Preview Matches : England Premier League Matchday 37 2011/12

Newcastle vs Manchester City FC Preview: Mancini could also field an unchanged side

Pre Match
May 6, 2012 1:30 PM BST
Sports Direct Arena — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Referee:‬ H. Webb‎ 

Team News

Newcastle 

 

Obertan and Marveaux were both fit to make the bench last time out, with the latter having missed much of his first season in Newcastle through injury. James Perch deputised for Danny Simpson at Chelsea and did well so will hope to keep his place even if the right-back is fit to return. Alan Pardew may well name an unchanged side from the one that won at Chelsea and kept their Champions League dream alive, with Papiss Cisse again stealing the headlines with two outstanding strikes.

 

Probable lineups : Krul, Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Perch, Gutierrez, Tiote, Cabaye, Arfa, Cisse, Ba. (4-4-2).

Manchester City

 

Manchester City have a clean bill of health and will be on cloud nine after a crucial win against United put them back on top of the table having dropped eight points behind their fierce rivals. Richards has returned to full fitness but will do well to replace Zabaleta, who shone from right-back against United. Mancini could also field an unchanged side, knowing that he will need all of his best players on song to ensure that their win on Monday was not redundant.

 

Probable lineups : Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, Toure, Silva, Aguero, Nasri, Tevez. (4-2-3-1).  

Prediction

This is a huge game for both sides, though City undoubtedly have more to lose than a Newcastle side that everyone has expected to drop off the pace but continue to impress, and are well in with a chance of securing Champions League football next season.

 

Newcastle have scored in each of their last 5 games against City, but failed to win any of them, losing the last 4, and they haven't beaten City at St. James' Park since 2005.

 

Cisse has scored 13 goals in his 12 games for Newcastle and will need to continue that run here if they are to challenge for fourth, with Spurs and Arsenal both facing more favourable ties this weekend.

Newcastle  1 - 2  Manchester City  

 

Aston Villa vs Tottenham Preview : Games between these two sides at Villa Park have been extremely close in recent years

 

Pre Match
May 6, 2012 2:00 PM BST
Villa Park — Birmingham
Referee:‬ L. Probert‎ 

Team News

Aston Villa 

 

Alex McLeish has confirmed that Darren Bent will play no further part this season, and revealed on Tuesday that James Collins had yet to make a return to training and remains a doubt for the visit of Spurs. The game between these sides at White Hart lane was possibly Villa's worst performance of the season, though they will most likely adopt a similar approach of playing defensive wide men to act as cover for the full backs against the likes of Bale and Lennon.

 

Stephen Ireland could come back into the side to add a little more creativity in central midfield, but McLeish will demand work rate, so N'Zogbia could be sacrificed. Collins, Herd and Delph have all been disciplined for a late night fracas at a nightclub after the annual awards evening and may well be dropped.

Probable lineups : Given, Lichaj, Dunne, Cuellar, Hutton, Warnock, Ireland, Clark, Bannan, Heskey, Agbonlahor. (4-4-2) 

Tottenham

 

Scott Parker remains a doubt for Spurs, but Redknapp is likely to name the same side that have picked up back to back wins against a couple of Villa's relegation rivals this week. Therefore, the likes of Sandro and Rose will keep their places, with Assou-Ekotto likely to miss the rest of the season, while Walker and Friedel will return to Villa Park for the first time since leaving the club last summer.

 

Ledley King and Ryan Nelsen are both alternative options at the back, but Gallas and Kaboul should continue in the heart of the defence. It has been revealed that Kyle Walker has a broken toe but due to the lack of options will play having had injections in the week.

Probable lineups : Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Rose, Lennon, Modric, Sandro, Bale, Vaart, Adebayor. (4-4-1-1).  

 

Prediction

This is another huge game for both sides, with the potential impact that this result could have at either end of the table. If Villa picked up an unexpected result they would be all but safe, where a win for Tottenham will mean that they could still go down in the last gameweek.

 

If the visitors were to win, and they will be favourites to do so, then they will remain in the driving seat to finish at least 4th and keep the pressure up on Arsenal in 3rd going into the last day of the season.

 

Games between these two sides at Villa Park have been extremely close in recent years, with both sides scoring in the last 6 encounters in the Midlands, though Villa have won just once in that run.

Aston Villa  0 - 2  Tottenham  

 

Fulham vs Sunderland Preview: This game represents something of a 'nothing match' for the two teams involved

 

Pre Match
May 6, 2012 2:00 PM BST
Craven Cottage — London
Referee:‬ M. Atkinson‎  

Team News

Fulham

 

Stephen Kelly is back after injury and should continue at right-back, allowing Aaron Hughes to cover for the doubtful Philippe Senderos in central defence if he does not make it. Andrew Johnson is also a doubt with the thigh injury that kept him out of the trip to Liverpool. Kerim Frei will hope to return at left midfield in place of Alex Kacaniklic.

Probable lineups : Schwarzer, Riise, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly, Frei, Dembele, Murphy, Duff, Dempsey, Pogrebnyak. (4-4-1-1).  

 

Sunderland 

 

Craig Gardner returns after suspension, but Sebastian Larsson will miss out after his club revealed he had a hernia operation and will be out for the rest of the season. Lee Cattermole should return in central midfield alongside Jack Colback, while Gardner could play on the right in Larsson's place. Fraizer Campbell is also pushing for a starting berth, and could play up front, with Sessegnon playing out wide.

Probable lineups : Gordon, O'Shea, Kilgallon, Turner, Bardsley, Gardner, Cattermole, Colback, McClean, Sessegnon, Bendtner. (4-4-1-1). 

Prediction

This game represents something of a 'nothing match' for the two teams involved, with only 2 games left and a top half finish the best either team can hope for. Nonetheless, the respective managers will be keen to ensure their sides play out the season in the correct manner and make this a competitive match.

 

Fulham bounced back from the 4-0 trouncing at Everton with a win at Anfield that put them level on points with Liverpool in 8th. They will have been buoyed by that win and back on home soil, where they have lost only one of their last ten games in all competitions, they will be confident of victory.

 

Sunderland, meanwhile, are without a win in 7 matches in all competitions, and have not won away from home since February. They will be keen for this season to end so they can look ahead to starting afresh for next term. Sunderland haven't scored a single goal against Fulham in any of their last 5 meetings - their last goal at Craven Cottage came back in 2008. That dismal run could well continue.

Fulham  2 - 0  Sunderland  

 

QPR vs Stoke Preview: The importance of this game to Queens Park Rangers cannot be underestimated

 

Pre Match
May 6, 2012 2:00 PM BST
Loftus Road Stadium — London
Referee:‬ A. Marriner‎  

Team News

Queens Park Rangers

 

Samba Diakite missed the 6-1 mauling at Chelsea due to illness and is a doubt to return for the crucial visit of Stoke here. Fitz Hall stands a good chance of returning to the fold soon and, particularly after conceding 6 goals at Chelsea, Mark Hughes may consider shaking things up at the back. Adel Taarabt returns from suspension and should go straight into the starting lineup on the left of midfield. Faurlin and Dyer remain absent due to serious injuries.

Probable lineups : Kenny, Taiwo, Hill, Ferdinand, Onuoha, Taarabt, Derry, Barton, Mackie, Cisse, Zamora. (4-4-2)  

 

Stoke 

 

Tony Pulis has had very little in the way of injuries to deal with this season, and once again only has a few absentees.   It is likely that Jermain Pennant is to be added to that list after his arrest for a number of offences earlier in the week. He has had a few disagreements with Pulis over his selection and so it is unlikely he will play again this season. Andy Wilkinson and Salif Diao look like they'll miss out again, so Stoke could select a similar lineup to the one that drew against Everton.

Probable lineups : Begovic, Shotton, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Walters, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Crouch, Jerome. (4-4-2).

Prediction

The importance of this game to Queens Park Rangers cannot be underestimated. They are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference - ahead of Bolton - and face a trip to league leaders and potential title winners Manchester City on the final day of the season, so this could well be their final chance to pick up some points. They have won their last 4 home games - impressive wins against Liverpool, Arsenal, Swansea and Tottenham - so they will be confident of picking up another three points here. They have lost their last 6 away matches, so a game at the Etihad on the final day of the season does not offer much hope for them. All the more pressure on this match.

 

Stoke are stumbling towards the finishing line and have won only one of their last nine league games. They are safe for another season and, although they could finish in the top half, they are likely to come around 14th and will be content with that. They have had a long season, what with the Europa League campaign, and may find it hard to get motivated for this match. The likes of Peter Crouch will be trying to impress ahead of the Euros this summer.

 

QPR have been impressive at home of late, and a win is an absolute must here. They have won 3 of their last 5 at home to Stoke, including the latest meeting - a 3-0 victory when both sides were in the Championship. They should win again and take the relegation fight down to the final day.

Queens Park Rangers  2 - 1  Stoke  

 

Bolton vs West Bromwich Albion Preview: Roy Hodgson will want to sign off in style for West Brom

 

Pre Match
May 6, 2012 2:00 PM BST
Reebok Stadium — Bolton
Referee:‬ K. Friend‎  

Team News

Bolton 

 

With Steinsson still a doubt, Boyata will hope to keep his place at right-back. Sam Ricketts could potentially switch to that side to allow Marcos Alonso to start on the left. Reo-Coker was fit to start against Spurs and scored before being substituted in the second half but he should be fit to play the entire 90 minutes here. Klasnic will hope to get a rare start up front, but Ngog may keep his place after a neat touch set up the goal on Wednesday.

Probable lineups :  Bogdan, Ricketts, Ream, Wheater, Boyata, Petrov, Davies, Reo-Coker, Eagles, Ngog, Davies. (4-4-2)

West Bromwich

 

Much of the attention this week has been on Roy Hodgson, who accepted the FA's offer to become England manager. However, West Brom made it clear that they would only accept an approach if Hodgson could remain in charge for the final two games, so he will be in the dugout this weekend. West Brom have no fresh injury concerns, though Fortune and Andrews will hope to start having come on as substitutes against Villa.

Probable lineups : Foster, Jones, Olsson, McAuley, Ridgewell, Brunt, Dorrans, Mulumbu, Thomas, Odemwingie, Fortune. (4-4-2)  

 

Prediction

This is a massive game for Bolton as a defeat would see them fall all but out of reach of both Villa and Wigan due to their inferior goal difference going into the last game of the season.

 

Roy Hodgson will want to sign off in style for West Brom, with the spotlight likely to be on his side's performances before he takes up the England managerial post.

 

The Baggies have a solid defence and Bolton don't score many goals so this should be a close game with the hosts going all out for the win in the latter stages if it remains in the balance

Bolton  1 - 1  West Bromwich