Saturday football
Posted: 04 Nov 2023, 00:30
"FULHAM vs MANCHESTER UNITED (1230) Three wins, three defeats in their last six – what’s going on with Man U? Fulham are in their customary zone and appear as inconsistent as their visitors. Ten Hag’s woes will intensify if they don’t get at the very least a point from this. Away win. BRENTFORD vs WEST HAM UNITED (1500) Although a place below us in the table, Brentford surely start as favourites. They’ve ended a wobbly few weeks with two straight victories and look to have regained the winning ways that have so successfully defied expectations in the last two seasons. Which, as you may remember, includes four straight victories over us. The Carabao win over Arsenal, meanwhile, should have given us a welcome shot in the arm and help to improve our recent miserable record of four points from the last six games. Like us, Brentford are good at soaking up pressure and waiting for opportunities to break and score. It’s hard to think of that as a recipe for an entertaining game, but with Kudus and Antonio up front (until the 67th minute when Soucek replaces Antonio), who knows? Draw. BURNLEY vs CRYSTAL PALACE (1500) The day’s most boring game, on paper anyway. Draw. EVERTON vs BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (1500) The Seagulls are experiencing a blip with no wins in their last four games while the Toffees have alternated victory and defeat in their last six. If those records continue, both sides will lose. Away win. MANCHESTER CITY vs BOURNEMOUTH (1500) City go cherry picking and return to the top for a couple of hours, goal difference suitably boosted. Home win. SHEFFIELD UNITED vs WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (1500) The Blades still have just one point to show for their efforts in the first 10 games back in the big time. Wolves have 12, level with Chelsea, and are showing great endeavour under the impressive Gary O’Neil. Expect a lot of huff and puff at Bramall Lane. Away win. NEWCASTLE UNITED vs ARSENAL (1730) The other game of the day pits sixth against second. Both sides have won four and lost two of their last six and with home advantage, the Magpies may start as slight favourites. A good game in the offing, you’d think. Draw. *SUNDAY* NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs ASTON VILLA (1400) Forest’s home form has been their salvation of late, but Villa are in a rich vein of form and won’t be done for by relegation fodder. Away win. LUTON TOWN vs LIVERPOOL (1630) The Reds return to the top four. Away win. *MONDAY* TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs CHELSEA (2000) Spurs started the weekend top of the table, while big-spending Chelsea found themselves in the bottom half. It will be a huge surprise if that status is unchanged at the end of this game. An unhappy return to the Spud Stadium for Poch. Home win. *CHAMPIONSHIP* Let’s start with Millwall, down from the verge of the play-off places to 17th. Yuk. Today they host Southampton, now 14 places above Wall and firmly in the play-off places yet just seven points above their hosts. That’s a measure of this division. On Friday, runaway leaders Leicester surrendered their winning run with a surprise home defeat to Leeds. A great chance for second-placed Ipswich to eliminate their five-point deficit with a winning game in hand and take over the division’s leadership. Today the Tractor Boys visit Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham who have also tumbled down the rankings since he took over. Sheffield Wed, QPR and Rotherham still make up the bottom three, with an unhealthy gap of five points having emerged either side of the dotted line. It’s all to play for in the fizzy pop."