Weekend Football Focus

13 April 2012
Tickets:
Facts:
Recommended pub:
Verdict:

Charlton v Blackburn

Chelsea v Bolton

Tickets: £27-£35 (£11-£20 concs). Personal callers only
Facts: In 15 attempts, Bolton have never won a Premiership game in London. Chelsea are unbeaten in their last three games. Bolton haven't scored in their last three
Recommended pub: Shed Sports Bar (Chelsea Village complex)
Results dictate everything but never more than in the age of radio phone-ins. A couple of weeks ago, Claudio Ranieri was clueless and his team a bunch of over-rated, overpaid no-hopers. Now, after a couple of good wins and having captured the prize scalp of Liverpool, perhaps the likeable Italian isn't so bad after all. The truth, as usual, is probably somewhere between the two but the Blues have the chance to stay right up with the leading bunch if they dispose of Bolton on Sunday.
Verdict: CLAUDIO'S A GENIUS

Leicester v West Ham

Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 2 (Izzet, Savage) 1 (Kanoute)
Facts: West Ham have played all of the top six sides in the Premiership, losing just once - 2-1 against Liverpool on the opening day of the season. Leicester have failed to score in four of their last six home games
Recommended pub: Physio & Firkin (Aylestone Road)
The timing of West Ham's Christmas party shenanigans could hardly have been worse and it is to be hoped that the culprit who decided the indoor plants needed watering at Sugar Reef will be suitably contrite. An improving Hammers side need to get on with the job of confounding those critics who say that they play well against the best only to collapse against teams, such as Leicester, who favour the direct route.
Verdict: HAMMERS WORTH A PINT, SORRY, POINT

Liverpool v Arsenal

Away ticket info: Sold out
Last season: 4 (Gerrard, Owen, Barmby, Fowler) 0
Facts: Arsenal, who have failed to scored on their previous four visits to Anfield, last won there in August 1992. Liverpool have gone two games without scoring
Recommended pub: Stanley Park (Langham Street)
This match has all the makings of a classic with both sides suffering emphatic defeats in their last outing and eager to make amends. Liverpool will be keen to show that their 4-0 embarrassment at Chelsea was an aberration while the Gunners are desperate to bounce back from their 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle. Thierry Henry, if he can tear himself away from his effigy of Graham Poll, could be the key man.
Verdict: GUNNERS IN POLE POSITION

Middlesbrough v Fulham

Away ticket info: £16.50 (£10 concs). Fulham fans can pay on the day
Facts: Fulham's last win away to Boro came in March 1984. Alen Boksic's lucky goal at Blackburn is the only one Boro have scored in their last five games
Recommended pub: Corner House (Exchange Place)
Fulham's 4-0 battering by Tottenham last weekend was a real surprise considering they had kept a clean sheet in their four previous matches. Manager Jean Tigana will hope that it was just one of those days but will have been impressing on his players this week, that one such defeat is hard enough to take - but another would be unthinkable. Tomorrow's opponents will provide resilient opposition but Tigana's troops will be looking to make up lost ground on that top six.
Verdict: FULHAM CLEAN UP

Tottenham v Ipswich

Tickets: Sold out
Last season: 3 (Anderton, Carr, Ferdinand) 1 (Venus)
Facts: Ipswich's last away win in the Premiership came with a 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough in April. Spurs have scored 13 goals in their last three home games
Recommended pub: Antwerp Arms (Church Road)
Another performance like the 4-0 thumping of Fulham will ensure plenty of seasonal good cheer at The Lane. Glenn Hoddle's team are exceeding expectations and three points against Ipswich tomorrow could take them right up among the elite. In contrast, the wheels have come off George Burley's tractor and it's going to take some collective Suffolk punch for them to climb out of this field full of muck.
Verdict: SPURS PLOUGH ON

Burnley v Millwall

Away ticket info: £19 (£9.50 concs). Tel. 020 7231 9999
Facts: Millwall have lost just one of their last eight away games. Burnley, who have won their last six games, have gone 10 home games without defeat
Recommended pub: Queen Victoria (Queen Victoria Road)
Millwall should have copyrighted their "No one likes us" song before it was stolen by opposing fans. Burnley started the trend and it can't be long before Leeds adopt it as well with the amount of stick being thrown their way at the moment. The apparent lack of friends doesn't seem to be hindering the performances of either of these sides on the pitch with both teams going better than expected so far this season. Burnley can't expect to be top at the end of the season and these two teams could well meet again in the play-offs.
Verdict: BURNLEY LIKED A BIT MORE THAN MILLWALL

Norwich v Wimbledon

Away ticket info: £14 (£8 OAPS, £1 under-16s). Wimbledon fans can pay on the day
Last season: 1 (Roberts) 2 (Hartson, Francis)
Facts: Wimbledon have won their last three games at Carrow Road. Last Sunday's win over Nottingham Forest was the first time that the Dons have recorded back-to-back wins this season
Recommended pub: Clarence Harbour (Carrow Road)
In December 1992, Norwich beat Wimbledon 2-1 to go five points clear at the top of the Premiership. How times change, but Norwich, who won at Selhurst Park in August, are having their best season since they were relegated. The Dons, meanwhile, are marooned in mid-table, having won eight, drawn eight and lost eight, and could find it hard to maintain their recent run at Carrow Road.
Verdict: CARROT-CRUNCHERS TO MAKE A MEAL OF DONS

Watford v Wolves

Tickets: £18-£25 (£13 concs). Tel. 01923 496010
Last season: 3 (Mooney, Smith, Helguson) 2 (Ndah, Proudlock)
Facts: Watford have kept clean sheets in each of their last five league games. Wolves have won one of their last five away games
Recommended pub: Moon Under the Water (High Street)
This will be a test of character for Watford after their humiliating Cup exit at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Gianluca Vialli will remind his players of their improved league form, which has seen them go five games unbeaten. Wolves got back on track with a 2-1 win against Birmingham last time out. They must decide whether or not to buy striker Dean Sturridge, who plays the last game of his loan spell from Leicester.
Verdict: VIALLI PROVES A POINT

Brentford v Northampton

Tickets: £10-£15 (£2-£10 concs. Fans can pay at the turnstiles
Last season: 1 (Owusu) 1 (Savage)
Facts: Brentford, who are unbeaten in their last 17 home games, haven't conceded a goal in their last four matches at Griffin Park. Northampton have lost their last three away games in the league
Recommended pub: Royal Oak (New Road)
At the same time as chairman Ron Noades is considering switching grounds next season, Griffin Park is rapidly developing into a bit of a fortress for Brentford. Steve Coppell's team have the only unbeaten home record in the Second Division and will be confident of more joy against the struggling Cobblers.
Verdict: HOME SWEET HOME FOR BEES

Bournemouth v QPR

Away ticket info: £12 (£5 concs). Tel. 020 8740 2575. All-ticket game, no tickets will be sold on the day
Facts: QPR, who are unbeaten in their last four games, won 3-1 when they last visited Bournemouth in October 1966. Bournemouth have failed to scored in four of their last five games and have lost each of their last three league games
Recommended pub: Queens Park (Holdenhurst Road)
After the thrilling 3-2 win at Chesterfield last week, QPR manager Ian Holloway threw down the gauntlet to his players to prove they are good enough to play in Division One. Rangers have the perfect opportunity to take up that challenge at the ridiculously-named Fitness First Stadium against an out-of-sorts Bournemouth side who have lost their last four.
Verdict: QPR IN PERFECT SHAPE

Leyton Orient v Lincoln City

Tickets: £12-£16 (£7-£10 concs). Tel. 020 8926 1111
Last season: 1 (Griffiths) 0
Facts: Lincoln have gone seven games without a win. Orient beat Lincoln 2-1 in an FA Cup game at Brisbane Road two weeks ago
Recommended pub: The Three Blackbirds (High Road)
Orient will use this month's 2-1 FA Cup win against tomorow's opponents for motivation as they search for their first league win in a month. They have shored things up at the back, though, and have Wimbledon defender Mikele Leigertwood on loan for a second month. Lincoln, one place behind Orient in the wrong half of Division Three, have drawn their last three in the League.
Verdict: O'S BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in