Thursday, December 23, 2010

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23-12-2010 20:45 Ajax - AZ Alkmaar

Building Anew

The KNVB Beker has thrown up a clash of the titans at the fifth round stage as defending champions Ajax meet AZ in Amsterdam.

Last May’s cup success ended a three year trophy drought for the Godenzonen, and victory was particularly sweet as it came against fierce rivals Feyenoord in a match played over two legs due to fears of violence in the terraces.

Eredivisie success isn’t out of the reach of Ajax this season, though they are six points behind leaders PSV with a game to play. This performance hasn’t been enough to save the skin of Martin Jol, who left his post in charge of the giants in early December due to a relatively disappointing start to the league season, which included a 2-0 loss away against AZ.

Frank de Boer is in temporary charge at the Amsterdam ArenA but has presided only two matches due to the inclement weather. The former international defender was at the helm as Ajax recorded a fine 2-0 victory over Milan to seal a spot in the Europa League before Vitesse were dispatched 1-0.

Thursday evening’s match will therefore be the first in the Dutch capital since Jol’s departure, and Ajax will be desperate to keep their forward momentum going.

Nineteen-Year Itch

While Ajax attempt to challenge for the Eredivisie title, AZ are endeavouring to finish the season in a stronger position than last term’s fifth. Presently the Alkmaar club are stationed level in sixth, edged out of the top five by Roda.

AZ have been defensively strong since the summer, leaking only 18 times, but this has come at the expense of success at the opposite end of the field. Their tally of 25 goals in 18 games is meagre by Dutch standards and is more reminiscent of a team trying to avoid relegation rather than challenge for a European place.

Slow and steady may not be enough to challenge for a title that was won last season with 86 points from 34 games, but their more measured approach could be more suited to the KNVB Beker, which they have won on three previous occasions, though not since 1982.

Coach Gertjan Verbeek has expressed his anger at the timing of this encounter, complaining of a lack of Christmas spirit in the KNVB, whom he feels shouldn’t have scheduled a match so close to Christmas Eve, when may of his players, particularly those from abroad, will be thinking of returning home to their families.

In addition, the weather forecast suggests that there could be snow, which will add a further random element into a fixture that is a repeat of the 2006-07 final. Ajax won dramatically 8-7 after penalty kicks on that occasion, and AZ are looking to turn the tables on Thursday.

TEAM NEWS

Ajax

Mounir El Hamdaoui has had flu and isn’t ready to play, both on a physical and mental basis. Luis Suarez, meanwhile, is back home in Uruguay due to a ban.

Nicolas Lodeiro, Kenneth Vermeer and Florian Jozefzoon are all long-term concerns. Teemu Tainio is sick, while Oleguer has a knee issue and won’t feature.

AZ

Captain Stijn Schaars, Celso Ortiz, Joey Didulica, and Nick van der Velden are all missing because of injury problems. Hector Moreno and Johann Berg Gudmundsson have been allowed to return to their families early for Christmas as they are suspended.

Prediction
Ajax will want to maintain their positive momentum into the winter break, and against an AZ side somewhat depleted the hosts will expect to move through. The Godenzonen have not been infallible at home this season, but they should have too much for their rivals.

Ajax 2-1 Alkmaar

23-12-2010 MILAN JOVANOVIĆ ( LIVERPUL )

Sanderlend je iznenađujuće dobar ove sezone, ali “đavoli” na svom stadionu ne greše.Oko keca na Mančester nemam ni najmanju dilemu.
MANČESTER J. - SANDERLEND     1
 
Izdvojiću još jednog keca, na Fulam, bez obzira na to što u derbiju začelja dočekuje Vest Hem. Domaćin nije loš kao što tabela pokazuje, a pri dnu je samo zbog toga što ima previše remija, najviše u ligi.

FULAM – VEST HEM     1

23-12-2010 NENAD MILIJAŠ (VOLVS)

Pakao je pred nama. Otud i ogromna tenzija oko nas – kaže Milijaš. - Da li treba da istaknem da su nam iz kluba već najavili da Novu godinu čekamo u prostorijama Volvsa. Sada nam je najvažnije da savladamo ekipu Vigana. Jer ako to ne učinimo pred domaćim navijačima, biće nam daleko teže da se “vadimo” na gostovanjima.

Volvs – Vigan     1

Premier League Opta Facts - 26-27 December

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Fulham v West Ham United
  • Fulham have not won on Boxing Day since 2003.
  • The Hammers have scored in all but one of their last 16 matches on Boxing Day.
  • Carlton Cole has scored in each of his last four Premier League starts for West Ham against Fulham, but he also scored an own goal last time out at Craven Cottage.
  • There have been seven red cards in the last 13 Premier League meetings between West Ham and Fulham.
  • Fulham have only won one of the last 14 Premier League meetings with the Hammers.
  • Dempsey has scored a goal in each of his last three matches for club and country against goalkeeper Rob Green.
  • Fulham have not won any of their last four Premier League matches at home, their longest run since they went five without a victory in January 2008.
  • West Ham have won none of their last 27 Premier League away games, only one team has ever had a longer consecutive run in the Premier League (Fulham 33 between September 2006 and March 2008).
Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City
  • Blackburn have lost just one of their 15 matches on Boxing Day in the Premier League.
  • Stoke are without a win on the 26th December since 2000 (five defeats, four draws).
  • Blackburn have failed to score in the last four Premier League games against Stoke.
  • Stoke have failed to score in their last three visits to Ewood Park.
  • Neither Stoke nor Blackburn have managed an away goal against the other in the five Premier League meetings.
  • Kenwyne Jones has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games against Blackburn.
  • Stoke City have won none of their 18 away games in the Premier League against clubs from the north west.
Blackpool v Liverpool
  • Blackpool are unbeaten in their last five Boxing Day matches.
  • The Reds have won six of their last seven games on the 26th December.
  • Only one of the last 13 league meetings between Blackpool and Liverpool has ended as a home win.
  • Blackpool have won none of their three home north west derbies in the Premier League.
  • Liverpool have won just two of 18 Premier League away matches in the calendar year 2010.
  • Roy Hodgson has won just one of his last 27 games away from home as a manager in the Premier League.
Bolton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion
  • The Trotters have only lost one of their seven matches at home on the 26th December in the Premier League era.
  • The Baggies have lost all four of their Premier League matches on Boxing Day, scoring just one goal.
  • Seven of the nine Premier League meetings between West Brom and Bolton have ended as draws.
  • West Brom have only won two of their last 25 Premier League away matches.
  • The Baggies haven't kept a clean sheet on their travels in the 2010-11 Premier League.
  • Bolton have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League home games and won four of the last six at the Reebok Stadium.
  • West Brom have earned the most red cards in the top flight this season; 5.
  • The Baggies have conceded more goals (5) than any other team in the opening 15 minutes of games in the Premier League.
Everton v Birmingham City
  • Everton have shipped just one goal in their last four games on Boxing Day.
  • Birmingham have only been defeated once in six Premier League matches on 26th December.
  • Birmingham have only won one of their 13 Premier League meetings with Everton.
  • Everton have only won two their last nine Premier League home games.
  • Birmingham have won none and lost nine of their last 14 Premier League away matches.
  • Alex McLeish's side have kept only two clean sheets in their last 18 Premier League away games.
Manchester United v Sunderland
  • Since the advent of the Premier League, United have won 13 of their 16 games on Boxing Day: no other side in the Football League has won more than 10.
  • However their only defeat in this period did come in the North-East: 3-1 vs Middlesbrough in 2002.
  • Sunderland have hit just one goal in their last four Premier League matches on 26th December.
  • Manchester United have lost none of their last 17 Premier League matches against Sunderland.
  • Man Utd have scored 90th minute goals in three of their last five home Premier League games against Sunderland and accrued five extra points as a result of these goals.
  • Sunderland have only scored three goals in the last eight Premier League meetings with Manchester United.
  • United have won 18, lost one and drawn one of their last 20 Premier League games at OId Trafford.
Newcastle United v Manchester City
  • Newcastle are without a win on Boxing Day in eight matches since 2001.
  • The Citizens are on a run of three straight wins on the 26th December.
  • Newcastle have won none of the last eight Premier League meetings with Man City.
  • Carlos Tevez has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances against Newcastle.
  • Newcastle have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight matches at St James Park.
  • Man City have won just one of the last six and none of their last four away games in the north east in the Premier League against Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
  • Manchester City have the best away record in the Premier League earning 17 points on the road with a goal difference of +8.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic
  • Wigan have not failed to score in a Boxing Day match since 1991.
  • Wolves ended a run of being the only side in the Premier League without a clean sheet this season when they shut out Birmingham last time out.
  • Wolves have won back to back home games for the fifth time in Premier League history, but have never won three on the spin at Molineux.
  • Wigan have won just one of their last 10 Premier League matches.
  • Wigan have won just two of their last 22 Premier League away matches.
  • Arsenal are the only team to prevent Wolves from scoring against them in their last 11 Premier League matches at Molineux.
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur
  • Only Robbie Fowler (nine) has scored more Premier League goals on Boxing Day than Robbie Keane (eight).
  • Villa have picked up maximum points in just one of their nine Boxing Day games since 1999.
  • Spurs are unbeaten on 26th December since 2003.
  • Six of the last 11 matches between Aston Villa and Tottenham have ended as draws.
  • Ciaran Clark has been booked in each of his last four Premier League appearances.
  • Villa have gone seven Premier League games without a clean sheet.
  • Spurs have gone 16 matches without keeping a clean sheet in the Premier League.
  • Tottenham are unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches, the joint-longest run without a defeat in the Harry Redknapp era. That run ended after a match against Chelsea in April 2009.
Arsenal v Chelsea
  • Didier Drogba has hit eight goals against Arsenal in the Premier League, more than against any other side.
  • The Gunners have only been able to win two of their last 18 matches against Chelsea in all competitions.
  • Arsenal have only won one and lost four of the last seven home games against Chelsea in all competitions.
  • Nicolas Anelka has scored seven goals in his last 12 Premier League starts against Arsenal.
  • Arsenal have lost three home matches already, dropping nine points. No title-winning side has dropped more than 10 points at home in a whole season since Arsenal in 2001-02.
  • The Gunners have kept just one clean sheet in their last seven Premier League home matches.
  • Samir Nasri has scored six goals in his last six Premier League matches at the Emirates.

Championship Opta Facts - 26 December

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Crystal Palace v Norwich
  • Palace have won four of their last five matches on Boxing Day, drawing the other.
  • Norwich have conceded at least twice in six of their last seven matches away from home on December 26th.
  • Crystal Palace have won three of their last four home games against the Canaries. Two of these three matches finished 3-1 to the Eagles.
  • Neither side has kept a clean sheet in any of their last five meetings at Selhurst Park.
  • Palace midfielder Owen Garvan assisted both of the Eagles' goals in their 2-1 victory at Carrow Road in October.
  • Despite losing their last five away games, Palace have taken 10 points from the last available 12 at Selhurst Park.
  • The Canaries have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last nine league games.

Portsmouth v Millwall
  • Pompey have claimed just one win from their last five Boxing Day matches at Fratton Park.
  • Portsmouth have won their last four league matches against the Lions, and have also won three out of the last four clashes at Fratton Park.
  • The Lions have failed to find the net in their last four league meetings with Pompey.
  • Millwall have only won one of their last 18 visits to Fratton Park, a 1-0 victory in September 1995 (10 defeats, seven draws).
  • Pompey have taken 19 points from their last 10 league games. Only Leeds (21) and Bristol City (20) have won more points in this period.
  • The Lions have conceded just one goal in their last four league games.

QPR v Swansea
  • The Hoops have claimed just one win from their last seven games on Boxing Day.
  • The Swans have only lost one of their last eight Boxing Day matches on the road.
  • Swansea have never won away at QPR, despite travelling there for the first time in 1920. Of the 17 fixtures played in all competitions, QPR have won eight and there have been nine draws.
  • QPR have won six of their last eight home meetings with the Swans in all competitions.
  • This fixture hasn't seen an away win since the R's won 3-1 in Swansea in January 1981.
  • The Hoops have now lost two consecutive Championship fixtures after going unbeaten for the first 19 games of the campaign.
  • Swans top scorer Scott Sinclair (eight goals) has now failed to find the back of the net in his last five league games.

Barnsley v Burnley
  • Only Manchester United (40) and Liverpool (31) have hit more league goals on Boxing Day since 1992/93 than Barnsley (30).
  • Burnley have lost five of their last six Boxing Day games away from Turf Moor.
  • This fixture has only seen one away win in the last 14. (10 home wins, three draws).
  • Seven of the last nine meetings have been won by the home side, including Burnley's 3-0 victory at Turf Moor this October.
  • Burnley winger Chris Eagles has netted three goals in his last two games against the Tykes.
  • Burnley are the only Championship side yet to win away from home in the league this campaign.
  • Barnsley have kept three consecutive clean sheets in the Championship.

Cardiff v Coventry
  • Cardiff are without a win on Boxing Day since 1999.
  • The Sky Blues have scored only four goals in their last seven Boxing Day games.
  • Cardiff have won their last five games against the Sky Blues, including a 2-1 victory at the Ricoh Arena in October.
  • In all five of these clashes, the Bluebirds have found the net on exactly two occasions.
  • Cardiff have successfully converted a penalty in four of their last five meetings with Coventry, with midfielder Peter Whittingham successful from the spot in his last three outings against the Sky Blues.
  • Cardiff are without a win from their last four league games, their longest winless run of the season so far.
  • The Sky Blues have conceded just two goals in their last five league games.

Derby v Doncaster
  • Only Peterbrough (12) and Wolves (11) have lost more league games on Boxing Day than Derby (10) since the 1992/93 season.
  • Rovers have won five of their seven Boxing Day games since returning to the Football League in 2003.
  • Rovers have won on their last two league visits to Pride Park, but were defeated 1-0 in last season's FA Cup (Round 4).
  • The Rams haven't beaten Doncaster at home in the league since November 1984.

Ipswich v Watford
  • Ipswich have lost five of their last six games on 26th December.
  • However, the Hornets have picked up all three points on Boxing Day on only one occasion since 1999.
  • Ipswich haven't beaten the Hornets in any of their last five meetings at Portman Road.
  • The last two meetings between the sides at Portman Road have ended in draws, including a 1-1 last time out.
  • Ipswich halted a run of six consecutive defeats with a 3-0 victory over Leicester last time out.
  • The Hornets have won their last two league games, scoring six goals in the process.

Leicester v Leeds United
  • The Foxes have won three of their last four games on Boxing Day, drawing the other.
  • Leeds have lost only one of their last nine games on the 26th December.
  • Leicester have won their last three meetings against Leeds in all competitions.
  • United have failed to win any of their last seven against the Foxes, losing four and drawing three.
  • Leeds haven't kept a clean sheet against the Foxes in their last 12 meetings.
  • Foxes striker Steve Howard has scored in his last three matches against United.
  • The Foxes have won their last three home games and lost their last three away games in the league.
  • Leeds are now the Championship's top scorers. The Whites have netted 39 goals in the league so far.

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest
  • Boro have failed to find the net in five of their last six games on Boxing Day.
  • Forest have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five matches on the 26th December.
  • The last six meetings between the sides in Teesside have ended in draws.
  • Boro haven't beaten Forest at home in any of the last 15 matches in all competitions; a run stretching back to 1973.
  • Boro have neither scored nor conceded more than twice in any of their last 13 league games.
  • Despite Forest remaining unbeaten at home this season, they have lost three of their last five away games in the Championship.

Reading v Bristol City
  • The Biscuitmen's last four Boxing Day games have ended in a score draw.
  • City have kept only one clean sheet in their last 14 matches on 26th December.
  • The sides have each won two of the last four league meetings in Reading.
  • The home side have found the net at least once on all but one of the last 14 meetings between the sides (Reading 0-2 Bristol City in 2009.)
  • The Royals have drawn their last four home games.
  • The Robins have lost their last two away games, conceding five and scoring just once in the process.

Scunthorpe v Preston
  • The Iron are unbeaten in their last five games at home on 26th December, keeping four clean sheets.
  • The last three clashes between the sides have seen 14 goals.
  • Preston's Billy Jones has scored in his last two matches against the Iron.
  • The Iron have won their last two home league meetings against Preston.
  • Scunthorpe have taken just five points from their 10 home games this season. No team in the English league has taken fewer at home than the Iron.
  • North End have lost three and drawn two of their last five away games.

Sheffield United v Hull
  • The Blades are without a win on Boxing Day since 2004.
  • Hull have not failed to score on 26th December since 2000.
  • The Tigers haven't picked up a victory in any of their last 15 visits to Bramall Lane, a run stretching back to March 1971.
  • The Blades have won four of their last seven meetings with Hull in the Steel City (three draws).
  • The Blades have scored fewer goals (17) than any other side in the Championship this season.
  • The Tigers have drawn five of their last six away games, winning the other.

SPL Opta Facts - 26 December

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Celtic v St Johnstone
  • Celtic have won seven of their eight SPL matches on Boxing Day, drawing the other.
  • All five of St Johnstone's SPL matches on boxing day have been away from home, though they have won the last two.
  • The Bhoys have scored at least three times in each of their last five meetings with the Saints in all competitions, including twice already this season.
  • All three of Niall McGinn's goals in all competitions this season have come against St Johnstone.
  • Celtic have drawn their last three league matches (all at home).
  • St Johnstone have taken no points from the last nine available at home, but seven from nine on the road.

Dundee United v Hamilton
  • The Terrors have never won on boxing day in the SPL, losing six and drawing two of their games.
  • Four of the last five meetings between the Accies and United have ended in an away win, with the other a draw.
  • The Terrors have never scored more than once against Hamilton in the SPL.
  • It is over a month since Dundee United played a match in the SPL (20th November vs Celtic).
  • United have scored exactly once in their last seven league games.
  • The Accies have hit only one goals in their last five league games combined.

Hibernian v Aberdeen
  • Hibs have never won on boxing day in the SPL, losing four games and drawing two.
  • Hibernian have scored exactly twice in their last four league meetings with the Dons, though are without a win in their last two.
  • Aberdeen have won on none of their last eight trips to Easter Road in the league, though two have been draws.
  • Four of Hibs' last five league goals have been netted by Derek Riordan.
  • Aberdeen have lost 10 of their last 11 league games - though the 4-2 win at home to Hibs is the only exception.
  • The Dons have netted just one goal in total in their last six league matches.

Inverness CT v St Mirren
  • St Mirren have won their last two SPL games on boxing day by a score of 1-0.
  • Caley Thistle have won their last three SPL clashes with St Mirren, each by a score of 2-1.
  • Inverness are unbeaten in six league games.
  • Caley Thistle have taken only eight points from their eight home games this season (19 from nine on the road).
  • No side has picked up fewer points on the road this season than St Mirren (four).

Kilmarnock v Hearts
  • Killie have won five of their eight SPL matches on boxing day, losing just one.
  • The 3-0 win for Killie earlier this season ended a run of five consecutive defeats against the Jambos.
  • Kilmarnock have scored only one goal in total in their last three matches at home to Hearts.
  • No side has picked up more points than either Hearts (19) or Kilmarnock (17) from their last eight SPL games.
  • The Jambos have won their last five away games in the SPL for the first time in their history.
  • Hearts' only defeat in their last 10 league games was the 3-0 reversal at home to Kilmarnock.
  • Conor Sammon has netted nine goals in his last eight SPL appearances with Killie.

Motherwell v Rangers
  • The Steelmen have never drawn an SPL game on boxing day, winning four and losing four.
  • Rangers have won four of their six matches in the SPL on boxing day, though their only defeat on this day came at Fir Park in 2002.
  • Motherwell are without a win in their last 27 league meetings with Rangers.
  • However the last five at Fir Park have all ended in a draw.
  • Despite scoring 10 of Motherwell's 23 league goals this season, Nick Blackman has scored in only one of his 10 appearances at Fir Park in all competitions.
  • Rangers are unbeaten on the road in the SPL this season, winning seven of their eight games.