Dmitry LONGICH
MATCH TOUR
Arsenal - Chelsea. Losers of the semi-final semi-finals and part-time fighters for the victory in the Premier League at home will not have an affectionate welcome - the duelists will have to pass the derby test. “Blue” by the time the match with Arsenal begins for more than a day will know the result of a competitor and have an exhaustive idea of the picture of the championship race. And she is unlikely to cheer Chelsea - only the defeat of Manchester United leaves Londoners with unimaginable chances for the title. However, it is necessary for Jose Mourinho to win the team in any case - it is necessary to atone for sins before the fans and the leadership. Arsenal is also difficult to suspect of peace: a victory over Chelsea is a great chance to color the end of the pale season. And even if the result of the match will not be of any practical use, this regrettable fact will not affect the degree of confrontation - it is a derby to be valuable in itself.
UNEXPECTED INTrigue
Manchester City - Manchester United. Stunned in Milan, “Manchester United” must quickly rise and adequately meet a principled opponent. The team of Sir Alex Ferguson has little time to recover, the merciless English calendar measured only two days to eliminate the consequences of the European knockdown. To help United is the disgusting City game in home games since Christmas and a fog of nervous uncertainty that does not dissipate Stuart Pearce’s team. The situation with the possible sale of the club, and therefore with the future of Pierce himself, is still unclear. In addition, another brawl was arranged by Joey Barton, who attacked Usman Dabo at a training session - a restless leader from sin was removed from the team until the end of the season. These conditions seem very suitable for Manchester United to replenish their confidence before the long-awaited meeting with Chelsea on May 9th. However, that’s why it is a derby in order to resist ordinary logic.
DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW
On Monday, 48-year-old Sammy Lee was named Bolton’s new head coach to replace Sam Allardyce, who had suddenly left the club. The main part of Lee’s gambling career took place in the legendary Liverpool in the early 80s - Merseyside fans still remember the nimble miniature (Sammy’s height 1m 57cm) midfielder who won three English championships and two European Cups with the Reds. Lee's coaching career has been going on for almost 15 years, but so far he has remained on the sidelines - in Liverpool, England and Bolton. And now it's time to work independently - two rounds before the end of the season, Little Sam succeeded Big. From the predecessor, the new manager got accumulated experience and an ambitious team that constantly lives in the European competition zone, but dreams of more. However, even to keep Bolton at the same level, Sammy Lee will be very difficult - the bar set by Allardyce is too high.
IMPORTANT WORDS
West Ham made a serious violation, they lied and transgressed the law and had to suffer a 10-point penalty. If possible, we will sue West Ham or the Premier League. I think the six clubs closing the standings should appeal against this decision together, and Wigan will definitely be one of them. Disgrace is going on in the Premier League, because everyone understands that what happened is wrong, ”said Wigan president Dave Whelan , not at all reassuring, that any methods are good in the struggle for survival.
BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS
The match with Wigan will be 100th for the Australian Mark Viduki in the Middlesbrough T-shirt. Forward spent the third year in the club from the north-east of England, and during this time in all tournaments he had already scored 39 goals, 16 of which this season. The Viduki contract with Middlesbrough expires at the end of the championship and, perhaps, in the summer he will leave the team of Gareth Southgate.
MANCHESTER CITY - MANCHESTER UNITED
5 May. City of Manchester, 15.45.
Judge: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries: Richards, Beasley / Sylvester, Neville, Park Ji Sung.
Disqualifications : no.
Manchester City (Sport Today version): Isaksson - Onuoha, Disten, R. Dunn, Ball - Sun Jihai, Hamann, Johnson, Ireland, Wassell - Mpenza.
Manchester United (Sport Today version): van der Sar - O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra - Cristiano Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Rooney - Smith, Saha.
Last five matches : + = - = - / + - + = +
First round match : 1: 3.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Manchester City - 6.0, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Manchester United - 1.53.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 15.40 (direct).
Everton - Portsmouth
May 5th . Goodison Park, 6 p.m.
Judge : Howard Webb (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Boyle, T. Cahill, Anichebe, Nuno Valente, E. Johnson / Todorov.
Disqualifications : no.
Everton (Sport Today version): Howard - Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott - Arteta, Carsley, Neville, Manuel Fernandes, Osman - Vaughan.
“Portsmouth” (version of “Sport Today”): James - Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovich - O'Neill, R. Hughes, S. Davis, M. Taylor - Lua-Lua, Canu.
Last five matches : + = + - - / + - + = +
First round match : 0: 2.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Everton - 1.83, the draw - 3.2, the victory of Portsmouth - 3.75.
FULHAM - LIVERPOOL
May 5th . "Craven Cottage", 18.00.
Judge : Steve Bennett (Kent).
Injuries : Ballard, Elliott, J. Pearce, Cedru / Kewell, Luis Garcia, Fabio Aurelio.
Disqualifications : no.
“Fulham” (version of “Sport Today”): Niemi - Rosenor, Kristanval, Knight, Bocanegra - S. Davis, Brown, Buba Diop, K. Jensen - Montella, McBride.
Liverpool (Sport Today version): Reina - Finnan, Carragher, Hyupya, Arbeloa - Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Sissoko, Gonzalez - Kate, Bellamy.
Last five matches : - - - - = - / + = + + -
First round match : 0: 4.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Fulham - 2.87, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Liverpool - 2.1.
Broadcast : RTR-Sport, 1.05 (recording).
NEWcastle - Blackburn
May 5th . Saint James Park, 6 p.m.
Judge : Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Given, Duff, Emre, Sibierski / Reed, Savage, Oyer, Todd.
Disqualifications : no.
Newcastle (Sport Today version): Harper - Solano, S. Taylor, Bramble, Carr - Milner, Parker, Butt, Dyer - Martins, Owen.
Blackburn (Sport Today): Friedel - Emerton, Nelson, Samba, Warnock - Bentley, Tugai, Dunne, Pedersen - McCarthy, Roberts.
Last five matches : + = - = - / - - + = +
First round match : 3: 1.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Newcastle - 2.15, the draw - 3.2, the victory of Blackburn - 2.9.
RADING - WATFORD
May 5th . "Madeisky Stadium", 18.00.
Judge : Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
Injuries : Convey, Sonko, Mate, Little, Brown, Marty / Williams, Ashikody, Francis.
Disqualifications : none / Carlisle.
"Reading" (version of "Sport Today"): Hahnemann - de la Cruz, Bickey, Ingimarsson, Shorey - Seoul Key Hyon, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt - Doyle, Lita.
"Watford" (version of "Sport today"): Foster - Chambers, Marjappa, Shittu, Stuart - Bangura, Mahon, Doyle, Boise - M. King, Priskin.
Last five matches : - = + + + / - + - = -
First round match : 0-0.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Reading - 1.44, the draw - 3.75, the victory of Watford - 6.0.
WEST HAM - BOLTON
5 May. Upton Park, 18.00.
Judge : Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Injuries : Upson, Ashton, Gabbidon / O'Brien, Fortune, Diouf, Ben Chaim, Hunt.
Disqualifications : no.
West Ham (Sport Today version): Green - Nill, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney - Benayoun, Reo-Cocker, Noble, Boa Morte - Tevez, Zamora.
“Bolton” (version of “Sport Today”): Yaskelainen - Mikhalik, Dian-Faye, Meite, Gardner - Nolan, Speed, Ivan Campo - Teymuryan, K. Davis, Anelka.
Last five matches : + - - + + / + = - - =
First round match : 0: 4.
Quotes William Hill : victory of West Ham - 2.05, draw - 3.4, victory of Bolton - 2.9.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 20.15 (record).
Wigan - Middlesbrough
May 5th . JJ Stadium, 18.00.
Judge : Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wyre).
Injuries : Kirkland, Hall / Bates.
Disqualifications : no.
Wigan (Sport Today version): Filan - Boyce, Jackson, de Zeuw, Baines - McCulloch, Sharner, Skoko, Kilbane - Heskey, Camara.
Middlesbrough (Sport Today version): Schwarzer - Abel Xavier, Woodgate, Pogatets, E. Taylor - Cattermole, Boateng, Arch, Downing - Yakubu, Viduka.
Last five matches : - = = - - / + - - = -
First round match : 1: 1.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Wigan - 2.1, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Middlesbrough - 2.87.
ASTON VILLA - SHEFFIELD UNITED
5 May. "Villa Park", 20.15.
Judge : Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Injuries : Sutton, Delaney, Maloney / Hals.
Disqualifications : no.
Aston Villa (Sport Today version): Sorensen - Bardsley, Melberg, Laursen, Bouma - Agbonlahor, Petrov, Gardner, Barry - Carew, Young.
Sheffield United (Sport Today version): Kenny - Geary, Morgan, Kilgallone, Armstrong - Gillespie, Tonj, Jagielka, Montgomery, Kazim-Richards - Steed.
Last five matches : + = + = + / - + - = +
First round match : 2: 2.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Aston Villa - 1.9, the draw - 3.1, the victory of Sheffield United - 3.6.
Arsenal - Chelsea
May 6th . Emirates Stadium, 19.00.
Judge : Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Injuries : Henry, Van Persie, Walcott, Jungberg / Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Shevchenko.
Disqualifications : no.
Arsenal (Sport Today version): Lehmann - Ebouet, Gallas, Kolo Toure, Clichy - Gleb, Fabregas, Gilberto Silva, Diabi, Rosicky - Adebayor.
Chelsea (Sport Today version): Czech - Diarra, Essien, Terry, E. Cole - Makelele, Obi Mikel, Lampard - Joe Cole, Drogba, Kalu.
Last five matches : = + + = + / + + + = =
First round match : 1: 1.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Arsenal - 2.6, the draw - 3.3, the victory of Chelsea - 2.3.
Broadcast : NTV-Plus Football, 18.55 (direct).
CHARLTON - TOTTENHAM
May 7th. The Walley, 23.00.
Judge : Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Injuries : Gibbs, E. Reed / Dervit, Lee Yoon Pio, Stalteri, Tainio, Mido.
Disqualifications : Thatcher / no.
“Charlton” (version of “Sport Today”): Carson - Young, El-Karkuri, S. Diavara, Hreidarsson - Ambrose, Cheng, Song, Thomas - D. Bent, M. Bent.
Tottenham Hotspur (Sport Today version): Robinson - Shimbonda, Dawson, L. King, Ricardo Rocha - Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Mulbranck - R. Keen, Berbatov.
Last five matches : = = - = - / = + + = +
First round match : 1: 5.
Quotes William Hill : the victory of Charlton - 2.9, the draw - 3.4, the victory of Tottenham Hotspur - 2.05.
NOTE : match start time is Moscow time.
Standings
| Club | AND | AT | N | P | M | ABOUT |
|---|
| Manchester United | 35 | 27 | four | four | 82-26 | 85 |
|---|
| Chelsea | 35 | 24 | eight | 3 | 62-22 | 80 |
|---|
| Liverpool | 36 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 55-24 | 67 |
|---|
| Arsenal | 36 | nineteen | 9 | eight | 62-34 | 66 |
|---|
| Bolton | 36 | sixteen | 7 | 13 | 44-47 | 55 |
|---|
| Everton | 36 | 14 | 12 | ten | 48-35 | 54 |
|---|
| Reading | 36 | sixteen | 6 | 14 | 49-42 | 54 |
|---|
| Portsmouth | 36 | 14 | eleven | eleven | 45-39 | 53 |
|---|
| Tottenham Hotspur | 35 | 15 | eight | 12 | 52-52 | 53 |
|---|
| Blackburn | 35 | 14 | five | sixteen | 46-50 | 47 |
|---|
| Aston Villa | 36 | ten | sixteen | eleven | 38-39 | 46 |
|---|
| Newcastle | 36 | eleven | 9 | sixteen | 37-44 | 42 |
|---|
| Manchester city | 36 | eleven | 9 | sixteen | 28-41 | 42 |
|---|
| Middlesbrough | 36 | ten | ten | sixteen | 40-48 | 40 |
|---|
| Sheffield United | 36 | ten | eight | 18 | 31-50 | 38 |
|---|
| Fulham | 36 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 36-57 | 36 |
|---|
| Wigan | 36 | 9 | eight | nineteen | 35-57 | 35 |
|---|
| West ham | 36 | ten | five | 21 | 31-58 | 35 |
|---|
| Charlton | 36 | eight | 9 | nineteen | 32-56 | 33 |
|---|
| Watford | 36 | four | 12 | 20 | 26-58 | 24 |
|---|
SNIPERS : Drogba (Chelsea) - 19, Cristiano Ronaldo (Man. United) - 16, McCarthy (Blackburn) - 15, Rooney (Man. United) - 14, Yakubu (Middlesbrough), Doyle (Reading), D. Bent (Charlton), Kate ( Liverpool) - 12, van Persie (Arsenal), Lampard (Chelsea), Anelka (Bolton), A. Johnson (Everton), Martins (Newcastle), Zamora (West Ham), Viduka (Middlesbrough) - 11.
9.05. Chelsea - Manchester United (postponed match of the 34th round). 10.05. Tottenham Hotspur - Blackburn (postponed match of the 33rd round).
38th round. 05/13. Blackburn - Reading. Bolton - Aston Villa. Chelsea - Everton. Liverpool - Charlton. Manchester United - West Ham. Middlesbrough - Fulham. Portsmouth - Arsenal. Sheffield United - Wigan. Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester City. Watford - Newcastle.