TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Birmingham City v Chelsea Can the Premier League leaders upset the form book and win at St Andrew's? Not the question that most people would have imagined being asked ahead of this fixture but arguably a fair one on the back of recent results. Alex McLeish will name an unchanged side for the seventh successive match as Birmingham seek to stretch their unbeaten run to 10 games against a Chelsea side that have won only one of their last six. "At St Andrew's we believe we have a good chance of beating anybody," said the Birmingham manager. Stuart JamesVenue St Andrew'sTickets £23 (0844 557 1875)Last season n/aReferee P WaltonThis season's matches 11 Y25, R1, 2.36 cards per gamesportingbet odds Birmingham 23-4 Chelsea 9-20 Draw 14-5BirminghamSubs from Maik Taylor, Fahey, McSheffrey, Queudrue, O'Shea, Carsley, Vignal, Phillips, Espinoza, D Johnson, Martin Taylor, ParnabyDoubtful Parnaby (back), Martin Taylor (ankle)Injured Murphy (knee, 10 Jan), Tainio (knee, Feb), O'Connor (hip, Mar)Suspended NoneForm guide DWWWWWDisciplinary record Y31 R1Leading scorer Bowyer 5ChelseaSubs from Turnbull, Hilário, Bruma, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Malouda, Matic, Hutchinson, Belletti, Ferreira, Kalou, Borini, KakutaDoubtful Alex (groin)Injured Anelka (hamstring, 3 Jan), Deco (thigh, 3 Jan), Essien (hamstring, 10 Jan), Bosingwa (knee, Feb)Suspended NoneForm guide DWDLWWDisciplinary record Y25 R1Leading scorer Drogba 13Match pointers• Birmingham have not beaten Chelsea in any competition since March 1980, a run of four draws and 11 defeats• Florent Malouda has scored Chelsea's earliest (4min 21sec) and latest (93min 33sec) league goal this season• If selected, Lee Bowyer will be making his 350th Premier League appearance• Chelsea have recouped 11 points from losing positions this season, more than any other team• Birmingham have won three of the five Premier League matches they have played on Boxing DayBirmingham CityChelseaPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
David Beckham World Cup hope as Leonardo says he will get game time at AC Milan AC Milan coach Leonardo insists David Beckham will see plenty of action during his second loan spell at the club. telegraph.co.uk |
Alex Ferguson furious at 'absolutely ridiculous' red card for Darren Fletcher Sir Alex Ferguson has risked further trouble with FA after criticising Mark Clattenburg's decision to dismiss Darren Fletcher. telegraph.co.uk |
Udinese take Pompey to Court of Arbitration for Sport • Italian club claim money is owed for Sulley Muntari deal• Muntari joined Pompey for £7m and left for £12.7mUdinese have confirmed they will take Portsmouth to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to recoup money they claim to be owed following the sale of Sulley Muntari.Muntari joined Portsmouth from Udinese in 2007 for a reported fee of £7m and moved on to Internazionale in 2008 for around £12.7m."I can confirm that Udinese today has reported Portsmouth to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne in connection with a missed payment for Sulley Muntari," said a spokesman for Udinese.The deal for Muntari is the only one of Portsmouth's outstanding transfer payments that has not been paid or rearranged, after the Premier League paid around £5m directly to the club's football creditors last week.Ali al-Faraj, Portsmouth's owner, is fighting a winding-up petition that was served by Her Majesty's Revenue & ÂCustoms before Christmas. The Saudi-based businessman may have to find around £10m by early next month.PortsmouthUdinesePremier LeagueSerie Aguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Bolton sign Weiss from City Bolton Wanderers have announced midfielder Vladimir Weiss will join them on loan from Barclays Premier League rivals Manchester City until the end of the season. foxsports.com.au |