Weekend Review: Saturday 16th April/Sunday 17th April

Birmingham v Sunderland

Prediction: Birmingham 2-1 Sunderland 
Actual Result: Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland

I wasn't too far off here - I just under-estimated Sunderland's complete lack of ability to find the net at the moment. Although Ben Foster did play well and made a few important saves, like I expected. Both teams are now sat on 38 points, and I consider both to now be safe, purely because there are worse teams in this league.

Up next for Birmingham: Chelsea (a), Liverpool (a)
Up next for Sunderland: Wigan (h)

______________________________

Blackpool v Wigan

Prediction: Blackpool 1-1 Wigan
Actual Result: Blackpool 1-3 Wigan

Craig Cathcart proved to be the Tangerine's complete undoing, giving away the ball for the first goal and forcing the deflection (albeit unluckily) for the third. Blackpool have come along way from the team that beat Wigan 4-0 on the opening day of the season, but it appears to be in the wrong direction. Struggling to get the basics right. Wigan jumped out of the relegation zone, and Blackpool dropped in it for the first time this season, and both teams will struggle to secure Premier League status.

Up next for Blackpool: Newcastle (h)
Up next for Wigan: Sunderland (a)

______________________________

Everton v Blackburn Rovers

Prediction: Everton 3-0 Blackburn

Actual Result: Everton 2-0 Blackburn

A strong display from Everton ended in a comfortable win. Again, my scorecast wasn't far off, just the one goal in it. With Tim Cahill out again, Leon Osman stepped up to cause this Blackburn side a lot of problems, and it was finished with Leighton Baines' penalty. A sliver of a chance of Europe for the Toffee's next season, whilst Blackburn will really struggle to survive, and leaving Steve Kean's team winless since 23rd January.

Up next for Everton: Manchester United (a)

Up next for Blackburn: Manchester City (h)

______________________________

West Brom v Chelsea

Prediction: West Brom 2-2 Chelsea

Actual Result: West Brom 1-3 Chelsea

I wasn't the only person this weekend predicting Chelsea to drop points to what has turned out to be a strong Roy Hodgson side. Things looked like they would go my way early on as Odemwingie gave the Baggies the lead, but it was short-lived when Drogba equalised and Kalou put the away side in front. Lampard finished the scoring. Still, it's definitely too late for Chelsea to mount another challenge for the title, and they just need to focus on securing third spot. For West Brom, they are safe if they avoid complacency in their remaining fixtures.

Up next for West Brom: Tottenham (a)

Up next for Chelsea: Birmingham (h), West Ham (h)

______________________________

West Ham v Aston Villa

Prediction: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa

Actual Result: West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa

West Ham had the chance to continue their survival push, but instead let Aston Villa leave with all three points. It started well for the Hammers with Robbie Keane's neat close-range finish, but failure to clear their lines cost them dearly when Darren Bent was presented with an easy header. In the end, Gabby Agbonlahor burst the home side's bubble in a game that the Villains fully deserved to win. West Ham still aren't safe, and end the weekend still in the relegation zone, whilst Villa are finally in the top half of the table, quite frankly, where they belong.

Up next for West Ham: Chelsea (a)

Up next for Aston Villa: Stoke City (h)

______________________________

F.A. CUP SEMI-FINAL #1

Manchester United v Manchester City

Prediction: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City

Actual Result: Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City

A game that never really reached its full potential, but that City fully deserved to win. If not for Dimitar Berbatov's profligacy, it could have been a different story as he spurned two glorious chances to take the lead. In the end, it was decided by a Michael Carrick mistake, well capitalised upon by Yaya Toure, who was outstanding on the day. The day got worse for United as Paul Scholes saw red for a ridiculously high tackle on Pablo Zabaleta. For City, this could prove to be the end of their 35 year wait for silverware, whilst United will regret the chance missed to take their treble charge into the final month. Still, United must fight to regain the Premier League and Champions League trophies whilst City want to ensure 4th spot is theirs.

Up next for Manchester United: Newcastle (a), Everton (h)

Up next for Manchester City: Blackburn (a)

______________________________

 

Arsenal v Liverpool

 

Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool

Actual Result: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool 

A touching banner in remembrance of the Hillsborough disaster

A game of attack vs. defence for 96 minutes. Jamie Carragher's head injury and forced substitution led to 8 minutes of added time, and with the score locked at 0-0, Jay Spearing brought down Cesc Fabregas inside the box. Robin Van Persie duly converted the resulting penalty, and Wenger must have believed his men would keep one finger on the Premier League trophy. As we saw quite often last season, and is a mark of all great teams, Arsenal scored very late on from a drawing position to take the three points. However, this game wasn't to be. In the 100th minute of the game, even more drama ensued when Emmanuel Eboue clumsily felled Lucas who was running away from goal. Dirk Kuyt stepped up to equalise from the spot, and give Liverpool's biggest rivals United an even greater chance of finally overtaking their long-standing record of 18 league titles.

Up next for Arsenal: Tottenham (a), Bolton (a)

Up next for Liverpool: Birmingham (h)

 

(Also, this amazing picture has just been brought to my attention. Taken in the minute's silence for Danny Fiszman and those lost at the Hillsborough disaster.)

______________________________

 

F.A. CUP SEMI-FINAL #2

Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City

Prediction: Bolton 3-1 Stoke

Actual Result: Bolton 0-5 Stoke

 

What a game for the Potters! A lot of pundits had Coyle's men down to win, but Stoke clearly hadn't read the script. The first half consisted of glaring errors by Bolton, who didn't seem to be awake. Two bits of poor defending presented Etherington and Huth with opportunities outside the area, and they were taken with some style. The third goal had Martin Petrov at fault, who lost possession to Jermaine Pennant in Stoke's half. The former Liverpool and Arsenal winger ran half the length of the pitch before finding Kenwyne Jones in acres of space, who finished coolly past Jussi Jaaskelainen. With 15 minutes left until half time, the game was as good as over, and it only got worse in the second half with two Jonathan Walters' goals condemning his former club to a humiliating defeat. Bolton would have liked to at least leave with dignity intact, but Pulis' men ensured an embarressment of the highest order. With neither team in any trouble in the league, and neither aiming for anything higher than mid-table, the chance for a European place next season was up for grabs. Back to reality now for Bolton, who have nothing else to really turn their attention to, and this Wembley hangover could last a while yet.

Up next for Bolton: Arsenal (h)

Up next for Stoke: Aston Villa (a)