Another big weekend of English Football looms, but a shadow has been cast after the midweek Champions League fixtures as the only side who looked likely to make the next stage – Chelsea -were knocked out by a 10 man PSG side minus their best player, the highly rated by himself Zlatan.
All the clams that the EPL is the biggest league in the world are hard to argue against, but the claims that it is the best quality are much less to argue for given that it looks likely that none of the three sides that made the knockout round will go any further.
It is very competitive however, except for possibly the run for the title which looks like a Chelsea benefit currently, however their game against PSG looked the same so who knows. The battle for the 3rd and 4th and the spots for next year’s Champions League looks the best value for the neutral in the EPL this year. With a number of teams in the race, there’s plenty of disappointment awaiting at least one of the big teams in the UK.
Manchester United will enjoy their toughest period to stay in the top 4 over the next few weeks, this weekend it starts with Tottenham, who don’t look to have suffered too much from losing the League Cup final. Liverpool and Arsenal are in good form and have the momentum, something the only other realistic chance Southampton are starting to lose.
At the arse end of the table it’s looking likely who will be going down a division next season, but it will only take a run of three win a row to pull themselves out of the bottom three, so all games toward the bottom hold big significance.
Talking of closeness of tables, and we weren’t, the second division Cha,pionship is the closest league in the UK and more than likely anywhere in the world with the top 4 all on the same points, and fifth just another point behind. Even Ipswich Town who are reverting to mid field mediocre form by losing 3 of their last 5 are only 5 points behind in 7th. Circling the pack are Notts Forest and Wolves, the only other realistic chances of playoff appearances.
At the other end it is a different story with the bottom three not far off being cut adrift and needing to prepare for the third tier in League One.
A side who won’t be in League One next year is Bristol City who are running away with this year’s crown and the prize of re-joining their Championship buddies next year. 13 points isn’t a big chance of being caught, but the opponents won’t be conceding defeat just yet.
The bottom of this division will sort out their true order this weekend as all four teams play each other. Wins are needed to close the gap on safety and the drop down.
Not to forget League Two, the last and fourth but not least division. Burton is on top just ahead of the best home team Shrewsbury and the best away team Wycombe. Happily for the fourth division four teams go up including three automatically, and the current top 3 will need some bad luck and/or plenty o losses to let their chance go this time around.
HIGHLIGHTS | UK TIME | WHY? |
C PALACE v QPR | SAT 12:45 | POOR MAN’S LONDON DERBY |
CHELSEA v SOUTHAMPTON | SUN 13:30 | BOUNCE BACK FROM PSG LOSS? |
MAN UTD v SPURS | SUN 16:00 | MAN UTD’s REAL FORM AGAINST TOUGH TEAMS? |
MIDDSBORO v IPSWICH | SAT 15:00 | TOP O THE LEAGUE |
ROTHERHAM v WIGAN | SAT 15:00 | LAST CHANCE FOR WIGAN |
NORWICH v DERBY | SAT 15:00 | TOP O THE LEAGUE |
LEYTON ORIENT v YEOVIL | SAT 15:00 | RELEGATION 6 POINTER |
CRAWLEY v COLCHESTER | SAT 15:00 | RELEGATION 6 POINTER |
DONCASTER v PETERBORO | SAT 15:00 | PLAYOFF BATTLE |
WYCOMBE v SHREWS | SAT 15:00 | BEST AWAY @ HOME v BEST HOME @ AWAY |
And here’s the rest of the fun…
[soccer-info id=’2′ type=’fixtures’ title=’EP GAMES’ limit=’10’ /]
[soccer-info id=’20’ type=’fixtures’ title=’CHAMP GAMES’ limit=’12’ /]
[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’fixtures’ title=’LEAGUE ONE GAMES’ limit=’12’ /]
[soccer-info id=’22’ type=’fixtures’ title=’LEAGUE TWO GAMES’ limit=’12’ /]
EPL MULTI | $1 PAYS $60 |
CHELSEA to win | v Southampton |
DRAW | Sunderland v Aston Villa |
LEICESTER to win | v Hull |
ARSENAL to win | v West Ham |
SPURS to win | v Man Utd |
CHAMPIONSHIP MULTI | $1 PAYS $18 |
WIGAN to win | v Rotherham |
BOURNEMOUTH to win | v Blackpool |
DRAW | Chalrton v Blackburn |
WATFORD to win | v Reading |
LEAGUE ONE MULTI | $1 PAYS $87 |
PRESTON to win | v Crewe |
SHEFFIELD UTD to win | v Scunthorpe |
PETERBOROUGH to win | v Doncaster |
FLEETWOOD to win | v Rochdale |
BARNSLEY to win | v Oldham |
LEAGUE TWO MULTI | $1 PAYS $26 |
BURTON to win | v Accrington |
PORTSMOUTH to win | v Luton |
WIMBLEDON to win | v Exeter |
SOUTHEND to win | v Dag & Red |
Result | Team | Stat |
Games Unbeaten | Liverpool | 12 |
Wins | Liverpool/Arsenal | 4 |
Games Without Win | Burnley | 7 |
Loss | QPR | 3 |
Most Draws (no./games) | Sunderland | 14 |
Fewest Draws (no./games) | QPR/Southampton | 4 |
Most Home Draws (no./games) | Sunderland/Everton | 7 |
Most Away Draws (no./games) | Man Utd/Sunderland | 7 |
Best Home Record (points/games) | Chelsea | 35 |
Worst Home Record (points/games) | Leicester | 10 |
Best Away Record (points/games) | Manchester City/Chelsea | 28 |
Worst Away Record (points/games) | QPR | 3 |
Most Goals Scored | Manchester City | 59 |
Fewest Goals Scored | Aston Villa | 15 |
Most Goals Conceded | QPR | 49 |
Fewest Goals Conceded | Southampton | 20 |
Most Goals Scored last 6 | Arsenal/Spurs/Man City | 14 |
Least Goals Scored last 6 | Southampton | 2 |
Most Goals Conceded Last 6 | Aston Villa | 13 |
Least Goals Conceded Last 6 | Liverpool/Chelsea | 2 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Liverpool | 16 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Arsenal | 15 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Chelsea | 14 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | QPR/ W Ham/ A Villa | 3 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Burnley | 2 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Leicester | 1 |
Result | Team | Stat |
Games Unbeaten | Watford | 4 |
Wins | Charlton | 3 |
Games Without Win | Blackpool | 8 |
Loss | Blackpool/Millwall | 4 |
Most Draws (no./games) | Charlton | 15 |
Fewest Draws (no./games) | Brentford | 5 |
Most Home Draws (no./games) | Charlton/Sheff Wed | 8 |
Most Away Draws (no./games) | Cardiff/Birmingham | 8 |
Best Home Record (points/games) | Derby | 38 |
Worst Home Record (points/games) | Wigan | 13 |
Best Away Record (points/games) | Bournemouth | 33 |
Worst Away Record (points/games) | Blackpool | 6 |
Most Goals Scored | Bournemouth | 74 |
Fewest Goals Scored | Blackpool | 29 |
Most Goals Conceded | Blackpool | 70 |
Fewest Goals Conceded | Middlesbrough | 26 |
Most Goals Scored last 6 | Notts Forest | 16 |
Least Goals Scored last 6 | Reading | 4 |
Most Goals Conceded Last 6 | Rotherham | 15 |
Least Goals Conceded Last 6 | Norwich | 3 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Charlton | 15 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Norwich | 15 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Notts Forest/Watford | 13 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Bolton/Fulham | 4 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Blackpool | 2 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Millwall | 1 |
Result | Team | Stat |
Games Unbeaten | Preston | 7 |
Wins | Barnsley/Bristol City | 4 |
Games Without Win | Scunthorpe | 5 |
Loss | Milton Keynes/Colchester | 3 |
Most Draws (no./games) | Coventry | 13 |
Fewest Draws (no./games) | Rochdale/Peterboro/Barnsley | 5 |
Most Home Draws (no./games) | Fleetwood/Coventry | 8 |
Most Away Draws (no./games) | Doncaster | 7 |
Best Home Record (points/games) | Bristol City | 41 |
Worst Home Record (points/games) | Leyton Orient | 12 |
Best Away Record (points/games) | Bristol City | 38 |
Worst Away Record (points/games) | Crawley | 10 |
Most Goals Scored | Milton Keynes | 70 |
Fewest Goals Scored | Yeovil | 28 |
Most Goals Conceded | Crawley | 60 |
Fewest Goals Conceded | Preston | 30 |
Most Goals Scored last 6 | Bristol City | 14 |
Least Goals Scored last 6 | Walsall | 2 |
Most Goals Conceded Last 6 | Crawley/Yeovil/Oldham | 11 |
Least Goals Conceded Last 6 | Preston | 2 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Preston | 16 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Bristol City | 15 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Barnsley | 15 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Yeovil | 5 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Scunthorpe | 5 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Walsall | 4 |
Result | Team | Stat |
Games Unbeaten | Stevenage | 6 |
Wins | Stevenage/Dag & Red | 2 |
Games Without Win | Tranmere | 4 |
Loss | Tranmere | 4 |
Most Draws (no./games) | York | 15 |
Fewest Draws (no./games) | Carlisle | 3 |
Most Home Draws (no./games) | York | 9 |
Most Away Draws (no./games) | Portsmouth | 8 |
Best Home Record (points/games) | Shrewsbury | 43 |
Worst Home Record (points/games) | York | 15 |
Best Away Record (points/games) | Wycombe | 37 |
Worst Away Record (points/games) | Hartlepool | 8 |
Most Goals Scored | Northampton | 54 |
Fewest Goals Scored | Hartlepool | 25 |
Most Goals Conceded | Carlisle | 61 |
Fewest Goals Conceded | Shrewsbury/Plymouth | 26 |
Most Goals Scored last 6 | Stevenage | 12 |
Least Goals Scored last 6 | Hartlepool | 3 |
Most Goals Conceded Last 6 | Tranmere | 13 |
Least Goals Conceded Last 6 | Bury | 2 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Stevenage | 14 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Bury | 13 |
Best form (points from last 6) | Plymouth | 12 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Cambridge/Cheltenham | 5 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Tranmere | 3 |
Worst form (points from last 6) | Carlisle | 3 |