Weekend football focus

Matt Hughes|Raoul Simons|Evening Standard

14 April 2012

BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP

>Aston Villa v Everton
3pm Saturday, Villa Park
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Graham Poll (Tring)
Facts: Everton, who haven't won at Villa Park since 1987, have scored 15 and conceded 15 goals in their 13 away Premiership matches.
Victory would take Everton eight points clear of Liverpool in fourth place, though TV executives can hardly be salivating at the prospect of David Moyes's side in the Champions League next season. Eight of their Premiership wins have been 1-0 and a goal difference of "plus three" hardly indicates that the National Grid will have anything to be concerned about if - and when - their European games are screened. It is one of football's less revealing statistics that David O'Leary has never managed a side that has finished outside the top six . . . until now.
Verdict: BORE DRAW

C Palace v Birmingham
3pm Saturday, Selhurst Park
Tickets: £30-£40 (£14-£28 concs). Tel. 08712 000 071
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent)
Facts: Birmingham haven't lost against Palace at Selhurst Park for nine years. Andy Johnson has now scored seven penalties this season.
Andy Johnson's rise from League Cup Final choker to England star has been rapid, but his humble beginnings should not be forgotten. The striker's arrival at Crystal Palace was the result of the worst personnel decision since the Munich Technical Institute turned away a young Albert Einstein on grounds he showed "no promise as a student". In 2002, Birmingham gave Palace AJ and £4.25million in return for Clinton Morrison. Johnson now has more goals in two-thirds of a season than Morrison has managed in total for the Midlands outfit.
Verdict: ANDY REMINDER

Man Utd v Portsmouth
5.15pm Saturday, Old Trafford - live on Sky Sports 1
Last season: 3 (Forlan, Ronaldo, Keane) 0
Referee: Mark Halsey (Bolton)
Facts: Manchester United's only defeat against a side from the bottom half of the table was to Portsmouth in October.
The last "Roy" from the North West to cause so much hilarity wore a helmet and goggles and went by the name of Chubby Brown. Calamity Carroll still has a long way to go before he's entertaining the audiences at Blackpool, though he might be packed off to their football club if things carry on as they are. After slipping up for Pedro Mendes's 'goal', the Ulsterman had another shocker against AC Milan and his first-team future must be in serious doubt. Fortunately for United, Portsmouth are less "pomp" and more "pee" since Harry Redknapp left so Fergie's boys should bounce back.
Verdict: CARROLL SMILEY

M'boro v Charlton
3pm Sunday, The Riverside
Away ticket info: £23 (£14 concs). Tel. 020 8333 4010
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Mike Riley (Leeds)
Facts: This fixture has finished in a draw in each of the last four seasons. Prior to that, Charlton's last away win against Boro came in 1990.
Manchester United caused uproar by pulling out of the FA Cup five years ago but, given their recent performances, Charlton may as well follow suit. Given the easiest possible route to a first quarter-final in 10 years they somehow managed to lose at home to Leicester, leaving Alan Curbishley fuming to anyone who'd listen. Curbishley's anger should at least ensure a more determined performance at Middlesbrough.
Verdict: CHARLTON BOUNCE BACK

Newcastle v Bolton
2pm Sunday, St James' Park
Last season: 0-0
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Facts: Patrick Kluivert is still waiting for his first Premiership strike of 2005 and has scored more cup than league goals.
The Toon Army are facing a precarious pickle, caught somewhere between a rock and a hard place. Although desperate to see Alan Shearer grasp the club's first silverware in 36 years they appreciate that such success would strengthen the position of Graeme Souness, who is about as popular with the fans as he is in the Newcastle boardroom. Souness was, at best, fourth choice for the job and one of the many men who turned it down, Sam Allardyce, can add to his woes by guiding Bolton to victory.
Verdict: BIG SAM SHAMES SOUNESS

Southampton v Arsenal
12.45pm Saturday, St Mary's - live on PremPlus
Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 0-1 (Pires)
Referee: Alan Wiley (Burntwood)
Facts: Southampton, who are unbeaten in 13 home matches, have scored twice in each of their last four games at St Mary's.
Not since Emu attacked Michael Parkinson live on television has a gloved hand caused such a stir. Jose Reyes has been up before the beak this week and now faces a three-match ban for cuffing Sheffield United's Andy Liddell. Joining him in sinners' corner is Dennis Bergkamp - suspended for trying to pick Danny Cullip's nose - so what looked like an easy fixture now has Harry Redknapp's Saints sniffing some welcome points. However, after blundering in the Black Forest, Arsenal will look like real fruits if they don't win this one.
Verdict: WENGER'S A SMOOTHIE

Tottenham v Fulham
3pm tomorrow, White Hart Lane
Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 0-3 (Hayles 2, Boa Morte)
Referee: Neale Barry (Scunthorpe)
Facts: Fulham have won four of the last five meetings between these two sides. Tottenham's last victory over the Cottagers came in March 2002.
Whatever pre-match cuisine is served in the White Hart Lane boardroom tomorrow, it is unlikely to be French. Both sets of directors were left with oeuf on their faces after reaching across the channel for a celebrated chef de football. The bitter departures of Jean Tigana and Jacques Santini left tastes worse than rancid garlic and now the two clubs are trying to scrape up the leftovers. Spurs are having slightly more success - with Martin Jol winning 10 of the 19 games since he took charge in the aftermath of the 2-0 defeat at Fulham last October - and are expected to triumph.
Verdict: MERRY, OLD JOL

CARLING CUP FINAL

Chelsea v Liverpool
3pm Sunday, Millennium Stadium - live on Sky Sports 1
Chelsea tickets: A few tickets are still available to season ticket holders and members who have collected at least eight loyalty points. Tickets must be purchased in person from the Chelsea ticket office by 5pm tomorrow
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington). Previously officiated Division One play-off final between Sheffield United and Wolves at the Millennium Stadium in 2003. Sunday's game will be the 44-year-old's first domestic cup final
Fact: Chelsea are looking for their first win at the Millennium Stadium. Liverpool have won all three finals at the Cardiff venue.
"You can't buy the FA Cup!" exclaimed a jubliant caller to Five Live's radio phone-in after Chelsea's whiteout at Newcastle and it appears Roman Abramovich's cheques could also be bouncing in the Champions League. Regardless of secret meetings with referees, sour grapes from Jose Mourinho and petty complaints to UEFA, every football fan knows Chelsea's sulking millionaires got their butts kicked in Barcelona - metaphorically, if not literally. The League Cup-League Championship double was popularised by Liverpool in the early 1980s and, buoyed by their midweek European success and the return of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Morientes, they will be quietly confident of stopping Chelsea repeating the feat.
Verdict: MOUR MISERY FOR BLUES

COCA-COLA LEAGUE

Brighton v Millwall
3pm Saturday, Withdean Stadium
Away ticket info: Sold out
Referee: André Marriner (West Midlands)
Facts: Brighton striker Mark McCammon, who found the net just twice in 23 appearances for Millwall, has scored three goals in his last three games.
One of Dennis Wise's unique charms is his willingness to be first out of the trenches and he continues to lead by example. The Millwall boss threw a wobbler - in which a water bottle richocheted up and squirted water at the assistant referee - following the dismissals of Alan Dunne and David Livermore during this week's 1-0 win at Cardiff, before being sent to the stands himself. Millwall have no shortage of fighting spirit but do struggle for goals.
Verdict: MILLWALL DIG IN FOR A POINT

Ipswich v QPR
3pm Saturday, Portman Road
Away ticket info: £24-£29 (£8.50-£18 concs). Tel: 0870 112 1967
Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay)
Facts: Ipswich have lost their last three games against London opposition.
QPR supporters are nothing if not demanding and Rangers boss Ian Holloway has had enough. He told them to shut up after his players were booed during this week's draw with Wolves and reminded them they were not watching Chelsea, as if the ever-willing Martin Rowlands could be mistaken for Arjen Robben. Those disgruntled Rangers fans should be happy just to stay in the Championship.
Verdict: NO RELIEF FOR RANGERS

Leeds v West Ham
3pm Saturday, Elland Road
Away ticket info: £22 (£15 concs). Tel: 0870 112 2700
Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands)
Facts: Jerome Boere scored twice for West Ham when they last drew at Elland Road in November 1994.
It says much about West Ham's inconsistency that a series of three victories is being lauded as their best run of the season. Alan Pardew has bought himself some time, and a good chance of finishing in the top six, but the fans remain worried. His fate will rest on how they perform if they reach the play-offs. Leeds retain a slender chance of making the end-of-season shoot-out but the Hammers should be capable of parity tomorrow.
Verdict: HAMMERS MARCH ON

Wolves v Watford
3pm Saturday, Molineux
Away ticket info: £20 (£12 concs). Tel: 0870 111 1881
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)
Facts: Seven of Wolves' last 10 goals have been scored after half-time.
If Watford could somehow wangle entry into the Champions League they would probably go on and win the trophy. Ray Lewington's side have the happy, if frustrating knack, of rousing themselves for big games and following their various cup exploits, this week became only the second away side to win at Ipswich. Watford could cause another surprise tomorrow.
Verdict: WOLVES ARE SLAYED

Brentford v Sheff Wed
3pm tomorrow, Griffin Park
Tickets: £13-£17 (£3-£12 concs). Tel: 0870 900 9229
Last season: 0-3 (Holt 2, Owusu)
Referee: Mick Thorpe (Suffolk)
Facts: Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in their last eight away matches. Isaiah Rankin has scored in each of his last three games for Brentford.
If Martin Allen is preparing to throw himself into the Thames he'd better watch out for sewage. The Mad Dog turned mad manager has done a magnificent job at Brentford this season, though he is now being linked with some of the most comical publicity stunts since Rebecca Loos took up pig farming. Not even Allen could spare the Bees from defeat at Hartlepool on Tuesday and a resurgent Sheffield Wednesday may also prove too strong.
Verdict: BRENTFORD HIT A BLIP

Leyton Orient v Darlington
3pm tomorrow, Brisbane Road
Tickets: £16 (£10 concs). Tel: 020 8926 1010
Last season: 1 (Toner) 0
Referee: Lee Probert (South Gloucestershire)
Facts: Orient defender John Mackie scored his first goal for 11 months in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Lincoln. Darlington last won here in 1966.
Like a child clinging to his belief in Father Christmas, Martin Ling refuses to give up hope. The Orient manager insists his side can still reach the play-offs, despite sliding to 13th after just two wins from their last 10 games. But three points against Darlington should renew his faith.
Verdict: LING'S A BELIEVER

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