Weekend Football Focus

Recommended pub: Stanley Park (Langham Street)

For some reason, people continue to believe the stereotype of hubcap-pinching, thieving scallys. It must be entirely in the spirit of good citizenship then that the Fulham programme for Monday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea warned any fans travelling to Merseyside to "keep all valuables well hidden" when parking their cars before tomorrow's match at Everton. Fulham are sixth and Junichi Inamoto is in brilliant form but Everton, unbeaten at home, will fancy their chances of turning over the southern softies.

Verdict: TIGANA LUCKY TO STEAL A POINT

Leeds v Arsenal

(Noon tomorrow, Elland Road - live on Sky Sports 2).

Tickets: £27 (£18 concs). Tel. 020 7704 4010

Last season: 1 (Fowler) 1 (Pires)

Facts: Under-fire Ian Harte has now gone 14 games since his last goal for Leeds. Alan Wiley, tomorrow's referee, must be one of the few officials never to have sent off an Arsenal player. Wiley has yet to produce his red card this season.

Recommended pub: Bars in the ground

Arsene Wenger could probably enter a team for the boat race and win at the moment he's so on top of his game. Leeds versus Arsenal matches have been pretty dirty affairs over the past few seasons and it's a fair bet that a rested Leeds, led by the loveable Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith, will be keen to get stuck into Arsenal. These teams have had 25 yellow cards between them already this season and card No26 will probably have been issued by referee Wiley before Football Focus has even started.

Verdict: GUNNERS WIN HIGH NOON BATTLE

Tottenham v Middlesbrough

(3pm Saturday, White Hart Lane)

Tickets: Sold out

Last season: 2 (Sheringham, Ferdinand) 1 (Boksic)

Facts: Middlesbrough haven't won on their last seven visits to London, their last capital victory being the 3-0 win at Highbury in April 2001. Tottenham's defeat at Old Trafford last week was the first time they failed to score this season

Recommended pub: Antwerp Arms (Church Road)

Tottenham have won all three home matches this season and would expect to dispose of Middlesbrough. The White Hart Lane crowd have been won over by Robbie Keane's pace and inventiveness and it will be interesting to compare him with Massimo Maccarone, the Italian youngster who went to Boro instead of Tottenham.

Verdict: SPURS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Burnley v Wimbledon

(3pm Saturday, Turf Moor)

Tickets: £16 (£8 concs). Wimbledon fans can buy tickets at Turf Moor turnstiles 48-53 in Harry Potts Way

Last season: 3 (A Moore, Cook, Armstrong) 2 (Nielsen, Shipperley)
Facts: Burnley have won both previous Division One meetings with Wimbledon at Turf Moor.

Recommended pub: Ye Olde Sparrow Hawk Inn (Wheatley Lane Road)

It will be interesting to see how many Wimbledon fans make the trek north for this one. Er, one, that sounds about right. Both teams have had a poor start to the season and need a win to climb away from the relegation zone.
Verdict: DONS IN NEED OF SOME CLARET

Coventry v Millwall

(3pm Saturday, Highfield Road)

Tickets: £18 (£6-£9 concs). Tickets available in advance to members only. Tel. 020 7231 9999

Last season: 0-1 (Claridge)

Facts: Millwall have gone nine away games without a win. Coventry are unbeaten in their last five games

Recommended pub: The Rose & Woodbine (North Street)

Everyone's favourite pesky chimney sweep Dennis Wise will be the centre of attention tomorrow, not least for referee Frazer Stretton. Millwall manager Mark McGhee has told Wise that he's more valuable on the pitch than off it, but the youth team boot boys should still keep the hot water running. If it doesn't work out at Millwall, then Wise does have other career options. ITV are looking for a new host for Play Your Cards Right!

Verdict: DENNIS IS STILL A MENACE

Sheff Utd v Watford

(3pm Saturday, Bramall Lane).

Tickets: £18 (£12 concs). Tickets available at Bramall Lane

Last season: 0-2 (Helguson, Smith)

Facts: Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last five games during which time they haven't conceded a second-half goal

Recommended pub: The Golden Lion (Alderson Road)

Since Watford's players have reportedly taken a 12 per cent pay-cut, it will be interesting to see if there is an equivalent reduction in effort. This game certainly promises a clash of styles: Neil Warnock's huffers against the more elegant Hornets. Like Pythagoras, manager Ray Lewington is obsessed with triangles.

Verdict: HORNETS MISS OUT ON WIN BONUS

Crystal Palace v Gillingham

(4:05pm Sunday, Selhurst Park)

Tickets: £19-£30 (£5-£20 concs). Tel. 020 8771 8841

Last season: 3 (Morrison 2, Freedman) 1 (Onuora)

Facts: Palace's 0-0 draw at Hillsborough on Wednesday was their fifth draw this season

Recommended pub: Clifton Arms (Clifton Road)

When Rupert Murdoch decided to base his television empire on the fluctuating fortunes of English football, this definitely was not the sort of glamour game he had in mind. Gillingham's early-season bubble has burst of late, while Trevor Francis is still waiting for any sort of bubble to develop. Best to do the Sunday shopping.

Verdict: PALACE GRABBED BY GILLS

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION TWO

Peterborough v Brentford

(3pm Saturday, London Road)

Tickets: £10-£15 (£7 concs). Brentford fans can pay on the day

Last season: 1 (McKenzie) 1 (Owusu)

Facts: After losing their first seven games this season, Peterborough are unbeaten in their last three. Brentford have gone four away games without a win

Recommended pub: The Cherry Tree Inn (Oundle Road)

Although Peterborough is not many people's idea of a favourite destination, Brentford positively love the place. London Road is the scene of the club's greatest post-war triumph when Gary Blissett's goal in a 1-0 win sealed the Third Division Championship in 1992. The Bees are likely to be buzzing again tomorrow against a Peterborough side - two home goals all season - with more judy than punch.

Verdict: BEES COME UP ALL POSH

QPR v Colchester

(3pm Saturday, Loftus Road)

Tickets: £14-£20 (£7-£10 concs). Tel. 020 8740 2575

Last season: 2 (Gallen 2) 2 (Stockwell, Keith)

Facts: QPR, who have scored 14 goals in their last five league matches, have now gone 19 home games without defeat. Colchester have gone five games without a victory Recommended pub: O'Donaghues (Goldhawk Road). Attend after the game for "An Evening with Stan Bowles" (6pm onwards)
Rangers are riding higher than the Hammersmith fly-over just now and Colchester look ill-equipped to bump them back down to earth. The U's have lost their last four games and their only away win came at Peterborough, which doesn't say much. Another win and the Manager-of-the-Month award will be Ian Holloway's for the taking.

Verdict: ROLL ON YOU RANGERS

NATIONWIDE LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

Leyton Orient v Darlington

(3pm Saturday, Brisbane Road)

Tickets: £12-£30 (£7-£24 concs). Tel. 0208926 1111

Last season: 0-0

Facts: Two out of form teams. Orient have gone three games without a win, while Darlington last won on 27 August. The Quakers last won at Brisbane Road in 1966

Recommended pub: The Three Blackbirds (High Road)

Orient fans are not the sunniest at the best of times and there a fair few clouds around at the moment. The O's are without a win in seven league games and have fewer fit players than Great Britain's Davis Cup team. The only consolation is that Darlington are not much better - one point and one goal higher to be precise - and are managed by a man deemed surplus to requirements at Brisbane Road. Tommy Taylor could be in for a difficult day.

Verdict: SORRY TOMMY, ORIENT STEAL IT