Monday, December 27, 2010

Premier League preview

The festive feast continues in midweek as the Premier League bids farewell to 2010 with the final round of fixtures for this year.

For some the past 12 months will live long in the memory, but for others the New Year cannot come some enough.

There is a case for arguing that teams from both sides of that divide will be in action on Tuesday, providing them with one last opportunity to hit the right notes before the curtain comes down on another year.

Manchester United will want to open 2011 as league leaders and with their unbeaten record still intact. Birmingham are the latest side to fall in their firing line, with the Blues set to welcome the Red Devils to St Andrews in the evening kick-off, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1. Alex McLeish's side have lost just once on home soil this season, a record which stands alongside the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham, but they will have their work cut out against a United outfit that arrives in the Midlands on the back of four straight wins.

Should Sir Alex Ferguson's troops slip up for the first time this term, their arch-rivals Manchester City will be waiting in the wings to pounce. Victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day has kept the Blues within touching distance of the summit and they will want to clamber onto that lofty perch sooner rather than later. Faltering Aston Villa provide the next challenge for Roberto Mancini's men, with Gerard Houllier under mounting pressure to turn Villa's season around after suffering four defeats in five outings.

Title dream

Tottenham continue to cling to their own title dreams, with there a growing belief around White Hart Lane that Spurs could be crowned champions for the first time in 50 years. That would be some way to celebrate the anniversary of their last success back in 1960/61. There is plenty of work to be done before then, though, with a top-four finish still the priority at present. Depending on results elsewhere, a win over Newcastle in midweek could be enough to return them to the UEFA Champions League places for the first time since the end of October.

Sunderland's impressive progress this season has been built on a formidable record at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats are yet to suffer a league defeat in front of their own supporters and will be hoping that run continues against a Blackpool side that has played just once in the month of December. The Seasiders will be glad to get away from the freezing surrounds of Bloomfield Road, but it remains to be seen whether they will be fresh or rusty when they travel to Wearside.

Blackburn caretaker coach Steve Kean has endured a baptism of fire in the Ewood Park hot-seat, taking one point from two games, and he needs to put the unrest which has accompanied Sam Allardyce's controversial departure to one side. A trip to West Brom will offer another chance to pick up much-needed points on Tuesday, with a three-match winless run having dropped Rovers into the bottom half of the table and looking over their shoulder.

West Ham moved off the foot of the table with victory over relegation rivals Fulham on Sunday and will want to maintain that momentum when they entertain Everton in front of the Sky Sports cameras. The Hammers have spent the entire campaign inside the drop zone, and were bottom at Christmas, but can finally see light at the end of the tunnel. Just two points separates them from Birmingham in 17th, so they could enter the New Year in much better shape than many envisaged they would. For Everton, an evening out in the capital will give them a chance to stretch a three-match unbeaten run. They are, however, yet to win in London this season, with three draws and a defeat taken from their last four journeys south.

Fulham have now gone eight games without a win and have tasted the joy of victory just twice so far this season. It is no surprise that they find themselves in a basement battle and pressure is starting to mount on Mark Hughes' shoulders. A trip to Stoke is the last thing they need right now, with the Potters renowned for their battling spirit and never-say-die approach. Fulham are also woeful on the road, with 26 away games having passed since they last picked up three points away from Craven Cottage.

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