This week’s sports preview sees the battle to beat the drop from the Premier League take centre stage once again.
Football
Starting at the Riverside Stadium, freefalling Hull City (15th, 34 points) will go a long way to retaining their Premier League status by beating Middlesbrough (19th, 27 points).
The Tigers have managed only two league wins since October. But they face a Boro team which is already five points from safety having slumped to an alarming 4-1 defeat against Bolton Wanderers last week.
Stoke City (13th, 35 points) can make themselves just about safe by continuing their excellent home form against struggling Newcastle United (18th, 29 points) in Alan Shearer’s first away match as manager.
And Portsmouth (16th, 33 points) will expect to beat lowly West Bromwich Albion (20th, 24 points) at home to move within the finishing line, the Baggies having been cut adrift at the bottom and now eight points from safety.
Sunderland (17th, 32 points) face an altogether tougher home assignment against leaders Manchester United. But they will be heartened by United’s recent record of ten goals conceded in their last four matches.
United’s nearest challengers, Liverpool (one point behind, having played a game more) entertain
Blackburn Rovers (14th, 34 points) on the back of their 3-1 home defeat against Chelsea in the Champions League quarter finals.
Chelsea (a further three points back, having also played a game more than United) play Bolton Wanderers, the Trotters having jumped up to 37 points with that 4-1 success over Middlesbrough.
Leading the chase for the final Europa Cup place, West Ham United in seventh travel to Tottenham Hotspur, unbeaten at home in all competitions since November, in a London derby.
And eight-placed Wigan Athletic, who are three points behind the Hammers, play at home against fourth-placed Arsenal, who are unbeaten in the league since November.
On Sunday, Manchester City will want to bounce back quickly from their disappointing midweek defeat to Hamburg in the Uefa Cup by beating Fulham, with only one away win all season, at home.
And Aston Villa, not so long ago leading Arsenal in the fight for fourth place, now have to protect fifth from Everton who are just one point behind before their visit to Villa Park.
Golf
This weekend will also see the conclusion of the first Major of the year at the Augusta National in the US Masters.
After the first two rounds, leaders Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry are on -9 with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera on -8 as their only immediate challenger.
Campbell has led the competition from its early stages but was joined at the top by his American compatriot Perry after he had shot a five-under-par 67 yesterday.
Another American, Todd Hamilton, is in fourth on -6 with South African Tim Clarke just behind on -5, hoping to emulate his countryman Trevor Immelman’s success last year.
In a remarkable turn of events on day two, American Antony Kim recovered from a 75 on the opening day to hit a course-record 11 birdies in a round of 65 to jump to -4.
The European challenge is being led by a Spaniard and a Swede with Sergio Garcia also on -4 and Henrik Stenson on -3 at the halfway stage.
A whole host of players are at -2 including Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, looking for a third successive Major title after the Open and US Open last year.
Joining Harrington on -2 are England’s Lee Westwood and 1988 champion Sandy Lyle, the Scot making the cut for a third successive Masters after he hit five successive birdies on the back nine yesterday.
Northern Ireland’s young gun Rory McIlroy, also on -2, faced a nervous wait before being confirmed in the third round.
McIlroy endured a frustrating second round, dropping five shots on the last three holes and appearing to kick the sand when trapped in a bunker on the last.
But he was later cleared of infringing the rules after Masters officials ruled that he was not testing the conditions.
Tiger Woods put in another steady round and is another man on -2. Woods will certainly be one to watch out for tomorrow as it is likely to be then when he makes his move, for Woods has never won a Major having been behind after 54 holes.
Of those who did not make the halfway cut, South Africa’s Gary Player and possibly Australian Greg Norman will have made their last appearance at Augusta.
Other sports
In rugby union, the four quarter finals of the Heineken Cup will be played this weekend.
On Saturday, Cardiff Blues face Toulouse at home and in an all-English contest Leicester Tigers face Bath at Welford Road.
On Sunday, Harlequins are at home to Leinster while Ospreys travel to bookmakers' favourites Munster.
In cricket, defending County champions Durham will resume their first innings on 311-4 on the final day of this season’s curtain raiser against the MCC at Lords.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this being England on a Bank Holiday weekend, rain has washed out any chance of a result in that match.
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