Gabriel's Weekend Predictions: Week Thirteen

My predictions for this weekend's matches in the Premier League and Championship.

Premier League

Aston Villa vs. Sunderland

Good substitutions from Lambert

Thanks to a second half comeback, Aston Villa gained a point at local rivals West Brom on Monday night. A triple substitution from Lambert with half an hour remaining made the difference, as Weimann, Agbonlahor and Delph injected pace to Villa’s play, and the equalizer from Ashley Westwood was top class. The result is unlikely to change much in the context of their season though, because Villa are looking secure in midtable. The word ‘secure’ certainly cannot be used to describe Sunderland. The Black Cats are bottom of the table after a 2-0 defeat to Stoke despite a reasonable performance, and thankfully for them Wes Brown’s ban has been rescinded, because he should not have been sent off. They showed some creativity, but a big problem is the confidence of lone striker Steven Fletcher. Fletcher picked up an injury in October and has not looked particularly decisive in front of goal this season. There might only be a three point gap between Gus Poyet’s side and safety, but losing to one of your relegation rivals will be tough to bounce back from. Sunderland have not scored on their travels since August, so this might be a narrow home win. 1-0.

Cardiff vs. Arsenal

Arsenal need their leaders

Cardiff always provide the top teams with a real examination when they come over the border. Man United, Man City, Everton and very nearly Tottenham have come away from Cardiff without the three points they were expecting. In each of those games their opponents had more possession, but Cardiff made themselves difficult to break down, and posed a very big threat in set piece situations. A few things then, for Arsene Wenger to worry about. He has seen his side beat high-flying Southampton last time out, but he win came from a comedic error by their keeper and a penalty for shirt-tugging, neither of which were exactly vintage goals. This is a game that Arsenal need to be fully-focused for, and leaders such as Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Flamini have a big responsibility to make sure concentration does not drop, particularly for the set plays. Arsenal have kept four clean sheets from their last five matches, which suggests they are getting strong defensively. With Arsenal’s passing ability they should control this match, it is just a question of whether they can break Cardiff, a tenacious team, down and stay alert for their set plays. 0-1.

Everton vs. Stoke

Stoke in transition

A match between two teams changing their approach a little bit this season, with new managers in charge. Over the past few years, Everton and Stoke built their teams on rigid, solid foundations under Moyes and Pulis respectively. This summer, they brought in more adventurous, attack-minded managers in Martinez and Hughes, and both clubs can be satisfied with the transition thus far. Everton are only one point away from the Champions League spots, while Stoke have lost just one of their last five games, following an important win over Sunderland last week. However, after a late equalizer from Liverpool last week, Everton are now on a run of three consecutive draws. They need to get a win before trips to Man United and Arsenal in the next few days, and will have to cope without the injured Leighton Baines, who is an integral part of their attacking play down the left hand side. Still, they should beat Stoke, who were a little fortuitous in their win over Sunderland last week. 2-0.

Norwich vs. Crystal Palace

"Damn, what have I done?"

This could prove to be a very big weekend for the battle to avoid the drop, with four of the bottom five teams playing against each other. This is Tony Pulis’s first match in charge of Crystal Palace, and he was thrown a lifeline by caretaker Keith Millen, who guided them to a scrappy win at Hull last time out. There are some important games coming up now for the Eagles, after this they have home clashes against West Ham and Cardiff in the next week, but the squad they have is always going to struggle to stay up. Norwich will be without winger Robert Snodgrass, who has been one of their better players this season, but the way the team defended at Newcastle will be more of a concern for Chris Hughton. They had won their last match and, playing away from home, the team would be expected to keep it tight at the beginning. Instead, they gave away a cheap goal from a corner and fell 2-0 down by half-time. Only Sunderland have conceded more goals than the Canaries, so they must improve at the back. With it being an unknown how Pulis’s arrival will impact Palace’s results in the short-term, a draw is the safe bet. 1-1.

West Ham vs. Fulham

Allardyce under pressure

A goalless draw is the outcome which jumps off the page here. These are two of the oldest squads in the Premier League, with both managers under pressure, and both clubs are fearing relegation.  West Ham have only scored three goals in their last five home games, having failed to net in their last two, and groups of Hammers fans are starting to turn on manager Sam Allardyce. Likewise, the pressure is growing on Martin Jol at Fulham. The Cottagers have lost their last five matches in all competitions, so morale will not be high and it is difficult to see them having the energy and confidence to attack West Ham. Both teams often sit dip and play in their own half, and West Ham now tend to play without a recognized striker, while Fulham’s front line has very little work rate. It all makes for a dreary atmosphere, and a game which will lack energy and spark. 0-0.

Newcastle vs. West Brom

Remy continues to flourish

Toon fans who were campaigning against the lack of summer spending, and Alan Pardew a few weeks ago, have been a bit quiet lately. It is very much the nature of football, that short-term results on the pitch change everything with regard to fans’ attitude to the people in charge of their club and, well, Newcastle have won their last three matches. Loic Remy continued his impressive scoring record with an eighth goal of the season against Norwich, which was a third consecutive game he has found the net, making him now the Premier League’s fourth top scorer. West Brom could not hold onto a two goal lead over Aston Villa on Monday, stumbling to a 2-2 draw, which keeps them in the bottom half of the table. Shane Long went from not having netted this season, to being West Brom’s top league goalscorer in the space of two games. The Irishman has struggled with a knee injury so far this season, but he is a very strong, hardworking forward who can be useful to West Brom’s attacking play. Newcastle could go fourth with a win – their season is looking up. 2-1.

Tottenham vs. Man Utd

Is AVB the man for Spurs?

Robbie Savage made some comments about Tottenham in his weekly video. I agreed with him that Villas-Boas has been too negative, playing two defensive-minded midfielders in home games against weaker teams, while Lennon and Townsend have not put enough crosses in for Soldado. However, he also ‘ruled out’ Tottenham for a Champions League place, which is premature. They are only two points off fourth, and have £105 million worth of new talent in their team. The players they have brought in will need to take time to settle, and once Villas-Boas gets his tactics right, there is no reason why Spurs cannot start to put wins together. However, on Sunday they face a Manchester United side who beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 on their own turf on Wednesday. That said, the result had more to do with Leverkusen’s performance than United’s, because the German’s were awful at the back. A repeat of last season’s 1-1 draw is an outcome which neither side would be too happy with, because both teams will be expecting to finish higher than where they are at the moment. 1-1.

Hull vs. Liverpool

Agger back for Liverpool

Hull have had back-to-back defeats, in disappointing circumstances. They were completely outplayed by Southampton a few weeks ago, and fell down to the 10-men of Crystal Palace last time out. They have only scored two goals in their last four games, which suggests that Steve Bruce may need to invest in a striker in January, for their effort to stay away from the relegation dogfight. Liverpool have kept just the one clean sheet since their run of 1-0 wins at the start of the season, and they conceded three goals at Everton last time out. They need to become more solid at the back if they want to stay in the top four, although the recent return of Daniel Agger from injury should see them improve defensively. Luis Suarez has been sensational since he came back into the team. He is just one goal behind the league’s top scorer, despite having played just seven matches, and you would not bet against him engineering a Liverpool win here. 0-2.

Chelsea vs. Southampton

Progress from Oscar

Chelsea got a comfortable 3-0 win at West Ham last week, thanks to a very strong performance from Oscar. The Brazilian was slightly inconsistent last season, but having had a year to settle in England, he looks a very big threat going forward for Chelsea. Despite a reasonable performance at Arsenal, Southampton came away empty handed, largely because of a blunder from Artur Boruc in the first half. It is possible that Southampton will start to slip down the table in the run up to Christmas, and as well as they have done so far, they are unlikely to keep pace with the top six. They might just be due a heavy defeat, and the high pressing game the Saints operate against the top teams will not necessarily work against Chelsea, who can move the ball very quickly in the attacking areas. Chelsea will have had five days to correct a poor performance in Basel on Tuesday, and could record a big win, to damage Southampton’s strong defensive record thus far. 3-0.

Man City vs. Swansea

Etihad is City's safe haven

People have been pinpointing time on the ball as a reason Man City’s form has been so different when at home, to when playing away, but I am not so sure this is accurate. Surprisingly, they have only had an average of 53.5% possession at home in the Premier League, compared to 60% away. Perhaps concentration at the back has been a problem, because three of their four away defeats came from conceding goals in the last fifteen minutes. Thankfully for City fans, this is a home game, and they have won every single match at the Etihad so far. Swansea got a win at Fulham last week, thanks to a top quality late goal from Jonjo Shelvey. However, the concern for them is that top scorer Wilfried Bony could be out for weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Valencia. This game should not be a problem for Man City. 2-0.

The Championship

Nottm Forest vs. Reading

Cohen out for Forest

Something of an injury crisis has hit the City Ground, with potentially five important players missing on Friday night, captain Chris Cohen having picked up a knee injury in the draw against Burnley. Nottingham Forest had a lot of possession in that match and perhaps deserved more than a point, but with the injuries mounting, these next few matches will provide a big test of squad depth. Reading are in poor form, having won just one of their last seven matches, and worryingly they only had one shot on target against Blackburn last week. High earner Pavel Pogrebnyak is an experienced international - he needs to start firing for the Royals. 1-1.

Bournemouth vs. Brighton

Brighton improving under Garcia

The clash of the south-coast clubs. After an excellent start to the season, Bournemouth are beginning to slip down the table, having taken just one point from their previous four matches. The Cherries are now down to sixteenth and struggling to find their vitality and buoyancy, which made them a force in the early weeks of the campaign. It has been a case of very much the opposite for Brighton. After a dreadful start, results gradually picked up under Oscar Garcia, and now they have won three consecutive matches. The way the Seagulls are playing at the moment, this could be a fourth. 0-2.

Barnsley vs. Birmingham

Blues extend Lingard loan

This is a game in which both teams will be inclined to take an attacking approach. For a home game against a side slightly above the relegation zone, Barnsley will feel they need to win this. Likewise, Birmingham will fancy their chances against the worst defence in the Championship. However, Barnsley’s lowly position in the table does not reflect that they have only been beaten once at home since the opening day. Birmingham have extended the loan of Jesse Lingard from Man Utd until New Year, which is good news, because he adds pace and guile to the Blues front line. This has potential to be a high-scoring contest. 2-2.

Blackburn vs. Leeds

Leeds have power in midfield

Blackburn have failed to score in their last two matches, and despite having Jordan Rhodes in the team, their season seems to be falling flat. The worry for Rovers is that they do not seem to have too much of a physical presence in midfield. The likes of Lowe and Williamson might well get dominated by Leed’s Austin and Murphy, who are very tall, powerful players. And, if Blackburn are struggling for goals at the moment, Leeds certainly aren’t. They have scored fourteen times in their last five matches, winning four of them, with Ross McCormack getting most of the goals. Leeds are looking in great shape at the moment, but whether they get a play-off place depends on whether they can keep up their form for long spells. 1-2.

Blackpool vs. Sheff Wed

Ince returns from stadium ban

Last week, Blackpool got what turned out to be a decent point at Birmingham. None of the three teams below them had won and the Tangerines now have two games, against Wednesday and Yeovil, from which maximum points must be the objective. They also recall manager Paul Ince for the first time since his five match stadium ban, for violent conduct. People connected with Blackpool have said that the ban was harsh and that Ince only needs to learn to control his passion, but I’m having none of it. To shove, and reportedly threaten to ‘knock out’ a fourth official is disgraceful behaviour for anyone involved in football, let alone a manager. Every Monday morning I expect to find out that Dave Jones has left Sheffield Wednesday, because the team cannot seem to find a win. In many cases, defeat at home to Huddersfield would have been the final straw. However, the Wednesday board have given him a vote of confidence and with Milan Mandaric reportedly looking to sell the club, perhaps his priorities lie elsewhere. This should be a comfortable win for Blackpool. 2-0.

Charlton vs. Ipswich

Stephens in form for Charlton

Charlton kept their fifth clean sheet in the space of under two months when they beat Doncaster 2-0 on Tuesday night. It was an excellent volley from Dale Stephens which opened the scoring, and now the Addicks are looking fairly safe. Ipswich are very much your bog standard Championship team, in that they are unpredictable. They never seem to put together a particularly telling sequence of results, and have won five, drawn five and lost six of their games, sitting in midtable since the beginning. There is little separate the teams. 1-1.

Doncaster vs. QPR

Big win for Doncaster last Friday

Doncaster got an important 2-1 win over Yeovil last Friday, despite having 10 men towards the end, and Mark Duffy’s late free-kick capped a promising performance from the winger. However, it is one thing to do well against the Championship’s bottom club, it is another to do it against one of the top teams in the division. QPR picked up a sixth 1-0 win of the season against Charlton last week. Notably, QPR have had the majority of possession in all but one of their matches this season (that one surprisingly coming against Yeovil), they seem to have a knack for holding onto the ball and waiting for their opponent to lose focus. It could be a similar story at Doncaster. 0-1.

Huddersfield vs. Burnley

Positive return from Clayton

Huddersfield got a deserved 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday last week, having been boosted by the return of Adam Clayton and James Vaughan from injury and suspension respectively. Playmaker Clayton in particular had a big impact, scoring and grabbing and assist, though striker James Vaughan may need some time to return to match fitness. Burnley did a lot of defending to get their point at Nottingham Forest last week, which will go down as a decent result. However, the pressure will be on them this week, because Leicester and QPR level on points, will both be expected to win. The Clarets face a difficult run of games between now and Christmas, and with a small squad, this might be where results start to dwindle. 1-1.

Leicester vs. Millwall

Good charity work from Millwall FC

Leicester have home advantage this weekend, as promotion rivals Burnley and QPR are both playing away. The Foxes bounced back from their loss against Nottingham Forest to take three points at Ipswich last weekend, which suggests that the derby defeat was simply a one-off result. Top teams always need to be wary of complacency when they play Millwall though, as QPR, Burnley and Blackpool all found to their cost. The Lions have a habit of excelling against the higher teams, and a scrappy win over Barnsley last week keeps them well above the relegation zone. As a footnote, the club deserves much credit for their work in support of Prostate Cancer UK, after playing in a white strip to raise awareness last week. 2-1.

Middlesbrough vs. Bolton

Shay joins up with old rivals

Bolton are making great strides forward now, having won three consecutive games, and the Trotters could move into the top half for the first time this season with a win. Jermaine Beckford scored again at Watford last week and is one of the in-form strikers in the Championship, having netted in five of his last six games. This is a first home match for Aitor Karanka in charge of Middlesbrough. After defeat at Leeds, although it was a good performance, his first few games could go either way. The fact that Middlesbrough have got such a big squad suggests that it might take Karanka a few weeks to settle into the job, and assess which players are part of his plans. Goalkeeper Shay Given arrives on a short-term loan from Aston Villa due to Jason Steele’s suspension, perhaps surprisingly after he had spent so much of his career at rivals Newcastle. The last time he played, he looked very shaky in Villa’s Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Bradford, and he could struggle due to a severe lack of match practice. Bolton might just have the momentum to win this. 1-2.

Watford vs. Yeovil

Gary Johnson's side struggling

This is a must-win game for both clubs, for different reasons. Watford were looking a reliable bet for the play-offs just a few weeks ago, but with a 1-0 loss against Bolton last week, they have fallen down to tenth. A defeat on Saturday would be the first time Watford have lost four consecutive home games since December 2007, so they must recover quickly from this downturn in form. The Hornets have a good opportunity to do so when they play Yeovil. The Glovers have lost their last three, six points adrift of safety, and they will still be reeling from their late loss at Doncaster last time out, despite having a man advantage towards the end. Yeovil have nothing to lose, but if Watford cannot win this one then it is difficult to see them making the play-offs. 2-0.

Wigan vs. Derby

Derby - no mugs

Sunday’s game sees two teams who, like virtually everyone in the Championship, have realistic hopes of getting into the play-offs. Wigan went down to a surprising loss at home to Brighton last week, which was their first defeat at the DW Stadium. It will be a disappointment for Owen Coyle, because the Latics were unbeaten in four matches beforehand. However, they still have the best defensive record outside the top three, and play a Derby side who have scored more goals than any other team in the league. Not only that, but they have also kept back-to-back clean sheets, which suggests that they are improving defensively under Steve McClaren. 1-1.

Blues 1-1 Blackpool: A Fair Result

A draw at St. Andrews on Saturday saw Birmingham move four points away from the relegation places, while Blackpool remained fourth in the table. The young and spritely Jesse Lingard opened the scoring for Birmingham in the first half, before the more experienced Ricardo Fuller levelled for Blackpool ten minutes later. In a relatively high-tempo and game, a draw was the fair result.

Birmingham started the match on the front foot, pressing high up the pitch and looking to get the ball forward quickly. Zigic was the only recognized striker, but playing behind him was an attack-minded trio of Burke, Novak and Lingard, who often looked to break forward. With Blackpool playing a five in midfield, our central duo of Reilly and Adeyami were forced into a more direct passing style, because if they tried to pass the ball short and patiently, they would have been outnumbered in the centre. My criticism of the trio who played behind Zigic, therefore, would be that they didn’t quite track back enough and offer the easy option for teammates. Over the course of the match, this led to a few misplaced passes from Callum Reilly and Tom Adeyami, who are hardworking players yet they cannot be relied upon for creativity in midfield.

In the first 20 minutes, Blackpool did not threaten at all. They seemed to play very deep, almost negatively, and it left many wondering why they were so high up in the table. At times Ricardo Fuller looked isolated on his own up front, and at 34, it was unclear whether he would have the legs to play as a lone striker.

On 27 minutes, the first goal came through Jesse Lingard. Capitalizing on a very poor backpass from Kirk Broadfoot, he tucked the ball in with a crisp finish to mark his sixth goal for the club since joining on loan from Manchester United. A goal fully deserved, because Birmingham had had the majority of the play at that point.

We then saw the best and worst parts of having a young, academy graduate in your side. Birmingham’s left-back Mitch Hancox had been having an excellent game so far. He had kept one of the best young English wingers in Tom Ince quiet, was strong in the challenge, which often earned him a roar of support from Blues fans, and he showed some decent skill on the ball as well. His passion for the club shone through. However, 10 minutes after our goal, he was caught out of position on the left and the talented Ince ran past him, and drilled a low cross for Ricardo Fuller, who placed the ball home with an assured finish. Hancox’s commitment to the cause has never been in doubt, yet his young age makes him liable to making costly errors in terms of defensive positioning.

After the goal, Blackpool found some momentum, and began to look very strong on the counter attack. Ince, who had failed to impress for most of the first half, suddenly looked his menacing self, as a man who had once attracted the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson, amongst other elite managers. He seemed to have rediscovered his confidence and ability to beat a man with raw pace and strength, yet also showing great intelligence on Blackpool’s breakaways, which he was often at the centre of. He cut inside from the left with just one Blues defender back, and picked out Fuller for a second time, whose fierce shot into the near corner drew a reaction save from Darren Randolph.

The half-time whistle sounded with the score at 1-1. Though that did not reflect our slight superiority in the time leading up to their equalizer, Blackpool looked extremely dangerous in the last 10 minutes of the half, leaving some Blues fans pondering whether they would take a point.

Shortly after half-time, Lee Clark brought Callum Reilly off for Dariusz Dudka to make his debut. The ex-Poland international had signed for Birmingham City on a two month contract a few weeks ago, although Clark had been keen to wait for him to regain match fitness before fielding him. Dudka’s performance gleaned mixed reviews from Blues fans. To some he looked slow, and a little bit of a lightweight in the centre, although his technical talent came to light, hitting a sweet volley from outside the box minutes after coming on, which flew just over the bar.

Both sides had their chances in the second half. It took a heroic clearance off the line from Dan Burn to deny Ricardo Fuller, whose shot looked to be trickling into the net. A Blackpool pass across the edge of the box looked to create a big opportunity, though it was Neal Bishop who had the task of scoring. He couldn’t do better than hit it straight at the keeper, as a less attack-minded player.

There was a scrappy phase in play until the last ten minutes, when Birmingham battled to try and capture a win. There were brief moments when Blackpool’s penalty area became a game of ping-pong, Novak threatened to score with a left-footed effort, while late substitute Demarai Gray hit his shot straight at Matt Gilks with a half-chance before the end.

All in all, the draw was a very reasonable reflection on the balance of play. In a game of plenty of chances, particularly in the second half, either side could have nicked a win. A point apiece does not do much to change either side’s respective causes. Birmingham keep some distance between themselves and the relegation zone, although they havea potentially important match at Barnsley next week. For Blackpool’s play-off ambitions it is a decent point too. None of the three teams who were below them prior to kick-off won, and the Tangerines next face two of the current bottom three sides in Sheffield Wednesday and Yeovil. A draw was a respectable result for both clubs, and it was a fair one.

Gabriel's Weekend Predictions: Week Twelve

My predictions for this weekend's matches in the Premier League and Championship...

Premier League

Everton vs. Liverpool

Cheeky celebration from Suarez

The first Merseyside Derby of the season. Both former-Swansea managers, Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers, will be looking for a first win against their new arch rivals. A big game in terms of local pride, but it will also provide an intriguing test of both sides’ European credentials this season.  Everton have kept three straight clean sheets and are looking very difficult to break down, particularly with Gareth Barry sitting in front of the defence - his ability to recycle possession seems to ease the pressure on the back line. On the other hand, Liverpool have scored sixteen goals in their last six games, thanks largely to a certain Uruguayan. It was Suarez who made the headlines in this fixture last season. He celebrated a goal by taking a Klinsmann-esque dive in front of then Everton manager David Moyes, who had made (rather valid) claims that he goes down too easily. Love him or loathe him, nobody can deny that Luis Suarez is a world-class footballer. He might just prove it again, by providing a moment of magic in what could be a tight, tense game at Goodison Park. 0-1.

Arsenal vs. Southampton

Wojciech told what his new salary is

This week, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczecsny has signed a new contract with Arsenal, which must go down as good news for the club. His shot stopping has developed over the last year or so, and the fact that Arsenal had the second best defensive record in the league last season is a clear sign of improvement from him. He may be tested on Saturday though, because Southampton put four past Hull before the international break, and they play at a very high tempo, which could worry the gangling Per Mertesacker. It seems bizarre to think that we are in late November, but a recently promoted club like Southampton could go top of the league with a win! After the defeat at Old Trafford, it is difficult to tell whether Arsenal have the capability to win the title, but they might edge out a promising Southampton team. 2-1.

Fulham vs. Swansea

Bony finding form

Fulham put in a terrible performance in the 4-0 defeat to Liverpool. Yes, they were playing against someone with the quality of Suarez, but they seemed to stand like statues for the goals. A fourth successive defeat in all forms will not help the mood in the camp, and many will fear for them defensively playing against a team with Swansea’s fluidity and movement. The Swans are the highest scoring team in the bottom half of the table, and big money signing Wilfried Bony is now beginning to find some form, having netted three times in his last two games. Fulham have an aging defence and I fancy Swansea to play through them, to put Martin Jol’s position as manager under yet more scrutiny. 1-3.

Hull vs. Crystal Palace

"We're looking for a manager. Our position in the table? I'll get back to you."

It looks likely that Tony Pulis will take on the Crystal Palace job. Reportedly he is in advanced talks, and in this case you can understand why the Palace board are keen to take their time over the appointment. Their relegation looks almost inevitable, but it is important they bring in the right man to get them out of the Championship – Pulis’s experience doing so with Stoke could be useful. Palace have failed to score in six of their last eight matches though, and cannot seem to find the net at the moment. Their chances of doing so on Saturday are not particularly high, seeing as Hull City have kept three consecutive clean sheets at home, and Steve Bruce is doing an excellent job of stabilizing them in midtable. The last time there was more than two goals scored in a game at the KC Stadium was March 16th, which suggests this may not be the most memorable one, but it is clear which team has adjusted best to life in the Premier League. 1-0.

Newcastle vs. Norwich

A solid face of rock - Krul

Norwich’s 3-1 win over West Ham last time out could prove pivotal. At half time, West Ham were 1-0 up and bossing the game, putting Norwich right in the thick of the relegation dogfight, following a humiliating defeat at Man City the week before. With the pressure on, to score three goals against West Ham, who can be tough to break down at times, says a lot for the team spirit and Chris Hughton deserves credit. They face a Newcastle side who have bounced back from that derby defeat to Sunderland, by taking maximum points from Chelsea and Tottenham. Tim Krul put in an astonishing performance at Spurs, and if he can maintain that when up against a lower team, Newcastle should pick up a third consecutive clean sheet.  Back-to-back wins against two of the top teams in the league will fill the Magpies with confidence, so they have to be expected to win this and move into the top half. 2-0.

Stoke vs. Sunderland

Important win for Sunderland

In some ways the international break came at the wrong time for Sunderland. Although you don’t want to go into it after a defeat, it is not ideal for it to come right after a vital, morale boosting win, because it can drain out some of the momentum. Either way, that result is one that nobody expected, and it does give Sunderland hope of staying up. Stoke snatched a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Swansea last time out, and that result keeps them above the drop zone for now. What will worry new managers Mark Hughes and Gus Poyet, is that neither side has a reliable goalscorer, so there might not be anything to separate the two teams. 1-1.

West Ham vs. Chelsea

"Please, just give us a pen ref!"

Chelsea need to get back to winning ways. After a disappointing performance at Newcastle, and effectively cheating their way to a last minute draw with West Brom, it is important they take three points against London rivals West Ham. The hosts lost 3-1 at Norwich before the break, although only two teams outside the top five have conceded less goals than the Hammers, who have kept a clean sheet more often than not this season. West Ham will certainly make themselves difficult to break down, and it could be a test of Chelsea’s exotic attacking players such as Hazard and Mata, whether their quality can shine through. 0-2.

Man City vs. Tottenham

Should Defoe get more games?

A clash of this season’s underachievers. Manchester City have been a completely different team when playing at home, to when playing away. They have won all five of their home games convincingly, yet they have lost four out of six on the road. Manuel Pellegrini must be wondering why the team cannot convert strong performances at home, into their away form – it is difficult to understand. Injuries over the past few weeks to key players such as Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho have perhaps had an impact, but a vast improvement on away form is crucial to City’s title chances. Tottenham have been rather uninspiring so far as well. Only the bottom two clubs have scored less goals than Spurs this season, despite so much money being spent this summer on attacking players. They created a lot of chances in the 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle, but Roberto Soldado has been very disappointing, having only scored from open play once. Now may be the time for Villas-Boas to give Jermain Defoe a run in the team to enhance competition. Man City to win this and continue their 100% record at home, it is away where they must pick up. 2-1.

Cardiff vs. Man Utd

Carrick a loss for United

This is a potentially difficult trip for Manchester United. Cardiff fans always create a boisterous atmosphere in their backyard and they will be psyched up for the visit of the champions, making it difficult conditions for Moyes’ side. United will be without a number of key players. Most notably Michael Carrick whose composure on the ball would be useful in this type of match, Phil Jones picked up an injury with England, while Vidic, Rafael and Robin van Persie are all fitness doubts. Cardiff have only scored one goal in their last three matches though, that one coming from a set piece, and with Peter Odemwingie as the loan striker they are not posing much of an attacking threat. United have started to discover some momentum under Moyes and if they can keep Cardiff at bay, they will grind out a win which could take them into the top four for the first time. 0-1.

West Brom vs. Aston Villa

Baggies yet to extend Clarke deal

A game between two Birmingham clubs who are slap-bang in the middle of the table, have picked up four points each from their previous two matches - both look to be completely safe this season. West Brom are close to tying down the talented Saido Berahino to a new long-term contract which is a plus, although more concerning for Baggies fans will be the contract of manager Steve Clarke. He has done an excellent job since taking over from Roy Hodgson, and for West Brom to be on course for a second successive finish in the top half speaks volumes. Having worked on a relatively low budget as well, Clarke is arguably one of the most underrated managers in the top flight, so chairman Jeremy Peace needs to sort out a deal quickly. Two late goals saw Aston Villa beat Cardiff before the international break, one of which a sublime free-kick from Leandro Bacuna, who is looking an excellent signing from Paul Lambert. A comfortable season in store for both clubs. 1-1.

The Championship

Doncaster vs. Yeovil

Yeovil loan Taylor

Doncaster fans might be concerned about their position in the relegation battle. They did keep a clean sheet last time out at Barnsley, but that was because their opponents missed a penalty, and Doncaster did not hit the target against the Championship’s weakest defence. With Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday having winnable games this weekend, Doncaster must beat bottom of the table Yeovil Town on Friday night. The Glovers failed to score for the eighth time when they played Wigan, and they might start to become more frail at the back, with yet another change in the goalkeeping department. They brought in Reading’s reserve keeper Stuart Taylor, on a one month loan, who will be the fifth goalkeeper to play for them this season. So many different keepers coming in at different times is bound to unsettle the defence, and stop the keeper and back four from developing an understanding. Doncaster will take advantage. 2-0.

Sheff Wed vs. Huddersfield

Vaughan back from suspension

This could prove to be a massive game for Sheffield Wednesday, and manager Dave Jones. It is one which will be even bigger if, as predicted, Doncaster beat Yeovil on the Friday. The Owls’ 3-0 defeat at Derby suggests that their shock 5-2 victory over Reading was just one of those bizarre results, rather than a sign of future improvement. They put in a very poor performance at Pride Park, and Derby’s second and third goals came about from sloppy defending. If Jones had the full respect of the Wednesday players, after the morale-boosting result beforehand, they would surely not have lost so heavily? Following a bright start, Huddersfield have slipped down the table of late, losing 3-1 at home to Birmingham last time. They have lost four of their last five matches, although they do look forward to the return of top scorer James Vaughan, from his three match suspension. The Terriers have scored in each of their last eight games, which suggests the creativity is there in midfield. Vaughan’s power up front could give them the boost needed to take all three points, and apply the pressure on Dave Jones. 1-2.

Birmingham vs. Blackpool

Will late Ipswich defeat deter Blackpool?

This season, Birmingham have worked on a basis of ‘one good performance, one bad performance’, having lost every match that followed a victory. They won 3-1 at Huddersfield before the international break, which takes them to three points above the relegation zone, having been inside it before the match. Blackpool lost only their second match of the season against Ipswich, thanks to a last minute goal. They could experience a decline now. Teams like Watford, Reading and Wigan have arguably more proven quality, and that result will drain some of Blackpool’s momentum. Both teams play with one recognized striker, in Nikola Zigic and Ricardo Fuller, and the key to the match could be who provides the most support from midfield. 1-1.

Blackburn vs. Reading

Adkins' side can improve on the road

Blackburn have usually got a strong home form, having picked up thirteen of their nineteen points at Ewood Park, although there may be a cloud hanging over the South Lancashire club at the moment. While rivals Burnley are the surprise table-toppers, Blackburn look to be struggling financially, lost 3-0 at Brighton last time out, and there are fitness concerns over top striker Jordan Rhodes. They come up against a Reading side who bounced back from that humiliating defeat at Wednesday by taking a decent point against QPR, thanks to a fine showing from keeper Alex McCarthy. Away form has been Reading’s stumbling block this season, with just eight points from seven games on the road. If Nigel Adkins can put that right, the Royals look a good bet for at least a play-off place. 1-2.

Bournemouth vs. Derby

Rantie scored first goal for Bournemouth

More goals have been scored in matches involving either Bournemouth or Derby, than any of the other teams in the league - this probably means it will be a goalless draw! Derby are the highest-scoring team this season, while only Barnsley have conceded more than gung-ho Bournemouth. The Cherries attained a credible draw at league leaders Burnley, after Tokelo Rantie’s opener. Derby though, have taken the majority of their points away from home this season, and come into this game off the back of a 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday. Bournemouth tend to press high up the pitch, which can leave gaps in behind, and so far Derby have looked good at exploiting the space by moving the ball quickly. This will be a fifth away win of the season for the Rams. 1-2.

Ipswich vs. Leicester

Cresswell suspended

Ipswich got a first away win at Blackpool last time out, but that result is unlikely to change much in the context of their season. Under Mick McCarthy, they play with a very rigid 4-4-2 and do not seem to have enough attacking flair in midfield. Leicester’s 2-0 home defeat to rivals Nottingham Forest will have left a bitter taste in the mouth before the international break. They need to get back to winning ways quickly, as they are level on points and goal difference with QPR in second place. The Foxes may have some joy down the right hand side, as Ipswich’s key left-back Aaron Cresswell is suspended after his second yellow card for abusive language in the match against Barnsley. Without an obvious second choice left-back, the inexperienced Tyrone Mings may be forced to fill in as he was against Blackpool, and he could struggle against a winger with the quality of Knockaert. Leicester to scrape an important win. 1-2.

Leeds vs. Middlesbrough

"Bit windy up here" - Karanka

This is Aitor Karanka’s first match in charge of Middlesbrough. His appointment might bring the excitement factor back to the Riverside, as the club did not seem to be progressing under Tony Mowbray. His first task is a tough game at Leeds, who won back-to-back matches before the international break to move one point off the play-off spots. In those games, all six goals came from Ross McCormack, who is now the Championship’s leading scorer. I still think Leeds will not finish higher than midtable though, because only a month ago they were well inside the bottom half, perhaps this has only been a peak in form. Plus, if anything happens to Ross McCormack – injury or transfer – then they are snookered for goals. Middlesbrough are an unknown quantity in terms of how Karanka’s arrival will impact the team, so the safe bet is a draw. 1-1.

Millwall vs. Barnsley

Just one away point for Barnsley

This is another important game in the battle to avoid the drop. Millwall’s problem this season has definitely been performing against the lower teams. They have taken ten points from seven games against sides in the top half of the table, yet only four points from eight against those in the bottom. The team clearly has difficulties playing when the onus is on them to win, and such will be the case against Barnsley, who sit inside the relegation zone. The Tykes have the worst away record in the Championship, having taken just one point from seven matches on the road. However, this does not tell the whole story, because David Flitcroft’s side are unbeaten in four games, and their survival hopes are very much in tact. Barnsley did the double over Millwall last season, and that makes them my tip for a surprise win at the weekend. 1-2.

Nottm Forest vs. Burnley

Forest won 2-0 at rivals Leicester

A match between two teams who are difficult to place, in terms of this season’s promotion battle. Forest got a surprise 2-0 win at rivals Leicester before the international break. Whether that is a sign of their promotion credentials or simply an odd result, remains to be seen. It was very much a ‘smash and grab’ job, because Leicester had most of the play. That said, a win over your rivals is always going to boost morale, so it will be interesting to see how Forest come into this game. When Burnley beat QPR 2-0 at the end of October, they looked unstoppable. However, they have slipped up against Millwall and Bournemouth in matches since, which makes it difficult for us punters to judge whether they will go the distance. A game which could easily go either way. 1-1.

QPR vs. Charlton

Charlton - an organized side

Two sides who rely on defensive nous, more than attacking potency, for their respective ambitions. In a difficult run of games, QPR have only won one of their last five, although only one of those games ended in a defeat. The Rs should return to club football with a win, and will be relatively comforted to know that their next four opponents are currently in the bottom half. As for Charlton, the unpredictable nature of the Championship dictates that when you’re a club who has kept four straight clean sheets, you concede four goals in your next match. The Addicks fell victim to the Ross McCormack massacre when they hosted Leeds, yet they are still the most defensively organized side in the bottom half of the table. A routine win for QPR is the most likely outcome. 2-0.

Watford vs. Bolton

Zola's side struggling for form

Watford are struggling for form at the moment, having taken just two points from their last four matches. Throw in the club’s financial penalty of £900K due to ex-board member Laurence Bassini’s actions, and things are not looking as rosy this season for Watford as many Hornets would have hoped. They are starting to struggle at home as well, having lost back-to-back matches at Vicarage Road for the first time since August 2011. Under Dougie Freedman Bolton look to be finally climbing the table now. They are unbeaten in seven matches and despite the continued absence of several key players, now including keeper Adam Bogdan, they are starting to show why they were among the pre-season favourites for promotion. If Bolton can win this, a play-off push will be in sight, but a draw is a bit more likely. 1-1.

Wigan vs. Brighton

Barnes needs to start firing

No side outside the play-off places have conceded less than Wigan and Brighton, which suggests this will be a low-scoring affair (cue the 4-3 thriller!). A third of Brighton’s overall goals tally this season came in their last two matches, when they put three past Doncaster and Blackburn. Ashley Barnes scored a brace in the Blackburn match, yet they were his first goals of the season from ten appearances, so he needs to discover his form very quickly. Wigan’s impressive defensive record continued with a clean sheet last time out, albeit at lowly Yeovil, but the Latics are still unbeaten at home. If they can grind out a win here, their game in hand will worry some of the teams in the play-off position. 1-0.