Tag Archives: Rovers

Spurs set to rock Rovers

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Tottenham Hotspur could have a thankless night ahead of them when travel across the Irish Sea to take on Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League on Thursday (Shamrock 6/1, draw 7/2, Spurs 4/9 in the match betting).

Spurs could pick up all three points at the Tallaght Stadium and still find themselves out of the second tier competition as they currently sit in third place in Group A.

The north London outfit will require all three points, PAOK to beat Rubin Kazan and a five-goal swing, if they want to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.

It looks like a tall order for Spurs, who are challenging near the top of the Premier League table and will have a return to the Champions League on their minds this season.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is likely to play a weakened side for the trip to Ireland but with the strength in depth at White Hart Lane, the likes of Jermain Defoe (4/1 first goalscorer), Roman Pavlyuchenko and Giovanni Dos Santos set to feature against Rovers.

The Irish outfit almost caused an upset when these two sides last met in north London as they took a one goal lead before crashing to a 3-1 defeat.

Striker Gary Twigg was the dangerman for Rovers in the first leg and Spurs will have to keep an eye on the front-man.

It’s unlikely Tottenham will reach the knockout stages of the Europa League this time around but they should have enough strength in depth to win this one comfortably.

Birmingham’s European campaign also hangs in the balance as they prepare for their clash with NK Maribor (Birmingham 8/15, draw 3/1, NK Maribor 5/1 in the match betting).

The Blues can consider themselves unlucky not to have picked up any points from their last outing in the competition, after they were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against Braga in Portugal.

Only a deflected goal from Hugo Viana was the difference between the two sides, in a game which saw Nikola Zigic miss from the penalty spot.

Birmingham will be confident going into Thursday’s game as they have already beaten Maribor 2-1 in Slovenia earlier in the season.

Dalibor Volas got on the scoresheet in the last meeting between these two sides and is priced at 10/1 to get the first goal at St Andrews.

City need a win if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for the last 32 and in front of their home fans, manager Chris Hughton and his side should be celebrating three points on Thursday.

The other British interest in the Europa League will see Celtic make the tough trip to Italy to take on Udinese (Udinese 8/13, draw 11/4, Celtic 9/2 in the match betting).

This Serie A outfit could have their star striker Antonio Di Natale (7/2 first goalscorer) available for selection and he can be a thorn in any teams’ side.

Udinese have enjoyed an impressive season so far as they sit in second place in the Serie A table, level on points with leaders Juventus.

Celtic will be without the likes of Joe Ledley, Glenn Loovens, Adam Matthew and Kris Commons for the trip to the continent which makes a tough test even harder.

Udinese should win this one against the Old Firm side, who might just be out of their depth in the fiery atmosphere at the Stadio Friuli.

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Whites set for Rovers return

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Leeds United boss Simon GraysonHaving beaten Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium already this season, Leeds United will be full of confidence going into Friday night’s Yorkshire derby in the Championship (Doncaster 2/1, draw 9/4, Leeds 11/8).

It was two goals from Honduran international Ramon Nunez which gave the Whites the 2-1 win in the Carling Cup over Rovers back in August and boss Simon Grayson will be looking for a similar result in the league.

Leeds regularly find themselves behind in matches and it was James Hayter (7/1 first goalscorer) who gave Doncaster the lead after just two minutes in the League Cup clash.

But as regularly as they find themselves behind, the Whites usually get themselves back into games and it was two fine strikes from Nunez that put Leeds through to the next round of the competition, where they were humbled by old rivals Manchester United at Elland Road.

After a slow start to the season, Grayson’s side have started to climb their way up the Championship table and are unbeaten in their last four outings.

What was a rarity in their last game was the fact Leeds were able to keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Elland Road.

A centre-back partnership of Darren O’Dea and Tom Lees, who has put pen to paper on a new long-term deal with the club, looked like a strong combination and could leave Australia international Patrick Kisnorbo on the bench for the short trip to Doncaster.

Leeds also have in their ranks the league’s joint highest goalscorer in Ross McCormack (11/2 first goalscorer) and he will once again be a threat, especially if he gets partnered by Argentine striker Luciano Becchio, who is closing in on a place in the starting line-up after a long spell on the injury list.

As for Doncaster, they have been buoyed since the arrival of Dean Saunders as manager – going unbeaten in their last three outings – with two wins against Crystal Palace and Peterborough.

Rovers have some new-found confidence under the former Wales international and would love to end their 60-year spell without a win against Leeds in the league.

Doncaster will be boosted by the arrival of England one-cap-wonder Chris Kirkland, who could make his debut in goal following a loan move from Wigan Athletic this week.

Leeds (6/1 Championship promotion) are the highest of the four clubs left in the Championship without an away win and should have ended that run, after they found themselves 2-0 up against Brighton in their last game on the road, only to draw the contest 3-3.

The fact the Whites have been less than convincing away from home will give hope to Doncaster, who will look to cause the new-look Leeds defence problems.

However, Leeds looked much stronger at the back against Pompey and, with the attacking threats of Robert Snodgrass, Becchio and McCormack in their ranks, they should make the trip back across Yorkshire with all three points.

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Rovers should fear the worst

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The Premier League relegation battle is the closest in living memory and is unlikely to be decided until the very last kick of the season. We look at all the contenders for the drop and which three will eventually fall through the trap door….

Wigan
Saturday’s win over Birmingham was imperative for Latics survival hopes, but it still looks like a tough ask for them to stay afloat. Roberto Martinez’s men are capable of beating anyone on their day but inconsistency is likely to cost them.
April’s clash at Blackpool is crucial, but Wigan (4/11 to be relegated) also face away dates at Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke.

Birmingham
The Carling Cup winners are in real danger of dropping out of the top flight, highlighted by their last gasp defeat to Wigan. Alex McLeish’s squad have dropped into the bottom three and although they have a game in hand, Blues still have to go to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs.
A lack of goals is the real concern for Birmingham (6/4 for the drop), who are the lowest scorers in the division with just 28 goals. They have not managed to score more than one goal in their last six league games.

Wolves
Wanderers are the in-form team in the bottom half, currently on a four-game unbeaten run, and have shown they are capable of getting out of trouble. Mick McCarthy’s team are better than their position suggests and with four winnable home games – against Everton, Fulham, West Brom and Blackburn – look a decent bet to survive.
Wolves (4/9 to stay up) are also getting key players back from injury, with Stephen Hunt, Michael Kightly and Michael Mancienne close to returns.

West Ham
Having looked doomed a couple of months ago, the Hammers now look strong enough to complete the great escape. Avram Grant has somehow retained his job and the return to fitness of Thomas Hitzlsperger has dug him out of a hole, while the additions of Gary O’Neil and Demba Ba have proved to be shrewd signings.
West Ham (4/9 to stay up) still have to face three of the top four in their final eight games, but their renewed confidence should keep them up.

West Brom
Roy Hodgson’s experience in the battle to avoid the drop could prove crucial in Albion’s fight for survival. Already under the ex-Fulham chief, West Brom have drawn three and won one of the four matches under his stewardship.
The Baggies (13/8 to be relegated) hopes of avoiding another immediate return to the Championship could hinge on two crunch Midlands derbies – against Villa and Wolves.

Blackpool
Virtually every neutral wants the Tangerines to stay up after their entertaining football and attacking ethos this season. Goals, goals, goals has been the ploy for Ian Holloway and it may prove crucial if they prove everyone wrong and survive.
Their home form is a slight concern, with just four wins at Bloomfield Road, but if key players remain fit – Charlie Adam, Luke Varney and Gary Taylor-Fletcher – Blackpool (13/10 to be relegated) can defy the pundits.

Aston Villa
Gerard Houllier is under the most pressure of any manager in the bottom half and he has to hope that doesn’t transfer to his players in the final eight games. As much as people hate this comment….Villa are too good to go down, although it does sometimes happen when a big club suffers a huge fall from grace.
The Villans will rely heavily on the goals of Darren Bent to keep them up but imagine the back pages if Houllier needs a win against his former club Liverpool on the final day in order to stay up.

Blackburn
Rovers fans are quite really concerned by their alarming form in 2011, with the Ewood club winning just one of their last nine league games. Blackburn have still got to play Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City and their fate may go down to the wire and their last game at Wolves.
The one factor that could push Rovers (2/1 to be relegated) over the edge is the man at the helm, with Steve Kean the only rookie manager involved in the relegation battle.

Fulham
The Cottagers have a three-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone and that should be enough to clinch their top-flight status. Fulham’s home record will prove the difference, with just three defeats at Craven Cottage this season to date, although their last two home games of the season are against Liverpool and Arsenal.
With key players returning in recent weeks, don’t be surprised to see Mark Hughes’ men (16/1 to be relegated) finish the season in the top half.

Newcastle
The saving grace for the Magpies is that there are so many teams between them and the bottom three, and that could see them survive. A lack of striking options is the major concern for the Toon Army and Saturday’s 4-0 thumping at Stoke proved it will be a nail-biting end to the season for the fans.
Four points might not seem a lot, but home form is the key to Newcastle (16/1 to go down) survival – with St James’ Park matches against fellow strugglers Wolves, Birmingham and West Brom to come. Four of their remaining seven matches are away from Tyneside.

Prediction: Wigan, Birmingham and Blackburn to be relegated

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Rovers start new regime

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Rovers manager Sam AllardyceBlackburn Rovers will be desperate to start life under their new owners, Venky’s London Limited, with a victory and Aston Villa beware, with Gerard  Houllier’s men visiting Ewood Park (Blackburn 13/10, draw 11/5, Aston Villa 11/5 – Match Betting) on Sunday.

The new owners started their business as a poultry firm in India and they will be looking for Rovers to ‘rule the roost’ at Ewood Park and maintain their impressive home form.

Blackburn go into this game on the back of a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, but had won back-to-back games prior to that.

Sam Allardyce’s men sit just two points above the relegation zone, despite decent wins against Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United, but at home they are always a tough nut to crack.

Villa meanwhile, will be disappointed that they could not make a two goal lead count against Manchester United at Villa Park last weekend, but it was a much improved display.

The Villains welcome new signing Robert Pires into the squad for this clash after the former Arsenal midfielder signed a short-term deal with the Midlands’ club this week.

With the backing of new owners the Rovers players will be looking to impress but will need to end a poor run against Villa, having lost three of the last four meetings at Ewood Park.

Manchester City desperately need to get their season back on track, when they travel to Craven Cottage on Sunday.

City have only won one of their last five Premier League matches and manager Roberto Mancini has come under pressure for playing negatively.

With the amount of attacking talent at Eastlands, you would expect them to try and win every game and this will be another stern test of the top four credentials.

However, last weekend against Birmingham, the Italian boss brought off leading goalscorer Carlos Tevez (21/5 to score the first goal against Fulham) for defensive midfielder Gareth Barry, with the game goalless with seven minutes remaining.

It’s doubtful that Mancini will be that negative again after the criticism that fans directed at the Italian manager, but he will be up against a Fulham team whose manager will be out to prove a point.

This is an important home game for Fulham, who just sit one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League, with ex-City boss Mark Hughes looking to put one over on the club he left last season.

Half of the last 14 games between these two teams have ended in draws, but without Moussa Dembele and their star striker Bobby Zamora, it looks like a struggle for Hughes’ men.

In Monday evening’s game, Sunderland take on Everton at the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats will be full of confidence after they demolished Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge last time out.

Asamoah Gyan is fast becoming the signing of the season as he has notched up five Premier League goals in 10 appearances, eight of those as a substitute.

The Ghana striker is starting to form a tidy partnership with Danny Welbeck up front for Sunderland and they could be a threat to the Toffees on Monday, with Darren Bent still sidelined.

Everton  have won just one of their last five games and they will face another tough test in the North East, as they look to climb the table after another poor start to the season.

There could be a start for Jermaine Beckford, who has impressed when coming off the bench in recent matches, scoring a fine curling shot against Bolton in the dying moments of the game.

However, with the mood Sunderland are in the Black Cats look a good shout to take the points (Sunderland 6/4, draw 23/10, Everton 9/5 – Match Betting).

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Rovers boss admits struggles

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Sam Allardyce has admitted he is struggling to lure a striker to Blackburn Rovers (7/1 to be relegated) in order to boost his squad ahead of a long Premier League season.

The former Bolton and Newcastle manager currently only has Jason Roberts and Nikola Kalinic as established top-flight strikers on his books, with untested forwards such as David Hoilett, Aaron Doran and Maceo Rigters his only other attacking options at this point in time.

He was forced to stand and watch his Blackburn (25/1 Premiership without Top Six 2010/11) side go down to a 3-0 defeat to Championship side, and north-west rivals, Preston North End in a friendly game at Deepdale this week.

Allardyce admitted it was “not great” from his side and he will certainly be wanting to bring more out of his players if they are to improve on their 10th-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

Blackburn kick off their Premier League campaign against Everton (Blackburn 7/5 to win, Everton 8/5, draw 11/5) on August 14th and their experienced manager is hoping he can have secured the signature of more attacking firepower.

Allardyce has been linked with moves for ex-Manchester City forward Benjani, David Nugent and even Real Madrid legend Raul this summer.

He is also reportedly interested in bringing former Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire back to the Premier League from Greek side Olympiakos.

The Blackburn manager faces competition to get the signature of any of the above-mentioned attackers and he has admitted that the club’s finances are making it hard for him to get quality strikers to Ewood Park

“When you haven’t got as much money as everyone else, it makes it difficult to find the right player to make an impact for you,” said Allardyce.

“It is not a striker we are looking for to make the numbers up, it is a striker we are looking for to make an impact by challenging Jason Roberts and Niko Kalinic. That is extremely difficult for us at the moment.”

One of the forwards currently at Ewood Park remains convinced he could be the one to get goals for the club next season.

Dutch forward Rigters has failed to impress since arriving from NAC Breda in 2007, making only two appearances, but has issued a rallying cry to Allardyce.

He told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I know I can play football and I know I can score goals here.

“I’ve scored a lot of goals in the reserves but I have to see where I’m going to start playing football. I hope it?s at Blackburn because I like the club and I really want to play in the Premier League.”

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