Friday, 1 May 2009

Sport Preview, 1-3 May (Part I)

Football
Premier League
Manchester United can stretch their Premier League lead to six points by beating struggling Middlesbrough (19th, 31 points) at the Riverside in the early Saturday kick-off.

Sir Alex Ferguson is unhappy at being asked to play so soon after their European tie against Arsenal in midweek.

But United should still have enough for Boro who are actually unbeaten in their last nine home league and cup matches - although five were draws and two were cup wins.

Liverpool will be expected to haul United back to within three points as Alan Shearer takes his beleaguered Newcastle United (18th, 31 points) team to Anfield on Sunday.

Newcastle come into the match without a win since the start of February after the highly-anticipated home match against Portsmouth petered out to a 0-0 draw.

Indeed, Shearer may see this match as a damage-limitation exercise of preserving their superior goal difference over their fellow-strugglers.

Hull City (17th, 34 points) are most vulnerable to being caught, just three points above the drop zone with goal difference six worse than Newcastle and a record of one win in 18.

On Monday, they travel to Aston Villa who themselves are on a terrible run - without a win in nine games - which has seen them drop ten points behind Arsenal in fourth.

Villa could yet be caught by Everton for fifth - the gap is just two points - although the cup finalists may avoid throwing themselves into as many challenges as usual for the final four league games.

And, on Sunday, Everton will also have to contend with Sunderland (16th, 35 points), still playing to secure Premier League survival after their dreadful 3-0 loss against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

That win lifted West Brom (20th, 28 points) to within six points of safety but they will do well to follow it up with another away at Tottenham Hotspur, this Saturday.

Spurs may have shipped five goals at Old Trafford last weekend but they looked worthy of being the league's form team in the first half before the controversial penalty award in United's favour.

Fulham lead the chase for the final Europa Cup place, three points clear of Spurs and Manchester City, and two clear of West Ham United.

And Saturday's visit at Stamford Bridge has fallen at a kind time, with Chelsea distracted by their Champions League tie with Barcelona.

The Hammers will also have to win at Stoke City - only three clubs have done so all season - if they wish to take advantage of a slip-up by the Cottagers.

Perhaps Manchester City are a better bet on the back of an excellent win at Goodison Park last weekend.

Back at Eastlands, they entertain Blackburn Rovers (15th, 37 points) who still require one win to remain out of the mire.

In the weekend's other matches, Portsmouth might celebrate the survival which they effectively earned on Monday at Newcastle by notching a surprise victory against Arsenal.

The Gunners must overturn a 1-0 deficit in their Champions League tie against Manchester United next week, although they haven't lost in the league since November.

And - at the JJB - Wigan, sitting comfortably in 11th, play Lancashire rivals Bolton Wanderers, sitting almost as comfortably in 13th but without an away win this year.

***
The Championship
The final weekend of the Championship season promises to be as exciting as usual with promotion, playoff and relegation issues all undecided.

Birmingham City suffered an untimely loss to Preston North End last weekend as they aimed to join Wolves who were confirmed as champions.

This, along with Reading's defeat of Norwich City and Sheffield United's win against Swansea City, means the Blues, the Royals and the Blades all have a chance of avoiding the playoff lottery.

Birmingham still have their fate in their own hands and know that a win will do.

But, intriguingly, they travel to Reading, aware that a loss will lift the Royals above them.

Yet, even if Reading win, it may not be enough for them if Sheffield United beat Crystal Palace, managed by Blades fan Neil Warnock.

United would also go up if they win and Birmingham-Reading finishes as a draw.

Cardiff City still need a point at midtable Sheffield Wednesday to secure a playoff place.

The Bluebirds looked comfortably set for a top six place before a 6-0 loss to Preston and a 3-0 loss to Ipswich Town in recent weeks wiped out their goal difference advantage and left them looking over their shoulder.

Preston are the only team outside the playoffs who can displace a current top six member.

To do so, they will need to beat QPR at home and hope Cardiff lose and Burnley lose or draw at home against Bristol City.

At the bottom end of the table, Norwich's loss to Reading on Monday leaves only themselves and Barnsley in trouble. All teams from Nottingham Forest upwards are safe.

The Canaries, with one win in six, visit Charlton Athletic while Barnsley, with six draws in their last eight, make the long trip to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle.

The Tykes know another draw would be enough to secure survival with Norwich starting the final day three points adrift.

Charlton and Southampton are already down.

***
League One
With promotion and the playoffs all-but sorted, the focus in League One is avoiding the drop to the basement division.

Leicester City and Peterborough United will be playing Championship football next season and can relax on the last weekend.

MK Dons, Millwall and Leeds United all know their season does not end on Saturday as none of them can either win promotion or get knocked out of a top six spot.

The final playoff spot will be secured by either Tranmere Rovers or Scunthorpe United who play each other at Scunthorpe on the last day.

Not only do the Irons enjoy home advantage, they also enjoy a two point lead over Rovers.

At the bottom, Hereford United and Cheltenham Town are already relegated but the last two places can be filled by any of five teams.

Crewe Alexandra are easily in the worst position - three points adrift of Brighton and four goals worse off - with champions Leicester City to play at home.

Brighton are in the final safe position going into the final games. A win against Stockport County at home would secure their survival but a draw would leave them vulnerable to being caught by Carlisle United.

The Cumbrians, who face Millwall at home, start the day two points adrift of both Brighton and Northampton Town who enjoy a vastly superior goal difference.

And so even a draw for the Cobblers at Elland Road against Leeds will be enough.

If Brighton and Northampton survive, Hartlepool United may yet fill the last relegation place but only if they lose at Bristol Rovers and by a sufficient amount for Carlisle to enjoy a five-goal swing in their favour.

***
League Two
With Brentford promoted as champions, the final day battle in League Two revolves around who will join them in the two other automatic places.

Wycombe Wanderers are in the strongest position and know even a point at home against Notts County will be enough for a runners-up spot and promotion.

That would leave the final automatic place to be contested by Exeter City - who travel to Rotherham United - and Bury, who face Accrington Stanley at home.

Going into the matches, Exeter enjoy a one-point advantage over the Shakers but are five goals down on goal difference.

The loser of that promotion battle will join Gillingham and Rochdale who are fixed in a top-seven position for the playoffs.

The final place in the playoffs will be filled by either Dagenham & Redbridge or Shrewsbury Town.

They face each other in a winner-takes-all match at Dagenham on the final weekend with the home side beginning the day two points ahead.

Luton Town and, effectively, Chester City are already out of the league.

Other sports
In boxing, Ricky Hatton defends his unbeaten light-welterweight record against Manny Pacquiao in a highly-anticipated bout in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Hatton is looking to follow-up his November victory over Paulie Malignaggi as his career continues to recover from defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr at welterweight in December 2007.

The Mancunian is now trained by Floyd Mayweather Sr and has weighed in at 140lb for the fight which will be attended by 25,000 British supporters.

And British boxing fans will hope to celebrate for a second weekend running after Carl Froch made a fantastic comeback against Jermain Taylor to retain his WBC super-middleweight crown last Saturday.

Nottingham's Froch was well behind on points going into the last round when he pummelled the exhausted Taylor, causing the referee to stop the fight with seconds remaining.

But in the way of further British success will be the Fillipino Pacquiao, who weighs in 2lbs lighter and has a record of 48 wins, three draws and two losses.

***
In rugby union, the Heineken Cup is at the semi-final stage with recently-crowned Magners League champions Munster facing Leinster in an all-Irish match in Dublin on Saturday.

A day later, in the other tie, Cardiff Blues will play Leicester Tigers in front of a fervent Millennium Stadium crowd.

F1
RIP Ayrton Senna (born 21/3/1960, died 1/5/1994).
Three World Championships, 65 pole positions, 41 race wins.

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