With the time creeping closer to 4pm, we continue our look at those relegation-threatened clubs near the foot of the Premier League. Yesterday saw us run the rule over Wolves and Blackburn, leaving Wigan, Blackpool and Birmingham to come under the microscope, in what has proved to be the most tension-filled ending to a Premier League season for many a year…
Man United v Blackpool
The Seasiders face a huge in their trip to Old Trafford; United have dropped two points at home all season and with a win still possibly not being enough to save them from relegation, Blackpool’s task is ominous.
Team News
While Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to rest key players ahead of next weekend’s Champions League Final with Barcelona, he has confirmed Fletcher, Scholes, Evra, Anderson, Berbatov and Van der Sar -in his final Old Trafford game- will all start. Whatever five players fill the other places in the starting XI, it can hardly be looked upon as a weakened team.
Ian Holloway’s team selection faces complications due to loan arrangements; many of his players’ short-term deals run out in the third week of May, meaning Olly may have had to let certain members of the side return to their parent clubs. Luke Varney is the only injury doubt.
Form
Blackpool are unbeaten in their last four games, with three draws followed up by a thrilling 4-3 home win over Bolton last week. The Seasiders had only scored four goals in the five matches previous to last weekend but go to Old Trafford having found their goal scoring touch at the crucial time.
Key Players
Playmaker Charlie Adam has caught the eye all season with a series of consistent performances. Adam’s penalty and set-piece duties have helped him to 11 goals (second top for the side) and 8 Assists, top for the team. Per game, Adam tops the charts across many vital areas for Blackpool; 2.2 Shots, 2.06 Key Passes and 1.7 Successful Dribbles, he is also the most fouled Blackpool player, 2.6 times per game. With 5 Man of the Match awards, Adam is easily the highest-rated player in the team, with 7.18 per game.
Only one Englishman (Darren Bent) has found the net more times than DJ Campbell this season, with the Blackpool forward bagging 13 Goals thus far. A man in form, Campbell has netted four times in the last five games and doesn’t have too much overall influence on the game, with 1.8 Shots per game (second to Adam) his only other stand-out statistic; it’s all about the end product, a task he’s passed with flying colours.
Stoke v Wigan
Second from bottom on 39pts, a draw is no use to Wigan; given their inferior goal difference, Roberto Martinez’s have to win and hope results elsewhere go their way. Having lost the FA Cup Final last weekend, Stoke are low on morale right now and this could be the best time of the season to pay Tony Pulis’ side a visit.
Team News
Martinez has a full squad to chose from for the Britannia match, a rarity at this time of the season.
Their hosts have doubts over four key players, with Matt Etherington, Jermaine Pennant, Robert Huth and Kenwyne Jones all uncertain to feature, a huge boost for Wigan could feasibly take to the field against a substantially weakened opponent.
Form
Wigan have won two, drawn two and lost just one of their last five fixtures, and are unbeaten in the last three. The Latics are in good goal scoring form of late, having scored two or more goals in three of those five matches.
Key Players
In his debut Premier League season, Antolin Alcaraz has been a stand-out performer for the Latics in the heart of defence. Wigan have conceded 61 goals this season, chalking up just six clean sheets in the process, but the Paraguayan has, nevertheless, excelled. He’s top for Tackles (3.8), Interceptions (3.4) and Clearances (8.3) per game and with an average of 0.7 Blocked Shots, his contribution at the back is vital. Alcaraz is the top-rated Wigan player, with 2 Man of the Match performances and an average of 7.13 per game.
With five goals in his last five games, Charles N’Zogbia has came into form at the perfect time for the Latics. N’Zogbia is the team’s main attacking threat, with more Goals (9) and Assists (5) than any Wigan player. He’s also top for Key Passes (1.94) and Successful Dribbles (3.3) per game and is resultantly targeted by the opposition more than any of his team mates, Fouled 1.6 times per game. N’Zogbia has picked up the most Man of the Match awards (3) for an average rating of 6.90 per match.
Tottenham v Birmingham
Birmingham face possibly the toughest task of all; Spurs have plenty to play for, needing a win to confirm their Europa League place next season and will be desperate to end the season on a high in front of their own fans.
Team News
While Rafael Van der Vaart declared himself unfit via his twitter feed this week, Harry Redknapp has cause for optimism, with Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Gomez, Huddlestone and Hutton all possibly available for selection this afternoon.
Birmingham welcome back Craig Gardner and Liam Ridgewell from suspension, with Cameron Jerome battling to be fit following a heel injury.
Form
Alex McLeish’s side have one of the poorest league records in recent games; one point from their last five games sees Birmingham on the brink of the drop. They have scored just three goals in this period, conceding a total of thirteen goals, with no clean sheets to their name.
Key Players
Ben Foster has been an ever-present this season and a game has rarely gone by where he hasn’t been busy throughout. He has, subsequently, the most Man of the Match performances (4) of any Birmingham player and the highest average rating, with 6.85 per game. Foster will have to at his very best if Birmingham are to keep Spurs out.
With 7 Goals this season, Craig Gardner is the club’s top scorer, a clear indication of Birmingham’s goal scoring problems. The midfielder has the most Shots per game (1.7) and averages 0.82 Key Passes but the side’s inability to finish (they have scored just 36 goals this season) means there are no other high performers across the attacking stats. Gardner has 3 Man of the Match awards and an average of 6.73 per game, the third best of all Birmingham players.
