A must win?

Days after playing an entharlling fixture with Sunderland in the Fa Cup, Middlesbrough face their attetion to a league game with Leicester city at the King Power Stadium on Wednesday night.

After dropping out of the top six due to a 4-1 win for Birmingham at Elland Road against Leeds on Tuesday night. Boro will have to go playoff chasing, Leicester City in need of  a result.  With both sides have successfully making it into the draw for the 5th round of the FA Cup following a 2-0 win for Leicester over Swindon but Middlesbrough will have to face a replay with Sunderland after drawing 1-1 at the Stadium of light on Sunday. Leicester will be hopeful they can carry on their from their 2-0 win over Southampton in their last league outing with a win over Middlesbrough however Middlesbrough will be hopeful recent signing, Lukas Jutkiewicz can make an impact and score his first goal for the club after a dismal start to 2012 in the league, after Boro failed to gain any points in the month of January.

It is questionable where the fixture will go in terms of a result, Leicester have been inconsistent beating the likes of Southampton however losing to Barnsley at the king power. Middlesbrough however have fairly poor this calender year and it would have seemed that a Leicester win would be on the cards. But after a sprited perfomance against Premier League, Sunderland on Sunday proved that the Boro were still keen to go places this season.  Last time out it was a 0-0 draw at the Riverside with the game being far from a spectacle.

Wolves v Birmingham

Premier League meets Championship in a Rivalry Fa cup 3rd round game tonight.

League status and league form should go out of the window for this tie as Premier League, Wolves. Take on Championship side, Birmingham. The Midlands derby will be a fierce encounter with the home side Wolves will be keen to win their first game of 2012. Meanwhile, Birmingham will hope the goals will come again after their 6-0 demoltion over Millwall at The Den on Saturday. The fixture that was only a Premier League game last season shall throw up some thrills and spills and may show a real example of the 'Magic of the Fa Cup'.

Mick Mccarthy will rest star striker, Stephen Fletcher for tonight's fixture meaning Slyvan Ebanks-Blake should start up front with Irish forward, Kevin Doyle. Meanwhile Kevin Foley, Dave Edwards and Roger Johnson will all miss out due to injury. Chris Hughton should shuffle his squad following the 6-0 success at Millwall, meaning winger, Wade Elliot will return to the side after being benched at The Den. Defender Pablo Ibanez will also return following a knee injury. 

My Prediction: Wolves 2-0 Birmingham. 

Wrexham v Brighton

Brighton travel to Wales to play high flying conference side, Wrexham in the Fa cup 3rd replay tonight. 

Brighton will be hopeful they can finish off the tie that they failed to win after drawing 1-1 at the Amex Stadium. The Championship side will hope they can continue their unbeaten start to 2012 with a comfortable win over the Conference leaders. Wrexham however will hope to follow on from their 2-1 away success at Tamworth with a cup upset against the south coast club tonight. The tie that has sold out should have good atmosphere at the Racecourse ground, however the away side will be much fancied to take the victory,however  it would be foolish to rule out the Conference leaders.


The home side will be without, Jake Speight who has a hamstring injury, meaning Danny Wright, who has also recovered from a similar hamstring injury will appear. Brighton will also be without some key players with Craig Mackail Smith being out due to a severe eye injury and Will Hoskins after he felt twinges on his knee comeback in the game against Bristol City on Saturday.

My Prediction: Wrexham 1-2 Brighton 

 

Bolton v Macclesfield

Macclesfield head to the Reebok Stadium for the 2nd time this season to take on Bolton in aFa cup 3rd round replay.

Macclesfield, who are currently 15th in League 2 following a 2-1 home defeat to Torquay on Saturday. Will head to the Reebok Stadium for the second time this season after the sides 2-2 draw at Moss Rose meant the game went to a Replay. The two sides met earlier in the season, in a 2nd round Carling Cup tie in which Bolton won 2-1 with Tuncay scoring a winner. The League 2 side will hope to continue the Premier League side's misery with a victory tonight. However Bolton will hope to forget their Premier League nightmare with a comfortable win over the side that sit 64 places behind them in the Football League.

The Premier League side will be without star defender, Gary Cahill who completed has completed his move to Chelsea. Macclesfield however may be without George Donnelly, who suffered a groin injury in the 2-1 defeat.

Leicester City V Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest can take their mind off their disastrous leauge postion with a Fa cup replay with Leicester City tonight.

Forest are struggling of late in the Npower Championship so their Fa Cup replay with fellow Championship side, Leicester City ,will be a welcome distraction  from their precarious league postion. Which see's them currently 22nd and 2 points  from  safety following their 3-0 home defeat to leaders Southampton on Saturday. Meanwhile Leicester City will hope to eradicate any memory of their 2-1 defeat to Barnsley on Saturday with win at the King Power tonight. The tie should offer up a great encounter, with league form going out of the window and the two sides battling till the very end.

Jeff Schlup is a doubt for the home side and the African cup of nations will also prove to be a pain for Nigel Pearson with Sol Bamba and John Pantsil missing from the side to represent their respected nations. Forest however will be without Centre Back, Luke Chambers as he starts his 3 matchs, so Guy Moussi is expected to deputise for Forest. There will also be without, Wes Morgan who has suffered a ankle ligament injury.

Wigan Athletic v Manchester City.

Manchester City will hope to pull 3 points clear as they head to the Dw Stadium to take on Wigan.

Wigan will be hopefull they can have repeat perfomance of their 1-1 draw with Chelsea earlier in the season. However Manchester City will hope to do the expected thing and pull 3 points clear of near rivals Manchester United with a victory. A win would lift Wigan out of the bottom three and they will be hopefull they can repeat the 2-1 success over City of 3 seasons ago.

Manchester City are hoping for the return of skillfull midfielder, David Silva after assitant manager, David Platt said he is expected to recover from his ankle injury. However Mario Balotelli is expected not to start after he limped off against Liverpool in the Carling Cup. On the Wigan side, Winger Albert Crusat has recovered from a back injury while Shaun Maloney is being treated to get back to fitness. But dynamic midfielder,  Mohammed Diame will be missing as he is on African cup of nations duty with Senegal.

Middlesbrough v Burnley

The Clarets will be hoping to become only the second side to take victory at the riverside this season. 

Burnley will be hoping they can reedeem themselves following from their 4-1 cup defeat away to Norwich, meanwhile Middlesbrough will have to up their game for 2012 after performing poorly in both games this calender despite a victory over the shrews last week. Middlesbrough will also miss influential midfielders, Barry Robson and Nicky Bailey who miss out through injury and suspension. The teesside club will be looking to complete the double over the lancashire side following a 2-0 win over them in september.

My Verdict: Middlesbrough 2-1 Burnley

Portsmouth v West ham

A premier league tie only two years ago, the two sides clash at fratton park in the champioship on saturday. 

The hammers will be hopefull they can put sundays fa cup misery at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday down with victory over pompey at Fratton park. Pompey who also were knocked out of the Fa cup following at 4-0 defeat to chelsea ,will hope they can grab revenge over west ham after their narrow 4-3 defeat at upton park in september.

my verdict: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham

Nottingham Forest v Southampton

Nottingham Forest welcome league leaders southampton to the city ground and will hope to continue on from their 3-1 league success over ipswich at Portman Road.

A few weeks ago it would seem highly likely that this tie would destined to end up with saints the winning side, however recent results have shown serious weakness in southampton's promotion push. Forest meanwhile will be hoping that they rectify their 3-1 away success over Ipswich with victory over the south coast club tommorow. Southampton will hope that victory can let them truely forget about the nightmare at brighton last league game.

my verdict is: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Southampton 

 

Doncaster v Cardiff

High flying Cardiff City travel north to face struggling Doncaster. 

The welsh side will be hopefull they can break into the automatic promotion zone with a victory over second bottom, Doncaster Rovers. Donny will still have foward, Billy Sharp in the starting line up after his talks with Leicester over a possible move have dragged on. The fixture will also see, Doncaster hand a debut to Damien Plessis following him recieving international clearence. Donny will also be hopeful they can repeat a 2-0 success over the bluebirds once again after the result of august 2009, only the second Doncaster home victory over Cardiff.

My Verdict for this game is: Doncaster 0-2 Cardiff

Premier League Preview.

With league leaders manchester city playing till monday night, the attention focuses to second place manchester united who host struggling bolton to old trafford.

Bolton will hope to head to old trafford and repeat the same result as fellow strugglers blackburn, however manchester united will adiment they will not lose 3 premier games on the bounce so we expect united to be all guns blazing. Paul Scholes could make his premier league return after returning to action after being claimed to have ''missed football''. Manchester united fans will also be optimistic after, Rio Ferdinand recovered from a stomach illness and is set to start in the backline. Meanwhile for Bolton, Jussi Jaskelaain will regain the number 1 spot after recovering from a thigh injury.

Martin O'neil faces a tough test as he takes his Sunderland side to stamford bridge to face chelsea. The wearsiders will hope to follow on from the away success at london road on sunday whilst chelsea will have to cope without the talents of, Dider Drogba and Solomon Kalou after they jetted off to the african cup of nations. However on the lighter side for chelsea as John Terry and Daniel Sturridge have both emerged as fit.

Everton will want to reedeem themselves from a midweek defeat at Tottenham with a good perfomance at Aston Villa however the villans will want to follow up on their 3-1 cup success at Bristol Rovers
The game could also see the return to the premier league for Robbie Keane as he is set to make his debut for villa following his loan move from La Galaxy. Everton meanwhile will want to hand northern Irish midfielder, Darren Gibson his debut following his loan move from Manchester United. It could also see the premier league debut of young everton defender, Shane Duffy who has gained experience at football league clubs scunthorpe and burnley however this pends on the fitness of defender, Sylvain Distin.

Liverpool are again without Luis Suarez after he continues his 8 match ban, this will be a blow for liverpool after Suarez has poised as nuesance to Stoke following his performance at the brittania in the league cup last time the two sides met. However, Andy Carroll shall relish the oppourtunity as liverpool take to the field against Stoke for a what is set to be a enthralling physical premier league fixture


Tottenham will hope their home success continues and they can extend their winning run to 3 league games when they welcome wolves to the lane. However they will still be without Sandro, William Gallas and Ledley King but there is room for some optimism as it expected to see the return of top midfielder, Scott Parker. Mick Mccarthy will hope wolves can sneak a result after recent results have left his side looking over their shoulder with point between them and the drop zone.

After encouraging to boycott last weeks fa cup to watch non league football, Blackburn fans should return to ewood park to watch their side play Fulham. Blackburn will be looking to gain their first  win for 2012 after losing to both stoke, in the league and newcastle in the cup. On the other hand fulham will want to extend their 100% start 2012 with win following on from their 2-1 and 4-0 home wins to fellow london clubs, Arsenal and Charlton respectively.

. West Brom will be hoping that they can turn their narrow defeats to the hands of Everton and Tottenham into to a win this weekend when they face Norwich City at the hawthorns. However Norwich will hope to seek revenge for West Brom 1-0 win at Carrow road in september. Although the game looks more favourable to Norwich with all the injury problems faced by the baggies as Mlumbu and Long are being assessed but it is definite that Gera, Brunt and Reid will miss the fixture.

Birmingham City v Ipswich Town.

Ipswich will be hoping to put their cup misery at Hull to bed with a victory over Birmingham City at st andrews tonight. They will be hoping end their dismal form by attempting to beat the midlands club following their 3-1 downfall at home to forest last monday and their 3-1 away defeat in the fa cup against Hull on saturday. Meanwhile Birmingham will hope to be the winning side following two draws on the bounce, First a 1-1 draw at london road against peterborough and then a 0-0 draw against bitter rivals, wolves in the Fa cup at home on Saturday.

Team news: Birmingham will be without new loanee man, Guirane N'Daw following his departure to be with the Senegal squad for the upcoming african cup of nations tournament. Birmingham have will be also without New zealand international foward, Chris Wood following his return to West brom after a relatively successful time at St Andrews.

Ipswich: Goalkeeper, Alex Mccarthy could make his first start for ipswich after being captured by Paul Jewell on loan from Reading. The tractor boys will also be without midfielder, Jimmy Bullard and Lee Bowyer will unfortuantely miss out on making a return to St andrews due being unfit for the fixture.

Tottenham v Everton

Tottenham and Everton return to Premier League action tonight following their Fa cup successes against Cheltenham and Tamworth. Tottenham will hope to continue their excellent form and follow on from their 3-0 cup success with a win over Everton this evening. However Everton will hope to emulate their cup success over tamworth into league success and will hope to reedeem themselves following their 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers, which most notably goalkeeper, Tim Howard managed to score in. Everton will also be hoping records can be made tonight, with Tottenham currently on 999 Premier League goals conceded ,the Everton side will hope to become the side to score the 1000th. It will also be a milestone for toffees stopper, Tim Howard who will make his 250 start for the side.

Team News: Ledley King and William Gallas, are both carrying injuries, this will pave the way for Michael dawson to start along side Yones Kaboul. Tottenham will also relying on a late fitness test on Midfielder Scott Parker but unfortunatley they will sure to miss Brazillian Midfielder, Sandro from the side as he is out with a calf problem.

Everton: Everton will have to step tonight if they want to take victory as big names such as Phil Jagielka, Tim Cahill, Leon Osman, Jack Rodwell and Tony Hibbert are all injuries concerns for the toffees. However it seems likely that irish man, Seamus Coleman will miss the tie following a thigh injury against non league minnows, Tamworth on Saturday.

Manchester City v Liverpool

Just eight days after their premier league meeting in which manchester won 3 goals to nil, Manchester city and Liverpool face up against each other to contest the first leg of the carling cup semi final at eastlands tonight. Both managers will not take the game lightly as it is a great oppourtunity to gain the first silverware of the season. Manchester city will hope to get back to winning ways after the 3-2 defeat to near rivals, manchester united in the 3rd round of the fa cup dealt mancini and his side a hammer blow. Meanwhile Liverpool will hope to continue winning and attempt to follow on the 5-1 demonltion of oldham at anfield on friday night.

Team news: Manchester city are without captain, Vincent Kompany after he had his appeal on his red card against manchester united on sunday, turned down.  City are also without the charismatic striker, Mario Balotelli, as well as top midfielder, David Silva. However there is room for some optimism with the return of influential midfield, Gareth Barry.

Liverpool: Tonight will see the return of Daniel Agger, Jose Enrique, Glen Johnson and Martin Skertel to the starting 11 following their break from action against Oldham on friday night. The Captain Steven Gerrard is also expected to start the game.