The Weekend Football Preview
Weekend 20 th/21 th/22 nd March
The Premiership
League leaders Manchester United host Liverpool on Sunday lunchtime in a match that could define the campaign for both sides. Victory for United and revenge for last seasons 4-1 defeat will keep them top of the Premier League and provide a massive boost for Ferguson’s men in the title race. Victory for Rafa Benitez would provide a huge lift for the Anfield club as they chase 4 th spot and Champions League Football.
Blackburn Rovers face Chelsea later that day and they host all three title contenders before the end of the season so how the leading clubs fair at Ewood Park could go a long way to deciding who lifts the title. Arsenal will be most confident of a weekend victory as they host struggling West Ham at the Emirates.
In the chase for 4 th and the Europa League spots this will be another crucial weekend. Aston Villa host relegation battlers Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday lunch time with Manchester City and Tottenham facing tricky away fixtures at Fulham and Stoke City respectively.
Bolton Wanderers under Owen Coyle are edging towards safety and they travel to Goodison Park. Likewise Steve Bruce’s Sunderland have improved lately and look fairly secure and they could virtually seal it with a home victory against Birmingham City. The two big clashes at the base of the table see Wigan Athletic host hapless Burnley, whilst “Premiership crisis club” Portsmouth who are now surely doomed will host Hull City in what will be Iain Dowie’s opening match in charge.
The Championship
The Championship leaders Newcastle United travel down to Bristol City who parted company with Gary Johnson this week. Both Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion look virtual certainties for a Premiership return and the Baggies host Darren Ferguson’s Preston North End. Third placed Nottingham Forest have lost ground on the top 2 and they host Peterborough who remain bottom of the table but have won two of their last three fixtures.
New QPR Manager Neil Warnock has improved his sides Championship form and they host a stylish Swansea side with the Championship’s meanest defence. There’s a Midlands Derby between two play-off hopefuls as Leicester take on Coventry City. Gordon Strachan’s Middlesbrough face one of the Championships in form sides with Reading visiting the Riverside. Cardiff City host Watford and Blackpool and Sheffield United who are also seeking a place in the top 6 face Crystal Palace and Doncaster respectively.
At the bottom 22 nd place Scunthorpe will host 23 rd place Plymouth and fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County with neither safe from relegation. Victory for Roy Keane’s Ipswich against Barnsley would help push the Tractor Boys towards the 50 point mark that they may need to reach to be certain of survival.
League 1
More huge top of the table clashes in League 1 starting with Norwich (who remain 7 points clear of 2 nd place Leeds) travelling to 4 th place Swindon. Indeed Leeds face a tricky test themselves, they host 5 th place Millwall. Charlton Athletic are in hot pursuit of the leaders and they’ll expect to beat Gillingham at the Valley. Colchester and Huddersfield will hope to close the gap on the leaders and appear to have favourable fixtures at Walsall and Leyton Orient who are both mid-table sides. MK Dons are still seeking a top 6 finish and host Alan Pardew’s Southampton side at Stadium MK.
Two sides in the bottom four in League one meet when Wycombe host Exeter. Fellow strugglers Southend play 11 th place Carlisle whilst bottom club Stockport who look destined for League 2 surely must beat Brentford if they are to have any hope of completing a great escape from relegation.
League 2
Rochdale will seek to increase the 8 point lead they hold over the other promotion chasing sides when they travel to Accrington Stanley. The side 2 nd in League 2, Bournemouth travel to Grimsby who sit 2 nd bottom and are desperate for points to remain in the football league. Notts County despite all the instability that has plagued the club have moved up to 3 rd and will be confident of taking 3 points from a trip to Crewe Alexandra. Rotherham in 6 th can go above Bury (4 th) if they can beat them on Saturday. Aldershot and Shrewsbury who are both chasing a top 7 finish will come face to face with 7 th place Northampton hosting Morecambe.
Bottom club Darlington have just 16 points after 33 fixtures and they host Barnet. Cheltenham who sit 22 nd host Port Vale, whilst Lincoln and Torquay who are also both threatened by relegation meet. Peter Taylor takes his Bradford side to Hereford who are another side who need some victories to secure League 2 football for another season.
Scottish Premier League
Celtic will seek to cut into Rangers 13 point lead in the title race when they host St Johnstone. Rangers are not in league action this weekend although even a victory for Celtic is unlikely to prevent the Gers lifting the title.
Bottom club Falkirk travel to 10 th place Hamilton. Dundee United who are the best of the rest minus the Old Firm travel to Aberdeen. There is also the small matter of the Edinburgh Derby with Hearts hosting Hibernian.
Stevie B’s weekend coupon tips:
Value Singles (all to win)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 8/1
Peterborough 11/2
Trio of tasty Trebles (all to win)
Birmingham 12/5
Wigan Athletic 8/11
Sheffield Wednesday 5/4
£1 returns: £13.21
Newcastle United 10/11
Doncaster 5/4
Brighton 13/8
£1 returns: £11.28
Notts County 11/10
Leicester 8/11
Bradford 11/8
£1 returns: £8.61
The ‘draw-some foursome’ (4 draws)
Leeds – Millwall 12/5
QPR – Swansea 9/4
Rotherham – Bury 9/4
Fulham – Manchester City 9/4
£1 returns: £116.72
Accumulator (all to win)
Manchester United 4/6
Chelsea 2/5
Everton 1/2
Bournemouth 5/4
Rochdale 11/10
Reading 9/4
£1 returns: £53.75
More Free Football Bets Offers >>