Saturday football

[Coffee]

"There's still one more to go... ARSENAL vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1230) Arsenal are in danger of falling out of contention for top dog. Palace are in no such danger, as their interest lies mainly in the division’s nether region, proximity with which is highly likely to increase this afternoon. Expect Arsenal to rise one place to third or – if they can put nine past the Eagles without reply – to second. Home win. BRENTFORD vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST (1730) Surprisingly, perhaps, 16th plays 15th. Surprising because you’d expect the Bees to be higher and Forest at least a couple of places lower. Their form is similar too, which leaves home advantage. Or, in Forest’s case, away disadvantage, at which they’ve excelled in recent history. Enter a secret weapon in the form of Ivan Toney. His return will boost the hosts and add flair to their attack. Home win? You bet. *SUNDAY* SHEFFIELD UNITED vs WEST HAM UNITED (1400) One Carlos Tevez. It’s been sixteen years: in football terms, more than long enough to forget. The Blades are firmly rooted to the foot of the table and that won’t change whatever happens this afternoon. Our incentive is to close the gap with Spurs in fifth to one win, which makes this an important game to win. That and a small measure of compensation for the double misery of Bristol City. A warning, should it be needed: this won’t be pretty. Away win. (Which it would have been if the ref wasn't a short-sighted, cowardly tosser.) BOURNEMOUTH vs LIVERPOOL (1630) Both sides come into this on the back of four wins in their last six outings. A tremendous improvement from the Cherries over their situation a couple of months ago. In sharp contrast to the above, this should be a very watchable game. Away win. *MONDAY* BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION vs WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (1945) Wolves have picked up of late, but enough to beat the Seagulls over their own bit of ocean? No. Home win. *CHAMPIONSHIP* Southampton are on a mid-season gallop towards the automatic promotion places and will find themselves there if they leave Swansea with all three points this afternoon. Ipswich, whom they would overtake, don’t play until Monday – and that’s at runaway leaders Leicester. The Saints have greater strength in depth than the Tractor Boys and look good enough for a strong run to promotion. Leeds, the other automatic promotion-hunters, host Preston tomorrow. Mid-table Norwich have been fined for what is tantalisingly called offensive “ableist” chants during a pre-season friendly against Kings Lynn. WTF? Birmingham under new boss Tony Mowbray, who must have kept Right Move in business during his career, visit Stoke while turbo-charged Coventry will be licking their lips for the visit to lowly Sheff Wed. The Championship may not have the big names or the finesse of the Premier League, but as ever it offers arguably this country’s best football excitement."