Weekend football focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Arsenal v Newcastle
4.05pm Sunday, Highbury - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Henry 2, Gilberto) 2 (Robert, Bernard)
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: Thierry Henry has not got a goal in four Premiership matches. Newcastle have scored twice in three of their last four games
With their constant name-calling, blame-shifting and pants-wetting - okay, so the last one was made up - Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are more like squabbling schoolchildren than Premiership managers, but the Arsenal boss will have to start acting his age if he is to get his side's title bid back on track. Arsenal simply have to win on Sunday to prevent Chelsea's name being etched on the Premiership trophy but they should beat a fragile Newcastle side who have won just two of their last nine league games.
Verdict: WENGER STOPS WHINGEING

Birmingham v Fulham
3pm Saturday, St Andrews
Away ticket info: £15 (£8 concs). Tel. 0870 442 1234
Last season: 2 (Forssell 2) 2 (Saha, Boa Morte)
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Facts: Moritz Volz's only previous goal in English football before Wednesday's FA Cup goal came against Brighton while on loan at Wimbledon from Arsenal in February 2003
Things were beginning to look decidedly dodgy for Chris Coleman before Christmas and there was plenty of speculation suggesting his days were numbered at Craven Cottage. The big Welshman has survived that scare though and his Fulham side, who beat Watford in their FA Cup replay on Wednesday, are now unbeaten in five matches, their best sequence since Coleman became manager.
Verdict: FULHAM WORTH A POINT

Chelsea v Portsmouth
3pm Saturday, Stamford Bridge
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Bridge, Lampard, Geremi) 0
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)
Facts: Chelsea have not conceded a goal in any game involving John Terry, William Gallas or Petr Cech since Thierry Henry's quickly-taken free kick at Highbury on 12 December
Jose Mourinho is laughing all the way to the Premiership title at the moment. While his two main managerial rivals call each other names from either end of the playground, the smug Chelsea head coach is back in the classroom, answering all the teacher's questions. Whether Mourinho finishes the term top of the form is not in doubt; what we need to know is how many marks he will get. Pompey will be without suspended pair Amdy Faye and Lomana LuaLua.
Verdict: REGULATION WIN FOR BLUES

C Palace v Tottenham
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: HOME - £30-£35 (£16-£21 concs). Tel. 08712 000 071. AWAY - sold out Referee: Chris Foy (St Helens)
Facts: Tottenham have kept clean sheets in seven away league games - a Premiership club record, with eight away matches remaining
With the transfer window still wide open, this is an interesting London derby. Tottenham have admitted they are keen on Palace's highly promising Wayne Routledge but so are a few other clubs. All Palace can do is try and stimulate a nice little auction and take the best price, probably from Spurs. The one player Iain Dowie would be mortified to lose is striker Andy Johnson. Without him it would definitely be goodnight nurse.
Verdict: SPURS ON A ROLL

Everton v Charlton
3pm Saturday, Goodison Park
Away ticket info: £25 (£16-£18 concs). Tel. 020 8333 4010
Last season: 0-1 (Stuart)
Referee: Howard Webb (Rotherham)
Facts: Everton have gone six games since keeping a clean sheet. Charlton are unbeaten in their last four Premiership matches against Everton
Fans can fantasise all they like about European football and finishing high up the Premier League table but managers, apart from the elite few, see things differently. Alan Curbishley, for example, is doing a splendid job as usual but his top priority every season, is safety. The 3-1 win over Birmingham has put Charlton practically there so now everyone can relax and see what heights they can achieve.
Verdict: TOUGH CALL FOR CHARLTON

Man Utd v Aston Villa
3pm Saturday, Old Trafford
Last season: 4 (Van Nistelrooy 2, Forlan 2) 0
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Manchester United have kept eight clean sheets in a row. No Villa striker has scored since Juan Pablo Angel's goal against Portsmouth on 6 November
Despite the embarrassment of an FA Cup replay at Exeter, Manchester United are looking more likely to win the race to finish second to Chelsea than Arsenal. Sir Alex's side are certainly not the best team in the land this season but they are still devilishly difficult to beat. Aston Villa, who seem to have becalmed after a bright start, may not be up to doing Arsenal a favour tomorrow.
Verdict: NO SLIP-UPS FOR UNITED

Norwich v M'boro
3pm Saturday, Carrow Road
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Mikkel Beck scored for Middlesbrough on their last visit to Carrow Road in November 1997, when they won 3-1. Norwich haven't beaten Boro at home since January 1986
It's been as plain as the skin on a Delia Smith rice pudding that Norwich have needed a quality goalscorer all season but the depressing 3-0 defeat at Aston Villa last weekend suggests the defence is beginning to spring a few leaks as well. Dean Ashton has arrived from Crewe to hopefully solve the striking problem but the Canaries must perk up if they are not to fall off their Premiership perch.
Verdict: HOME DEFEAT

So'ton v Liverpool
12.45pm Saturday, St Mary's - live on PremPlus
Last season: 2 (Beattie, Phillips) 0
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: Southampton have gone nine home games without defeat. Djimi Traore has made 101 appearances for Liverpool since his £550,000 move from French club Lens in 1999
Rafael Benitez gambled and lost when he fielded an anaemic-looking side for the FA Cup tie against Burnley on Tuesday night. Liverpool duly came a cropper although they have another chance of a Cardiff day out when they meet Watford next week in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final. In the meantime, they look to have too much for a Southampton side who, despite Harry Redknapp's transfer activity, will find it tough to climb out of the bottom three.
Verdict: BETTER FOR BENITEZ

West Brom v Man City
5.15pm Saturday, The Hawthorns - live on PremPlus
Ref: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Shaun Wright-Phillips has scored four goals in his last four games. West Brom have failed to score in their last four home matches
Bryan Robson looked suitably mortified when West Brom unluckily lost at Fulham on Sunday but he hasn't got the time to dwell too long on the injustice of it all. Tomorrow Robson's side are at home to Manchester City, who have the little man of the moment, Shaun Wright-Phillips. Robson will be sustained, though, by the hope that City will be having one of their off days.
Verdict: POINT FOR ROBSON

COCA-COLA LEAGUE

Coventry v QPR
3pm Saturday, Highfield Road
Away ticket info: £19 (£1-£9.50 concs). Tel: 0870 112 1967
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Facts: Trevor Sinclair scored the only goal of the game when Rangers last won at Highfield Road in April 1995
Ian Holloway threatened to kiss the linesman following Queens Park Rangers' 1-0 win over Stoke last week so tomorrow's officials are likely to favour the home side to prevent being slavered over by a barking Bristolian. Life is rarely dull at Loftus Road and after going eight games without a victory Rangers will probably respond with a run of wins to keep their season alive.
Verdict: HOLLOWAY'S KISS OF LIFE

Millwall v Wolves
3pm Saturday, The Den
Tickets: £17-£23 (£7-£13 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
Facts: Millwall have failed to score in only one of their last 10 Championship matches. Steve Bull scored the winner for Wolves when they last won at The Den in March 1996
After finally coming to terms with the fact that his new players are not as good as he was, Glenn Hoddle has started to make an impact at Molineux, guiding Wolves to two successive wins. But the Old Gold revival could come to a shuddering halt at The Den. Millwall have come into some form themselves on the back of the goalscoring exploits of Barry Hayles and should make amends for their FA Cup exit by recording a league double over Wolves.
Verdict: MILLWALL HAIL BIG BARRY

West Ham v Derby County
12.30pm Sunday, Upton Park - live on Sky Sports 1
Tickets: £24-£35 (£1-£17.50 concs). Kids for a quid - Tel: 0870 112 2700
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)
Facts: West Ham haven't won on a Sunday (excluding last Boxing Day) since a 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest on 28 December 2003
West Ham need a minor miracle to win automatic promotion given the mediocrity of many of their performances this season, but they at least got some help from The Almighty last week in the shape of two goals from Bobby Zamora. The goal-shy striker has struggled since his move from Tottenham last year but will be needed if the Hammers are to close in on the play-offs. Alan Pardew's side remain inconsistent but, then again, so do Derby.
Verdict: HAMMERS BOUNCE BACK

Wigan v Watford
3pm Saturday, JJB Stadium
Away ticket info: £17 (£12 concs). Tel: 0870 111 1881 Last season: 1 (McCulloch) 0
Referee: Alan Kaye (West Yorkshire)
Facts: Watford have gone nine away games without a win. Wigan have won their last three league games 2-0
The FA Cup's status has surely diminished when Watford rest key players for a third-round replay against Premiership opposition and manager Ray Lewington got what he asked for in a 2-0 defeat at Fulham. With next week's Carling Cup semi-final second-leg against Liverpool looming large, the Watford boss will no doubt repeat the trick by sending a weakened team out to face leaders Wigan tomorrow, a sensible strategy but not one that will do much for Watford's patchy league form.
Verdict: WATFORD FOCUS ON THE CUP

Brentford v Swindon
3pm Saturday, Griffin Park
Tickets: £13-£17 (£3-£12 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Last season: 0-2 (Howard, Parkin)
Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent)
Facts: Brentford have failed to score in four of their last six home matches against Swindon
Martin Allen pleaded poverty this week after being fined £500 for being sent from the dugout at Sheffield Wednesday but the series of win bonuses he has picked up recently should edge him away from penury. After a difficult Christmas period Brentford have won their last three games and should make it four in a row against Swindon.
Verdict: ALLEN QUIDS IN

Rushden v Leyton Orient
3pm Saturday, Nene Park
Away ticket info: £17 (£6-£12 concs). Pay on the day
Referee: Mick Thorpe (Suffolk)
Facts: Rushden have gone 12 games without a win and have scored one goal in their last four matches
Leyton Orient's promotion hopes are disappearing faster than Germaine Greer's credibility so this trip to Rushden has come at the right time for Martin Ling's men. The home side are on a terrible run and Orient should come good here.
Verdict: DIAMOND LIGHTS FOR LING

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