Weekend Football Focus

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

Arsenal v Blackburn

Derby v Charlton

Away ticket info: £15 (£10 concs). Charlton fans will be able to pay at turnstiles
Last season: 2 (Christie, Valakari) 2 (Jensen, Johansson)
Facts: Derby have not won in their last five games. Charlton are unbeaten in four and have not conceded a goal for three matches
Recommended pub: Crown & Cushion (Midland Road)
Derby minus Jim Smith doesn't seem right somehow - like the Undergound without delays or TV without makeover and pet programmes. Nevertheless, the Bald Eagle has flown the nest and Colin Todd's in charge. He will be able to welcome son Andy to Pride Park tomorrow, while the Charlton defender will be doing his best to make dad's Saturday night a thoroughly miserable one. Todd and his team-mates need to improve upon their goalless home draw against Middlesbrough last weekend.
Verdict: THAT'S BETTER ADDICKS
Ladbrokes odds:11-8 Derby, 8-5 Charlton, 11-5 Draw

Fulham v Ipswich

Tickets: All-ticket game, no tickets will be available on Sunday.
Fact: The last three games between these sides at Craven Cottage have finished all square
Recommended pub: The Crabtree (Rainville Road)
Fulham, it seems, are not playing at all badly but, as Jean Tigana knows, performances count for zero if there are no points at the end of it. Tigana's side really need to add to their one Premiership victory and this could be a reasonably good time to play Ipswich, who haven't a big enough squad to rotate their players following the dull 0-0 UEFA Cup draw against Helsingborgs last night. George Burley's team, however, proved last season that they have the resilience to keep battling on.
Verdict: FULHAM FUN
Ladbrokes odds:8-11 Fulham, 3-1 Ipswich, 12-5 Draw

Leeds v Chelsea

Away ticket info: Chelsea have sold their allocation
Last season: 2 (Keane, Viduka) 0
Facts: Both teams are unbeaten in their last 10 Premiership games. Leeds haven't conceded a Premiership goal at Elland Road this season
Recommended pub: Whistle Stop (Town Street, Beeston)
Chelsea's no-show stars, who missed that shock 2-0 defeat last night, will be back on parade at Elland Road on Sunday, along with those who decided to travel to Israel. I have to say I've heard some footballing excuses in my time but Marcel Desailly's toothache connecting all the way down to his Achilles, is up there with the best. The offending tooth must have some root on it and, if ever it has to come out, his dentist may need a JCB rather than the usual pliers. Matches between these two sides have often been lively affairs but Dennis Wise has left now, so it may all be quiet again.
Verdict: BLUES FOR CLAUDIO
Ladbrokes odds: 4-5 Leeds, 3-1 Chelsea, 11-5 Draw

Newcastle v Tottenham

Away ticket info: Tottenham have sold their ticket allocation
Last season: 2 (Speed, Cordone) 0
Facts: Spurs haven't won on their last eight visits to St James' Park and they haven't kept a clean sheet in their last five league games
Recommended pub: The Akenside Traders (The Side)
Tottenham fans who enjoy watching their side play with some style must be happy enough following 10 goals in Spurs' last three matches, even though one of them was that 5-3 defeat by Manchester United. Glenn Hoddle's side were well worth their 3-1 victory over Derby on Monday night but face a tougher task up against Bobby Robson's Newcastle side, who will go into Sunday's tussle full of confidence after hammering Bolton 4-0. Teddy Sheringham has the craft and guile to open up the best of defences but it will be tough.
Verdict: SPURS GOOD FOR A POINT
Ladbrokes odds: 5-6 Newcastle, 11-4 Tottenham, 11-5 Draw

West Ham v Southampton

Tickets: £34-£38 (£19-£21 concs). Single seats only available. Tel. 020 8548 2700
Last season: 3 (Cole, Di Canio, Kanoute) 0
Facts: Despite conceding 12 goals in their last two games, West Ham are yet to let one in at home this season. Southampton have lost their last three at Upton Park
Recommended pub: Prince of Wales (Princes Terrace)
Any more performances like the disgraceful 7-1 defeat at Blackburn and West Ham will have to replace the crossed hammers on their badge, with a couple of leaves of limp lettuce. Afterwards there were doubts about Glenn Roeder's ability to motivate his players. What a joke! I played local league football for more than 20 years and there was certainly a lack of brains, eyesight, ability and hot water - but never motivation. His well-paid players have to grow up, and quickly, because tomorrow's match against fellow strugglers Southampton is a massive game.
Verdict: MUCH BETTER HAMMERS
Ladbrokes odds: 10-11 West Ham, 5-2 Southampton, 11-5 Draw

Grimsby v Watford

Tickets: £14 (£8 concs). Watford fans can pay at turnstiles
Last season: 2 (Handyside, Coldicott) 1 (Mooney)
Facts: Grimsby have gone four games without a win. Watford are unbeaten in their last four
Recommended pub: The Leaking Boot (Grimsby Road)
All the experts say the First Division is wide open this season and Gianluca Vialli's Watford really need to put a run together if they are to figure in the shake-up come next May. A couple of draws followed by a comfortable win over Sheffield Wednesday have given the Hornets a modicum of hope but already they have plenty of ground to make up on the early front runners.
Verdict: 'LUCA ON FOR THE DRAW
Ladbrokes odds: 7-5 Grimsby, 6-4 Watford, 9-4 Draw

Millwall v Nottingham Forest

Tickets: £15-£20 (£5-£12 concs). Tel. 020 7231 9999
Facts: Millwall, with three clean sheets in their last four outings, have gone five games without defeat. Forest have not won in their last five away games
Recommended pub: Bars in the ground
As long as that fire is out, Millwall should be back in action tomorrow, following the unfortunate postponement of their midweek match against Watford. An impressive 2-0 win at The Hawthorns eight days ago capped a spell of five matches without defeat for the Lions. A repeat of that result would move Mark McGhee's men significantly closer to the top and above tomorrow's opponents.
Verdict: TOP MARK FOR McGHEE
Ladbrokes odds: 5-4 Millwall, 7-4 Forest, 11-5 Draw

Wimbledon v Gillingham

Tickets: £16-£25 (£5-£10 concs). Tel. 020 8771 8841
Last season: 4 (Francis, Hartson 2, Euell) 4 (Thomson 2, Saunders, Asaba)
Facts: Wimbledon have not won in their past four home games. Gillingham haven't drawn any of their past 12 games
Recommended pub: Railway Telegraph (Brigstock Road)
The worry lines all but disappeared from Terry Burton's face after his Dons disposed of Kevin Keegan's fancied Manchester City 4-0 a couple of weeks ago. They were more like concern cavities last weekend, however, after Crystal Palace emerged victorious from the Selhurst Park derby by the same scoreline. Wimbledon now need to demonstrate that was only a one-off with a positive result and performance against Gillingham.
Verdict: DONS BOUNCE BACK
Ladbrokes Odds: 4-6 Wimbledon, 100-30 Gillingham, 4-5 Draw

Wolves v Crystal Palace

Tickets: All-ticket game. £16.50 (£9 concs). Tel. 020 8771 8841
Last season: 1 (Branch) 3 (Freedman, Morrison 2)
Fact: Palace have won on three of their last six visits to Molineux
Recommended pub: Bars in the ground Wolves finally lost their unbeaten record in a surprise defeat at home to Crewe on Tuesday night but Crystal Palace should beware a wounded and hungry wolf pack tomorrow. Clinton Morrison, with five goals in his last four matches, is in a particularly productive vein of form and the Premiership club scouts are hovering in ever thicker numbers down at Selhurst Park. It would be nice to see Steve Bruce dispense with all the rumours linking him to Birmingham, too.
Verdict: FULL POINTS FOR PALACE
Ladbrokes Odds: 8-11 Wolves, 3-1 Crystal Palace, 12-5 Draw

Bournemouth v Brentford

Away ticket info: All-ticket game. £12 (£5 concs). Available from Brentford (up to 5pm today). Tel. 020 8847 2511
Last season: 2 (S Fletcher, Elliott) 0
Facts: Brentford have won just one of their last five away games and have gone seven matches without a clean sheet. Bournemouth are unbeaten in their last five 'home' games while Dean Court is being rebuilt.
Recommended pub: The Station (next to Dorchester South station)
Brentford's defeat to Wycombe in the LDV Vans Trophy first round shouldn't have Steve Coppell waking up in the middle of the night screaming. What was more worrying was the hamstring injury to Paul Evans, so important to Bees and a real leader. Hopefully it was only a twinge and this mercurial midfielder will be back tomorrow.
Verdict: BEES LOVE THE SEASIDE
Ladbrokes odds: 5-4 Bournemouth, 7-4 Brentford, 9-4 Draw

QPR v Northampton

Tickets: £15-£18 (£7-£9 concs). Tel. 020 8740 2575
Facts: This is the first meeting between these sides at Loftus Road since February 1963 when Northampton won 3-1.
Recommended pub: Bushranger (Goldhawk Road)
The LDV Vans Trophy may not be high on the list of Ian Holloway's priorities - in fact it may not be on his list at all - but to lose 3-0 to Yeovil was distinctly depressing, coming on the back of two previous defeats in the League. QPR should pick up the pace again tomorrow.
Verdict: HAPPIER HOLLOWAY
Ladbrokes odds: 1-2 QPR, 5-1 Northampton, 13-5 Draw

Swansea v Leyton Orient

Tickets: £10-£14 (£5 concs). Orient fans can pay at the turnstiles
Facts: Orient have conceded 15 goals in their last five games and have gone seven without a win.
Recommended pub: Bank Statement (Wind Street)
The obvious disquiet at Leyton Orient came to its inevitable conclusion with the departure of Tommy Taylor after five years. Tommy fired a parting shot across the players' bows by questioning whether some of them could "hack it" when the going got tough. New manager Paul Brush should find out tomorrow.
Verdict: NEW BROOM BRUSH EARNS POINT
Ladbrokes odds: 5-4 Swansea, 7-4 Orient, 9-4 Draw

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