Saturday, 27 March 2010
Birmingham City v Arsenal, 15:00
Arsenal are in the midst of another title battle and they are returning to the ground where they probably lost the title two seasons ago in a game that featured one of the most horrific injuries football had ever seen; a last gasp Birmingham penalty that never was and a tantrum from then-captain William Gallas. Arsenal look sharper, stronger and more refined in both mind and body than that cold day in Febraury and they have already overcame a similar situation against Stoke and came through the test. Birmingham, however, have been excellent this season and Alex McLeish’s men will be looking to further this against Arsenal where striker Cameron Jerome will pose a considerable threat to the Arsenal goal.
Verdict: 1-2
Result:
Chelsea v Aston Villa, 15:00
Chelsea got back to winning ways in some style with a 5-0 thumping of Portsmouth away from home; we need to remind ourselves though that this was against a desolate and distraught Portsmouth team seemingly restricted to playing well in the F.A. Cup. Martin O’Neill’s side have only lost once in the league since the turn of the year but on the other hand they have only won three times as they furthered a run of draws with a 1-1 against Steve Bruce’s Sunderland in the week. I feel Chelsea will have enough being at home and with Villa’s recent record.
Verdict: 2-0
Result:
Hull City v Fulham, 15:00
Hull were so close, last weekend, to winning their first match under new manager Iain Dowie but Portsmouth once again exhibited that never-say-die attitude that they seem to have against the teams in the lower echelons of the league. Fulham have lost their last two against Spurs in the F.A. Cup and Manchester City last Sunday but Roy Hodgson’s men are just suffering a well-earned hangover following the exploits against the Old Lady in the Europa League. I can’t see anything but an away win here and it will, in my eyes, confirm the Tigers’ relegation.
Verdict: 0-2
Result:
Tottenham Hotspur v Portsmouth, 15:00
Spurs are looking to take part in the Champions League for the first time and after worrying their closest rivals Arsenal for so long about that fourth place they look likely to replace a different Sky Four side in Liverpool. Harry Redknapp’s men just go from strength to strength and the depth of their squad sets them apart from many teams. When a manager can afford to leave a player on the bench for the majority of the season and then bring him on and watch him completely change the game against a side like Fulham, which David Bentley did in the week, then you know they have a great squad. Portsmouth on the other hand all of a sudden look consigned to the Championship and for the first time, on Wednesday against Chelsea, the players showed this. They will see the game fifteen days later in the F.A. Cup as a far more important fixture.
Verdict: 3-1
Result:
West Ham United v Stoke City, 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Everton, 15:00
Bolton Wanderers v Manchester United, 17:30
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Burnley v Blackburn, 12:00
Liverpool v Sunderland, 16:00
Monday, 29 March 2010
Man City v Wigan, 20:00
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Carroll Hits The Headlines For The Right Reasons
Doncaster Rovers (0) 0
Newcastle United (0) 1
Carroll 59
Att:
Newcastle battled their way to victory against a resilient Doncaster side on a cold night in South Yorkshire.
Newcastle United (0) 1
Carroll 59
Att:
Newcastle battled their way to victory against a resilient Doncaster side on a cold night in South Yorkshire.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Monday, 22 March 2010
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Newcastle Re-Affirm Title Credentials
Bristol City (2) 2
Nyatanga 10
Maynard 44
Newcastle United (0) 2
Guttierez 71
Carroll 75
Att: 19,144
Newcastle showed their commitment to the promotion cause after coming from two goals down at Ashton Gate to pick up a point. On a day where promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest had beaten opposition in the form of Preston North End and Peterborough United respectively, Newcastle gained this morale-boosting point having looked dead and buried at two nil down with just twenty minutes remaining.
The game started slowly from Newcastle’s point of view with Bristol City in the ascendancy and three minutes in Nicky Maynard played the ball back to former Newcastle trainee Bradley Orr and his cross was glanced towards goal by Danny Haynes only to land on the roof of the net. There were more worries just a minute later for the team from the North-East when Maynard would have been through on goal if his touch hadn’t been as heavy and more poignantly when Haynes cut in from the left-wing and his curling effort was deflected wide for a corner by Newcastle’s big centre-half Fitz Hall. This seemed to awaken Newcastle though and they themselves were in a good position just minutes later as Jonas Guttierez drove forward and passed the ball though to Kevin Nolan who slid the ball into Leon Best but he saw his shot saved and was offside anyway. Best, who was replacing the injured but prolific Peter Lovenkrands, struggled throughout the first half. As we reached the ten minute mark Bristol City’s Paul Hartley whipped a free-kick in only to see it cleared and as Wayne Routledge tried to break he collided with Cole Skuse who went to ground very easily and won his side a very dubious free-kick. Jamie McCallister ran over the ball and Hartley rolled it back to Maynard who struck it hard and low under the wall but Steve Harper could only parry it into the path of Lewis Nyatanga and he gratefully passed into an empty net from all of three yards. Ashton Gate erupted and just days after parting with their manager of four and a half years, Gary Johnson, City were leading against the leaders Newcastle United.
Just two minutes after the restart Newcastle had a good chance to level things up a loose ball was cleared by a City shirt but it deflected off Andy Carroll into the path of Best who instead of shooting first time elected to hold onto the ball and when he eventually did shoot his shot was blocked and the chance was gone. After this the game became quite scrappy with Hartley volleying well over and McCallister being booked for a challenge from behind on Routledge. Newcastle also produced the next clear-cut chance when, after a succession of free-kick’s and corner’s, Guttierez cut in from the left-wing and clipped a good ball to the back post where Carroll could only head wide under huge pressure from Orr. Carroll and Orr clashed again just minutes later and the Gateshead-born striker fell to the ground but the referee didn’t feel there was enough contact to warrant a penalty and it seemed to be the right call. However, City weren’t spending all of this game on the back foot and they almost added to their advantage when a training ground free-kick was worked to Louis Carey at the back post but no-one gambled when he nodded back across goal and Hall cleared it away for Newcastle. The Toon Army were playing some good stuff and the momentum was definitely with them but Nolan curled his shot well wide of Gerken’s upright. Minutes later Nyatanga kicked the ball straight into the path of Nolan, he tried to dink the ball over Nyatanga who scuffed it again and Best was seemingly one-on-one with the goalkeeper but Carey put in a fantastic last ditch block to prevent the equaliser. The game became stretched all of a sudden and there was a chance for Guthrie at one end before Haynes broke at the other end and put an inviting ball into the centre but again the Robins’ players failed to gamble and the ball was cleared to safety.
Newcastle won a free-kick just four minutes later forty-five yards from goal on the left side and Danny Guthrie whipped a delightful ball to the back post where Best nodded a good ball back across goal but Nolan headed it straight at Gerken from five yards out. Newcastle were then made to pay for their missed chances when Maynard cut in from the left side to just inside the corner of the box and he curled a beautiful shot in off the post leaving Harper with no chance. It will definitely be a contender for goal of the season, especially given the way he was isolated on the left wing after his lovely diagonal run kept him onside. There was still a chance for Newcastle to get a goal deep into first half stoppage time when Guthrie and Carroll played a lovely one-two before the former rounded the ‘keeper only to see his shot cleared off the line by Hartley. Bristol City were giving it their all but Newcastle went into half-time knowing that they had enough chances to at the very least be level. Bradley Orr and Danny Haynes were running the show for the Robins, Jonas was looking like a threat and Enrique was very much at ease back in the Newcastle side after injury.
Jamie McCallister was replaced at half-time by Evander Sno and he slotted in to the centre of midfield while Cole Skuse was moved back to left wing-back. This caused a problem in the second half because Orr and McCallister had been making the 5-3-2 work by marauding down their respective touchlines and Skuse was not the type of player who could do this. Fabricio Coloccini was booked for a challenge on Maynard and the free-kick was hit in by Hartley which saw a melee ensue in the box but eventually Newcastle got it away. City were beginning this half the way they began the first and when Orr slipped Haynes down the right wing Chris Hughton must have feared the worst, the ball was slipped back to the edge of the box to Sno who fired a shot into Harper’s body. Hall was replaced by Tamas Kadar after appearing to pull his hamstring and when Kadar picked up the ball on the halfway line Robins’ caretaker manager Keith Millen must have been quite relaxed but he was allowed plenty of space to run forward and from thirty yards he struck the ball low and hard which forced Gerken into a good save. Just before the hour mark everything threatened to boil over when Guthrie was booked for a late challenge on Maynard and Sno was lucky to escape a red card after seeming to elbow Danny Simpson after struggling for the ball with him.
Newcastle were the better side but they weren’t creating enough clear-cut chances and when they did they weren’t taking advantage of them whilst the Robins still looked dangerous on the counter. Guttierez was starting to run the show, he appeared to have a free role and when he slid Leon Best in the ball almost ended up in the back of the net when Best’s cross deceived Gerken who had to take a smart catch at the back post. City were not completely under the cosh though and Evander Sno slipped Danny Haynes through on goal but his shot was wide plus he was offside anyway.
At the other end a Newcastle corner came to Guttierez on the edge of the box and he hit a stinging half-volley at Dean Gerken who managed to fist it away. Bristol City just could not clear the ball though until the ball made its way into the ‘keeper’s gloves, however when he rolled it to his left-back Skuse, Guttierez stole it and rounded the goalkeeper giving Newcastle new found hope. It was a comical situation which Skuse has to shoulder the blame. All of a sudden City were nervy and Newcastle were launching wave after wave of attack. Enrique, one of the Geordies best performers, cut inside the box onto his weaker right-foot but curled his shot over the crossbar. Then Nolan broke down the left-wing and squared the ball but Gerken slid along the floor and just got there before the incoming Carroll to save the day. Seconds later though Routledge broke down the left and he slid the ball across, for Carroll who this time got to the ball and managed to stab it beyond Gerken to level up at 2-2. It was almost a carbon copy of the move that preceded it only with a different end result and it sent the Geordies behind the goal into raptures. Clearly devastated the Robins spent much of the last fifteen minutes after this goal on the back foot but Sno did manage to force a good save from Harper with nine minutes left. Two minutes later though they had their keeper to thank for them not losing the game as he produced a fantastic fingertip save from Leon Best’s header. Newcastle still had chances to win it but Best headed over Danny Guthrie’s free-kick and Jonas Guttierez’s fizzed cross shot was blocked in the dying seconds by City’s captain Louis Carey.
In the end both sides will be disappointed, City because they through away a two goal lead in the last twenty minutes and Newcastle because they had by far and away enough chances to win this match comfortably. It does, however, only add cause to their promotion charge and it was a mark of champions the way they recovered from the two goal deficit.
Bristol City:
Dean Gerken 7
Bradley Orr 8
Christian Riberio 7
Louis Carey 8
Lewis Nyatanga 6
Jamie McCallister 6 - Booked. (Evander Sno 45, 7)
Paul Hartley 7
Cole Skuse 5
Marvin Elliott 7
Danny Haynes 7 (Ivan Sproule 84, 6)
Nicky Maynard 7
Unused Subs: Henderson, Johnson, Clarkson, Akinde, Maierhofer.
Newcastle United:
Steven Harper 6
Danny Simpson 6
Fabricio Coloccini 6 - Booked.
Fitz Hall 7 (Tamas Kadar 51, 7)
Jose Enrique 8
Wayne Routledge 7
Kevin Nolan 5
Danny Guthrie 7 - Booked.
Jonas Guttierez 8* (MOM)
Andy Carroll 8
Leon Best 7
Unused Subs: Krul, R. Taylor, Pancrate, Butt, Ranger, Donaldson.
Referee: Andy D'Urso 5
(Shots|On Target|Possession|Corners|Fouls)
Bristol City: 11|7|46%|1|13
Newcastle United: 19|12|54%|8|11
Nyatanga 10
Maynard 44
Newcastle United (0) 2
Guttierez 71
Carroll 75
Att: 19,144
Newcastle showed their commitment to the promotion cause after coming from two goals down at Ashton Gate to pick up a point. On a day where promotion rivals West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest had beaten opposition in the form of Preston North End and Peterborough United respectively, Newcastle gained this morale-boosting point having looked dead and buried at two nil down with just twenty minutes remaining.
The game started slowly from Newcastle’s point of view with Bristol City in the ascendancy and three minutes in Nicky Maynard played the ball back to former Newcastle trainee Bradley Orr and his cross was glanced towards goal by Danny Haynes only to land on the roof of the net. There were more worries just a minute later for the team from the North-East when Maynard would have been through on goal if his touch hadn’t been as heavy and more poignantly when Haynes cut in from the left-wing and his curling effort was deflected wide for a corner by Newcastle’s big centre-half Fitz Hall. This seemed to awaken Newcastle though and they themselves were in a good position just minutes later as Jonas Guttierez drove forward and passed the ball though to Kevin Nolan who slid the ball into Leon Best but he saw his shot saved and was offside anyway. Best, who was replacing the injured but prolific Peter Lovenkrands, struggled throughout the first half. As we reached the ten minute mark Bristol City’s Paul Hartley whipped a free-kick in only to see it cleared and as Wayne Routledge tried to break he collided with Cole Skuse who went to ground very easily and won his side a very dubious free-kick. Jamie McCallister ran over the ball and Hartley rolled it back to Maynard who struck it hard and low under the wall but Steve Harper could only parry it into the path of Lewis Nyatanga and he gratefully passed into an empty net from all of three yards. Ashton Gate erupted and just days after parting with their manager of four and a half years, Gary Johnson, City were leading against the leaders Newcastle United.
Just two minutes after the restart Newcastle had a good chance to level things up a loose ball was cleared by a City shirt but it deflected off Andy Carroll into the path of Best who instead of shooting first time elected to hold onto the ball and when he eventually did shoot his shot was blocked and the chance was gone. After this the game became quite scrappy with Hartley volleying well over and McCallister being booked for a challenge from behind on Routledge. Newcastle also produced the next clear-cut chance when, after a succession of free-kick’s and corner’s, Guttierez cut in from the left-wing and clipped a good ball to the back post where Carroll could only head wide under huge pressure from Orr. Carroll and Orr clashed again just minutes later and the Gateshead-born striker fell to the ground but the referee didn’t feel there was enough contact to warrant a penalty and it seemed to be the right call. However, City weren’t spending all of this game on the back foot and they almost added to their advantage when a training ground free-kick was worked to Louis Carey at the back post but no-one gambled when he nodded back across goal and Hall cleared it away for Newcastle. The Toon Army were playing some good stuff and the momentum was definitely with them but Nolan curled his shot well wide of Gerken’s upright. Minutes later Nyatanga kicked the ball straight into the path of Nolan, he tried to dink the ball over Nyatanga who scuffed it again and Best was seemingly one-on-one with the goalkeeper but Carey put in a fantastic last ditch block to prevent the equaliser. The game became stretched all of a sudden and there was a chance for Guthrie at one end before Haynes broke at the other end and put an inviting ball into the centre but again the Robins’ players failed to gamble and the ball was cleared to safety.
Newcastle won a free-kick just four minutes later forty-five yards from goal on the left side and Danny Guthrie whipped a delightful ball to the back post where Best nodded a good ball back across goal but Nolan headed it straight at Gerken from five yards out. Newcastle were then made to pay for their missed chances when Maynard cut in from the left side to just inside the corner of the box and he curled a beautiful shot in off the post leaving Harper with no chance. It will definitely be a contender for goal of the season, especially given the way he was isolated on the left wing after his lovely diagonal run kept him onside. There was still a chance for Newcastle to get a goal deep into first half stoppage time when Guthrie and Carroll played a lovely one-two before the former rounded the ‘keeper only to see his shot cleared off the line by Hartley. Bristol City were giving it their all but Newcastle went into half-time knowing that they had enough chances to at the very least be level. Bradley Orr and Danny Haynes were running the show for the Robins, Jonas was looking like a threat and Enrique was very much at ease back in the Newcastle side after injury.
Jamie McCallister was replaced at half-time by Evander Sno and he slotted in to the centre of midfield while Cole Skuse was moved back to left wing-back. This caused a problem in the second half because Orr and McCallister had been making the 5-3-2 work by marauding down their respective touchlines and Skuse was not the type of player who could do this. Fabricio Coloccini was booked for a challenge on Maynard and the free-kick was hit in by Hartley which saw a melee ensue in the box but eventually Newcastle got it away. City were beginning this half the way they began the first and when Orr slipped Haynes down the right wing Chris Hughton must have feared the worst, the ball was slipped back to the edge of the box to Sno who fired a shot into Harper’s body. Hall was replaced by Tamas Kadar after appearing to pull his hamstring and when Kadar picked up the ball on the halfway line Robins’ caretaker manager Keith Millen must have been quite relaxed but he was allowed plenty of space to run forward and from thirty yards he struck the ball low and hard which forced Gerken into a good save. Just before the hour mark everything threatened to boil over when Guthrie was booked for a late challenge on Maynard and Sno was lucky to escape a red card after seeming to elbow Danny Simpson after struggling for the ball with him.
Newcastle were the better side but they weren’t creating enough clear-cut chances and when they did they weren’t taking advantage of them whilst the Robins still looked dangerous on the counter. Guttierez was starting to run the show, he appeared to have a free role and when he slid Leon Best in the ball almost ended up in the back of the net when Best’s cross deceived Gerken who had to take a smart catch at the back post. City were not completely under the cosh though and Evander Sno slipped Danny Haynes through on goal but his shot was wide plus he was offside anyway.
At the other end a Newcastle corner came to Guttierez on the edge of the box and he hit a stinging half-volley at Dean Gerken who managed to fist it away. Bristol City just could not clear the ball though until the ball made its way into the ‘keeper’s gloves, however when he rolled it to his left-back Skuse, Guttierez stole it and rounded the goalkeeper giving Newcastle new found hope. It was a comical situation which Skuse has to shoulder the blame. All of a sudden City were nervy and Newcastle were launching wave after wave of attack. Enrique, one of the Geordies best performers, cut inside the box onto his weaker right-foot but curled his shot over the crossbar. Then Nolan broke down the left-wing and squared the ball but Gerken slid along the floor and just got there before the incoming Carroll to save the day. Seconds later though Routledge broke down the left and he slid the ball across, for Carroll who this time got to the ball and managed to stab it beyond Gerken to level up at 2-2. It was almost a carbon copy of the move that preceded it only with a different end result and it sent the Geordies behind the goal into raptures. Clearly devastated the Robins spent much of the last fifteen minutes after this goal on the back foot but Sno did manage to force a good save from Harper with nine minutes left. Two minutes later though they had their keeper to thank for them not losing the game as he produced a fantastic fingertip save from Leon Best’s header. Newcastle still had chances to win it but Best headed over Danny Guthrie’s free-kick and Jonas Guttierez’s fizzed cross shot was blocked in the dying seconds by City’s captain Louis Carey.
In the end both sides will be disappointed, City because they through away a two goal lead in the last twenty minutes and Newcastle because they had by far and away enough chances to win this match comfortably. It does, however, only add cause to their promotion charge and it was a mark of champions the way they recovered from the two goal deficit.
Bristol City:
Dean Gerken 7
Bradley Orr 8
Christian Riberio 7
Louis Carey 8
Lewis Nyatanga 6
Jamie McCallister 6 - Booked. (Evander Sno 45, 7)
Paul Hartley 7
Cole Skuse 5
Marvin Elliott 7
Danny Haynes 7 (Ivan Sproule 84, 6)
Nicky Maynard 7
Unused Subs: Henderson, Johnson, Clarkson, Akinde, Maierhofer.
Newcastle United:
Steven Harper 6
Danny Simpson 6
Fabricio Coloccini 6 - Booked.
Fitz Hall 7 (Tamas Kadar 51, 7)
Jose Enrique 8
Wayne Routledge 7
Kevin Nolan 5
Danny Guthrie 7 - Booked.
Jonas Guttierez 8* (MOM)
Andy Carroll 8
Leon Best 7
Unused Subs: Krul, R. Taylor, Pancrate, Butt, Ranger, Donaldson.
Referee: Andy D'Urso 5
(Shots|On Target|Possession|Corners|Fouls)
Bristol City: 11|7|46%|1|13
Newcastle United: 19|12|54%|8|11
Premier League Predictions
Premier League (Kick off 1500 GMT unless stated)
Saturday
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1245)
After overcoming a resilient, if inconsistent, Wigan team through the week and the are now just three points behind the last Champions League spot with a game in hand. Wolves on the other hand are just starting to crawl towards safety and last week they took three points away from Burnley with relative ease. I think they will stay up this season, mainly because I can't see any of the bottom three catching anyone else, but Aston Villa are a far different proposition and Martin O'Neill' side should record a comfortable victory here.
Verdict: 3-0
Result: 2-2
Everton v Bolton Wanderers
David Moyes' side will still be smarting after throwing away a two-goal advantage against Birmingham last week and they will want to get back to winning ways against Bolton. The team from Lancashire are a huge anomaly under Owen Coyle at the minute, they are almost as inconsistent as Wigan with a difficult away win at West Ham; a four goal hammering from Sunderland and a comfortable four-nil victory over Roberto Martinez's Wigan side. That being said it is difficult to know what to expect from this game but I think Bolton may sneak a point here.
Verdict: 2-2
Result: 2-0
Portsmouth v Hull City
So Pompey finally suffer the ignominy of being deducted nine points by the Premier League and whilst this sanction was inevitable it only punishes the fans and lets face it, it is the Premier League's failing 'Fit and Proper Person's Test' that has allowed this to happen in the first place. Hopefully, the Portsmouth players will give their fans a reason to cheer throughout the remainder of this season. Hull on the other hand are also in dire straits, what with their lowly position, the sacking of their manager mid-March and his subsequent replacement I cannot see any hope for the Tigers now. They can only hope that Dowie somehow manages to galvanise the team towards the ever nearing finish line.
Verdict: 1-1
Result: 3-2
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur
This game is a difficult one to predict with both teams excelling this season. Tottenham currently reside in the Champions League spots and if they could hold onto that fourth place then it would be a massive achievement for Harry Redknapp and his team. Stoke on the other hand have only lost once in their last ten and are in the lofty position of eleventh. Stoke are always hard to beat at home and Spurs are always a little bit vulnerable away.
Verdict: 1-1
Result: 1-2
Sunderland v Birmingham City
Sunderland will have been devastated after that last minute equaliser from Adam Johnson last weekend and Birmingham's comeback against Everton should give Alex McLeish's side some impetus heading into this fixture. Birmingham have only lost three times in their last twenty Premier League matches a run that started with a victory in the reverse of this fixture. Many people never expected Birmingham to go on a run anywhere near as a good as this but I have a feeling that it is about time Birmingham's form suffered a dip and I'm backing Sunderland to start off that run a well.
Verdict: 2-1
Result: 3-1
Wigan Athletic v Burnley
The Burnley chairman came out in the week and said that any rumours of the dismissal of Brian Laws were completely unfounded but I happen to think that if Burnley suffer defeat against the Jekkyl and Hyde side that is Wigan this weekend Burnley will be looking for a new manager come Monday morning. Burnley just look short of ideas and its a shame for Laws as he is a decent manager but he as probably ruined his only chance of ever being a successful manager in England's top flight. Wigan on the other hand look likely to be without their best player in Charles N'Zogbia due to a hip injury and they need to make sure that they have an in-form day.
Verdict: 3-0
Result: 1-0
Arsenal v West Ham United (1730)
West Ham looked to have sorted all their relegation woes out but their recent run of form has seen them defeated three times in the last three games albeit two of these fixtures were against Mancheter United and Chelsea and they are now right back where they started, desperately looking over their shoulder at the likes of Wolves, Burnley and Hull. Arsenal were lucky to beat Hull in the match that cost Phil Brown his job as manager, they did not take their chances yet again and needed a helping hand from the Hull 'keeper to see them to victory. They are now right back in the title race and a good result is needed if they are to win the title this season.
Verdict: 4-2
Result: 2-0
Sunday
Manchester United v Liverpool (1330)
Sir Alex Ferguson has been stirring the drama up again in the lead up to this match suggesting that Steven Gerrard should not be playing in this match after his recent lack of discipline on the field of play and has called the FA "dysfunctional". As much as I happen to agree with Ferguson's comments I think this is another example of his mind-games. However, I don't think he has anything to worry about. Yes, Liverpool have won their last couple of games by three goals but they were against Pompey and Lille, not the most testing of opponents with the latter having an eye on what is a very tight French League. It was only two weeks ago that they were losing to Wigan and with Wayne Rooney on top form, just as he was yet again last week against Fulham, United should run out comfortable winners.
Verdict: 2-0
Result: 2-1
Fulham v Manchester City (1500)
Well what a result that was for Fulham on Thursday. No-one would have dared to even dream that Fulham would score four goals in the next eighty-eight minutes after David Trezeguet gave Juventus a 4-1 lead on aggregate after just two minutes at Craven Cottage but Roy Hodgson's men did just that and they deserve every success they can get. I fear that this will really affect Fulham in this game and that Roberto Mancini's men will go away from the Cottage with all three points.
Verdict: 1-3
Result: 1-2
Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea (1600)
Just a few sort weeks ago Blackburn looked like a side destined for relegation but Sam Allardyce has managed to turn things around for Rovers and they are most certainly on the up. Chelsea on the other hand had looked imperious until they lost to Inter in the week and you just have to wonder how that will affect their title challenge.
Verdict: 1-4
Result: 1-1
This week I scored 5 CORRECT RESULTS but 0 PERFECT SCORES.
Saturday
Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers (1245)
After overcoming a resilient, if inconsistent, Wigan team through the week and the are now just three points behind the last Champions League spot with a game in hand. Wolves on the other hand are just starting to crawl towards safety and last week they took three points away from Burnley with relative ease. I think they will stay up this season, mainly because I can't see any of the bottom three catching anyone else, but Aston Villa are a far different proposition and Martin O'Neill' side should record a comfortable victory here.
Verdict: 3-0
Result: 2-2
Everton v Bolton Wanderers
David Moyes' side will still be smarting after throwing away a two-goal advantage against Birmingham last week and they will want to get back to winning ways against Bolton. The team from Lancashire are a huge anomaly under Owen Coyle at the minute, they are almost as inconsistent as Wigan with a difficult away win at West Ham; a four goal hammering from Sunderland and a comfortable four-nil victory over Roberto Martinez's Wigan side. That being said it is difficult to know what to expect from this game but I think Bolton may sneak a point here.
Verdict: 2-2
Result: 2-0
Portsmouth v Hull City
So Pompey finally suffer the ignominy of being deducted nine points by the Premier League and whilst this sanction was inevitable it only punishes the fans and lets face it, it is the Premier League's failing 'Fit and Proper Person's Test' that has allowed this to happen in the first place. Hopefully, the Portsmouth players will give their fans a reason to cheer throughout the remainder of this season. Hull on the other hand are also in dire straits, what with their lowly position, the sacking of their manager mid-March and his subsequent replacement I cannot see any hope for the Tigers now. They can only hope that Dowie somehow manages to galvanise the team towards the ever nearing finish line.
Verdict: 1-1
Result: 3-2
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur
This game is a difficult one to predict with both teams excelling this season. Tottenham currently reside in the Champions League spots and if they could hold onto that fourth place then it would be a massive achievement for Harry Redknapp and his team. Stoke on the other hand have only lost once in their last ten and are in the lofty position of eleventh. Stoke are always hard to beat at home and Spurs are always a little bit vulnerable away.
Verdict: 1-1
Result: 1-2
Sunderland v Birmingham City
Sunderland will have been devastated after that last minute equaliser from Adam Johnson last weekend and Birmingham's comeback against Everton should give Alex McLeish's side some impetus heading into this fixture. Birmingham have only lost three times in their last twenty Premier League matches a run that started with a victory in the reverse of this fixture. Many people never expected Birmingham to go on a run anywhere near as a good as this but I have a feeling that it is about time Birmingham's form suffered a dip and I'm backing Sunderland to start off that run a well.
Verdict: 2-1
Result: 3-1
Wigan Athletic v Burnley
The Burnley chairman came out in the week and said that any rumours of the dismissal of Brian Laws were completely unfounded but I happen to think that if Burnley suffer defeat against the Jekkyl and Hyde side that is Wigan this weekend Burnley will be looking for a new manager come Monday morning. Burnley just look short of ideas and its a shame for Laws as he is a decent manager but he as probably ruined his only chance of ever being a successful manager in England's top flight. Wigan on the other hand look likely to be without their best player in Charles N'Zogbia due to a hip injury and they need to make sure that they have an in-form day.
Verdict: 3-0
Result: 1-0
Arsenal v West Ham United (1730)
West Ham looked to have sorted all their relegation woes out but their recent run of form has seen them defeated three times in the last three games albeit two of these fixtures were against Mancheter United and Chelsea and they are now right back where they started, desperately looking over their shoulder at the likes of Wolves, Burnley and Hull. Arsenal were lucky to beat Hull in the match that cost Phil Brown his job as manager, they did not take their chances yet again and needed a helping hand from the Hull 'keeper to see them to victory. They are now right back in the title race and a good result is needed if they are to win the title this season.
Verdict: 4-2
Result: 2-0
Sunday
Manchester United v Liverpool (1330)
Sir Alex Ferguson has been stirring the drama up again in the lead up to this match suggesting that Steven Gerrard should not be playing in this match after his recent lack of discipline on the field of play and has called the FA "dysfunctional". As much as I happen to agree with Ferguson's comments I think this is another example of his mind-games. However, I don't think he has anything to worry about. Yes, Liverpool have won their last couple of games by three goals but they were against Pompey and Lille, not the most testing of opponents with the latter having an eye on what is a very tight French League. It was only two weeks ago that they were losing to Wigan and with Wayne Rooney on top form, just as he was yet again last week against Fulham, United should run out comfortable winners.
Verdict: 2-0
Result: 2-1
Fulham v Manchester City (1500)
Well what a result that was for Fulham on Thursday. No-one would have dared to even dream that Fulham would score four goals in the next eighty-eight minutes after David Trezeguet gave Juventus a 4-1 lead on aggregate after just two minutes at Craven Cottage but Roy Hodgson's men did just that and they deserve every success they can get. I fear that this will really affect Fulham in this game and that Roberto Mancini's men will go away from the Cottage with all three points.
Verdict: 1-3
Result: 1-2
Blackburn Rovers v Chelsea (1600)
Just a few sort weeks ago Blackburn looked like a side destined for relegation but Sam Allardyce has managed to turn things around for Rovers and they are most certainly on the up. Chelsea on the other hand had looked imperious until they lost to Inter in the week and you just have to wonder how that will affect their title challenge.
Verdict: 1-4
Result: 1-1
This week I scored 5 CORRECT RESULTS but 0 PERFECT SCORES.
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