Ger McCarthy
Are Manchester City the real deal?
Never has Alex Ferguson’s phrase ‘squeaky bum time’ been more appropriate for a Premier League fixture than Sunday afternoon’s clash between Champions-elect Manchester City and Champions League chasing Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Alan Pardew’s side rebounded from a recent 4-0 humiliation at Wigan to get their season back on track courtesy of Papiss Cisse’s marvellous brace at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night. Newcastle must avoid defeat at home to City to retain any hope of finishing in the top four and with the Toon Army turning up for their final home game of the season Roberto Mancini’s side can expect a hot reception and the fight of their lives to maintain top spot.
City answered many of the doubters with a powerful display to defeat United 1-0 last Monday night, preventing their bitter rivals from even getting a shot on target. A similar professional effort is required up North on Sunday where the Citizens recent run of form culminating in 13 points from six matches will be tested to the full by a Newcastle side that has only tasted defeat twice in their last ten outings. Manchester City stood up to the challenge of title-rivals Manchester United and are capable of overcoming Newcastle as long as Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero reproduce the goods this weekend. A first league title since 1968 beckons and I expect City to respond with a narrow victory.
Prediction: Newcastle United 1 Manchester City 2
Are QPR doomed?
QPR’s chances of retaining their Premier League status looked assured once Forumla1 team owner and multi-millionaire Tony Fernandes assumed control of the club. Mark Hughes took over the managerial reins from a miffed Neil Warnock and big money transfers followed with Bobby Zamora, Djibril Cisse and Nedum Onuha added to the Loftus Road club’s roster.
But Rangers’ form has remained erratic despite Fernandes’ cash injection and the arrival of a host experienced Premier League players. Recent home victories over Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Swansea have been offset by six consecutive away losses including two gut-wrenching defeats at fellow relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers.
Rangers go into their crucial home fixture with Stoke City on Saturday desperate for a win before making a daunting away trip to the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season. The London club are currently level on points with Bolton but enjoy a superior goal difference (-23) to Wanderers (-31) suggesting one more victory will make QPR safe. I don’t expect a tired and disinterested Stoke to put up much of a resistance so it’s QPR to win.
Prediction: QPR 4 Stoke City 1
Is Alex McLeish a dead man walking?
The former Scottish international central defender and Birmingham City manager has endured a torrid time since taking over at Villa Park. Only Norwich, Blackburn and Wolves possess a worse recent record than Villa who have managed just one win in their previous ten outings and lie just three points above the drop zone.
McLeish has two fixtures left to salvage his club’s season with a home game against Tottenham followed by a possible relegation six-pointer away to already safe Norwich City on the last weekend of the campaign.
The Scot hasn’t been helped in his quest to avoid relegation by injuries to key personnel such as Richard Dunne and Darren Bent but a decision to blood a slew of young, untried talent at the tail-end of the season has backfired leaving Villa requiring two positive results to be sure of staying in the top flight. Worse still, news of Fabien Delph, Chris Herd and James Collins’ alleged involvement in a nightclub fracas ahead of Saturday’s clash with Tottenham could not have come at a worse time for the under-fire boss and his staff. The Villa faithful are unlikely to want their current manager to prolong his stay beyond the summer even if he manages to keep the midlands club in the top division.
I anticipate a difficult afternoon for Villa as a Spurs side hungry to cement a top four finish should prove too strong and inflict another defeat on the beleaguered Scot. I expect Villa to lose and McLeish to get his marching orders in the coming weeks.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 — McLeish to get the sack irrespective of Villa staying up or not
Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/veT373AiLoA/post.aspx
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