Gabriel's New Year's Day Predictions

Premier League

Happy New Year! The big Premier League game is the late kick-off at Old Trafford, as Manchester United play Tottenham Hotspur. Both teams are beginning to find some momentum, after having vastly underperformed so far this season. Two other underperformers are Fulham and West Ham, who go head-to-head at Craven Cottage, with both sides currently sitting in the drop zone. Aston Villa and Norwich will look to avoid getting sucked into the relegation dogfight on their trips to Sunderland and Crystal Palace respectively. Here is our preview of the first round of Premier League matches in 2014.

Swansea vs. Man City

Strange though it might sound, Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday was as important as any thrashing they’ve handed out this season. They showed their ability to grind out a win with a rotated team, when not playing their best football and struggling for momentum. In nine of their twelve league wins prior to that match, they had scored inside twenty minutes, making the rest of the game much easier. Going an hour without scoring provided a certain test of City’s nerve and steel, which they passed. Swansea could do with a good start to 2014, having only taken thirty-nine points from thirty-seven league games in this calendar year. They have kept clean sheets on both previous occasions that Man City have visited the Liberty, but that is unlikely to happen again. City have an array of attacking talent capable of penetrating any defence. 1-2.

Arsenal vs. Cardiff

Trips to West Ham and Newcastle might have proved difficult for Arsenal, after a disappointing sequence of results playing some of the top teams. They picked up maximum points from tough games away to West Ham and Newcastle, with crucially Giroud getting back onto the scoresheet, after a run of seven games without a goal. Cardiff are still deciding on their new manager, although Ole Gunnar Solskjaer the hot favourite. Whoever takes over could have a difficult job on their hands, because the three teams in the relegation zone at the moment are considered to be established Premier League clubs. With Cardiff not having an full-time in place boss yet, they should not give league leaders Arsenal too much to worry about. 2-0.

Crystal Palace vs. Norwich

Crystal Palace are showing continued signs of promise. They reduced Man City to just a one goal margin of victory at the Etihad, which is more than any other team has done when going to the blue half of Manchester. Palace also remain outside the bottom three, with West Ham and Fulham failing to win, so last weekend was a case of damage limitation for the Eagles. With a victory on Wednesday, they will go above their opponents, Norwich. The Canaries have now lost their last two matches and are without a win in four games, having been poor on the road. With Crystal Palace gaining confidence after such a good performance at Man City, they might edge this. 1-0.

Fulham vs. West Ham

Two teams who are hugely underperforming this season, and sit inside the relegation zone. Fulham completed a poor 2013 with a crushing 6-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull. There have been a few times this season when Fulham get a good result, you believe they are back to their best and the quality in the squad will shine through. And yet, they can never seem to follow it up, as the 6-0 loss sums up the lack of work rate and effort in the team. West Ham are doing equally poorly, as a crippling injury list has played it’s part in their difficult campaign. Both teams are struggling for confidence and momentum, so a bore draw is on the cards. 1-1.

Liverpool vs. Hull

Luis Suarez had a rare quiet game against Chelsea, meaning Liverpool could not create anything that afternoon, at least not from open play. The Reds have just lost to Man City and Chelsea in quick succession, which eradicates any hopes of a title push. As a club, if you have any hopes of winning the league, it is imperative you take points from the big teams and Liverpool have not been able to do that. Hull come into this match off the back of a massive 6-0 win over Fulham. They are currently tenth in the table overall, but if the Premier League table was based on points away from home, the Tigers would be nineteenth. Suarez should be back to his silky best. 2-0.

Southampton vs. Chelsea

There were times in Southampton’s 2-1 defeat at Everton where they played some good football, having had the more possession, and they were ultimately unlucky to lose. This match is the last of a tough run of fixtures for the Saints, as they play a Chelsea side who came from behind to beat Liverpool on Sunday. Mourinho’s men defended well. Gary Cahill was particularly impressive, which that is a positive in Chelsea’s title ambitions, because they have not been strong enough at the back until recently. That game could give the Blues the confidence to take another clean sheet. 0-2.

Stoke vs. Everton

Everton made five changes to the team for their match against Southampton. They still came away with a win against top half opposition, and this is a good indicator of the strength of their squad. They managed to win without key players such as Tim Howard, Gareth Barry and Phil Jagielka, and generally Martinez must be pleased with how his side bounced back from defeat to Sunderland. Stoke come into this match off the back off consecutive tonkings at Newcastle and Tottenham. It is worth noting that they are a different team at home though, having taken eleven points from their last five matches at the Britannia. No team has conceded less home goals than Stoke, so Everton might have to settle for a draw here. 1-1.

Sunderland vs. Aston Villa

Despite being bottom of the table, Sunderland are unbeaten in five, if you include their cup victory over Chelsea. They showed spirit to fight back from 2-0 down at Cardiff to take a point, and Gus Poyet deserves credit, because he has kept them in with a chance of survival. Aston Villa ended their run of four straight defeats when they played Swansea, but could only manage a 1-1 draw. Remarkably they had just 27% possession, which points to a problem in their lack of experience and knowhow in midfield. The problem with both of these teams is that they do not tend to attack their opponents until they fall behind, so this could end up a stalemate. 0-0.

West Brom vs. Newcastle

Nicolas Anelka may face a ban after his controversial celebration at West Ham, but from a purely footballing perspective, West Brom will not miss him too much. Anelka severely lacks pace and work rate, and the two goals he scored were just his first strikes of the season. When it comes to French attacking players, Newcastle are much better placed, as Loic Remy is the third-highest goalscorer in the Premier League. Toon lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Sunday, but were by far the dominant team in the second half and looked a constant threat going forward. Most notably, Hatem Ben Arfa displayed bags of pace and looks more than capable of reviving his early season form. Newcastle have won four of their last six away from home and this could be another happy trip home for the Magpies. 1-2.

Man Utd vs. Tottenham

The stand-out game of the weekend. Manchester United, who have won six straight games in all forms, play a Tottenham side improving under Tim Sherwood. United look to be gradually building momentum, with Danny Welbeck starting to score goals, having netted four times in his last four appearances. Tottenham got a comfortable home win over Stoke on Sunday, and are now only three points away from the Champions League places. Roberto Soldado scored in that match, yet it was another penalty from him, and the Spaniard has still only scored once from open play this season. Manchester United should grind out another win to push them closer to the top four. 1-0.

The Championship

In the Championship, Huddersfield will look to end Burnley’s unbeaten home record, as the Claret’s have been overtaken in the promotion race by Derby, who host Uwe Rosler’s new Wigan side. QPR look to get back to winning – and scoring – ways against relegation strugglers Doncaster, having failed to score in their last three. That promises to be a difficult away game for Doncaster at the bottom, likewise Charlton have a tough match at in-form Ipswich, while Barnsley go to face a Birmingham side unbeaten in nine. 

Birmingham vs. Barnsley

The mystifying difference between Birmingham’s home and away form continues. The Blues took another three points on the road at Blackburn, yet they are still struggling to find that elusive home win. Lee Clark’s side will not get a better chance to break their duck than when they play bottom of the table Barnsley, a side who have taken just five points away from home. Any hope of an instant impact from Danny Wilson, who was recently appointed manager, has been dashed by back-to-back home defeats. Barnsley lost 2-1 to Derby, a fabulous solo goal from Thomasz Cywka narrowing the scoreline, but the Tykes remain five points off safety. They will struggle to score past Birmingham, who have looked increasingly solid in recent weeks. 1-0.

Bolton vs. Middlesbrough

It has been announced that Bolton’s Parent Company are now £163 million in debt. Presumably this is not the fault of the club, because no wage bill or transfer spending at that level could account for so much. In this situation, you feel sorry for the fans, who have had to suffer as a result of issues outside their control. This mess could have a negative influence on the players, and their confidence will not be helped by looking at their next opponents. They play a Middlesbrough team who have won three straight games, keeping clean sheets in each of those matches. After a big win over Reading, Karanka’s side are gaining momentum. 1-2.

Brighton vs. Bournemouth

Goal difference alone now separates Brighton from the play-offs. They have been very well organised this season, and that continued at Blackpool. Despite less possession, they restricted their opponents to just one shot on target, which is a mark of their positioning when they do not have the ball. Next up, the Seagulls face another fellow-seaside club in Bournemouth. The Cherries were unfortunate only to take a point against Ipswich, as they created quite a few more chances than their opponents. Eddie Howe’s side continue to compete impressively at this level, having now taken ten points from their last five matches, and fears of a slide into the relegation dogfight have been reduced. This could be a fourth clean sheet in five for Brighton. 1-0.

Burnley vs. Huddersfield

Just one win in four has seen Burnley drop out of the automatic promotion places. They have not scored in either of their last two games, yet they have only conceded five goals in their last nine, so it is pivotal that Ings and Vokes start scoring again quickly. Sean Dyche would not have chosen this time to play Huddersfield. The Terriers will remember their victory over Burnley just a month ago, and come into this match fresh from a satisfying 5-1 win over Yeovil Town. They attacked ruthlessly and with purpose, as Danny Ward enjoyed a fine performance. Burnley’s unbeaten home record will not last forever - Huddersfield might just spring the surprise result of the day. 1-2.

Derby vs. Wigan

The big news on Sunday was that Derby climbed into the automatic promotion places, after a 2-1 win at Barnsley. Since their 5-1 trouncing of Blackpool, the Rams have always looked capable of challenging for a top two spot under Steve McClaren. Whenever they attack, they always play with so much pace and movement, as players constantly break from midfield. Two 0-0 home draws have halted Wigan’s momentum slightly, even if the second was against Burnley. In both matches they had plenty of the ball for long spells, so perhaps Rosler’s priority in January will be a striker - someone who can provide that end product. The form Derby are in at the moment, you would back them to win every time. 2-1.

Ipswich vs. Charlton

Ipswich have recently moved into the play-off places as one of the Championship’s form sides, although they dropped a late two points at Bournemouth last time out. While Ipswich are unbeaten in seven, Charlton have only won one of the same number. There could be a change at the top for the London club, with a Belgian businessman close to getting a takeover, but fans will be hoping for no change at the bottom. The Addicks are still just four points above the drop zone, having failed to beat relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday. This will be a testing afternoon for Chris Powell’s side. 2-0.

Leeds vs. Blackburn

The Championship’s best two strikers both take to the field at Elland Road, as Ross McCormack and Jordan Rhodes face up to each other. Difficult away games against Blackpool and Nottingham Forest have seen Leeds sacrifice their play-off place to Ipswich, so it is vital they get back on the road with a home win. Blackburn could be playing their last match with Jordan Rhodes, as a queue of Premier League clubs are sure start making bids for him, once the New Year bells chime. Blackburn have taken less than a third of their overall points tally from away matches. They would do well to get a result at Leeds, who have not lost at home since mid-September. 2-1.

Millwall vs. Leicester

A point at relegation rivals Doncaster was a good result for Millwall. Caretaker manager Neil Harris has never managed before - he had only been appointed as a coach this summer - so a draw in his first game is a steady start. His next challenge however, is to guide his Lions in their next match, versus the Foxes. Leicester stuck three past Millwall in the match at the King Power at the end of November, and since that win, they have picked up some important wins. But Leicester have also shown earlier, in defeats at Charlton, Wednesday and Doncaster, that they can be vulnerable when playing away to teams fighting down at the bottom. If Millwall players rally around Harris, they can definitely take a result from this one. 1-1.

QPR vs. Doncaster

Harry Redknapp must be at a loss to understand why they cannot score more goals, as QPR have failed to net in each of their last three matches. In those three games, they have had an average of 58% possession, yet only three shots on target per match. This suggests that the midfield needs to show more ambition on the ball, and try to create openings. Doncaster cannot seem to score themselves, having found the net just once in their last five games. In fact, their last win actually came against QPR back in November, having taken a pitiful return of two points from seven games since. QPR need to return to winning ways. 1-0.

Reading vs. Nottm Forest

Reading are now near the bottom of the form table, having lost their last three matches. Nigel Adkins has plenty of work to do, if he wants champagne tasting to be a celebration of more than just New Year. Improving the midfield this January must be Reading’s main target. Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, will join the likes of Leeds, Wigan and others in the hunt for a striker. Billy Davies’s side have only conceded one goal in their last five, so a goalscorer would strengthen their promotion chances no end. They have completed back-to-back wins over fellow-contenders QPR and Leeds, meaning they are just five points away from the top two. Reading were a safe bet at home at the beginning of the season, but they have now won just one of their last five at the Madjeski. On respective current form, the Royals would do well to draw. 1-1.

Sheff Wed vs. Blackpool

A match against Blackpool was Dave Jones’s last in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, and this could be a similar story for caretaker boss Stuart Gray. Speaking publicly, Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric has given Gray two more games in charge, before deciding on the next full-time manager. Blackpool won the aforementioned match 2-0, but endured a complete loss of form after that result. They have now taken just one point from their last six since, and following defeat to Brighton, boos rang out across Bloomfield Road. Paul Ince has a difficult task to stop the rot. 2-1.

Yeovil vs. Watford

Yeovil have shipped eight goals in their last two matches, and are on a three game losing streak. Them and Barnsley will have their work cut out, if they want to remain a Championship club this calendar year. Watford on the other hand, have taken a respectable five points from Giuseppe Sannino’s first three games in charge. They kept a second clean sheet of his reign against QPR, as Sannino prefers a more defensive setup to predecessor Zola. This match is a good opportunity for Watford to propel themselves back into the top half. 0-2.

Gabriel's Weekend Predictions: Gameweek Twenty-Three

Premier League

This is the final round of Premier League games for 2013, in what looks to be a very open season at both ends of the table. There are just three points separating first from fourth in the title race, while the team in thirteenth is only three points away from the relegation zone, so plenty can change in the second half. This is yet another gameweek where two teams in the top four play, as Liverpool go to Chelsea, while Arsenal’s title credentials will be tested to the max at in-form Newcastle. We will see how the Cardiff team react to Malky Mackay’s sacking when they take on Sunderland, who may be bottom of the table, but recently got a shock win at Everton. 

West Ham vs. West Brom

Every team who was in the bottom three prior to Thursday’s games got a Boxing Day away win, and this has put West Ham in a vulnerable position. They were punished for missing two or three gilt-edged chances against Arsenal when a goal up, and conceded three goals in the last twenty minutes. The Hammers have three crunch games now. Trips to Fulham and Cardiff are coming up, but on Saturday they host a West Brom side in the process of appointing a new manager. The Baggies have somewhat halted the downward slide under caretaker manager Keith Downing, snatching a late equalizer against Hull and picking up a welcome point at Spurs. A third draw from three would suit the Baggies for now, but West Ham have won just one of their last eleven and that cannot continue. 1-1.

Aston Villa vs. Swansea

Problems have continued at Villa with a fourth consecutive defeat, but fans wanting Paul Lambert’s head are being too reactionary and short-sighted. It would be foolish to dismiss Lambert’s long-term plans for Villa over a few poor results, and the foreign players he has brought in this summer, such as Luna and Kozak, still need time to adjust. Swansea are not in the best form themselves, having won just one of their last eight in all competitions. They had most of the possession against Chelsea, but they seem to be lacking that extra spark of energy needed to create chances, when they have the ball. A draw would not be a bad result for either side. Swansea might settle for a point away from home, while Villa could do with simply stopping the cycle of defeats. 1-1.

Hull vs. Fulham

When Hull went 2-0 up against Man United after fifteen minutes, you might have fancied them to hold out. They had only conceded three goals at home up to that point, but they could not maintain their defensive record against the champions, due to a couple of basic errors. Fulham took their second win under the guidance of Rene Meulensteen, getting three points at Norwich thanks to a late belter from Scott Parker. Similarly to West Ham, Fulham have a key run of fixtures, with home games against the Hammers and Sunderland next up. The Cottagers have a good chance of taking three points here, too. Hull could be slightly demoralized by the defeat to United, while Fulham’s win at Norwich might just spark life into their season. 1-2.

Man City vs. Crystal Palace

This should be a comfortable win for Manchester City. However, from this game we might find out a little bit more about Manuel Pellegrini’s approach, and the team’s strength in depth. They go to Swansea on New Year’s Day, a team who try to drain the opposition by keeping hold of the ball. You wouldn’t necessarily want to go into that match having fielded a first choice eleven on the Saturday. This is where Pellegrini will earn his spurs by making judgement calls about certain fringe players who might deserve a run out, whilst also making sure they win the match. Crystal Palace climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since August with a win at Aston Villa, keeping a fifth clean sheet in eight games. A combination of Palace’s defensive strength and the possibility of Pellegrini rotating his side, means the scoreline might not be quite as emphatic as it normally is at the Etihad. 2-0.

Norwich vs. Man Utd

Norwich went down to a disappointing home defeat to Fulham, which keeps them only three points above the drop zone. If there is a positive for the Canaries, it is the form of Gary Hooper, who has scored four goals in his last six games and is beginning to repay the £5 million transfer fee. Man United have won their last five games in all competitions, but it is inaccurate to say that because of those results, they are back in the title race. The teams they have beaten are all bottom half opponents, and the Red Devils are still only seventh in the table. There are at least three teams who pose stronger threats at the moment. 1-2.

Cardiff vs. Sunderland

The inevitable has happened. After a 3-0 home loss to Southampton, Malky Mackay has been sacked as manager of Cardiff. This is a ‘chicken-and-egg’ situation, because the bad result came as a catalyst for the sacking. On the flip side, the players might have performed better if there was not this cloud of uncertainty hanging over them at the time, and Vincent Tan has not given Mackay a fair chance. The significance of Sunderland’s win at Everton remains to be seen. Gus Poyet’s side have kept three consecutive clean sheets, but on the other hand, they have failed to score six times in their last nine league games. The Black Cats need an experienced, proven striker in January, but if they are at the bottom you have to question who they would be able to attract, that would not rather go to a club in a safer position. The two teams are the joint-second-lowest scorers in the Premier League, and neither have a decent striker who can make the difference, so a goalless draw is a real possibility. 0-0.

Everton vs. Southampton

Everton lost 1-0 at home to Sunderland on Boxing Day, which is a result nobody could have expected. They battered Sunderland’s goal in the second half despite a man disadvantage, and would have possibly won had it not been for Vito Mannone in the opposition goal. Martinez spoke optimistically after the game, but that defeat represents a big opportunity missed, because Everton would be in fourth and two points above Liverpool had they won. Southampton won 3-0 at Cardiff, with a welcome first clean sheet since October, and that should establish them in the top half of the table this season. Everton must win this to keep up the pace with the top four. 2-1.

Newcastle vs. Arsenal

After Man City, Newcastle are the Premier League’s form team. Putting a few goals past a side with only nine men does not necessarily tell us much about a team’s quality. However - more tellingly - the Magpies have taken twenty-two points from a possible twenty-seven. They cannot stop winning. This is the ultimate test then, for title-chasing Arsenal. The Gunners went to the top of the table after a 3-1 win at West Ham, coming from behind in the second half. A positive is the return of Lukas Podolski, who grabbed a goal and an assist after coming off the bench. However, there were times in that match when their defence looked quite vulnerable, and it will face an even sterner test with Gouffran, Remy, Ben Arfa and Cabaye all impressing lately. When these teams meet it always produces goals, though this match may not be quite as dramatic as the 4-4s and 7-3s in recent seasons. 2-2.

Chelsea vs. Liverpool

Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in their last two matches, despite having had less possession, as Arsenal and Swansea settled on a patient approach against them. That may not be the best way to play against Mourinho’s men. This season, teams seem to have more success when they go for Chelsea’s throats. They look more vulnerable when opponents constantly attack and are not too concerned about keeping the ball, Newcastle and Stoke being classic examples. Their spine does not pose the same physical threat as it used to. Lampard, Terry and Mikel have all looked a little sluggish this season, while Luiz can be found out of position. With so much pace around Suarez’s world-class intelligence, Liverpool have a real chance of opening Chelsea up if they attack from the off. The Reds might just upset the Stamford Bridge crowd. 1-2.

Tottenham vs. Stoke

It has been a mixed start to Tim Sherwood’s reign at Tottenham, with a win, a draw and a defeat. The transfer window arrives after this round of games, but Tottenham should be one of the quieter teams. They brought in a lot of players this summer, so the issue is not so much the depth of their squad and more giving the men they brought in time to gel. Panic-buying is the last thing they should be doing. A strong first half of the season for Stoke became tinged with sourness on Boxing Day. They had two men sent off, their manager was charged with improper conduct, their goalkeeper was ruled out for six weeks – oh, and they lost 5-1. That was certainly not a good day for Stoke, and Tottenham will look to take advantage of their loss of key players. 3-1.

The Championship

Most of the key action is in the battle to beat the drop. Two teams at the bottom of the form book go head-to-head, as Neil Harris has his first game in football management, away to goal-leaking Doncaster. Another caretaker manager is in the fray, Stuart Gray takes his Sheffield Wednesday team to Charlton, who recently enjoyed victory over Brighton. Play-off contenders Nottingham Forest and Leeds do battle, with both having kept a number of clean sheets in recent weeks. 

Barnsley vs. Derby

If they want to stay up, this is a game Barnsley need to try and win. You might have expected Danny Wilson’s arrival to provide a ‘honeymoon period’, but they have not scored in either of his first two games in charge. If they could get a win unexpectedly, against a team near the top, then perhaps that would generate some momentum. A win on Saturday certainly would be unexpected. Derby are in excellent form, having only lost once since Steve McClaren took over, although their seven match winning streak ended with a draw at Huddersfield. Having led for most of the match, and missed a penalty in the first half, they let their lead slip with just four minutes to play. The one concern for Derby may be the fitness of Will Hughes, who picked up a knock in that match, but this game should not be a problem for the Rams. 0-2.

Blackburn vs. Birmingham

Blackburn have only lost once in their last ten games at Ewood Park, although a 0-0 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday is a poor result. This is the last match before the January transfer window opens, so top scorer Jordan Rhodes could be playing for his move to a Premier League club. Birmingham are eight matches unbeaten and are the Championship’s away specialists, having taken eleven points from their last five on the road. The Blues are beginning to look like a solid unit with Burn and Bartley at centre-back, because they did not allow Wigan any chances in a 0-0 draw, despite going down to ten men in the second half. This could be a tight game. 1-1.

Blackpool vs. Brighton

Blackpool’s disciplinary problems continued on Boxing Day. Kirk Broadfoot picked up his second red card in four games, and Blackpool’s sixth this December. Thankfully for the Tangerines, the incident happened in the closing stages, so their run of four straight defeats ended with a 1-1 draw against Leeds. Brighton were near the top of the form book just a few days ago, but they have dropped points with a draw and a loss against Huddersfield and Charlton respectively. However, in the 3-2 defeat at Charlton, the Seagulls saw an excellent return to action for Leandro Ulloa. Having been injured for two months, Oscar Garcia gave Ulloa his first start since picking up a foot injury back in October. Ulloa grabbed a brace, and if he can gain some form now, that is good news for Brighton’s play-off ambitions. Very often, they only require one goal to win a game. 0-1.

Bournemouth vs. Ipswich

Ipswich are the Championship’s form side, after Derby County. Following a 3-0 win at Doncaster, they have taken fourteen points from their last six games, David McGoldrick’s goals being key to this sequence of results. Bournemouth have been doing well lately themselves. They have won three of their last four, Matt Ritchie has put in some very impressive displays, scoring a brace in the 3-0 win over Yeovil. If you have watched Ritchie over the last month, you would not have guessed that he had just recovered from a long-term injury, and had not played since April. Ipswich will have a glint in their eye going into this one, just one point off the play-offs, while Bournemouth are already ten points clear of the drop zone. This match holds more significance for the visitors. 1-2.

Charlton vs. Sheff Wed

Charlton got a 3-2 home win over Brighton on Thursday, thanks to two goals from the rare source of right-back Laurie Wilson. That was their first win since November, and a very encouraging one. They came from behind against Brighton, who do not concede many goals. However, the Addicks are just three points above the drop zone, and cannot afford to rest on their laurels when they play relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls kept their second clean sheet under Stuart Gray at Blackburn, but the problem is going forward. In five games with Gray at the helm, Wednesday have only had twelve shots on target, which is a very poor record. To stay up, they need a manager who will show more attacking ambition. 1-0.

Doncaster vs. Millwall

A meeting of two teams right at the bottom of the form book. Doncaster have shipped three goals in each of their last four games now, and their 2-1 win against QPR at the end of November seems a very long time ago. The Rovers are just two points above the drop zone, and their next opponents are hardly in a better position themselves. Millwall sacked manager Steve Lomas after a 4-0 defeat at Watford. Lomas was arch rivals West Ham’s captain for eight years, so perhaps his immediate successor will be slightly more popular with Lions fans. Club legend Neil Harris has becomes caretaker manager. Harris might well get the backing of the fans, yet he has no management experience, having only began his coaching role at the club this summer. To go from retirement straight to managing a team might be too much of a challenge for him. Millwall need to appoint a new manager quickly. 3-1.

Huddersfield vs. Yeovil

After a brief spurt of three straight wins, Huddersfield are now without a win in four. Goalscoring is a worry, as James Vaughan has only netted once since 1^st October, and is looking a shadow of the striker he was in the first couple of months. When they went four games unbeaten, Yeovil seemed capable of breaking out of the drop zone. Back-to-back defeats have knocked them back again, particularly in the manner of their 3-0 loss at Bournemouth. With such a young squad it will be difficult for them to recover quickly enough. 2-1.

Leicester vs. Bolton

Dave Nugent scored his twelfth goal of the season, as Leicester beat Reading on Boxing Day. With that result, the Foxes went to the top of the table, three points clear of third place. They are improving  defensively, thanks partially to good performances from young Liam Moore, having conceded just seven goals in their last ten games the 20-year-old has played. Bolton’s away record continued with a win at Barnsley, but the other teams they have beaten on the road were Birmingham, Bournemouth, and Watford who were out of form. A trip to Leicester is a different proposition. 2-0.

Middlesbrough vs. Reading

Karanka looks to be improving results on Teeside. The start to his Middlesbrough career was mixed, at best, but after back-to-back wins Boro are now eight points clear of the relegation places. They can now start to look up the table, rather than down it. Reading have lost three of their last four and do not seem to be creating enough chances at the moment. With Pogrebnyak, Sharp and Le Fondre in the squad, they do not lack natural goalscorers, but have not got enough passing quality in the centre. Middlesbrough have won their last two, Reading have lost their last two, and both sequences could be extended. 2-1.

Nottm Forest vs. Leeds

Nottingham Forest are rediscovering the defensive solidity they had in August, despite being without Kelvin Wilson and Danny Collins. They have kept four straight clean sheets after a 2-0 win over QPR, but arguably, Forest have the opposite problem to Reading. Despite plenty of creative players in midfield, they have only had one goal from their strikers in their last five games. Leeds dropped two points in the second half against Blackpool, however, they have kept three clean sheets from their last five. The chances are, this will be a relatively low-scoring game, with Nottingham Forest possibly edging it. 1-0.

Watford vs. QPR

In 2011, this was the fixture which effectively sealed QPR’s promotion to the Premier League, barring the possible points deduction saga. This time, the match has different connotations, as QPR have slipped to third and cannot afford to fall further behind Burnley and Leicester. They have lost their last two games, against Leicester and Nottingham Forest, and have failed to score three times in their previous four. Watford got just the start Giuseppe Sannino will have wanted, a 4-0 win over Millwall in his first home game. Troy Deeney has now scored four goals in his last four games, and is starting to propel himself back among the top goalscorers in the division. For all QPR’s defensive talent, they do not score enough goals, which is poor given how much Fernandes has spent on the squad. 1-1.

Wigan vs. Burnley

Burnley missed a chance to go top when they lost at Middlesbrough, and a problem for the Clarets is that they have not won away since October. And this stat could still be in tact after they have played Wigan. The Latics have taken seven points from Rosler’s first three league games in charge, although they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Birmingham on Boxing Day. There is an eleven point gap between the teams, yet on paper Wigan have a better, and bigger, squad than Burnley. Over the Christmas period, Burnley’s squad might struggle playing so many games in such a short space of time. Their task will be made harder at the DW, because Wigan will play at a quick tempo, which might unhinge the Burnley defence. 2-1.

Gabriel's Boxing Day Predictions: Gameweek Twenty-Two

Premier League

Merry Christmas! The key Boxing Day game is undoubtedly the late kick-off at the Etihad, as Man City who have won eight out of their last nine, can overtake a Liverpool side who currently occupy top spot. There’s a clash of two form teams at St James’s Park as Newcastle host Stoke, and a key game at both ends of the table takes place in East London, as relegation strugglers West Ham look to beat title contenders Arsenal.

Hull vs. Man Utd

Steve Bruce

Four consecutive wins is just what was required for Manchester United, but they still face a challenge to reach the Champions League spots. Unlike the teams above them, United have never really looked particularly frightening this season, and at six points off fourth, there is work to be done. Despite just one win in seven, and a late two points dropped at West Brom last week, Hull still have a comfortable cushion of seven points between themselves and the drop zone. At home they are a very compact team, having conceded just three goals in eight games at the KC Stadium this season, so it will be difficult for Man United to break them down. They might just provide another setback for David Moyes’s hopes of a Champions League place next season. 1-1.

Aston Villa vs. Crystal Palace

Chamakh

Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Stoke saw a third consecutive defeat for Aston Villa. For a team relying heavily on picking up points on the road, back-to-back away losses are obviously not ideal. It is important then, that they beat Crystal Palace. Thankfully for Villa, a solid Palace defence has just been softened by Newcastle, who humbled the Eagles 3-0 at Selhurst Park. With none of the bottom half teams winning last week though, the damage is limited, as Crystal Palace remain just one point away from safety. Villa operate with a counter-attacking system, and work best when the opposition pushes men forward. But Pulis always sets up his teams to be organized defensively, even more so away from home. A combination of these factors may result in a stalemate. 0-0.

Cardiff vs. Southampton

The writing was seemingly on the wall for Malky Mackay after the match against Liverpool, where he looked to be waving goodbye to the Cardiff fans, in anticipation of being sacked. However, someone in the boardroom must have been talking sense to Vincent Tan, because it looks as though Mackay will take charge of this match. Hopefully Tan will be able to take a step back now, and allow the players to get on with their games, without any uncertainty. Southampton are without a win in six games now, two of those being draws. A dip in results was inevitable in some ways. The team started the season with a high pressing, fast tempo game, which can be difficult to sustain. Cardiff have been strong at home, so they might take advantage of Southampton’s poor form. 2-1.

Chelsea vs. Swansea

Michu

Chelsea got a reasonable draw at Arsenal on Monday, with Jose’s defensive tactics. The one positive is a second clean sheet in twelve Premier League games, but it was only because they were so happy to sit back and let Arsenal have the ball. If they were five points clear at the top that would be an understandable approach, yet it seemed like a missed opportunity to stamp some authority on the title race. Swansea went down to an unfortunate late defeat to Everton on Sunday. They could be starting a poor run of form, because three of their next four league games are against Chelsea, Man City and Man United. With Michu and Wilfried Bony back fit, they might be able to score past a vulnerable Chelsea defence, but Mourinho’s men will scrape a win. 2-1.

Everton vs. Sunderland

Lukaku

Everton’s bubble is showing no signs of bursting. They have taken thirteen points from a possible fifteen, and their only defeat this season was back in early October. The one concern would be the form of Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has failed to score in his last four games and could, potentially, see a barren spell. If Everton’s bubble isn’t bursting, Sunderland’s has barely been blown. They have already beaten Chelsea and Man City this season, yet cannot seem to string two results together. They have failed to score more often than not under Poyet, and therein lies the problem - there is a real lack of confidence going forward. Just three points away so far for the Black Cats suggests this will be a routine one for Everton. 2-0.

Newcastle vs. Stoke

Cabaye

Things are looking up for both sets of supporters. A Newcastle side who have lost just once in their last eight host a Stoke team unbeaten in four, and both have enjoyed wins over the elite in recent weeks. Newcastle look a much better team with Yohan Cabaye in, and it was the Frenchman who was at the heart of their win at Crystal Palace. Stoke could consider themselves slightly fortunate in their win over Villa, scoring with their two shots on target. Even with Mark Hughes’s more attacking approach, they’ve not always been clinical, which is an area they will look to improve. Newcastle’s only home defeat this season came in mid-September, while Stoke haven’t won away since August. Home win. 2-0.

Norwich vs. Fulham

Hughton

Rene Meulensteen will be disappointed at the manner of Fulham’s defeats to Everton and Man City. The team had been competitive in those games, on both occasions they were drawing midway through the second half, but lost their defensive grip at the end. This is perhaps where having the oldest squad in the division has cost Fulham, because they have conceded 41% of their goals in the last twenty minutes of matches. A run of just one defeat in five for Norwich means they can go into this game with an aim, rather than a desperate need, of three points. Chris Hughton deserves credit for the way he has finally galvanized the squad, made up of a lot of high-ego, expensive signings, after a difficult first few months. 2-1.

Tottenham vs. West Brom

Yacob

Tim Sherwood has been rewarded for Tottenham’s win at Southampton with the full-time manager’s job at White Hart Lane, a contract running until summer 2015. Considering Sherwood lacks experience as a manager, this seems like a bizarre appointment. If you’re going to sack Andre Villas-Boas, why replace him with someone with less knowhow? Keith Downing is likely to only be in charge of West Brom temporarily. However, he should get full marks for his first game. Both his substitutes, Gera and Vydra, combined to give the Baggies a late equalizer against Hull. West Brom play two defensive midfielders, Yacob and Mulumbu, which means it could be difficult for Tottenham to break them down given their narrow style of play. This could be a low-scoring affair. 1-0.

West Ham vs. Arsenal

Ramsey

Arsenal will expect to see lots of the ball here. Against Chelsea they had a very patient approach, where they tried to dominate the midfield, and Sam Allardyce will be content to let them have possession. His West Ham side are without a win in four. Yes, two of those games were away to Liverpool and Man United, yet they also failed to score past Crystal Palace and Sunderland. A goal at Old Trafford will boost Carlton Cole, yet it is difficult to see him thriving against the strength of Vermaelen and Mertesacker in Arsenal’s defence. A concern for the Gunners will be the decreasing form of Aaron Ramsey. His confidence is key to their title chances, but he has gone off the boil since the start of December. It might be a wise move for Arsene Wenger to leave him out of a couple of matches over this Christmas & New Year period, to make him fight for a place, as Arsenal have plenty of other good midfielders. If they can grab a goal in the first half, this should be a comfortable game for the Gunners. 0-2.

Man City vs. Liverpool

Hart

After a horribly inconsistent start, Man City are becoming a brute force in the title race. Concerns over their away form are being eradicated, with four wins and a draw from their last five games on the road in all forms. They have a distinct ability to outscore the opposition. City have only failed to score at least three goals once in their last nine matches, which makes the ‘Hart or Pantilimon’ debate almost redundant. The Citizens are now just one point off top spot, which is currently occupied by their opponents, Liverpool. The Suarez Show continued at Anfield on Saturday, but manager Brendan Rodgers has definitely done the right thing by labelling Man City as title favourites. Making that type of comment alleviates the pressure from his own side. They may get some joy down the left with Pablo Zabaleta a doubt, and Clichy struggled to adapt to right-back against Fulham. The Reds have a very young team though, and they will struggle against very powerful opposition. 3-1.

The Championship

This Boxing Day, each of the established top three have challenging games. Leicester host fellow promotion-contenders Reading, while QPR and Burnley have tough trips to Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough respectively. There’s a battle in the south-west between two of last season’s promoted clubs, Bournemouth and Yeovil. Leeds will look to move on from the disappointment of being held by Barnsley on their short trip to Blackpool, who have lost four consecutive games.

Charlton vs. Brighton

Jackson

Two teams with a defence-first philosophy. Only one team in the bottom half has conceded less goals than Charlton, while no-one outside the automatic promotion places has let in less than Brighton. Charlton captain Johnnie Jackson misses one more game through suspension, after a rash challenge in the match against Yeovil. He is one of the Addicks’ best players and they will look forward to his return, having taken just two points from their last five and continuing to look nervously over their shoulder. Brighton failed to get past Huddersfield on Saturday in a frustrating 0-0 draw, but following an injury, Leandro Ulloa might start his first game in two months after coming on as a sub in recent matches. If he is back to full fitness, Ulloa will provide a big test for the opposition defence. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Simon Church of Charlton, who has only scored once in his last ten games. 0-1.

Watford vs. Millwall

Lomas

Giuseppe Sannino prepares for his first home game in charge of Watford, after a reasonable draw at Ipswich on Saturday, thanks to Troy Deeney’s late leveller. Still, the Hornets are without a win in ten games, having lost their last five at home, which is something that must improve under the new regime. Millwall’s defensive woes continued against Middlesbrough, with some very sloppy play at the back. Concerningly for Steve Lomas, the Lions have taken just two points away from home since September, and they now have two games on the road between now and New Year. The fickle fans have turned against him, and he now has a challenge to motivate his players, and stop the team from being drawn into a relegation battle. He has a thankless task. 2-1.

Barnsley vs. Bolton

Beckford

Barnsley fans will have come away from Wilson's first game in charge, at Leeds, with mixed feelings. On the plus side, they drew away to a promotion chasing team, kept a rare clean sheet and silenced the normally prolific Ross McCormack. The minus side, they are still bottom of the table. Bolton have lost their last two away games, and after a disappointing home draw with Charlton, they are struggling to find enough consistency to climb the table. Jermaine Beckford has not scored in any of his last four appearances, and was restricted to the role of impact sub on Saturday, with Joe Mason starting instead. A draw is the safe bet here. 1-1.

Blackburn vs. Sheff Wed

Cairney

Often formidable at home, Blackburn have lost just one of their last nine games at Ewood Park – winning six of them. After a dry spell of form, Jordan Rhodes has now netted in his last two, getting the winner at Yeovil. Manager Gary Bowyer has said he would like to sign Tom Cairney on a permanent deal from Hull, and you wonder if a swap deal with Rhodes might be on the cards there, because Hull are in need of a striker. Sheffield Wednesday went down to a 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth, and have recalled Chris Maguire from Coventry to add to their attacking options. They are still just two points from safety with a game in hand on Charlton, but they blew a big opportunity by losing to Bournemouth. Whoever takes the manager’s job full-time has a difficult task. With Wednesday struggling, it is difficult to see Blackburn dropping points at home. 2-1.

Bournemouth vs. Yeovil

Grabban

Pleasingly for Bournemouth, they have won their last two away games to go a healthy eight points clear of the drop zone. To boot, Lewis Grabban has now netted twice in his last three games, and looks to be rediscovering his early season form that helped put the Cherries in the top half of the table. They play fellow promoted club Yeovil, who lost 1-0 at home to Blackburn last week, after a four match unbeaten run. Gary Johnson’s side can be proud of how they have remained competitive in this division, having looked almost dead and buried when they lost at Doncaster back in November. However, a quick sequence of games now may challenge a small, and inexperienced squad at Huish Park. A draw in the battle of the south-west. 1-1.

Doncaster vs. Ipswich

Dickov

Doncaster have conceded nine goals in their last three games. A recurring theme with the Rovers seems to be that they are decent defensively when they start well, but if they give away a goal early, the defence caves in. Paul Dickov’s side have conceded three goals or more on six occasions this season, yet they have also kept a respectable five clean sheets, so the key will be to not let the heads drop when they lose a goal. Having been a side very reliant on home form last season, Ipswich are now unbeaten away since September, leaving some to consider them play-off contenders. They now face two of last season’s promoted clubs, and struggling Charlton, so they have a good opportunity to pick up some more points. 1-1.

Huddersfield vs. Derby

Keogh

Huddersfield are beginning to look good at the back. They have only conceded five goals in their last six, and have managed to restrict their opponents to few shooting opportunities. However, just how far their defence has come will get the ultimate test. They play a Derby County side who have scored fifteen goals in their last five, and are on a historic run of seven consecutive wins. Whenever McClaren’s side attack, they dominate the opposition by sheer force of numbers, with so many runners from midfield. The good news for Huddersfield though, is that centre-back Richard Keogh has picked up a knee injury, and will miss this match. Derby are on a remarkable run, but one wonders how long it will continue. They might just have to settle for a draw at the McAlpine. 1-1.

Leicester vs. Reading

Schmeichel

Leicester got a massive win at QPR last week. They only had 38% possession, but managed to grind out a win thanks, in no small way, to an excellent performance from Kasper Schmeichel. A result like that will give the Foxes belief that they can go up automatically. Reading have been somewhat inconsistent in the run-up to Christmas, having had a pattern of ‘win one, lose one’, during their December matches. After a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan, they face a battle to stay in the play-off places in New Year, as they are only one point above seventh place. Leicester will be buoyed by their win at QPR and will have the confidence to take three points. 2-1.

Middlesbrough vs. Burnley

Ledesma

Middlesbrough got their second win under the stewardship of Aitor Karanka, in a 2-0 victory at Millwall. It was their first away win since the second match of the season, with Emmanuel Ledesma scoring a fantastic goal, but it is important Boro follow up that result to move up the table. Burnley go into Christmas top of the tree after a 2-1 win at home to Blackpool, having only lost once since August. Danny Ings scored his seventeenth goal of the season in that match, and he is proving to be a constant goal threat. If Middlesbrough could steal a draw from this match, that would be a good result and something for Karanka to build on. 1-1.

Wigan vs. Birmingham

Bartley

Birmingham will have a difficult job to continue their run of three straight away wins, against a Wigan side experiencing apparent revival under Uwe Rosler. The Latics have won back-to-back league games since the German took the helm, and if they can put a few wins together now, the likes of Leeds, Forest and Reading in the play-off places will be looking nervously below. As well as perfect away form of late, Birmingham are on a seven match unbeaten streak. They are starting to look difficult to break down as well, having kept back-to-back clean sheets. However, the Blues would do well to pick a result against improving Wigan. 2-1.

Blackpool vs. Leeds

Ince

Blackpool have lost each of their last four matches and are sliding rapidly down the table. Ironically, it is after Paul Ince came back from his five match stadium ban that they have started to lose games – maybe he’s a bad omen! Leeds have kept three clean sheets from their last four games, although they were left frustrated by rivals Barnsley on Saturday, Ross McCormack unable to work his magic on that occasion. Blackpool do not concede many at Bloomfield Road so this might be a tight game, but Leeds are in far superior form and might be able to grab a win. 0-1.

Nottm Forest vs. QPR

Phillips

A QPR side who have the best defensive record in the league, go to play a Forest side who have kept three straight clean sheets. In those games, Forest have only scored one goal, while only one team outside the bottom six has scored less than QPR. Put simply, this does not have the makings of a high-scoring game. It is surprising that Harry Redknapp’s side have struggled so much to score goals, because they have a wealth of quality, experienced attacking players. However, they might be able to bounce back from their first home defeat against Leicester. Nottingham Forest may struggle with this congested period of fixtures - injuries to key players have damaged their squad. 0-1.

A downward spiral at Ashton Gate

In May 2008, Bristol City were just one match away from a place in the Premier League. Almost 40,000 Robins fans made the journey to London to see their side play at Wembley, and attempt to reach the top flight for the first time in thirty years. A 1-0 defeat to Hull meant it was to be a disappointing finale to their season. And yet, once the emotion of that match had subsided, fans could reflect on another successful season with much satisfaction.

The club had only just been promoted from League One the season before. Under the long-term management of Gary Johnson, they had a very closely knit squad, and were working with the second lowest wage bill in the Championship. To reach the play-off final was, in itself, a remarkable achievement.

The club looked to be moving in the right direction, yet it was summer 2008 where one or two mistakes were made. Player ego was inflated by the success of the previous season, therefore the vast majority of the squad demanded – and were handed – much bigger and longer-term contracts. Not only this, chairman Steve Lansdown smashed the club’s transfer record to sign Nicky Maynard from Crewe, for over £2 million as a statement of intent.

Gary Johnson

But with more investment came more pressure, and the same players could not repeat their successes in the 2007-08 season. Not only did a drop in results end Bristol City’s promotion hopes, it also lead to a decrease in attendances, making this new wage bill more challenging. Gary Johnson made a rare nudge of the proverbial panic button, and brought in a few expensive loan signings to try to activate a promotion push. They did not work out. Most notably striker Alvaro Saborio, a Costa Rican international, only scored twice in twenty appearances for the Robins.

After a couple of midtable finishes, Gary Johnson departed as manager. The club paid out the remainder of his contract, due to run out in 2013. This was another expensive procedure which further hindered the club’s finances. Arguably, reaching the play-off final in 2008 worked against Bristol City, because it lead to bigger investments and riskier financial dealings to try to catapult a move into the Premier League. They might have been better off not reaching the play-offs, and ensuring a few years of sustainability.

Steve Coppell

To replace Johnson, Lansdown made a quick appointment of Steve Coppell. By the time he arrived, key defenders were already out of the door, which lead to the expensive buys of Nicky Hunt and Damion Stewart. However, the most irrational signing given the club’s circumstances, was of goalkeeper David James. James, forty years of age at the time, was reportedly given an astonishing £20,000 per week. A lack of dialogue regarding transfer resources between Lansdown and Coppell led to Coppell’s resignation, just two games into the season.

After Coppell left, Bristol City found themselves in a difficult situation, with a number of high-earning, aging players in the squad. This was the very opposite of the philosophy which earned the club a place in the Championship under Gary Johnson. Though Keith Millen did a good job in keeping them up initially, a bad start to the 2011-12 season led to his sacking. He too, he walked away with a big pay-off.

That same year, the club announced an annual net loss of £14 million. The wage bill was nearly £19 million, more than double what it was in the club’s first season in the Championship, yet much less had been achieved. Derek McInnes did a similar job to Keith Millen, in that he kept them up after taking over, but was sacked the following season.

It was only at this point that the club began to operate more prudently. The financial state, combined with more and more fans staying away, meant the board finally learnt that cut backs needed to be made. Cost cutting measures were introduced and the club began to build through the academy, which had been left neglected over the last few years.

Relegation to League One

Even with this new approach, they could not avoid the drop. With a 1-0 home defeat to Birmingham in April, inevitable relegation to League One was confirmed.  as Birmingham fans responded warmly with "you're going down 'cause you're f*cking sh*t".

It had certainly been a horrendous season for the Robins, in which they conceded eighty-four goals. Despite scoring more than most teams in the bottom half, they finished bottom of the table by some distance, due to an inability to defend. No team in the football league let in more than them that season.

Due to a turnover of thirty players this summer, many expected this to be a transitional period for the Robins, under Sean O’Driscoll. Key attacking players, such as Albert Adomah and Steve Davies, left the club to stay in the Championship. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has gone some way to recover the firepower, having netted thirteen times in twenty-two games to date. However, the defensive woes remained. Bristol City were in the relegation zone once again, this time in the division below, with just fifteen points from their first eighteen games. After that, O’Driscoll became the fifth managerial dismissal in three years at Ashton Gate.

Sean O'Driscoll

On paper, you would say that Sean O’Driscoll deserved his sacking. However, it perhaps points more faults to the boardroom than O’Driscoll. You can argue that had the club been more financially organised, the club would not have experienced this decline. The timing of his departure was bizarre, as Bristol City had only lost one match in their last seven in all competitions at the time, having just held leaders Leyton Orient to a draw. The defence, although disappointing, consisted of completely different players to those who started for much of the previous season, and arguably needed time to settle under the man who brought them in.

Steve Cotterill

Bristol City were never more than a few points from safety, and it would have shown respectable loyalty from the club to stand by O’Dricoll. They had talked the talk about carrying out a long-term plan for stability, but the board were panicked into a sacking which came about at the wrong time. He has been replaced by Steve Cotterill who is reasonably good at working under financial constraints, as he did at Burnley, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest. However, Cotterill seems to take a more old-fashioned approach, often favouring a long ball game. At Forest, he was seen to be berating his players for passing the ball short, rather than getting it up to the front men quickly.

As it is, Cotterill faces a sizeable challenge to keep the Robins up. They are now five points from safety, having taken just one point from the first three league games under the new manager, which is not the ‘honeymoon’ period he would have hoped for. Suffice to say, there are difficult times ahead for Bristol City Football Club.