Sunderland v Blackburn

Much was expected of Sunderland this season following a massive summer of transfer activity but the Black Cats have failed to fire with Steve Bruce paying the penalty to become the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season.

The Wearside faithful will no doubt be delighted to have seen Martin O’Neill – a boyhood fan of the club – installed in the hotseat, charged with the task of pulling the Black Cats out of the relegation zone.

The ‘new manager syndrome’ may well have the desired affect on Sunday with players perhaps playing for their futures under the new boss, although O’Neill will undoubtedly be aware of finding regular goals from his squad.

Love him (and there is seeming few that do) or loathe him but it looks as though Steve Kean is set to stay at Rovers, but he needs to start picking up points to deliver a ‘top ten’ target that he thinks is infinitely possible.

A 4-2 win over Swansea last weekend did little to appease the Rovers fans calling for his head at the final whistle, but a few more wins might just get them to rethink their attitude and start getting behind the team.

Yakubu is very much a man in form for Blackburn and his four-goal salvo last week took his tally to 10, more games than he has played, while he has bagged seven in his last five.

The Nigerian is on offer at a tempting 7/1 First/Last Goalscorer and 15/8 Anytime, and considering Rovers have scored in every away game, he is not a bad shout to get on the scoresheet again.

Sunderland won this fixture 3-0 last season but the fact that Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck and Asamoah Gyan scored the goals tells its own story as Bruce was unable to keep any at the club.

The Black Cats have not made the Stadium of Light the fortress that they would have wanted with just one win there so far, but they do have an impressive record against Rovers, particularly at home.

With both sides having won just one of their last nine games it does make it difficult to call, but injuries to Ruben Rochina and Martin Olsson as well as Steven Nzonzi’s absence through suspension may just swing things the home side’s way (Sunderland 5/6, Draw 13/5, Rovers 7/2 Match Betting).

Stoke v Spurs

These two sides have enjoyed contrasting fortunes this season with Stoke progressing in the Europa League, a tournament Spurs seem destined to be knocked out of – although they are very much in the title race.

Spurs are Evens in the match betting to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 matches, winning 10 of the last 11, as they look to close the seven-point gap on Manchester City at the top of the table.

Scott Parker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Brad Friedel seem to have had the desired affect with the club winning their last six games and last three on the road, with Gareth Bale (7/1 First/Last Goalscorer, 15/8 Anytime) in particularly fine form.

Rafael van der Vaart has also been instrumental in the Lilywhites recent surge, although injury doubts over Bale, Jermain Defoe and Sandro could upset the applecart on Sunday.

Stoke have had one or two difficulties this term, particularly playing in Europe, but go into the game on the back of successive league wins – and have not had to worry about Europe this week.

Goals have been a problem but 14/5 on the home win or 12/5 on the draw look decent value considering they have beaten Liverpool and held both Chelsea and Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium – while they also knocked Spurs out of the Carling Cup.

The Potters have not exactly been full of goals this term but do provide an obvious aerial threat – something which Spurs have struggled with this season – and Robert Huth looks a good shout at 16/1 First/Last Goalscorer to add to his game winner at Everton last week.

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The Northern Irish manager left the club just five days before the start of the Premier League season after what was believed to be a disagreement between himself and Villa owner Randy Lerner over the sale of star midfielder James Milner.

O’Neill is now looking to get back into a managerial hot seat and has been linked with a number of clubs including the vacant position at Championship side Middlesbrough as well as the Liverpool job as Roy Hodgson has had a poor start to his reign at Anfield.

Speaking about the future, the former Leicester City manager said: “I’ve been enjoying myself and getting rather lazy these last two months.

“But I obviously miss the game and I’m sure I’ll get back into it at some stage if I can.

“I’d rather that happened sooner rather than later.”

O’Neill could take the job at the Riverside as Middlesbrough look to turn their season around after a poor start to the campaign.

Boro were tipped to win the Championship this term but under the leadership of Gordon Strachan the side failed to live up to expectations and currently sit in 21st place in the league.

O’Neill would be an ideal replacement for Strachan as the club looks to climb up the Championship table.

The 53-year-old has also revealed that he had been interviewed for the England job before Steve McClaren was given the role after Sven-Goran Eriksson.

He said: “Obviously Steve had been there as assistant to Sven at the time, but I’m not sure of the way the voting system went.

“A number of candidates were interviewed – Big Sam Allardyce brought every piece of machinery and all the stats with him, unfortunately I didn’t.

“I just brought myself, and we all know what happened.”

O’Neill could be a candidate for the England (8/1 to win Euro 2012 outright) job in 2012 after the current boss Fabio Capello stated that he would retire from management after the tournament.

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Speculation over the future of O’Neill has been rumbling on all summer but the decision could not come at a worse time for the club with the new Premier League season just days away.

O’Neill has worked wonders during his time at Aston Villa and even though they failed to qualify for the Champions League, he moved them on to the next level when finishing in the top seven to qualify for the Europa League.

However it seems as though trouble has been brewing behind the scenes with American owner Randy Lerner and there were stories towards the end of last season that he was ready to quit Villa Park.

They turned out to be false but everything has now come to a head and O’Neill has now decided to walk away.

A statement from O’Neill revealed: “I have enjoyed my time at Aston Villa immensely. It’s obviously a wrench to be leaving such a magnificent club. I would like to pay tribute to the Villa players, my coaching staff and the Villa supporters for all the support and encouragement they have given both the club and me personally during my time as manager.

“I wish them all the best for the future. I will obviously be assisting the club in the immediate short-term with regard to the handover of my duties.”

O’Neill has not gone into detail but it is thought the imminent sale of James Milner to Manchester City was the final straw. The Irishman would have been hoping for cash to take Villa into the Champions League but he has yet to make a single signing and is set to lose his best player.

Gareth Barry also left the club for Manchester City last summer and O’Neill may think he has taken the club as far as he can with the support available.

The race will now be on for his successor and although they will be queuing up for the post there are not too many available names that would excite the Villa faithful.

Villa are 4/6 to beat West Ham at Villa Park on the opening day of the season but with the club in disarray, the Hammers may be fancying their chances.

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Both clubs were in the race for a Champions League place last season but both lost out to Tottenham Hotspur, who secured the coveted fourth spot by beating City 1-0 at Eastlands in the penultimate game of the campaign (City 1/2, Spurs 3/1 – Premier League Top Four Finish).

However, City have a cheque book which matches the size of their ambition and big things are expected of Roberto Mancini’s outfit for the 2010/2011 competition.

Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, the Aston Villa manager was pessimistic about his side competing for fourth this season (Villa 7/1 – Premiership Top Four Finish).

He said: “Just when you think your team is getting there, getting close to fourth spot, City appear on the horizon with all this money. It seems to be getting further away.

“Well done Spurs for getting into the Champions League – but up until their second last game, they could have finished anywhere from fourth to seventh.

“Top four remains a possibility but to win the title, you need to have the squad. City will have 28 or 29 top-class players available.”

O’Neill was speaking in response to the transfer saga surrounding England international James Milner, who has been strongly linked with a move to the Eastlands outfit.

The Villa boss admitted earlier in the week that Milner had expressed his desire to leave Villa Park and he admits it would be a significant blow to his side’s top four aspirations should he leave.

“If we do end up losing a player like Milner, it won’t make it easier.”

“You have to replace him, replace his ability and experience, and do it instantly yet do it with someone of probably less value. That is tough.”

Unsurprisingly, City have spent more than any other Premier League club during the close season, signing a vast array of international talent.

Serbia international defender Aleksandar Kolarov became the latest signing on Friday after moving from Lazio in a deal reported to be in the region of £19million.

Kolarov became City’s fourth signing of the summer after they completed moves for Jerome Boateng (£10.5m), David Silva (£29m) and Yaya Toure (£24m).

This spending clout has forced Spurs manager Harry Redknapp to concede that City will win the title one day, provided owner Sheikh Mansour remains interested in bankrolling their endeavours (City 4/1 to win Premiership).

He said: “I genuinely think that eventually they will win the championship.

“If they continue and the owner stays involved, and he seems very keen, then I can see them in the next few years putting together a team that will win the Premier League.”

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Aston Villa

The Villans have no margin for error as they chase fourth place in the Premier League and with it a chance to secure Champions League football for next season via the qualifying rounds of the competition.

And on the face of it Villa are entertaining Blues at a good time, with Alex McLeish’s men failing to register a win in their last seven games, but O’Neill reckons the form book goes out of the window in derby matches (5/4 Villa HT/FT).

He said: “That will not affect them going into a derby. They have done excellently all year and they have been a surprise to most people.

“They have eked out some amazing results this season and have done it through a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline and a lot of controlled play.

“I think that is the sort of side we are going to face and not a team which has not won in the last seven matches.”

O’Neill is a veteran of the Old Firm game north of the border from his five-year spell as Celtic boss – most of which coincided with McLeish’s spell in charge of Rangers – and he has drawn on all of his experience to warn his players they need to have the coolest heads in the ground.

He added: “To win a derby game you need discipline. I think discipline is important in these games as referees want to lay down the law pretty quickly.

“Incidents in a derby game seem to magnify themselves and if you pick up a yellow card early on it is a long way to go to keep out of further trouble.

“Villa have won the last five games between the sides and we are certainly capable of beating Birmingham.

“Are they capable of coming here and stifling us and making it exceptionally hard? Absolutely.

“We will have to be very strong mentally and force ourselves on the game. The highly charged atmosphere of a local derby should go on and inspire the players and I think it should be a very decent atmosphere.”

Blues’ season has taken a dip but McLeish will be desperate to finish in the top half of the Premier League which would be a magnificent achievement following promotion from the Championship 12 months ago.

The Scot then spent around £10m on squad strengthening and he does not expect to be handed mega-money during the close season.

He revealed: “Will there be more than £10million to spend this summer? It won’t be much more than that.

“I heard Walter Smith talking about having a fantastic season at Rangers and then, because he’s done well on a limited budget, they think they can take a bit more away and he can do it again.

“I worked like that at Rangers as well and you can’t keep doing that. You can’t keep pulling rabbits out of the hat. There has to be investment and I am sure the board will back me.”

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With just two wins in their last six fixtures O’Neill’s side have fallen behind in the race for fourth spot, with Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur looking the most likely to qualify for next season’s Champions League.  However, Manchester City’s loss to Manchester United  has given O’Neill a glimmer of hope and the Villa boss inists his side can still take the final Champions league spot – although he accepts it will not be easy.

He said:  “People here at Villa have talked about fourth spot for a long time.

“Manchester City have spent in the region of £200million and for £200million there is a fair chance you are going to get some really decent players and that is exactly what they have done.

“Harry Redknapp summed it up five or six weeks ago when he was asked about Tottenham Hotspur.

“He said that they could finish fourth or finish seventh and that was before Everton came into the picture.

“So these teams are vying for the same things as Villa and no-one has said it would be easy.

“In fact it has been exceptionally difficult. But it has been worth the trip.”

Villa stand a great chance of picking up all three points at Fratton Park on Sunday as they have a basically fully-fit squad going into the game against already relegated Portsmouth.  O’Neill’s only concern is Stephen Warnock who faces a late fitness test but the likes of James Milner, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor are all available.   Warnock has proved a crucial member of the Villa defence but Richard Dunne has perhaps been the key man for Villa and they could keep a total shut out against Pompey at Fratton Park (Villa 11/10 to keep a clean sheet).

By Contrast Pompey are struggling with injuries and Hassan Yebda (knee), Kevin Prince Boateng (ankle), Nadir Belhadj (thigh), Papa Bouba Diop (knee) and Tommy Smith (broken nose) all look set to miss out on Sunday.

However, a very much patchwork Portsmouth side managed to secure an unlikely 0-0 draw at Wigan’s DW Stadium in midweek and boss Avram Grant remains keen to see his side continue to put in performances despite the fact their fate has already been sealed.

A win for Villa would be massive in their hunt for Champions League football, indeed a top six finish would guarantee them a place in the Europa League and with Everton in fine form a European spot is still not assured for Villa.  With Pompey’s injuries Villa should come out on top on Sunday, but the Champions League may elude them for another year.

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Aston Villa

The draw took Aston Villa to within seven points of Manchester City in fourth, having played the same number of games. This has led O’Neill to claim that his side will need to win all of their remaining five games if they are to stand a chance of qualifying for the Champions League.

Their campaign started well but a disastrous March, in which they only won one League game, saw the Midlands outfit slip down the table. Manchester City (4/9 to finish fourth) and Tottenham Hotspur (2/1 to finish fourth) are in fourth and fifth respectively and many see the battle for fourth being between these two sides. However, they have more difficult run-ins than Liverpool and Aston Villa so the door may still be open for the two outsiders if they can sort their consistency issues out.

Speaking after Wednesday’s game, O’Neill stated; “I thought before the game that we probably had to win the whole lot of the matches that were left to give us a proper chance (of the Champions League).

“It would have been a tall order and I would have thought that, certainly after this result, to give ourselves any chance we’ll have to win all five.

“It’s not impossible but it will be tough. You’d need a bit of luck here and there but we’ll go to Portsmouth on Sunday and we’ll give it everything.”

Villa face a tricky trip to Portsmouth this weekend and are 8/13 favourites to secure the win. The South Coast side are 4/1 whilst the draw is 11/4. Should they be able to navigate this clash – and their next two against Hull City and local rivals Birmingham – they could be going into the game against Manchester City on 1 May in a significantly stronger position.

Meanwhile in the race for fourth, Tottenham Hotspur kept the pressure on Manchester City by beating local rivals Arsenal 2-1 at White Hart Lane on Wednesday evening. This severely dented the Gunners’ title hopes and moved Spurs to within one point and one place of fourth.

Both sides meet each other on May 5 at Eastlands in what could be a fourth place decider. However, there is plenty of football still to play before then and both sides face tricky fixtures this weekend.

City are at home to local rivals and title chasing Manchester United and are 17/10 to pick up the three points. United are 11/8 to get the win they need to keep their title hopes alive whilst the draw is 12/5.

Spurs don’t have it any easier as they host league leaders Chelsea at White Hart Lane. Tottenham are 11/4 to keep their assault on fourth place on track whilst the Blues are 10/11 to move three points closer to the title. The draw is 12/5.

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