This weekend’s fixture list is split between the semifinals of the FA Cup and the Premier League. Here’s a preview of the matches you should be watching.
Saturday programming alert: Watch Arsenal v Norwich City (Sportsnet, 9:30am ET), Reading v Liverpool (Sportsnet ONE, 9:30am ET), Everton v Queens Park Rangers (Sportsnet World, 9:30am ET) and the FA Cup semifinal between Millwall v Wigan (Sportsnet World, noon ET). Also, watch Aston Villa v Fulham and Southampton v West Ham United (both at 10am ET) live and exclusively on Sportsnet World Online
Sunday programming alert: Watch Newcastle United v Sunderland (Sportsnet World, 7:00am ET), Stoke City v Manchester United (Sportsnet World, 9:00am ET) and the FA Cup semifinal between Chelsea v Manchester City (Sportsnet World, 11:00am ET).
Millwall vs. Wigan
No one would have predicted either of these sides making it to this point of the competition. Nevertheless, both are a win away from a Wembley final, which is quite a remarkable achievement given the nature and climate of modern day football.
Obviously, this match lacks some lustre and is less glamorous than the other FA Cup semifinal which will be played on Sunday. Ticket sales have suffered for it, with Wigan unable to hit their quota of 31,000 allocated seats, forcing the FA to create a neutral section for supporters of other clubs. The Premier League side has barely sold 22,000 tickets. Considering the DW Stadium’s average attendance is 19,000 this season, the Wembley ticket allocation was never going to be met. Not surprising, Millwall sold all of their tickets for Saturday’s match, with the club’s notoriously rowdy supporters ready to invade Wembley.
Riding a four-game unbeaten run, momentum is with Wigan who are favoured to make their first cup final appearance in seven years (lost League Cup final in 2006). Millwall is winless in their last three matches and sit only five points from safety in the Championship. Confidence is key, but in a one-off match anything can happen. It’s been eight years since these two met in a competitive match, with Wigan winning 2-0 in their promotion clinching season in the Championship. Should Millwall win, it will be their second FA Cup final appearance in less than a decade, a tremendous accomplishment for a team of their calibre.
Chelsea vs. Manchester City
The overwhelming consensus is the winner of this semifinal will end up lifting the FA Cup at Wembley on May 11. It’s inconceivable to think otherwise when comparing the participants.
Manchester City is fresh off a morale-boosting derby victory at Old Trafford, with Sergio Aguero scoring the winner off a splendid individual effort. However, it did come with a significant casualty, with David Silva in a fitness race for the match on Sunday. His absence would be a hammer blow to Roberto Mancini, in what is the club’s last chance at silverware this season. With nothing really left to play for in the league — 12 points adrift of leaders United and seven points above Chelsea for second-spot — Mancini is determined to prove the season wasn’t a total loss, and aims to lift his second FA Cup in three years.
Chelsea’s schedule has been a little more cluttered of late, this being their fifth match in 10 days — three more that their opponents in the same time frame. Benitez would favour a trophy over a top-four finish, even if he won’t admit it. He’s gone at season’s end and a piece of silverware looks far better on a resume for potential suitors this summer. The Blues do not have the greatest record of late against City, having been beaten 2-0 in February and playing out a scoreless draw at Stamford Bridge last November. Chelsea’s last victory happened at the tail-end of 2011, with Frank Lampard scoring the winner from the penalty spot.
Everton vs. Queens Park Rangers
When you consider the amount spent on transfers and wages, it’s difficult to find sympathy for Harry Redknapp’s current plight at Loftus Road. However, his reaction following Wigan’s injury time equalizer last weekend was that of a beaten man and would thaw even the coldest heart. The 66 year-old described the result as the toughest endured in his entire football career, which gives you a better picture into the ongoing nightmare he’s faced since taking over.
The investment to keep QPR in the top-flight has been poorly-spent and could potentially be the beginning of a downward spiral into the lower-tiers of English football. Owner Tony Fernandes gambled by offering lavish contracts to bring in reinforcements in January, adding to an already bloated wage bill, with the majority of contracts void of relegation clauses. Prior to his takeover, the club had debts totalling £56 million as of May 2011. Unless a miracle happens, the Hoops will be playing in the Championship next season, and a mass player exodus will begin this summer, leaving little room for a profit to be made. A financial meltdown looms large.
Redknapp has overseen four wins in 20 matches since taking over last November, totalling 20 points. It’s an extremely low return on investment. Both teams are desperate for three points, with Everton needing a victory to keep pace in the race for European places. However, since returning to the Premier League, QPR have earned five points from three league matches played against the Toffees.
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Arsenal vs. Norwich City
Had Arsenal managed to consistently string together a run of form similar to their recent dominating performances, Arsene Wenger would be a happy man.
The Gunners have won six of their last seven, thrusting themselves back into contention for a Champions League place next season. They currently trail Tottenham and Chelsea by two points, but have played one less game than their North London rivals, and could possibly be seven points clear before Spurs play their next match.
This season has been consumed by long stretches of inconsistency for Norwich. It took the Canaries seven matches to earn their first victory, a strong 1-0 performance against Arsenal at Carrow Road. It was the beginning of a 10-match undefeated run. Since then, manager Chris Hughton has been stuttering towards survival, having only won a single match, registering a minuscule 10 points. The slow decent towards relegation could be accelerated severely with a defeat on Saturday, with the Canaries only four points better than Wigan, who are currently stranded in 18th spot, with a game in hand.
Wenger will welcome back Jack Wilshire and Theo Walcott to the lineup, indicating both players have a strong chance of featuring in the match at Emirates Stadium, just in time for the final push at the business end of the season.
Newcastle United vs. Sunderland
The Tyne-Wear derby is always hotly contested, full of drama and rarely disappoints viewers. Adding the ‘Mad Italian’ Paolo Di Canio to the mix only amplifies the tense nature of this fixture. Despite losing 2-1 to Chelsea last weekend on his debut, Di Canio was pleased with the performance of his players and is optimistic the club can avoid relegation with six games remaining.
Sunderland is mired in a nine-match winless run that has dropped them into a two-way tie with Wigan on points, and are only safe by goal-difference. Already without the services of leading scorer Steven Fletcher, the Black Cats will also be missing Craig Gardner on Sunday, after the midfielder received a two-match ban for a heavy challenge on Demba Ba last weekend. Fortunately for Di Canio, he was given a boost by the news of Danny Graham returning to full fitness and available for selection.
The focus has fully shifted to the domestic front for Alan Pardew following elimination from the Europa League on Thursday. Newcastle will definitely be fatigued, which could give Sunderland a slight advantage. Another negative for the Magpies heading into the match is their below average league form following a European fixture. Five points superior to their rivals before kickoff, a loss would suck them back into the dogfight for survival.
The rivalry is deep rooted and goes beyond football, having gone back centuries. Di Canio has extensively researched the history and is eager to defeat his new enemy, stating that a victory at St. James Park would be the highlight of his managerial career to date.
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