Weekend football focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Aston Villa v Arsenal
5.15pm Saturday, Villa Park - live on PremPlus
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 0-2 (Henry 2)
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Facts: Nobby Solano has scored in six of his past eight Aston Villa home matches. Arsenal drew their next two Premiership matches following November's defeat to Manchester United.
According to Messrs Gray and Keys, Tuesday night's collision at Highbury was a great advert for the Premier League. Yes, it was compulsive viewing and yes again, it made great TV. If though, you had a young son and you wanted to show him why football is such a glorious game, would you play him the video of that match? I wouldn't. Too much angst, cynicism and ugliness. As for Arsenal, they're left with the minor placings.
Verdict: ARSENAL SHOW THEIR METTLE

Chelsea v Man City
4.05pm Sunday, Stamford Bridge - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Hasselbaink) 0
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: David White, Mike Sheron (2) and a Frank Sinclair own goal gave City their last win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - a 4-2 victory in January 1993.
If Jose Mourinho lacks grace in victory then God knows how he will react to a defeat, not that we are likely to find out on Sunday. Manchester City are the only club to beat Chelsea in domestic competition this season but, with their match-winner Nicolas Anelka now sulking in Istanbul, October's triumph is unlikely to be repeated. Manchester United are still clinging to the hope that Chelsea will blow their 11-point lead, but need to remember that Mourinho is no Kevin Keegan.
Verdict: CHELSEA MARCH ON

C Palace v Bolton
12.45pm Saturday, Selhurst Park - live on PremPlus
Tickets: £30-£40 (£10-£16 concs). Tel: 08712 000 071
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Bolton's blip of nine games without a win late last year is way behind them now after six consecutive victories.
A few years ago, the term 'trouble in the tunnel' meant the Circle Line was on the blink again but now it has distinct football connotations. In the old days players would wait until the ball was somewhere else before tearing into each other, but now there is no hiding place from the all-seeing eyes of the cameras, except in the tunnel. There was apparently some such 'afters' involving Palace on Tuesday night, but Iain Dowie was happy enough with a point.
Verdict: PALACE ON THE CLIMB

Liverpool v Fulham
3pm Saturday, Anfield
Away ticket info: £28 (£14-£21 concs) Tel: 0870 442 1234
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Rob Styles (Waterlooville)
Facts: Fulham haven't scored a league goal at Anfield since April 1968. John Arne Riise has now scored six goals this season - two short of his best return for Liverpool, eight in the 2001-02 season.
Lee Clark, happily restored to full fitness, somehow salvaged a late point for Fulham against Aston Villa on Wednesday night but Fulham continue to be becalmed in the bottom third of the Premier League table. Tomorrow's opponents, Liverpool, in contrast, are currently fifth after a fine win at Charlton on Tuesday and are desperate to go one place higher by the end of the season. That was their second win in London this season after trailing at half-time, having turned over Fulham 4-2 from 2-0 down at the break in October. One of the worstkept secrets is that their inspiration, Steven Gerrard, could be a resident in west London next season. Trouble is, it won't be in Fulham.
Verdict: ANFIELD AGONY FOR COLEMAN

Man Utd v Birmingham
3pm Saturday, Old Trafford
Last season: 3 (Van Nistelrooy, Scholes, Giggs) 0
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury)
Facts: Birmingham have lost their past five at Old Trafford and haven't scored away against Man Utd since 1981. Steve Bruce's side have also gone 12 games since drawing a match. United have scored 10 goals in their past three Premiership fixtures.
Once, a long time ago, when I was about Wayne Rooney's age, during the course of dancing the conga at a family party, I stubbed my toe on the dining room table. "Bugger that," I cursed and was promptly told, by one of my aunts, to go and wash my mouth out with carbolic soap. Quite what she would have made of young Wayne's behaviour when confronted by a yellow card at Highbury on Tuesday night is anyone's guess.
Verdict: WAYNE'S TEAM TAKE THE POINTS

M'boro v Blackburn
3pm Saturday, The Riverside
Last season: 0-1 (Stead)
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)
Facts: Paul Dickov, who missed Blackburn's penalty against Chelsea, has now gone six games without scoring. Boro have gone five league matches without a win.
It's enough to get the old adrenaline flowing isn't it? Well maybe not, but with the fiery Robbie Savage and Paul Dickov in Mark Hughes's team, you should always be guaranteed a spat or two. Boro meanwhile, following a run of injuries, have run out of central defenders and are beginning to look as if they wished the end of the season was on the last Saturday in February.
Verdict: POINT EACH

Newcastle v Charlton
3pm Saturday, St James' Park
Away ticket info: £30 (£16-£20 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Last season: 3 (Shearer 2, Jenas) 1 (Jensen)
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Newcastle's only clean sheets in the league this season have come against West Brom, Crystal Palace and Blackburn - all bottom-five clubs in the Premiership.
Questions were asked about Danny Murphy when he arrived at the Valley, but the former Liverpool man has since settled in and answered most of them. Charlton fell to a rampant Liverpool in midweek and face another tough task at St James' Park. With the Welsh nuisance departed across the border, Graeme Souness will be hoping for no further distractions.
Verdict: PLUCKY POINT FOR CURBISHLEY

Norwich v West Brom
3pm Saturday, Carrow Road
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens)
Facts: With only two wins apiece, Sunderland's record of just four wins in a 38-game Premiership season is under threat from both teams.
At the scary end of the table, it looks like three from four and most people would pick Norwich and West Brom as two of the three. Bryan Robson has raised a few hopes at West Brom in recent weeks, but their condition continues to be critical. Norwich are in an equally bad way and this match is truly monumental for both clubs.
Verdict: WEST BROM NICK THE POINTS

So'ton v Everton
2pm Sunday, St Mary's - live on Sky Sports 1
Last season: 3 (Phillips, Beattie, Fernandes) 3 (Rooney 2, Ferguson)
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Facts: Southampton have gone 11 matches since a home defeat. Everton are unbeaten on the South Coast since September 2002, when they lost 1-0 at St Mary's to a Marian Pahars penalty.
That two-week holiday has obviously led to Harry Redknapp losing his touch, with the Southampton manager only buying five and selling six players during the January transfer window, a paltry return for such an experienced wheeler-dealer. The wisdom of Redknapp's restraint will be tested over the coming months and James Beattie has an early opportunity to punish his former club. Last week's FA Cup victory over Portsmouth may have raised Saints' fans' morale but more important, if less bloody, battles lie ahead and defeat at Birmingham on Wednesday was made worse by Crystal Palace taking a point the night before.
Verdict: BEATTIE BACK WITH A BANG

Spurs v Portsmouth
3pm Saturday, White Hart Lane
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 4 (Defoe, Keane 2, Poyet) 3 (Berkovic, LuaLua, Mornar) Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: Since Martin Jol won the manager-of-the-month award for December, Tottenham have gone four league games without a win. Matthew Taylor's goal for Portsmouth against Middlesbrough was his first in the league for two years.
Tottenham seem to have bought wisely during the transfer window, but their season has flattened out of late. The red card for Frederic Kanoute and the two late goals conceded at Bolton on Tuesday night didn't help matters and Martin Jol must calm things down and consolidate for a bit. Portsmouth seemed to be on the slide in recent weeks, but the midweek win over Middlesbrough will help stem fears that they could be sucked into the relegation zone.
Verdict: THAT'S BETTER SPURS

COCA-COLA LEAGUE

Millwall v QPR
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: HOME - £17-£23 (£7-£13 concs). Tel: 0870 403 3357. AWAY - £22 (£12 concs). Not available from QPR - unsold tickets returned to Millwall for sale on the day
Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent)
Facts: QPR visit Millwall for the first time since February 1990 when goals from Simon Barker and Roy Wegerle gave them a 2-1 victory.
After starting the season by telling anyone that would listen that he was on his way out, QPR's board have finally seen sense and offered Ian Holloway an extended contract - the least he deserves given his achievements at Loftus Road. Rangers' small squad are still within shouting distance of the play-offs but will need to win games such as this one at Millwall, who could do with securing Dennis Wise on a longer deal in case Ken Bates comes calling.
Verdict: JOLLY OLLIE

Watford v Gillingham
3pm Saturday, Vicarage Road
Tickets: £20 (£15 concs). Tel: 0870 111 1881
Last season: 2 (Helguson, Webber) 2 (Shaw, Spiller)
Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands)
Facts: Gillingham have gone 13 games since an away win but are unbeaten at Vicarage Road since 1978. Heidar Helguson has scored four goals in his past three league matches.
Watford's various cup exploits may have got Elton John more excited than a full day's shoe-shopping, but they have had a harmful effect on the club's Championship chances. Ray Lewington's side have won just two of their past 15 league games and need to put a good run together to prevent their season drifting away. Struggling Gillingham should provide the perfect pick-me-up, despite a recent upturn in form, as their away form is atrocious.
Verdict: WIN FOR WATFORD

West Ham v Cardiff
1pm Sunday, Upton Park
Tickets: ALL-TICKET MATCH. £24-£35 (£10-£17.50 concs) Tel: 0870 112 2700. No tickets available on Sunday
Last season: 1 (Zamora) 0
Referee: Keith Stroud (Dorset)
Facts: Marlon Harewood has scored the first goal of the game on nine occasions this season for West Ham.
Like anyone who's been stranded in the Welsh capital after closing time, West Ham fans have painful memories of Cardiff - from last year's supine surrender in the play-off final to this season's 4-1 hammering at Ninian Park. So the last thing manager Alan Pardew needs at this difficult time in his career is a visit from the Bluebirds. After much consideration in the boardroom, Pardew has been given until the end of the season to prove his worth - though many Hammers fans can't help hoping he's been handed enough rope to hang himself.
Verdict: HARD ON THE HAMMERS

Brentford v MK Dons
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £13-£17 (£3-£12 concs). Pay at the turnstiles
Referee: Steve Tanner (South Gloucestershire)
Facts: MK Dons have not drawn any of their past 10 away matches. Brentford are unbeaten in six games.
Martin Allen's ambition for the season is to buy a bottle of cheap wine for Jose Mourinho so he probably plans to entertain Danny Wilson with a can of Kestrel Super Strength following tomorrow's game. The manager may be dreaming of a blind date with FA Cup glory, but Brentford's players cannot afford to take their eye off the ball if they are to reach the play-offs.
Verdict: LOVELY BUBBLY FOR BEES

Shrewsbury v Leyton Orient
3pm Saturday, Gay Meadow
Away ticket info: £12-£14 (£7-£9 concs). Pay on the day
Referee: Mark Cowburn (Lancashire)
Facts: No Shrewsbury player has scored more than three goals in the league this season. Orient have gone six away matches without a win.
Martin Ling's Orient express finally got back on track with a much needed win over Notts County last week, but they need a dramatic upsurge in form to turn their season around. Shrewsbury are battling to stay in the league after returning via the Conference play-offs last season and will put up a mighty fight.
Verdict: Os TAME THE SHREWS

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