By Barry Robson
Barry Robson casts his eye over the weekend’s football and gives you his best bets. With plenty of draws in the Champions League, can there be four score draws in the Premier League, Barry thinks so….
Spurs v Sunderland
Aaron Lennon is not expected to be back in time for Tottenham’s clash with Sunderland on Saturday. The 22-year-old winger missed the North London derby after suffering an ankle injury against Stoke the week before.
Spurs have pencilled Lennon in for a return after the international break, meaning that his availability for England’s friendly against Brazil could also fall into doubt. Fellow injured party Luka Modric has provided more positive news for Harry Redknapp after recently returning to light training.
The club have not yet set a date for Modric’s return to first-team action as the Croatia midfielder is still considered a long-term absentee. Striker Jermain Defoe is in line to make a return against Sunderland after serving out a three-game suspension for his red card against Portsmouth. Redknapp believes his side have suffered greatly from the absence of Lennon, Modric and Defoe. He said:
“They are three of my best players. Modric is a world-class player in my opinion. Lennon is a threat when he has the ball and goes at people. Defoe has been in incredible form this year. Suddenly we miss him for three games. It’s cost us dearly when he got sent off at Portsmouth.”
Central defender Sebastien Bassong has also been ruled out of the Sunderland clash with a hamstring problem. Jonathan Woodgate is set to make a return to the starting line-up after being forced off with a head injury in the defeat against Stoke.
“He has been pretty unlucky against Stoke to take a bang. He’ll be back in contention,” Spurs assistant boss Joe Jordan said on Sky Sports News.
Meanwhile Steve Bruce is refusing to get caught up in the hype surrounding Sunderland’s impressive progress this season. The Black Cats can boast a healthy tally of 17 points from their 11 Premier League fixtures so far, seeing them comfortably into the top half of the table.
A number of eye-catching displays have drawn widespread acclaim, while a battling 2-2 draw with West Ham on Saturday showcased their new-found resilience. Bruce admits he is pleased at the way the 2009/10 campaign is shaping up for his side, but has warned that there is a long way to go before the club can claim to have achieved their goals.
“The campaign is a long one and it’s not just going to happen where we turn ourselves into European contenders overnight – this club has only been two years out of the Championship,” Bruce told the club’s official website. There’s still a lot of work and a lot of improvement to do until we get to a point where we can say it’s a blip if we play poorly. We have got to look at it this way – can we do the same over the next 11 games? Can we pick up another 17 points? If we do that, we will have a decent platform for a decent season.”
Bruce is also aware that the foundations for a successful season are often built on home soil, and he has called upon his Black Cats to ensure that the Stadium of Light remains a fortress this term. He said:
“The most important thing is doing it in front of our own fans, and that’s what we knew we needed to do this year. People were telling me the best performances last season were away from home, but now I think the fans have realised there’s been an improvement and they can understand and enjoy what we are trying to do on the pitch. The players deserve a pat on the back because we have lost once – against Chelsea – and that’s a decent return.”
Result: Score Draw Man To Watch: Andy Reid First Scorer: Darren Bent
Last Seasons Fixture: The Stats…
Bent is the main man for Sunderland
Blackburn v Portsmouth
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has admitted Benni McCarthy could leave Ewood Park in the January transfer window. The South Africa international striker has not started a Premier League match for Rovers since the opening day defeat against Manchester City. And with the 2010 World Cup in his homeland looming large on the horizon in the summer, McCarthy is keen to be playing regularly. The form of fit-again playmaker David Dunn is keeping him on the sidelines and manager Allardyce is aware McCarthy will not be happy with a place on the bench.
“At his age I’d understand if he wants to play first-team football and at the moment he can’t get it here,” he said.
Peter Storrie has expressed his delight for manager Paul Hart following Portsmouth’s upturn in form. Pompey carved out an unwanted piece of history by losing their first seven Premier League matches of the season amid shambolic scenes off the field and the ownership of the club changing hands. The dismal run of results prompted calls for Hart to be sacked but chief executive Storrie kept faith with the under-fire boss and has been rewarded. Portsmouth have picked up seven points from their last four games and could move out of the relegation zone with a victory over Blackburn this Saturday.
“I’m delighted for Paul. He deserves success,” Storrie said in The Sun. It’s been such a tough time for everyone but he has been an absolute brick right the way through it.”
Result: Score Draw Man To Watch: Benni McCarthy First Scorer: Benni mcCarthy
Last Seasons fixture Stats…
Portsmouth- up turn in form
Hull v Stoke City
Incoming Hull chairman Adam Pearson insists under-pressure boss Phil Brown will remain in charge for Sunday’s clash with Stoke. Brown’s position at the KC Stadium has been the subject of intense speculation in recent days following the departure of close ally and former chairman Paul Duffen Hull have won just three of their last 33 Premier League matches and Saturday’s 2-0 loss at Burnley has left them third from bottom of the table.
There had been speculation that losing at Turf Moor – where Pearson looked on – could spell the end for Brown, but no decision is likely to be made this week. Pearson’s, whose second spell at Hull is likely to be confirmed on Monday, has assured Brown he has his full support and that he will stay in charge for the visit of Stoke next Sunday.
“Phil is the manager of Hull City and he still will be next Sunday,” Pearson told the Hull Daily Mail. It’s a results business but he retains my full support. I’ll be there to provide as much support as is possible for the manager. I’ll bring a fresh pair of eyes to it and hopefully, in conjunction with the manager, we can turn things around on the pitch.”
Stoke midfielder Salif Diao is confident of being fit for this weekend’s trip to Hull. The Senegal international missed last weekend’s draw with Wolves after picking up a knock in training. Diao is making good progress with the injury and is hoping to be available for Tony Pulis’ side at the KC Stadium.
“Things are progressing well and I definitely have a chance for the Hull game. A scan didn’t show anything major, but we decided to play it safe (last weekend),” Diao told the club’s website. It was disappointing for me not to be able to play, but it is not about me, it is about the team. I have to be honest with myself, my team-mates and all the other lads who play in the same position as me.”
Result: Score Draw Man To Watch: Liam Lawrence First Scorer: James Beattie
Last Seasons Match Stats
Phil Brown - clinging on to power
Wolves v Arsenal
Kevin Doyle reveals that Wolves’ recent resilient form has given them the confidence to get a result against Arsenal at Molineux next week. Mick McCarthy’s side have managed to gain creditable points against established Premier League sides such as Everton and Aston Villa in recent weeks as well as a 2-2 draw with Stoke at the weekend.
The result at the Britannia Stadium was all the more pleasing seeing as Wolves had gone into the half-time interval 2-0 down. Doyle, a £6million summer signing from Reading, insists that the spirited second-half fightback has buoyed the squad ahead of the daunting visit of Arsenal.
“It’s been three big draws, Aston Villa, Everton, Stoke,” he told the Birmingham Mail. “If we can perform like that, we should have no problems. It is fine margins. We are talking about three results and if we had lost 2-1 to Stoke we’d have been talking about points lost and struggling. Now we are positive and the second 45 minutes makes such a difference. We are looking for a tough game against Arsenal. It is always difficult but teams have shown you can get points against anyone these days and we are at home.”
The Irishman also highlighted that a stern talking to by McCarthy at half-time ensured the comeback at Stoke:
“It was a good comeback. In the second half we were well on top. The gaffer wasn’t happy at half-time. We put it right and that is the main thing.”
Despite going three games unbeaten Doyle admits it would have been nice to have turned one of those draws into a win.
“It is disappointing we didn’t get a win out of one of them,” he added. “We deserved that. We could win one or lose two and it’s the same number of points.”
Arsenal recorded a comfortable 4-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday to move them within touching distance of the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. Cesc Fabregas netted a brace while Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby also got their names on the scoresheet as the Gunners made amends for a sloppy draw versus the Eredivisie champions a fortnight ago. Arsenal captain Fabregas broke the deadlock on 25 minutes with a low strike and then a fine goal from Nasri doubled the home side’s lead before the half-time whistle.
Fabregas made it 3-0 early in the second half before Diaby finished off a flowing move to wrap up the win for the table-toppers, while a late goal from AZ’s Jeremain Lens proved only a consolation for Ronald Koeman’s side. Olympiakos’ loss against Standard Liege in Group H’s other game on Wednesday night means Arsenal are yet to mathematically progress to the knockout stage of the competition.
Result: Score Draw Man To watch: Cesc Fabregas First Scorer: Kevin Doyle
No match last season 9wolves in Championship).
Arsenal look red hot but should draw says Barry
