28.08. 16:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Newcastle United

Looking to continue impressive start

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United approach Saturday's Premier League clash both in good spirits having both won in their midweek League Cup fixtures.

Wolves will hope to carry on their impressive start to the season, which has included a victory at home to Stoke City and last week's 1-1 draw away at Everton. Mick McCarthy's side  also won a midweek League Cup tie 2-1 after extra time against Southend United.

The midlands side's last Premier League fixture was surrounded with controversy as both managers argued that the other side’s goal could and should have been disallowed; Wolves trailed 1-0 following Tim Cahill’s strike but levelled with 15 minutes to go thanks to a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake strike.

Building on huge victory

Newcastle will be in a buoyant mood following last Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing of Aston Villa, which included a hat-trick for England under-21 international Andy Carroll.

A much changed Magpies side also won a midweek League Cup fixture 3-2 against Accrington Stanley.

Newcastle will be hoping their form can continue to pick up their first away victory since their return to the Premier League following their opening day loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Don't get too excited though: Wolves and Newcastle last faced each other in the 2003-04 season with both matches ending in a 1-1 draw.

TEAM NEWS

Wolverhampton

Wolves made a number of changes for their midweek tie with Southend United and are expected to return to largely the same team that drew with Everton last weekend.

However manager Mick McCarthy will be able to partner summer signing Steven Fletcher with last season’s top scorer Kevin Doyle for the first time.

Possible Starting XI: Hahnemann; Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi; Foley, Henry, Jones, Jarvis; Doyle, Fletcher.

Newcastle United

Newcastle made 11 changes for their midweek tie with Accrington Stanley but will revert to largely the same team that beat Aston Villa last Sunday, including a return for hat trick hero Andy Carroll.

Ryan Taylor is making a strong claim for a place in the starting line up having scored the opener against Accrington Stanley.

Possible starting XI: Harper; Taylor, Williamson,  Coloccini, Jose Enrique; Routledge , Smith, Barton, Gutiérrez; Nolan, Carroll.

Prediction
Wolves 1-1 Newcastle

Read More

28.08. 13:45 Blackburn Rovers - Arsenal

Battle of styles in a classic culture clash
Among the sides that Arsenal fans particularly love their team to beat, any managed by Sam Allardyce figure fairly high on the list.
The ‘Big Sam’ caricature beloved by some media types cuts little ice with Gooners, many of whom regard the Blackburn Rovers boss as the disciple of destruction compared with their own Arsene Wenger, the presumed apostle of the aesthetic.
It’s an unashamedly biased view, and one which adds to Allardyce’s delight when he succeeds in ruffling Arsenal’s feathers – something he has managed to do more than most. Indeed, as recently as May, Blackburn’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory at Ewood Park finally killed any lingering hope the Gunners entertained of finishing in the top two.

The absence of bonhomie between Allardyce and Wenger was again in evidence after that match when the Frenchman accused Rovers of unfair tactics and was critical of referee Martin Atkinson  for not providing his players – especially goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski - with greater protection. It is a recurring theme: Wenger was frequently disparaging of Bolton Wanderers’ perceived overly-aggressive approach when Allardyce managed the Trotters.

And ahead of this Saturday lunchtime’s latest clash between the two protagonists, Wenger took the opportunity to warn referees that they need to take action against the growth of ‘rugby’ tactics in football, especially where the blocking of goalkeepers is concerned. He added that he accepts and respects that all opponents play to their own strengths, which means that some will emphasise the long ball and a physical game. He can be reasonably confident that on Saturday, that’s what will be awaiting his team. But he is hoping that the officials will ensure that all is kept within the laws of the game.

Allardyce will no doubt regard that as special pleading and instruct his players to hustle Arsenal out of their elegant stride; he knows that if they allow the Gunners the time and space to dictate, they could be sliced wide open.

Scare tactics
The Rovers boss is looking to his team to maintain their good home form. They lost just three times at Ewood Park last season, and began this term by beating Everton 1-0 at home.

But a Birmingham City side inspired by ‘keeper Ben Foster beat Rovers 2-1 last weekend, much to the annoyance of Allardyce - who insists that, having beaten Norwich City 3-1 at home in the League Cup in midweek, Rovers should be entertaining Arsenal as an undefeated side.

He feels the fact that they aren’t puts more pressure on Rovers, though he told his club’s website: "But it is Ewood, we can scare them and hopefully we can scare them enough on Saturday to get a result again."

As for the visitors, they are more likely to be focused than frightened, as they know they cannot afford to drop points given Chelsea's soaring start to the season. The Gunners are unbeaten, having followed up a 1-1 draw at Liverpool by giving new boys Blackpool a sobering introduction to the realities of Premier League life in the form of a 6-0 thrashing. Few at the Emirates are likely to have been fooled by that performance, though. A much sterner test of their mettle lies in store at Ewood.

For while Blackburn are seeking their 1,000th win in top-flight football, Arsenal are without an away win since a last-minute Nicklas Bendtner goal gave them a 2-1 victory at Hull City on March 13.

This will be the 116th meeting between Blackburn and Arsenal in all competitions; the Gunners have won 56 of those matches, compared to Rovers’ 29 – but Rovers ended a seven-game winless streak against the Londoners when they won 2-1 in May. On that day a 13th minute Robin van Persie opener was cancelled out by goals from David Dunn two minutes before the break and Christopher Samba 22 minutes after it.Blackburn Rovers

Vince Grella and Pascal Chimbonda came through Tuesday's League Cup win over Norwich unscathed, while French defender Gael Givet suffered a mouth injury late on in that game but isn’t expected to be sidelined as a result.

However, David Dunn may miss out again with a groin problem, and fellow midfielder Keith Andrews is also nursing a groin injury. Both are considered to be doubtful starters. Striker Mame Biram Diouf could be given the chance to feature by Allardyce following his League Cup hat-trick in midweek.

Possible Starting XI: Robinson; Chimbonda, Samba, Nelsen, Givet; El-Hadji Diouf, Jones, Olsson, Pedersen; Nzonzi, Kalinic.

Arsenal

Denilson is back in the Arsenal squad after recovering from an abdominal injury; if he features it will be his first appearance this season.

Samir Nasri (knee), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (broken leg) are all ruled out, while central defenders Johan Djourou (probably) and new signing Sebastien Squillaci (definitely) will not be involved. Apart from that, though, Wenger has a full squad to choose from.

Another centre-half, Laurent Koscielny, has completed his one-match suspension, while Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie are available after starting their pre-season training late following the World Cup final. Both came on as substitutes against Blackpool and could start against Blackburn. If they do there will be intense competition for starting berths among the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere, Denilson and Marouane Chamakh. That should make for a strong bench…

Possible starting XI: Almunia; Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Clichy; Rosicky, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin; Van Persie, Chamakh.

Prediction

Blackburn 1-2 Arsenal 

Read More

28.-29. 08.2010. Championship Preview

Barnsley v Middlesbrough

• Barnsley have won just once in their last six meetings with Middlesbrough.
• Hugo Colace found the net for the Tykes in both of their league meetings with Boro last term.
• Middlesbrough have won just once in their last six trips to Oakwell.
• Barnsley, alongside Coventry (46), have committed the most fouls in the Championship.
• The Tykes have conceded the most penalties in the Championship (3).

Derby v QPR

• The home side have won just once in the last 18 encounters between these Derby & QPR.
• Derby have lost three and drawn one of their last four home games against QPR.
• Queens Park Rangers are the only side with a 100% record in the Championship so far.
• Adel Taarabt has either scored (2) or assisted (3) five of QPR's nine goals in the league this term.

Doncaster v Hull

• Six of the last eight meetings between Doncaster and Hull have been won by the home team, with the other two ending level.
• There have been three red cards in their last two meetings between Hull and Doncaster Rovers.
• Hull have failed to find the net in their last four trips to Doncaster Rovers.

Ipswich v Bristol City

• The two meetings between Ipswich and Bristol City last season failed to produce a goal.
• The last three matches between these sides have ended in a draw.
• Only one of their last 12 encounters have seen the away side win.
• No side has conceded more goals than Bristol City in the Championship so far this term (7).

Millwall v Coventry

• The away side have managed just four goals in the last eight encounters between these teams.
• Just 10 of the 52 meetings between these two sides in all competitions has failed to produce a winner.
• The Lions have won just once in their last six meetings with the Sky Blues.
• Only QPR (9) have netted more goals than Millwall in the Championship this term (8).

Nottingham Forest v Norwich

• Norwich have scored just two goals in their last five meetings with Forest at the City Ground, however, these two goals were enough for a 2-1 victory in their last visit there.
• The away side have never been able to win a match between Forest and the Canaries in any of their seven meetings in the month of August.
• Nottingham Forest have been the most fouled side (44), while Norwich have been fouled the fewest amount of times (19) in the Championship this term.

Portsmouth v Cardiff

• This will be the first meeting between these two sides since their 2008 FA Cup final meeting, which Pompey won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Nwankwo Kanu.
• In fact, the last three goals scored in this fixture have been by a Nigerian player (Yakubu 2, Kanu 1).
• The last league meeting between the Bluebirds and Portsmouth was back in March 1985 - a 0-0 draw at Fratton Park.
• Jay Bothroyd (3) is the only player to have scored more than two goals in the Championship so far this season.

Scunthorpe v Crystal Palace

• The Iron have won just once in their last five competitive meetings with Crystal Palace.
• Palace have failed to score in two of their previous three trips to Scunthorpe.
• The Eagles have won just five corners in their opening three league games of the season.
• Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy has had to make 14 saves so far this term; a league-high.

Sheffield United v Preston

• The home side have conceded only two goals in the last six competitive meetings between the Blades and Preston.
• Sheffield United have scored exactly one goal in their last four matches against Preston.
• Preston have been given the most yellow cards in the Championship so far (7).
• Sheffield United and Preston are two of only three Championship sides to have netted just one goal this season so far.

Swansea v Burnley

• Swansea have won just once in their last five matches against Burnley.
• Four of the last six meetings between these two sides at Swansea have ended in a draw.
• Swansea have been the most wayward side in the Championship so far this term, hitting a league-high 26 shots off target.
• Alongside Millwall, Burnley have tallied the most headed goals (3).

Watford v Leeds United

• On the last occasion that these two sides met in a 'league' fixture, Watford defeated Leeds 3-0 in the 2005/06 Championship Play-off Final.
• Watford have failed to win any of their last three league meetings with Leeds at Vicarage Road.
• Leeds have hit the woodwork on a league-high five occasions so far this season.
• Danny Graham has been caught offside more than any other Championship player this season (8).

Leicester v Reading

• The home side have won just once in the last eight meetings between Leicester and Reading.
• Leicester City have been defeated only twice in their previous seven home games against the Royals.
• Leicester City have won more corners than any other side in the Championship after three games (32); eight more than any other team.
• Reading and Leicester are two of just six sides yet to pick up a league win in the Championship this season.

Read More

28.29.08. 2010. Premier League Preview

Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal

• Robin van Persie has scored 10 goals in nine games in all competitions against Blackburn.
• Sam Allardyce is unbeaten in his last seven Premier League games as a home manager against Arsenal and has won four of the last five.
• There have been 19 goals scored in the last four Premier League games between Rovers and the Gunners.
• Arsenal have not won an away game in any competition where the opposition was not down to 10 men since January, including a 1-2 defeat to Rovers.
• David Dunn has scored more goals (5) against Arsenal than versus any other Premier League opponent.
• Blackburn have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League matches at Ewood Park and only four in 31 home games under Sam Allardyce.

Blackpool v Fulham

• Fulham have won six of the last seven league meetings with Blackpool.
• Blackpool are unbeaten in their last nine home games.
• Fulham have won none of their last 19 Premier League away matches.
• The Londoners have only scored one goal in their last 10 Premier League games on the road.
• Since the start of 2008/09, Fulham have lost more games (five) to newly-promoted sides in the Premier League than they have won (four).
• Blackpool have won only one of their last six home games against Fulham, losing four.

Chelsea v Stoke City

• Stoke have lost three of their last four Premier League away games including a 0-7 loss to Chelsea in April.
• Stoke scored the joint-fewest goals away from home in the 2009-10 Premier League (10).
• No team has stopped Chelsea from scoring in their last 22 Premier League home games.
• The Blues have scored 21 goals in their last three Premier League home matches, including seven against Stoke.
• Chelsea have won 20 and lost just one of their last 22 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge.
• The Blues have won the last six meetings with Stoke in all competitions.
• Frank Lampard has scored four goals in his last four appearances against the Potters.

Liverpool v West Bromwich Albion

• Liverpool are on a run of 12 consecutive wins against West Brom in all competitions.

• The Baggies have never scored in eight Premier League meetings with the Reds.
• West Brom's last win at Anfield came in 1967 - a run of 23 games in all competitions without a win there since.
• Liverpool have conceded just one goal in their last 10 matches at home to West Brom.
• Liverpool have kept 17 clean sheets in their last 20 matches at home to newly-promoted teams in the Premier League.
• West Brom have failed to record an away win in the Premier League in 17 efforts and only one in the last 28.
• 29% of the goals Liverpool conceded last season came in the 15 minutes before half time, the highest proportion in the division.

Manchester United v West Ham United

• United have won their last five games against the Hammers.
• During this period they have bagged 14 goals whilst conceding just one.
• Wayne Rooney scored three goals over the two meetings with West Ham last season, including two at Old Trafford.
• The Red Devils have won 11 of their last 12 Premier League games at home, averaging 3.25 goals per game in this period.
• Wayne Rooney has assisted just one goal in United's last nine matches in the Premier League (no goals). In this period, Giggs has been their top scorer with four strikes.
• The Hammers have not won away from home in the league since their first away match last season (2-0 vs Wolves).
• United have attempted 63 crosses this season in the top flight, more than any other side.
• Paul Scholes has made the most passes in the Premier League this season: 200.

Sunderland v Manchester City

• A draw at the Stadium of Light in March ended a run of nine consecutive Premier League wins for the Citizens against Sunderland.
• Sunderland have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home games.
• City are unbeaten in eight matches away from home in the Premier League, though have drawn the last three.
• Manchester City (0 goals conceded) have faced just one fewer shot on target than Wigan (10 goals conceded) in the Premier League this season.
• Last season Man City scored 27% of their goals in the 15 minutes before half-time, a higher proportion than any other side in the top flight.
• These sides have not shared a goalless draw in the league since 1938, a run of 56 games.
• Two of the last three games between these sides have seen a Sunderland player sent off.

Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic

• Wigan have won just one of their 11 meetings with Spurs in all competitions.
• Tottenham put 12 goals past the Latics last season in the Premier League, including the famous 9-1 win at White Hart Lane.
• Aaron Lennon has scored three Premier League goals against Wigan, more than against any other side.
• Manchester United are the only visiting team to have scored more than once at White Hart Lane in the Premier League in 37 games since September 2008.
• Tottenham are unbeaten in 12 games at home in the league.
• Wigan have conceded 18 goals in their last three Premier League matches, without scoring a single one.
• Roberto Martinez's men are on a run of six straight defeats away from home in the league.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United

• The last two meetings between the sides in 2003/04 both ended in 1-1 draws.
• Wolves have won four of their last five matches at home to United in all competitions.
• Seven of the last nine goals in matches between these two teams have come in the first half.
• Wolves have lost just one of their last seven league games.
• Andy Carroll has scored five goals in his last five league appearances.
• Wolves have not conceded more than one goal in any of their last six home games.
• Newcastle have lost their last four away games in the Premier League, failing to score on each occasion.

Aston Villa v Everton

• This is the most-played fixture in the English top flight: this will be the 191^st meeting between the two sides.
• The last three league meetings between Villa and Everton have ended in a score draw.
• The Villans are unbeaten in eight league meetings with Everton.
• Tim Cahill has scored four goals in his last four games against Aston Villa in all competitions.
• Villa have lost three of their last four Premier League games.
• Everton have failed to score in their last two away matches.
• Three of Everton's last five league goals have come in the 90^th minute or later.
• If Everton win this game, the league head to head record will be even between the sides, with 71 wins each.

Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City

• Bolton have won their last three games against Birmingham.
• The Trotters have either scored at least twice (six times) or failed to score (seven times) in their last 13 league games.
• The 2-1 victory at Portsmouth remains Birmingham's only win on the road in the Premier League in 2010 (one draw, eight defeats).
• Bolton have failed to score in three of their last five home games.
• In the last six meetings between these teams the home side has won on five occasions.
• In the last 35 meetings in all competitions between these sides there has only been one goalless draw.

Read More

28.-27.08.2010. Spain - Primera Division preview

Atletico Madrid v Sporting Gijon

• Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last 14 league matches against Sporting Gijon (12 wins and two draws).
• Atletico have won their last seven league home games against Sporting Gijon, scoring at least two goals in each.
• Diego Forlan has netted four goals in just three league appearances against Sporting.
• Sporting Gijon have lost their last three opening games of the season in La Liga.
• Sporting dropped the most points from leading situations last season in Primera Division, 26.
• Atletico conceded the most first half goals in La Liga last season (34).

Deportivo v Real Zaragoza

• Deportivo have won only one of their last 10 La Liga games against Zaragoza (six draws and three defeats).
• Depor suffered 17 defeats last term in La Liga, their worst tally since 1966/67.
• Deportivo have failed to score more than one goal in their last 13 La Liga fixtures, winning just one of these games.
• Zaragoza's Ander Herrera won the most fouls in the top-flight last season (121).
• Deportivo's last four opening matches of the season have produced 16 goals (an average of four goals per match).

Espanyol v Getafe

• Espanyol and Getafe have met 12 times so far in the top-flight: Getafe lead by five wins to four, three draws complete the record.
• Espanyol have never scored more than once in their last 10 meetings with Getafe.
• The Catalans have netted only one goal in their last five opening games of La Liga.
• Getafe have always started their season in the top flight away from home, winning four times and losing twice.
• Espanyol had the worst attacking record in the top-flight last season (only 29 goals scored).
• Espanyol have conceded just three goals in their last nine home games in the league.

Hercules v Athletic Bilbao

• Hercules and Athletic have met 38 times so far in La Liga: the Basque side lead by 21 wins to nine, eight draws complete the record.
• Hercules return to the top division after 13 seasons spent in the lower tiers of Spanish football.
• Athletic are one of the three teams (with Real Madrid and Barcelona) who have never been relegated from the top flight.
• Bilbao have won four of their last five trips to Hercules in the top flight, scoring 13 goals in the process.
• Only one of the last 17 league encounters between these two sides has ended in a draw.

Levante v Sevilla

• Levante have lost their last six meetings against Sevilla, conceding 18 goals in the process.
• Levante have never won their opening game of the season in the top-flight (three draws and two defeats).
• Sevilla scored the most goals from set pieces in La Liga last season (28).
• Levante have never kept a clean sheet against Sevilla in the top flight.
• Jesús Navas attempted the most crosses in La Liga last season (228).

Malaga v Valencia

• Valencia have won both of the two previous games against Malaga on the opening day of the season.
• Malaga have not scored a single goal in four of their last five opening games of the season.
• Valencia have won seven of their last nine opening matches of the season.
• Malaga drew the most league games last season (16).
• New Valencia signing Roberto Soldado scored 29 goals in 60 league appearances in his two seasons at Getafe.

Mallorca v Real Madrid

• Real Madrid have lost the opening match of the season only once in the last eight years.
• Mallorca and Real Madrid have met 50 times so far in La Liga: the Blancos lead by 31 wins to nine, 10 draws complete the record.
• Real Madrid are the side that have scored the most against Mallorca in La Liga (103 goals).
• The Merengues have won their last two league games at Mallorca scoring seven goals in the process (3-0 and 4-1).
• Real Madrid were the only side in La Liga 2009/10 to have won all of the games in which they took the lead (30).
• The Merengues also recouped the most points from trailing situations last season (22).

Osasuna v Almeria

• Almeria have lost all four of their trips to Pamplona in the top flight.
• Osasuna have shared the points in their opening game of the last three La Liga seasons.
• Almeria have won their last two opening games of the season played away from home, scoring three goals in each.
• Almeria's goalkeeper Diego Alves made the most saves in La Liga last season, 166.
• Osasuna scored the fewest goals in the second half in La Liga last season (16).
• The last four La Liga matches involving Almeria have produced 18 goals.

Racing v Barcelona

• This will be the 85^th league meetings between these two sides: Barcelona lead by 49 wins to 15 and 20 draws complete the record.
• Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 13 league encounters against Racing (10 wins and three draws).
• Racing have conceded more goals against Barcelona than against any other side in La Liga (190).
• Title holders Barcelona picked up 99 points in the last campaign, an all-time Spanish record.
• Racing were the only side that failed to score in the first 15 minutes of play in La Liga last season.
• Last season Racing picked up a league-low 17 points at home.

Real Sociedad v Villarreal

• Real Sociedad and Villarreal have met 16 times so far in La Liga: the Yellow Submarines lead by six wins to four, six draws complete the record.
• Villarreal have lost just one of their trips to San Sebastian in the top flight (four wins and three draws).
• Real Sociedad were promoted to the top-flight as the second division champions last season.

Read More