (£15 concs). Tel. 0870 111 1881
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Colin Webster (Tyne & Wear)
Facts: Coventry haven't scored in a home game against Watford since October 1999 when their scorers in a 4-0 win included Robbie Keane and Gary McAllister
Watford's magnificent run to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup is disguising a multitude of sins, not least the club's association with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, but it is their inability to win in the Championship that will be of most concern to manager Ray Lewington. The Hornets have not won for eight games in the league and will be hoping to end that barren spell against struggling Coventry.
Verdict: RELIEF FOR RAY

Leeds v Millwall
3pm Sunday, Elland Road
Away ticket info: £22 (£15 concs). For members and season ticket holders. Tel. 020 7231 9999
Referee: Tony Leake (Lancashire)
Facts: First meeting between these sides since April 1988 when Millwall came away from Elland Road with a 2-1 victory. Leeds have gone four games without a win
At the end of another week in which the behaviour of Millwall fans has been in the spotlight, the club need this fixture like David Blunkett needs a new nanny. Of course, both sets of supporters have fearsome reputations but the chances are that this game will pass without major incident - just like their matches against West Ham, Stoke and Cardiff. Unfortunately for the silent majority, though, no one cares about Lions not on the rampage.
Verdict: NO TROUBLE UP MILL (AND NO POINTS EITHER)

Preston v West Ham
3pm Saturday, Deepdale
Away ticket info: £17 (£6-£11 concs). Tel. 0870 112 2700
Last season: 1 (Lewis) 2 (Defoe, Connolly)
Referee: Alan Kaye (West Yorkshire)
Facts: West Ham are unbeaten at Deepdale since 1961. Winger Luke Chadwick has finished just three of the 17 games in which manager Alan Pardew has put him in the starting line-up
West Ham fans are notoriously difficult to please but a win at Preston tomorrow should at least see them enter the Christmas period with a modicum of festive cheer. Alan Pardew's side have been playing well recently and if they had not conceded a dubious late penalty against
Leeds last week would be chasing a fourth straight victory. Preston have lost their last two games and the Hammers should claim an away win.
Verdict: HAPPY HAMMERS

Reading v QPR
12.45pm Saturday, Madejski Stadium - live on Sky Sports Xtra
Away ticket info: £21 (£14 concs). Tickets may be available at Reading tomorrow. Tel. 0870 112 1967 for latest information
Referee: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire)
Facts: Paul Furlong needs just three more goals to equal last season's tally of 16. Reading are unbeaten in six home matches
Ian Holloway's bizarre west-country version of Churchillian rhetoric - "Never in history has so much been owed by so many to so few," he said last week - failed to rouse his troops to victory over Ipswich. They lost 4-2. So with a battle against the Royals this weekend perhaps he should turn to Oliver Cromwell for inspiration. "He who stops being better stops being good," the Lord Protector once said, wise words, which Holloway may wish to include in his team-talk at the Madejski Stadium.
Verdict: HOLLOWAY'S ARMY HERE TO STAY

Brentford v Colchester
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £13-£17 (£3-£12 concs). Tel. 0870 900 9229
Last season: 3 (Tabb, Sonko, Harrold) 2 (White, Fagan)
Referee: Paul Robinson (East Yorkshire)
Facts: Colchester have won just one of their last 10 League One matches. Brentford haven't been beaten at home in the league against Colchester since 1977
After his TV nightmare miss in the first match against lowly Hinckley United, John Salako sensibly went missing when Brentford were awarded a penalty in Tuesday's 2-1 FA Cup replay success. He left the job to young striker Alex Rhodes. And he coolly converted, underlining his potential to be a big star. The 22-year-old, who is trying to prove that Newmarket does not breed exclusively equine thoroughbreds, is now pushing for only his second-ever league start.
Verdict: RHODES A COLOSSUS

L Orient v Yeovil
3pm Saturday, Brisbane Road
Tickets: £16 (£10 concs). Tel. 020 8926 1010
Last season: 2 (Thorpe, Brazier) 0
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Facts: Orient have won just one of their last six League Two fixtures. Polish forward Bart Tarachulski, who grabbed the winner for Yeovil last week, has scored nine goals this season
At a time of year usually associated with kings of the Orient, Martin Ling's side are showing less than regal form. They have gone three matches without a win and are badly missing their prolific frontmen Gary Alexander and Lee Steele. To make matters worse, Lee Barnard, the Spurs forward who was drafted in as cover, is now also injured. But Orient fans need not fret. Like children's puppies, strikers are not just for Christmas, so expect them to bounce back in the New Year.
Verdict: YEO-HO-HO-VIL

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