Saturday 9th April
English Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City
The Grand National takes place tomorrow but the football season continues in tandem as Spurs chase the points they need to make the Champions League place against a resilient Stoke side.
Harry Redknapp will not have slept much since his side’s demolition job at the hands of Real Madrid. It was a crushing blow for the young Spurs side who were firmly brought back down to earth after a plethora of good European nights already this season. Their cause was not helped, of course, with the dismissal of Peter Crouch so early in the match, but the writing was on the wall even earlier than that. The measure of a good side is how they respond to such disappointments and Redknapp has made little secret to the regard he holds his side in. He firmly believes that he is just a couple of players short of challenging for the Premier League title. Whether that is the case remains to be seen, but no-one can argue that when Tottenham are on form, they are a match for any side in the world. They have a small chance of finishing in the top four for the second consecutive season but they must get back to winning ways, starting tomorrow. Without a win in four matches, it’s the wrong stage of the season to begin to falter.
Stoke are just a couple of points away from readying themselves for another season in the Premier League next term. Tony Pulis will be hoping they can accumulate those points as quickly as possible in order to begin planning for the new campaign. He will also be looking to better last season’s point total of 47. Currently nine short of that amount, it may be a big ask with just 7 games to go. It’s not as though they will be lacking any motivation as the club preparers for one of their biggest games in their history, an FA Cup semi final against Bolton. Every player will be giving their all between now and next week to ensure they are involved at Wembley. Pulis will have been slightly disappointed with his sides recent run of form away from home. They have lost their last five in the league and have won just three games on the road all season. That will be something he will be hoping they can improve on in the future.
Spurs have had a taste of the Champions League and will be desperate for another crack at it next season. They still have the return against Real Madrid to look forward to, but the likeliest outcome is that it will be their last foray this time around. They know the odds are stacked against them getting fourth place as they are currently five points behind Chelsea having played the same amount of games. Nothing less than a win will do for their cause and I imagine they will be going all out for the three points.
Stoke have that semi-final to look forward to next week but there is little chance of them taking their eye off the ball. Chelsea were held to a draw last weekend against them when City were very unlucky not to take all three points. Their home form and away form are two different entities altogether though. With that in mind, and Spurs’ urgent need for a win, I would side with the home team on this occasion.
Jermaine Defoe is also long overdue a goal at White Hart Lane so back him to score anytime.
My Selection: Tottenham Hotspur to beat Stoke at a best priced 4/5 with Betfred
Jermaine Defoe to score anytime at a best priced 13/8 available with Boylesports
English Championship
Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace may have taken a massive step to survival last week but the pressures remains on as they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich.
Paul Jewell is only a few months into the job as Ipswich manager but it has certainly been eventful as the end of season approaches – a league cup semi-final against Arsenal; steering the Tractor boys clear of relegation; and constant speculation surrounding their star teenage striker Connor Wickham. The latter of the three seems to have also been resolved in recent days as Wickham, rated as much as £12m, has signed a new long term contract with the club. It will be great news for everyone associated with Ipswich, not least their manager. Jewell will be planning next season around the striker who has scored five goals in his last 10 games. Ipswich had big hopes for this season but things have never really got going. Roy Keane paid the price for that and since his departure things have definitely picked up. They are comfortable in mid-table and their playing squad looks a lot more balanced as well as having more quality.
Crystal Palace scored late on last weekend to secure a vital three points against Barnsley. With that victory and results going their way elsewhere, it was an excellent weekend for the London club. Dougie Freedman now has his side seven points clear of Sheffield United with seven games to go. Not out the woods yet, the pressure remains on until they are mathematically safe but it certainly provides some much needed breathing space. What will concern Freedman, and Eagles fans alike, is their deplorable away form. Palace have won just one game on their travels all season – in October. It means that they have picked up just two points from their last 13 away games. If it wasn’t for their fine home record in recent months, Palace would have been as good as relegated. With four of their last seven games away, there has never been a better time to turn fortunes around.
I touched on the quality that Jewell has added to the squad since his arrival and with names such as Jimmy Bullard and Kieron Dyer plying their trade at Portman Road, there should be some decent games between now and May for the fans to enjoy. They will be hoping that is the case as they have had to endure several disappointments this season, especially at home. Ipswich have lost nine games at home already this season so will be anxious to end the season on as high a note as possible.
This season’s struggles will have been even harder to take due to their arch rivals Norwich flying high and challenging for promotion. With that in mind, and Palace’s terrible record on the road, I fancy the home side to notch their third consecutive win.
My Selection: Ipswich to beat Crystal Palace
Best odds available: 17/20 available with William Hill
English League One
Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday
At the start of the season you would have been forgiven if heading into this match it was Sheffield Wednesday who would be topping the league but as it is, it’s their opponents, Brighton – coasting towards the League One title.
Gus Poyet must be a shoe-in for League one manager of the year as his side are 11 points clear of the top and with a game in hand. The Seagulls have also earned further plaudits as they have achieved this by playing football the way it should be played. Players such as Ashley Barnes, Glenn Murray and Chris Wood will earn many plaudits for their goals, but credit must also go to their defence as they boast the best defensive record in the league. Marcos Painter has not missed a match in the league this season and has been fundamental to the success of Brighton. It’s players such as him that provide the backbone to mount such title charges and such influences cannot be underestimated.
Sheffield Wednesday have had an horrendous season and one of massive disappointment for a club of their size. They have won their last two games which basically ensures their safety and alleviates the chances of an even more embarrassing fall into League two. Gary Megson must be hoping that this season ends as quickly as possible as he has done little to improve his reputation after taking over from Alan Irvine earlier this season. His eyes will be on next season and restoring some much needed respect for such a historic club. Tomorrow’s match will be a test of those hopes, however, as it will examining how many players will be needed between now and the beginning of August.
Brighton remain undefeated at home and although it will be secondary to their main goal of being promoted and going up as Champions, their professional pride and desire will be looking to maintain such a record in the closing stages of the season. The last team to leave with the Withdean with anything was Charlton in December, so Brighton have actually won every home game in 2011 – a magnificent feat thus far. It’s one I can certainly see continuing tomorrow as the Seagulls have been in irresistible form and with Wednesday being so up and down this season, I don’t believe they have the arsenal to trouble Brighton, let alone defeat the league leaders.
My Selection: Brighton to beat Sheffield Wednesday
Best odds available: 3/4 available with William Hill
