Weekend football focus

Ken Dyer|Matt Hughes|Paul Fielder|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

Barclays Premiership

Birmingham v Norwich
3pm Saturday, St Andrew's
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Norwich haven't won at St Andrew's since two Adrian Forbes goals gave them a 2-1 victory in November 1997
Standout bet: Birmingham to win 2-0 - 7-1 (Blue Sq, Stanley)
Delia Smith must have felt as light and bubbly as one of her souffles after her beloved Norwich finally broke their duck with their first Premiership victory of the season, the 2-1 win over Southampton moving the chirpy Canaries off the bottom. The visitors will gain further confidence if they can take at least a point away from Birmingham, who are only two points better off and looking suitably anxious.
Verdict: NAILED-ON DRAW

Bolton v Portsmouth
3pm Saturday, The Reebok
Last season: 1 (Davies) 0
Referee: Steve Dunn (Bristol)
Facts: Portsmouth haven't won away against Bolton since 1969 and have scored only once in the last four attempts
Standout bet: Bolton win - 4-6 (Ladbrokes, Stanley)
Harry Redknapp is adamant that the reason he left Portsmouth is that he wants a break to spend more time with his wife. Well, knowing her husband, Sandra had better book a quick bargain break because it won't be too long before the archetypal wheeler-dealer is back in a job. Whatever you say about the man, and many have said many things, his record with limited resources is as good as anyone's.
Verdict: NO JOY WITH HARRY MISSING

Charlton v Chelsea
3pm Saturday, The Valley
Tickets: £45 (£15-£20 concs). Tel: 020 8333 4010
Last season: 4 (Hreidarsson, Holland, Johansson, Euell) 2 (Terry, Gudjohnsen)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Northumberland)
Facts: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last nine London derbies. Charlton have won one of their seven games against other teams from the top half of the Premiership
Standout bet: Duff scores first - 9-1 (Bet Direct, Bet365)
Two successive draws for Chelsea but Jose Mourinho seems reasonably relaxed about things. It takes two to tango and Paris St-Germain played for a draw on Wednesday night. The time is still ripe for Chelsea to stretch their lead over a misfiring Arsenal, yet Charlton remain a devilishly difficult side to beat. These two clubs have not seen eye to eye in recent years but none of that will mean much to Mourinho.
Verdict: CHELSEA WIN THIS ARGUMENT

Fulham v Blackburn
12.45pm Saturday, Craven Cottage - live on Prem Plus
Tickets: £26-£35 (£5-£10 concs). Tickets at the turnstiles
Last season: 3 (John 2, Boa Morte) 4 (Cole, Douglas, Amoruso, Stead)
Referee: Rob Styles (Portsmouth)
Facts: Blackburn have scored four goals in their last two trips to Fulham but are currently on a run of eight league matches without a win
Standout bet: Home win - Evens (Blue Square)
Blackburn's defence seems to have more leaks than a Swansea greengrocer's at the moment and it is inconceivable that Fulham won't score. The problem for Chris Coleman and his team could be trying to keep the ball out of the net at the other end since they have conceded 13 Premiership goals at home so far this season - a few too many.
Verdict: FULHAM MOVE UP

Liverpool v Arsenal
4.05pm Sunday, Anfield - live on Sky Sports 1
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 1 (Kewell) 2 (Hyypia og, Pires)
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: John Arne Riise was the last midfielder to score for Liverpool - that was last month against Blackburn
Standout bet: Ljungberg scores first - 10-1 (Skybet)
A couple of months ago people were talking about Arsenal in hushed, revered tones but not any more. The north London team have been found to have frailties just like anyone else and Chelsea have taken full advantage. Liverpool will certainly believe they have an excellent chance of three points on Sunday, particularly now that the world-class Steven Gerrard is back. They will, however, badly miss their excellent striker, Milan Baros.
Verdict: ARSENAL BACK ON COURSE

Man City v Aston Villa
5.15pm Saturday, City of Manchester Stadium - live on Prem Plus
Last season: 4 (Anelka 3, Tarnat) 1 (Angel)
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)
Facts: Aston Villa are unbeaten in the eight games they have played against teams from the bottom half of the Premiership
Standout bet: Score draw - 7-2 (Bet365)
Aston Villa moved up to fifth in the table with a win over Tottenham but it's difficult to read too much into that because everyone is beating poor old Spurs these days. Manchester City, meanwhile, seem to have revived themselves a little of late although predicting the result of a Kevin Keegan team remains a hazardous occupation.
Verdict: CITY TO SHADE THIS ONE

Newcastle v Everton
2pm Sunday, St James' Park - live on Sky Sports 1
Last season: 4 (Bellamy, Dyer, Shearer 2) 2 (Gravesen, Yobo)
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Newcastle have lost all five Premiership matches this season in which their opposition has scored the first goal
Standout bet: Away win for Everton - 7-2 (Bet365)
Wayne Rooney may be missing Merseyside's not-so-bright-red lights and bawdy brothels, but his Everton team-mates appear to be better off without him. David Moyes's side are just four points off the top after a run of one defeat in six Premiership games and should claw out at least a draw. If you believe Freddy Sheppard - and not that many do - Rooney was 24 hours from joining Newcastle, but Graeme Souness is more in need of imposing defenders than chubby strikers.
Verdict: FOG ON THE TYNE

So'ton v Crystal Palace
3pm Saturday, St Mary's
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: Peter Walton (Winwick)
Facts: Palace's last away win in the league over Southampton came in November 1990
Standout bet: Delap scores first - 16-1 (Bet Direct)
We're still a few games short of the halfway point in the season but already there are matches which have a definite six-point relegation look about them. Tomorrow's tussle at St Mary's certainly falls into that category, with only a point separating these two clubs. A defeat for Saints could be potentially more damaging to Steve Wigley, who continues to be favourite with the bookies to become the next manager to collect his P45.
Verdict: POINT APIECE

Tottenham v M'boro
3pm Sunday, White Hart Lane
Tickets: £25-£37 (£13-£15 concs) Tel: 0870 420 5000
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Facts: Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last six matches against Tottenham
Standout bet: Away win - 15-8 (Blue Square)
Life couldn't be better at White Hart Lane, according to Tottenham's players, with six straight defeats a mere inconvenience rather than a disaster waiting to happen. Fans are unlikely to take such a relaxed view however, and another defeat will bring Martin Jol's honeymoon period to a shuddering halt. All bad runs must come to an end but Boro's water-tight defence should ensure that they take at least a point.
Verdict: SPURS NOT TOO JOLLY

West Brom v Man Utd
3pm Saturday, The Hawthorns
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Facts: Rob Earnshaw has scored the last four goals for West Brom, who have gone six games without a Premiership win
Standout bet: Van Nistelrooy scores first - 4-1 (Stan James)
Manchester United, despite their trials and tribulations, seem to be gradually clawing their way back up the table but are sure to encounter stiff resistance from a West Brom side that, guided by Old Trafford legend Bryan Robson, took a point from Highbury. If Sir Alex's team want to compete with the top two, however, they must win this one.
Verdict: UNITED STILL CLIMBING

Coca-Cola League

Burnley v Millwall
3pm Saturday, Turf Moor
Away ticket info: £17 (£8.50-£11 concs). Tel: 020 7231 9999
Last season: 1 (I Moore) 1 (Whelan)
Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear)
Facts: Millwall have gone seven games without an away victory and have drawn their last three matches at Turf Moor
Standout bet: Draw - 12-5 (Skybet, Stan James)
Dennis Wise has had many incarnations during a colourful career - from cheeky chappy through midfield enforcer to inspirational manager - but he doesn't usually take the half-time collection. The Millwall boss took time out from Sunday's derby win over West Ham to scatter pieces of silver among his adoring public so things must be going well. If the Lions can start scoring, then more prizes could be on the way.
Verdict: PRIZE FOR WISE

QPR v Cardiff
12.45pm Saturday, Loftus Road
Tickets: All ticket. Very limited availability. Tel: 0870 112 1967
Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire)
Facts: Rob Earnshaw scored a hat-trick for Cardiff in a 4-0 win for the Bluebirds when they last visited Loftus Road in November 2002
Standout bet: Home win - 4-5 (Bet Direct, Blue Sq, Skybet, Stanley)
Ian Holloway got off his sick bed last week to scotch rumours of a move to managerless Wolves, an underachieving club that appear to be terminally ill. The Rangers manager's stomach problem has cleared up and his next challenge is to cure his side's recent defensive weaknesses, cruelly exposed in last weekend's 6-1 defeat to Leeds. Cardiff are struggling and should provide the perfect pick-me-up.
Verdict: HAPPY HOLLOWAY

West Ham v Watford
3pm Saturday, Upton Park
Tickets: £24-£35 (£10-£17.50 concs). Tel. 0870 112 2700
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambridgeshire)
Facts: Steve Lomas was the last player other than Marlon Harewood (who is suspended tomorrow) to score for West Ham - on 30 October at Plymouth. Watford are unbeaten in 11 games
Standout bet: Fewer than two goals in the game - 5-2 (Blue Square)
If Alan Pardew doesn't turn things around at the Boleyn Ground in the next few weeks then Terry Brown could come over all Henry VIII and proclaim 'Off with his head!' All is not well at The Academy. West Ham fans exploded with Roed rage during Sunday's defeat at Millwall, accusing Pardew of resembling his much-maligned predecessor Glenn Roeder, and Mauricio Taricco was so despondent that he hobbled off and out of the club after just 27 minutes. Watford can take advantage to claim their ninth draw in 10 games.
Verdict: ROCKY ROAD FOR PARDEW

Hull City v Brentford
3pm Saturday, KC Stadium
Away ticket info: £17 (£10 concs). Pay at the turnstiles
Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
Facts: Lloyd Owusu, Warren Aspinall and Andy Scott were the scorers in a 3-2 win for Brentford in their last away match against Hull in 1998
Standout bet: Home win - 4-5 (Blue Sq, Skybet, Stan James)
Martin Allen has insisted he is content working at Brentford, so Bees fans can be assured that if he's offered the West Ham job he'd turn it down immediately. Honest. Allen is not quite so happy with a trip to Hull less than 48 hours after an FA Cup tie.
Verdict: WEARY BEES STILL BUZZING

Mansfield v Leyton Orient
3pm Saturday, Field Mill
Away ticket info: £15 (£7-£10 concs). Pay at the turnstiles
Last season: 1 (Dimech) 1 (Alexander)
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
Facts: Mansfield are unbeaten at home to Orient since February 1999
Standout bet: Draw - 9-4 (generally available)
As a man who learned his trade under Howard Wilkinson, it's no surprise that Carlton Palmer has taken to management like a crispy duck to a Chinese restaurant. Having lost over half his games at Stockport, Palmer has yet to secure a win for Mansfield.
Verdict: ORIENT HAVE A FEAST

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