The Sports Report

Football:

A number of this weekend’s FA Cup fixtures may well become permanent league fixtures next year. Top Championship sides Preston and West Brom take on Premiership opposition, whilst relegation certainties Watford host Championship side Ipswich.

It will be interesting to see whether the greater quality of the Premiership sides will be enough to combat the greater confidence of the Championship outfits. In Manchester City and Middlesbrough, Preston and West Brom both face Premiership sides languishing in the bottom half of the table and at least one upset seems likely.

With Preston at home to City, and Middlesbrough hosting West Brom, the former seems the best place to look for a cup scalp.

Three of the top four Premiership sides also remain in contention to take part in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley; Manchester United face Reading, Chelsea take on Norwich and Arsenal host Blackburn.

All three benefited from the draw and, as the home sides, will be favourites to advance, with only Arsenal in real danger of being tripped up.

Elsewhere Fulham take on Tottenham whilst the all Championship clash sees Derby County travel to Plymouth.

Other Sport:

The club versus country row has erupted again in Rugby Union. England’s plea for clubs to rest the players picked to play against Ireland in next Saturday’s Six Nations crunch match appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

Fourteen of those selected have been named in Guinness Premiership matches for this weekend, Jonny Wilkinson being the only notable omission, he has been judged unfit.

Better news Down Under though as England have managed to win the One Day International Series despite losing all but five of their matches. A late flurry clinched England’s place in the best of three final, where against all odds they beat Australia twice to claim an unassailable lead and take the trophy. All of which bodes very well for the World Cup, which is due to commence at the end of March.

The Sports Report:

Football:

Manchester United were only ten minutes away from the perfect weekend, off the back of a near perfect Christmas and new year period, before Wayne Rooney’s opening goal was equalised by a late Robin Van Persie equaliser and surpassed by Thierry Henry’s last minute winner, as Arsenal took all three points at the Emirates Stadium.

A win would have extended United’s lead over Chelsea at the top of the table to nine points, with the London side having lost 2-0 to Liverpool on Saturday.

As it is the top four have all moved closer together, although United and fourth placed Arsenal are still separated by 12 points. The upshot of the weekend is that the title race still has the chance of going right down to the wire, with Manchester United still facing trips to Liverpool and Chelsea before the end of the season.

At the other end of the table the positions are also far from settled. Apart from Watford, who are stranded at the foot of the table, the next four teams are separated by only 6 points and are getting closer, with 19th and 18th placed Charlton and West Ham picking up form, while 16th and 17th placed Sheffield United and Wigan struggle for form, the latter without a win in nine premiership matches.

Other Sport:

In the world of Snooker ‘Rocket’ Ronnie O’Sullivan beat 19-year old Chinese sensation Ding Junhui in the Masters Final to record his first major tournament win in 22 months. The victory comes off the back of O’Sullivan’s controversial walk out in the quarter-finals of the UK Championships last month.

Finally in Australia it may be a new year but it is the same old story for England’s cricketers. Following their 5-0 Ashes white wash they are still to beat the Aussies in the shorter game, losing by four wickets in the last one-day international in Brisbane.

Depending on how results go this weekend, Manchester United could find themselves nine points clear of Chelsea and running away with the title, or only three points ahead and under pressure.

Having taken full advantage of Chelsea not playing last weekend, United are currently six points better off than the team from London. A victory in their 12.45 kick off tomorrow (Saturday) would really heap the pressure on Chelsea before they face Arsenal at Stamford Bridge.

However, United’s own fixture is far from straight forward; like Chelsea they face a home derby match against a team from the same city – Manchester City.

Following last weeks results, the relegation zone has also been shaken up. Charlton, with four points from three games have jumped above Watford to second bottom. Whilst Newcastle, who began the week third from bottom, have jumped up three places to fifteenth
h, leaving West Ham occupying the last of the relegation places.

Charlton will hope to continue their recent good from as they take the short trip across town to face injury hit Spurs. Sheffield United and West Ham will not be as hopeful as they face tough matches against Aston Villa and Bolton, respectively.

North-East sides Newcastle and Middlesbrough both face Lancashire opposition knowing that come Monday they could either be clear of the relegation zone, or in it.

This weekend’s results will not decide the fate of any team in the Premiership, but it may end with one team clear at the top and three adrift at the bottom, then again we may head to next week with two teams still tied at the top and six continuing to scrap for survival.

Predictions:

Wins for – Newcastle, Spurs, Bolton and Chelsea.

Draws for – Manchester United, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United.

Football:

The Premiership action keeps coming thick and fast. Despite most players having only just recovered from their mid-week exertions there is a full programme of Premier League fixtures this weekend.

Arsenal must contend a London derby with neighbours Spurs, knowing that their title dreams are all but over following their 2-1 midweek defeat to another London side, Fulham.

Meanwhile league leaders Manchester Utd take on struggling Middlesbrough knowing that a win will send them six points clear at the top.

At the bottom Sheffield Utd head into another crunch match, following their controversial 1-0 victory over Watford on Tuesday, the Blades face bottom side Charlton knowing a win will lift them out of the relegation zone. Watford themselves do not play until Monday when they face Manchester City.

This weekend also sees the second round of the FA cup and the draw for the third round, the round in which all the Premiership clubs enter.

Predictions:

Wins for Manchester United, Arsenal, Charlton and Manchester City

Sports Report

Football:

England’s elite sides have now completed almost one third of their fixtures, and the Premier League is beginning to take shape. Sunday’s showdown between Manchester United and Chelsea was largely disappointing, although the 1-1 result suggests there is little between the two sides with the title race likely to go right down to the last few games.

At the other end of the table, things look more straight forward. Sheffield United, Watford and Charlton all failed to win, although Charlton did manage a draw with Everton. Even so, it seems increasingly likely that as the title race reaches its conclusion, Watford, Charlton and Sheffield United will be resigned to the Championship.

Meanwhile Arsenal and Liverpool, two clubs who should be hot on the heels of United and Chelsea, are languishing in mid-table. Despite beating Manchester City 1-0 at Anfield, Liverpool were largely unimpressive and need to improve if they are to regain a place in the Champions League next year.

Other Sport:

Over in Australia, the Ashes are back underway and England have already lapsed back into old ways. Having declared on 602-9, Australia bowled England out for only 159. The losses of Vaughan and Trescothick showed as only Ian Bell and Ashley Giles managed to score more than 20 runs. Australia didn’t enforce the follow-on, hitting a further 202 runs before declaring and setting England an impossible 647 to win. An early collapse appeared to have dashed England’s hopes, but resilient batting from Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pieterson restored English pride, alas for the result it was too little too late.

England fell 277 runs short of their victory target, but that late charge may give them enough confidence to compete in the next test starting on Thursday.

In Rugby Union, England’s terrible run of results this autumn looks to have cost head coach Andy Robinson his job. An announcement is expected this week and former England captain Martin Johnson is the favourite to take over.

Sports Report – 17/11

This weekend’s football action could see a big shake-up at the bottom of the table thanks to a bit of good luck. The fixture men have handed bottom side Charlton a trip to mid-table Reading, while fellow relegation battlers Newcastle, Sheffield United, Watford and West Ham all face tough matches against to of the table sides.

Sheffield host top of the league Manchester United, while West Ham and Newcastle have visits to title challenging Chelsea and Arsenal, respectively. At the same time, Watford must travel to in-form Portsmouth, making it potentially a very good weekend to be a Charlton fan.

In that respect its not a very good weekend to be a Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Portsmouth fan, as any slip up made by those teams will be capitalised on by the others.

Predictions: This weekend I can see it all going to form:

Wins for … Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth

Draw for…Charlton

In Other Sport

Rugby once again dominates the sporting spectrum, with England’s Union side desperate for a result, or at the very least a performance.

Following last week’s debacle against Argentina, Coach Andy Robinson will hope his boys can produce against South Africa on Saturday to take some of the pressure off his shoulders.

By the time the Union players enter the pitch, the British Rugby League Lions will have already played their decisive match against Australia. Britain must avoid a defeat to make the final of the Tri-Nations series, a tall ask against the world’s best Rugby League side.

Predictions… Two tough games and two close defeats for the Brits and the English.

In Other Sport:

Great Britain’s Rugby League squad will advance to the Gillette Tri-Nations final in two weeks time if they can overcome New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday morning.

However, victory will not be easy. New Zealand have already defeated Great Britain once in the tournament, only for the match to be declared void after the Kiwi’s fielded an ineligible player.

Since that night two weeks ago in Christchurch, Great Britain have defeated Australia in Melbourne, a feat New Zealand have so far failed to match, whilst the Kiwi’s have had to sit and wait for their chance of revenge.

The match promises to be a fast and furious encounter which gets underway 7am UK time.

In rugby’s other code, union, England are looking to bounce back from defeat to New Zealand with a victory over Argentina tomorrow (Sat 11th) at Twickenham. The Argentineans are an emerging force in world rugby, but England should have the edge in what is their easiest match of the autumn internationals; a double header with South Africa begins next week.

Predictions: England and Great Britain both to enjoy victories this weekend

Welcome to the second edition of The Sports Report. Today’s edition will preview an exciting weekend of sporting action as Manchester United and Chelsea resume their battle for the FA Premiership Title, whilst international rugby’s top union and league sides clash around the world.

Football:

Both Manchester United and Chelsea face tough tests against uncompromising underdogs this weekend; United must travel to Ewood Park to face a revitalised Black burn Rovers in what is likely to be a passionate Lancashire derby, whilst Chelsea also play hosts to a relatively local side, fourth from bottom Watford are the visitors to Stamford Bridge. With the top two separated by only three points, neither side can afford to slip up.

At the other end of the league, three of the bottom four sides, Watford included, face tricky away ties as they try to escape from the relegation zone. Watford, as mentioned, travel to London, whilst fellow strugglers Newcastle and Charlton both face tricky trips to Lancashire. Newcastle head to Manchester to face Manchester City, and Charlton travel to Wigan to face Wigan Athletic. Fellow strugglers Sheffield United also need to overcome a Lancashire side, as they take on Bolton Wanderers at home.

Watford would do well to gain a point from Stamford Bridge, but the other three ties could go either way, with any of the current bottom four propping up the table by the end of Saturday.

Weekend Predictions:

Manchester United and Chelsea should both be too strong for their opponents, so I’m going to predict another victory each.

Charlton and Newcastle will both be giving it everything they’ve got, but Wigan and Manchester City are not easy places to collect three points from, I’m going for two draws in these ones.

As for Sheffield United, I think their lack of quality will show at home to a good Bolton side, I’m going for an away victory.

In Other Sport:

In Cricket, England finally managed a victory in the ICC Champions trophy, a one-day competition taking place in India, as they defeated West Indies by three wickets. The team cannot qualify for the later rounds of the competition, but the win will act as a good confidence boost ahead their Ashes defence in a little over three weeks time.

Great Britain’s Rugby League squad will also go in to their next match full of confidence, despite an 18-14 defeat by New Zealand on Sunday. The Lions played well and were unlucky with a few refereeing decisions which could have gone their way and propelled them to their first Tri-Nations victory of the autumn

Finally, in Moto GP American Nicky Hayden snatched the world title from seven-time champion Valentino Rossi on Sunday. A third place finish in the final grand prix of the season was enough to defeat the Italian Rossi, who crashed his motorbike early on and could only finish thirteenth.