Premier League football review 9th April 2011
The sun is out, football fans across the land will be getting their bellies out at football matches this afternoon at 3pm. However, the football fixtures to some degree will be overshadowed to some degree by heinous amounts of sports betting on this year’s Grand National (also at 3pm) where the 40 horses will be battling it out on the toughest horse race of the year. Good luck everyone who is having a punt! Of course, don’t forget the US Masters golf and the Grand Prix too. I've found myself reverting back to a teenage hobby of checking out grid iron which is another fun one - American football betting makes you realise that a little knowledge isn't necessarily a bad thing when speculating to accumulate!
So back on to football, it is Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers that host the first match of the day with visitors Everton looking to push themselves into Europe League contention. For the home team, Adlene Guedioura is back after a long term injury however Molineaux favourite Stephen Hunt is out with a hernia injury making things tough for Mick McCarthy. For David Moyes, he is hoping to get back key men Cahill (Everton’s top scorer with 9 goals) and Rodwell.
West Ham United have a tricky away tie at the Reebok and time is running out for the Hammers as they languish in 18th position. Despite showing good form in the controversial game against Man Utd where they went 2 up they have lost their last 7 games and need to get something against Bolton Wanderers. Avram Grant has a full squad to pick from which is a lift for West Ham but Bolton are a tough nut to crack at their place. Recent England debutant Scott Parker has been nominated for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Players' Player of the Year award which has to give the Hammers a confidence boost – they would hope to keep hold of Parker who has been a class act all season.
At the top of the Prem, Chelsea and Manchester United are both at home playing Wigan and Fulham respectively. You would expect these teams that meet on Wednesday in the Champions League to both win but I predict that Wigan will give Chelsea a good game as they are fighting for survival with a real threat of relegation.
Tottenham Hotspur are at home to Stoke and will be licking their wounds after a 4-0 battering against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Spurs are favourites as Stoke have had a bad run of form, losing their last 6 matches.
Premier League fixtures 09/04/2011
Wolverhampton v Everton, 12:45pm - Molineaux
Blackburn v Birmingham, 15:00 - Ewood Park
Bolton v West Ham, 15:00 - Reebook
Chelsea v Wigan, 15:00 - The Bridge
Man Utd v Fulham, 15:00 - Old Trafford
Sunderland v West Brom, 15:00 - The stadium of Light
Tottenham v Stoke, 15:00 - White Hart Lane
