Third wheel

Dmitry LONGICH

MATCH TOUR

Sheffield United - Wigan. This season, the Premier League has not been generous with the variety of finishing intrigues - most teams in the last round do not know any other tasks than to adequately say goodbye to their fans. Sheffield and Wigan are called upon to compensate for the lack of true tournament passions - in their in-person match, the fate of the last team leaving the Premier League is decided. The disposition is simple: the wards of Paul Jewell need any victory, the hosts will be completely satisfied with any lack of defeat. The chances of Wigan, which became the opening of last season, not to turn into the closure of the current one, are very small - the current form of the team that does not win in the last eight matches does not have any feats. Hope, as usual, on character and historical parallels - Jewell managed to save Bradford from relegation seven years ago in a similar situation.

UNEXPECTED INTrigue

Manchester United - West Ham. A match of fame for Manchester United and life for West Ham. In the middle of the week, Alex Ferguson vowed that in this meeting his team would appear in the optimal composition. Mankunians celebrating the championship are ready to thank the jubilant “Old Trafford” with a beautiful victory in the coronation match. However, West Ham in its current state is able to prevent anyone and anything. For the legal registration of salvation, the “Hammers” need at least a draw, although defeat does not guarantee disaster for Alan Kerbishli. In any case, the match of bright attacking teams, equipped with decent intrigue, should put a stylish emotional point in the championship.

DO NOT LOSE FROM THE VIEW

For the tour to the finish line in the Premier League, the last coaching retirement of the season took place - after 15 months of torment, Newcastle left Glenn Raeder . “Magpies” under his leadership could not reach the level corresponding to their own ambitions, and in this championship they fell into a severe personnel crisis, most of the tournament leading in the Premier League in terms of the number of injured. As a result, the unfortunate 13th place before the last round and the whistle of fans requiring the departure of not only the coach, but also the club owner Freddy Shepperd. The most likely successor to Raeder from next season will be Sam Allardyce, who parted with Bolton a week earlier.

IMPORTANT WORDS

“This is the club’s greatest achievement. We still have a new team that needs to progress. This was her first attempt to become champions, and therefore we look with confidence to the future. Years fly by very quickly, but I still think I'm 58. When I see in the newspapers that I'm 65, I think this can't be! Over the past 6-7 years, I don’t feel any global changes in me, although they certainly must be - age takes its toll, ”even after winning the champion title, all thoughts of Sir Alex Ferguson are directed to the future. Maybe this is the key to his success?

BEAUTIFUL NUMBERS

After a three-year hiatus, Manchester United regains the championship title - the 16th in general and the 9th in the history of the Premier League. And if the total number of victories in the championships of Manchester United is still inferior to Liverpool with its 18 triumphs, then in the Premier League the team of Alex Ferguson will continue to go in the record holders for Arsenal, Chelsea and Blackburn for a long time. so far have gained only 6 championships.

BLACKBURN - READING

may 13. Ewood Park, 6 p.m.
Judge: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).
Injuries: Reed, Savage, Todd, Khizanishvili, Dunn / Convey, Sonko, Mate, Little, Brown, Marty.
Disqualifications: Roberts / no.
Blackburn (Sport Today): Friedel - Emerton, Nelson, Samba, Warnock - Bentley, Tugai, Mokoena, Pedersen - McCarthy, Derbyshire.
"Reading" (version of "Sport Today"): Hahnemann - de la Cruz, Bickey, Ingimarsson, Shori - Seoul Key Hyon, Gunnarson, Harper, Hunt - Doyle, Kitson.
Last five matches: + = + + = / = + + + -
First round match: 2: 1.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of Blackburn - 2.05, the draw - 3.4, the victory of Reading - 2.9.

BOLTON - ASTON VILLA

may 13. Reebok Stadium, 18.00.
Judge: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne and Wyre).
Injuries: O'Brien, Fortune, Dian Faye, Diouf, Ben Haim, Hunt / Sutton, Delaney, Maloney.
Disqualifications: no.
“Bolton” (version of “Sport Today”): Yaaskelainen - Ivan Campo, Mikhalik, Meite, Gardner - Nolan, Speed, Tal - Teymuryan, K. Davis, Anelka.
Aston Villa (Sports Today version): Sorensen - Bardsley, Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma - Agbonlahor, Petrov, Gardner, Barry - Carew, Young.
Last five matches: = - - = - / = + = + +
First round match : 1-0.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of “Bolton” - 1.9, the draw - 3.2, the victory of “Aston Villa” - 3.5.

Chelsea - Everton

may 13. Stamford Bridge, 6 p.m.
Judge: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
Injuries: Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho, Shevchenko, Drogba, Robben, Sinclair / Boyle, T. Keyhill, Nuno Valente, E. Johnson.
Disqualifications: no.
Chelsea (Sport Today version): Czech - Jeremy, Essien, Terry, E. Cole - Makelele, Obi Mikel, Lampard - Wright-Phillips, Kalu, Joe Cole.
Everton (Sport Today version): Howard - Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott - Arteta, Carsley, Neville, Manuel Fernandes, Osman - Vaughan.
Last five matches: + = = = = / = + - - +
First round match: 3: 2.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of Chelsea - 1.5, the draw - 3.6, the victory of Everton - 5.5.
Broadcast: RTR-Sport, May 14, 07.10 (recording).

LIVERPOOL - CHARLTON

may 13. Anfield Road, 6 p.m.
Judge: Dermot Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
Injuries: Luis Garcia, Fabio Aurelio, Sissoko, Reina / Gibbs, E. Reed.
Disqualifications: no.
Liverpool (Sport Today version): Padelli - Finnan, Carragher, Hyupya, Riise - Gerrard, Xabi Alonso, Kewell, Gonzalez - Kate, Fowler.
“Charlton” (version of “Sport Today”): Randolph - Diavara, Bouguerra, Heydarsson, Thatcher - Ambrose, Holland, B. Hughes, Thomas - D. Bent, Hasselbeink.
Last five matches: = + + - - / = - = - -
First round match : 3-0.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of Liverpool - 1.36, the draw - 4.0, the victory of Charlton - 7.0.

MANCHESTER UNITED - WEST HAM

may 13. Old Trafford, 6 p.m.
Judge: Martin Atkinson (Yorkshire).
Injuries: Sylvester, Neville, Park Ji Sung / Upson, Ashton, Gabbidon.
Disqualifications: no.
Manchester United (Sport Today version): van der Sar - Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra - Cristiano Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Rooney - Smith.
West Ham (Sport Today version): Green - Nill, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney - Benayoun, Reo-Cocker, Noble, Boa Morte - Tevez, Zamora.
Last five matches: + = + + = / - - + + +
First round match: 0: 1.
William Hill Quotes: Manchester United win 1.61, draw 3.3, West Ham win 5.0.
Broadcast: NTV-Plus Online, 17.55 (direct).

MIDLESBRO - FULHAM

may 13. Riverside, 18.00.
Judge: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).
Injuries: Bates, Hoot, E. Taylor / Ballard, Elliott, J. Pearce, Montella.
Disqualifications: None / Brown, Buba Diop.
Middlesbrough (Sport Today version): Schwarzer - Abel Xavier, Woodgate, Rigott, Pogatets - Cattermole, Arch, Rochemback, Downing - Yakubu, Christie.
“Fulham” (version of “Sport Today”): Niemi - Rosenor, Knight, Bocanegra, Cedrew - Dempsey, Smertin, C. Jensen, S. Davis - Helgusson, McBride.
Last five matches: - - = - + / - - = - +
First round match: 1: 2.
Quotes William Hill: Middlesbrough win - 1.83, draw - 3.2, Fulham win - 3.75.

PORTSMUT - ARSENAL

may 13. Fratton Park, 18.00.
Judge: Graham Pull (Hertfordshire).
Injuries: Todorov, Campbell, R. Hughes, M. Taylor, Stefanovich, Lauren / Henry, van Persie, Walcott, Rosicky.
Disqualifications: no.
“Portsmouth” (version of “Sport Today”): James - Johnson, Primus, Pamaro, Traore - O'Neill, Kranchar, Pedro Mendes, S. Davis - Lua-Lua, Canu.
Arsenal (Sport Today version): Almunia - Hoyt, Gallas, Kolo Toure, Clichy - Gleb, Fabregas, Denilson, Diabi, Jungberg - Baptista.
Last five matches: - + = + - / + + = + =
First round match: 2: 2.
Quotes William Hill: Portsmouth win - 2.5, draw - 3.4, Arsenal win - 2.3.

SHEFFIELD UNITED - WIGAN

may 13. The Brammell Lane, 6 p.m.
Judge: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Injuries: Hals / Kirkland, Hall, de Zeuv.
Disqualifications: no.
Sheffield United (Sport Today version): Kenny - Geary, Morgan, Kilgallone, Armstrong - Gillespie, Tonj, Jagielka, Montgomery, Kazim-Richards - Steed.
“Wigan” (version of “Sport Today”): Filan - R. Taylor, Boyce, Jackson, Baines - McCullough, Sharner, Landzaat, Kilbane - Heskey, Camara.
Last five matches: + - = + - / = = - - -
First round match : 1-0.
Quotes William Hill: Sheffield United victory - 2.2, draw - 3.3, Wigan victory - 2.7.
Broadcast: NTV-Plus Football, 20.30 (record).

TOTTENHAM - MANCHESTER CITY

may 13. White Hart Lane, 6 p.m.
Judge: Steve Bennett (Kent).
Injuries: Dervit, Lee Yoon Pio, Stalteri, Mido / Richards.
Disqualifications: no / Ball.
Tottenham Hotspur (Sport Today): Robinson - Shimbonda, Dawson, L. King, E. Gardner - Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Mulbranck - R. Keen, Berbatov.
Manchester City (Sport Today version): Isaksson - Onuoha, Disten, R. Dunne, Jordan - Song Jihai, Hamann, Johnson, Ireland, Wassell - Mpenza.
Last five matches: + = + + = / = - = - -
First round match: 2: 1.
Quotes William Hill: Tottenham win - 1.5, draw - 3.4, Manchester City win - 6.0.

Watford - Newcastle

may 13. Wickereigh Road, 6 p.m.
Judge: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Injuries: Williams, Ashikody, Francis, Chambers, Stewart, Demerit, Bouazza / Given, Duff, Emre, Sibierski, S. Taylor, Parker.
Disqualifications: no.
"Watford" (version of "Sport today"): Foster - Maryappa, Carlisle, Shittu, Powell - Bangura, Mahon, Rinaldi, Smith - M. King, Priskin.
Newcastle (Sport Today version): Harper - Solano, Oneva, Bramble, Carr - Milner, Butt, Dyer, N'Zogbia - Martins, Owen.
Last five matches: + - = - + / = - = - -
First round match: 1: 2.
Quotes William Hill: the victory of Watford - 2.5, the draw - 3.1, the victory of Newcastle - 2.5.

NOTE: match start time is Moscow time.

Standings