England Conference

Mi 03.03.10 20:45
Histon (15.; 10 9 12 | 35 - 42) - Rushden (4.; 16 8 8 | 53 - 30) | 2,90 3,30 2,10
H: 5 7 3; 20 - 16 | last3: 0 2 1; 4-6 (verloren gg. Luton (5.) & UEs gg. York (3.) & Hayes (13.))
A: 6 5 4; 26 - 12 | last3: 2 0 1; 9-2 (Siege bei Hayes (13.) & Grays (23.) & verloren bei Oxford (1.))
H2H:
Hin: 1-2
08/09: 0-0 (2-1)
07/08: 2-1 (3-2)

- Histon: ein Sieg aus den letzten sieben Spielen (1 2 4 | H: s.o.); das letzte Heimspiel bestritten sie am 06.02. (3-3 gg. Hayes (13.)); danach besagter Sieg mit 1-0 bei Ebbsfleet (17.) & 0-2 bei Oxford (1.) & zuletzt 0-3 bei Kidderminster (9.)

- Rushden: eine Niederlage aus den letzten neun Spielen (6 2 1 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 0-0 gg. Kettering (6.) & davor besagte Niederlage mit 0-1 bei Oxford (1.) & 1-0 gg. Stevenage (2.) & 2-0 gg. Eastbourne (19.) & 3-0 bei Grays (23.) & 6-1 bei Hayes (13.)

Histon could hand a debut to striker Andy Pugh after he joined them on a one-month loan from Gillingham.
Full-back Lanre Oyebanjo is on international duty with Republic of Ireland Under-21s while defender Adam Bygrave is still suspended.

Rushden are without Jamie Stuart and Paul Terry who are both suspended after collecting 10 bookings this season.
But Robert Wolleaston (hamstring) is available again after sitting out the clash with Kettering.

England Premier League

West Ham (13.; 6 9 12 | 35 - 43) - Bolton (15.; 6 8 13 | 30 - 49) | 1.80 3.30 4.80
H: 5 4 4; 23 - 20 | last3: 2 1 0; 5-0 (UE gg. Blackburn (12.) & Siege gg. Birmingham (8.) & Hull (18.))
A: 2 3 8; 12 - 26 | last3: 0 1 2; 0-5 (verloren bei ManC (5.) & UE bei Wigan (16.) & verloren bei Blackburn (12.))
H2H: 2 2 2 (2 2 9)
Hin: 1-3
08/09: 1-3 (1-2)
07/08: 1-1 (0-1)
06/07: 3-1 (0-4)

- West Ham: auswärts sind sie wahrlich schwach; @home auch nicht gerade überragend, aber die letzte Heimniederlage kassierten sie Anfang Dezember mit 0-4 gg. ManU (2.); somit letzte fünf Heimpartien nicht verloren (3 2 0); zuletzt 0-3 bei ManU (2.) & davor 3-0 gg. Hull (18.) & 2-0 gg. Birmingham (8.) & 1-2 bei Burnley (19.) & 0-0 gg. Blackburn (12.)

- Bolton: ihre beiden Auswärtssiege holten sie noch relativ am Anfang der Saison und zwar am 5. Spieltag mit 3-2 bei Pompey (20.) & am 7. Spieltag mit 2-1 bei Birmingham (8.); somit letzte zehn Auswärtsspiele nicht gewonnen (0 3 7); zuletzt 1-0 gg. die Wolves (17.) & davor 3x in Folge auswärts: 0-3 bei Blackburn (12.) & 0-0 bei Wigan (16.) & 0-2 bei ManC (5.); davor 0-0 gg. Fulham (9.) & 0-2 bei Pool (6.)

MATCH PREVIEW
West Ham's recent resurgence predictably hit the buffers with a visit to Old Trafford, but back within the confines of Upton Park they are a different proposition altogether.
They are now unbeaten in their last five matches at home and face a Bolton side with a severe case of travel sickness.
It is now seven hours and two minutes since the Trotters managed to score a league goal away from the Reebok, and they last won on the road back in September.
They are in the midst of a crucial run of fixtures against the sides they are battling relegation with, and got off to a good start with victory over Wolves last week. After Saturday's vital match they then face further proverbial 'six-pointers' against Sunderland and Wigan.
Manager Owen Coyle knows his side must pick up some points from these matches as after that their fixture list takes on a frightening look, with Everton, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Chelsea lying in wait.
The Hammers have lost 3-1 twice this season at the Reebok, but they have improved markedly since then and the return to fitness of England striker Carlton Cole has significantly enhanced their bid to avoid relegation.

Midfielder Stuart Holden joined Bolton's lengthening injury list this week as boss Owen Coyle now has seven players in the treatment room.
Holden fractured his right fibula on international duty with the United States in a 2-1 friendly defeat to Holland on Wednesday and is now out for the next six weeks.
Ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League match at West Ham, Coyle is also without Mark Davies, Gavin McCann, Chris Basham, Joey O'Brien, Sean Davis and Gary Cahill.

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has been ruled out with an arm injury.
Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has no other fresh problems but striker Benni McCarthy and centre-half Danny Gabbidon are still not match fit after recent injuries and are out of contention for this weekend.
Captain Scott Parker did not feature in the Londoners' last league game - a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United - but he should return to central midfield.


England Championship

Sa 06.03.10 16:00
Peterborough (24.; 5 9 19 | 36 - 56) - Coventry (10.; 12 10 12 | 39 - 46) | 2.50 3.25 2.65 | AHC0 @1.83
H: 5 5 6; 27 - 27 | last3: 2 0 1; 4-2 (verloren gg. PNE (13.) & Siege gg. QPR (20.) & Ipswich (17.))
A: 4 4 9; 16 - 27 | last3: 1 1 1; 3-5 (UE bei BristolC (12.) & verloren bei Newcastle (1.) & Sieg bei Palace* (21.))
H2H:
Hin: 2-3

- Peterbro: rock-bottom Peterbro haben ihre Position vornehmlich ihrer Auswärtsschwäche zu verdanken (nur 4P. aus siebzehn Auswärtsspielen); aber auch @home gehören sie zu den schwächsten (nur zwei Teams haben weniger Heimpunkte auf dem Konto); zwei (Heim-)Siege aus den letzten elf Partien (2 1 8 | H: 2 1 2); zuletzt 0-1 bei Swansea (4.) & davor 3-1 gg. Ipswich (17.) & 0-1 bei Boro (9.) & 0-2 bei Cardiff (6.) & 1-0 gg. QPR (20.) & 0-2 bei Palace* (21.) & 0-1 gg. PNE (13.)

- Coventry: eine Niederlage aus den letzten acht Spielen (4 3 1 | A: 1 2 1); zuletzt 2-1 gg. Scunny (19.) & davor 1-0 bei Palace* (21.) & 1-4 bei Newcastle (1.) & jeweils 1-0 gg. QPR (20.) & gg. Forest (3.) & 1-1 bei BristolC (12.)

* Palace wurden 10P. abgezogen; sonst mit 44P. auf dem 12. Platz

MATCH PREVIEW
Coventry are making their first league visit to London Road since April 1964, when Peterborough beat the Sky Blues 2-0 in the old Third Division.
A repeat of that scoreline would be a much needed boost for Posh, who are five points adrift at the bottom of the table and 10 points short of safety.
They face a Coventry side that has won their last two matches and are only three points off a play-off place after an encouraging run since the start of 2010.
All five of Peterborough's league wins this season have been at home, but none of them have been against sides currently in the top half of the table.

Peterborough boss Jim Gannon will be without club-record signing Ryan Bennett for the game against Coventry.
The central defender is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained last month and is thought to be around a fortnight away from a return.
Gannon is also sweating on the fitness of defender Exodus Geohaghon and on-loan striker Reuben Reid given they are both carrying knocks, however, both are optimistic of at least making the bench.
Less promising, however, is defender Josh Simpson's chances as he is struggling with a thigh injury, although new loan signing Mark Little should come in for his first start since arriving from Wolves.
Dominic Green, who was recalled this week from his loan at Chesterfield, will vie for a place in attack after the departure of George Boyd to Nottingham Forest.
Posh, whose five wins have all come at London Road this season, have scored just five goals in their last nine league games.

Coventry are without three players for the trip while Chris Coleman is also sweating on the availability of Sammy Clingan.
Centre-back Richard Wood could be out for up to three weeks with a hip injury, while fellow defender Leon Barnett is suspended for two games following his second dismissal in as many matches against Scunthorpe last weekend.
Midfielder David Bell will also miss the encounter as he struggles with a cyst in his knee.
Clingan, meanwhile, withdrew from Northern Ireland's friendly in Albania just hours from kick-off on Wednesday night suffering the effects of a virus. Coleman will assess his condition on Friday.
Aron Gunnarsson is OK after his international exploits for Iceland in midweek and will return to the club's Ryton training ground on Friday, but goalkeeper Keiren Westwood played no part in the Republic of Ireland's 2-0 defeat against Brazil.
The Sky Blues will be backed by around 3,000 supporters at London Road as they look to record a fifth win in six games and maintain their play-off push.


Sheffield W (22.; 9 7 17 | 36 - 55) - Leicester (5.; 14 2 7 | 42 - 31) | 2,65 3,10 2,55
H: 6 3 8; 23 - 26 | last3: 1 0 2; 2-3 (Sieg gg. Blackpool (8.) & verloren gg. Doncaster (14.) & Ipswich (17.))
A: 5 7 4; 16 - 18 | last3: 1 2 0; 3-2 (UEs bei BristolC (12.) & Plymouth (23.) & Sieg bei Doncaster (14.))
H2H: 3 1 1 (5 2 4)
Hin: 0-3
07/08: 0-2 (3-1)
06/07: 2-1 (4-1)
05/06: 2-1 (0-2)

- Wednesday: in den sechs Spielen von Boxing Day (26.12.) bis Ende Januar verloren sie nur 1x (4 1 1 | H: 2 1 0); letzte fünf Spiele nur noch 1x gewonnen (1 0 4 | H: s.o.): zuletzt 0-5 bei Reading (18.) & davor 0-1 gg. Ipswich (17.) & 0-2 gg. Doncaster (14.) & besagter Sieg mit 2-0 gg. Blackpool (8.) & 1-2 bei Forest (3.)

- Leicester: letzte acht Spiele nicht verloren (4 4 0 | A: 2 2 0); zuletzt 3-0 gg. Forest (3.) & davor 1-0 bei Doncaster (14.) & jeweils 1-1 bei Plymouth (23.) & bei BristolC (12.) & 5-1 gg. Scunny (19.) & 0-0 gg. Doncaster (14.) & 2-1 bei Blackpool (8.) & 0-0 gg. Newcastle (1.)

MATCH PREVIEW
Sheffield Wednesday are in deep trouble and need to arrest an alarming recent slump. The Owls have dropped into the relegation zone after losing their last three league games.
It is their worst run under manager Alan Irvine, who initially enjoyed some excellent results after taking over at Hillsborough in January following Brian Laws' departure.
One of Irvine's main concerns is his side's home form. Only fellow strugglers Plymouth have suffered as many home defeats this season as Wednesday, who have lost eight games on their own patch.
They face a Leicester side that has won their last two matches, are unbeaten in eight, and look on course for the play-offs. The Foxes are fifth and are six points clear of seventh-placed Sheffield United.

Sheffield Wednesday skipper Darren Purse is hoping to return to the starting line-up for his side's home clash with Leicester.
The central defender has missed the last two games due to a hamstring strain, but returned to full training this week and will be included in Alan Irvine's squad.
Wednesday could also be boosted by the return of winger Jermaine Johnson, who has been out since mid-January, while striker Francis Jeffers could make his first appearance since the turn of the year. Both Johnson and Jeffers have struggled with hamstring problems.
Midfielder Tommy Miller returned to the substitutes' bench last week following an injury lay-off and is hoping to play a bigger role, while defender Lewis Buxton misses out as he too is dogged by hamstring trouble.
Irvine has no other new injury or suspension problems as his relegation strugglers look to bounce back from last week's 5-0 defeat at Reading.

An unchanged Leicester squad will travel to Hillsborough to face a struggling Wednesday outfit.
Boss Nigel Pearson, who is a Wednesday legend, must decide whether to make changes to the side that comprehensively beat midlands promotion rivals Nottingham Forest last weekend.
No changes are expected in defence, so Ryan McGivern and Alex Bruce are likely to remain on the bench.
Midfielders Nicky Adams and Nolberto Solano and forwards Steve Howard, Yann Kermorgant and Dany N'Guessan are those hoping to be recalled.
The Owls were beaten 5-0 at Reading last time out and City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare has warned his side against a backlash, he said: "They will be hurting. We know what it is like and we know how much they will want to bounce back straight away.
"We have to be ready for it, which we will. We expect them to be up for it. They will be in front of their own crowd and it is a difficult place to go to. However, we are confident of late on our travels as we have ground out some good results away from home."


England League One

Sa 06.03.10 16:00
MKDons (8.; 15 4 14 | 47 - 47) - Leyton O (15.; 9 11 13 | 42 - 48) | 1,70 3,40 4,50 | X2 @1,96
H: 8 3 5; 26 - 20 | last3: 1 1 1; 5-5 (UE gg. Exeter (22.) & Sieg gg. Southend (20.) & verloren gg. Millwall (7.))
A: 3 5 8; 16 - 29 | last3: 0 2 1; 4-5 (UE bei Carlisle (13.) & verloren bei Tranmere (19.) & UE bei Gillingham (18.))
H2H:
Hin: 2-1
08/09: 1-2 (2-1)

- MKDons: in den letzten sieben Spielen etwas schwankend in den Leistungen bei negativer Bilanz (2 1 4 | H: s.o.): zuletzt 0-1 bei Yeovil (12.) & davor 1-3 gg. Millwall (7.) & 3-1 gg. Southend (20.) & 0-5 bei Carlisle (13.) & 3-1 bei Stockport (24.) & 1-1 gg. Exeter (22.) & 0-2 bei Colchester (4.)

- Leyton O: nungut, sie sind nicht gerade Auswärts-Monster, aber in den letzten neun Spielen nur 1x verloren (3 5 1 | A: 1 2 1); zuletzt 0-0 gg. Swindon (5.) & davor 1-1 bei Gillingham (18.) & besagte Niederlage mit 1-2 bei Tranmere (19.) & 1-1 gg. Leeds (2.) & ebenfalls 1-1 gg. Brighton (16.) & 5-0 gg. BristolR (9.) & 2-2 bei Carlisle (13.) & 1-0 bei Charlton (3.)

Leyton Orient will check on defender Charlie Daniels ahead of the trip to MK Dons.
The left-back missed last weekend's goalless draw with Swindon with a tight groin and is still feeling the problem, although he did manage to take part in training on Thursday.
Andrew Cave-Brown deputised against the Robins and will be on stand-by again.
Midfielder Sean Thornton has started the last two games on the bench and will be hoping for a recall from boss Geraint Williams.
On-loan Blackburn teenager Aaron Doran looks set to keep his place on the wing while veteran Scott McGleish will again vie with Frenchman Jonathan Tehoue for a start in attack.
The Os are without a win in five games, four of which have been draws.

Striker Sam Baldock and centre-half Mat Doumbe will miss out once again for the Dons.
The duo continue to be troubled by their respective knee and groin injuries, although both are expected to return in the near future.
Sean O'Hanlon is likely to be involved as he continues his comeback from a cruciate knee injury.
O'Hanlon came off the bench to make his first appearance of the season in last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Yeovil.
The defender remains some way from full fitness but should be named among the substitutes after coming through an hour of a midweek training game unscathed.
Darren Powell remains on the sidelines with a knee problem of his own but boss Paul Ince has no other injury or suspension concerns as his side look to reignite their play-off push.


England League Two

Sa 06.03.10 16:00
Port Vale (11.; 11 13 9 | 40 - 33) - Northampton (13.; 12 10 11 | 45 - 44) | 2.50 3.20 2.65 | AHC0 @1.82
H: 5 6 5; 22 - 16 | last3: 1 0 2; 5-4 (verloren gg. Chesterfield (4.) & Barnet (18.) & Sieg gg. Lincoln (19.))
A: 7 3 7; 27 - 25 | last3: 2 0 1; 4-3 (Sieg bei Dag&Red (9.) & verloren bei Crewe (15.) & Sieg bei Hereford (17.))
H2H: 2 2 1 (4 3 4)
Hin: 1-1
07/08: 2-2 (1-2) League One
06/07: 1-0 (2-0) League One
02/03: 3-2 (0-3) 2.Div

- Port Vale: nachdem sie in den siebzehn Spielen von Ende September bis Ende Januar nur 2x verloren (6 9 2 | H: 2 5 2), kassierten sie in den letzten sieben Partien vier Niederlagen (3 0 4 | H: s.o.): zuletzt 3-1 bei Darlo (24.) & davor 0-1 bei Morecambe (10.) & 4-0 gg. Lincoln (19.) & 0-2 gg. Barnet (18.) & 2-1 bei Torquay (20.) & 1-2 gg. Chesterfield (4.) & 0-1 bei Burton (14.)

- Northampton: letzte vierzehn Spiele 2x verloren (6 6 2 | A: 5 2 1); zuletzt 2-1 gg. Cheltenham (22.) & davor 2-0 bei Hereford (17.) & die beiden besagten Niederlagen mit 2-3 bei Crewe (15.) & mit 0-3 gg. Aldershot (8.); davor 1-0 bei Dag&Red (9.) & 1-1 gg. Burton (14.) & 2-1 bei Darlo (24.)

Northampton will be without the services of Kevin Thornton for their game against Port Vale.
Midfielder Thornton will serve the last of a three-game ban for the Cobblers as Ian Sampson's side look to continue the good form that has seen them lose just two of the last 15 league games.
Sampson is boosted by the return of Ryan Gilligan from suspension, although the participation of fellow midfielder Luke Guttridge is uncertain after he missed the 2-1 win over Cheltenham last time out with a toe problem.
Goalkeeper Chris Dunn is a long-term absentee given he is still recovering from knee surgery, while striker Steve Guinan is still out having undergone a hernia operation.

Vale welcome back captain Tommy Fraser.
The midfielder missed last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Morecambe and Tuesday's come-from-behind triumph at Darlington through suspension, but he is now back in the fold and should return to manager Micky Adams' starting XI.
Vale's performances have been Jekyll and Hyde of late and Adams has responded to their inconsistency by tinkering with his line-up for almost every outing.
The Valiants boss made one change for the trip to Darlington - Kris Taylor coming in for Adam Yates - before Yates was then reintroduced at the break alongside Sean Rigg for John McCombe and Craig Davies respectively.
Midfielder Doug Loft also made an impressive 66th-minute cameo in midweek and is pushing for a starting berth, but Dave Howland (knee) and Geoff Horsfield (calf) are again out.


Schottland Premier League

Sa 06.03.10 16:00
St. Johnstone (8.; 7 7 10 | 38 - 43) - Motherwell (5.; 10 11 6 | 33 - 30) | 2,50 3,25 2,60 | AHC0 @1,80
H: 4 3 4; 19 - 17 | last3: 2 0 1; 7-5 (verloren gg. Celtic (2.) & Siege gg. die Hearts (6.) & die Hibs (4.))
A: 3 7 3; 15 - 16 | last3: 1 2 0; 3-0 (UE bei Falkirk (12.) & Sieg bei Aberdeen (7.) & UE bei Hamilton (11.))
H2H:
Hin: 3-1
09/10: 2-2
01/02: 0-2 | 2-3 (1-1 | 2-1)
00/01: 2-3 (1-0 | 0-1 | 0-4)
99/00: 1-1 | 1-1 (1-2 | 0-1)

- St. Johnstone: ausgeglichene Bilanz in den sieben Spielen im neuen Jahr (2 3 2 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 1-1 bei den Hibs (4.) & davor 5-1 gg. denselben Gegner & 2-3 bei Kilmarnock (9.) & 1-1 bei St.Mirren (10.) & 1-0 gg. die Hearts (6.) & 3-3 bei DundeeU (3.) & 1-4 gg. Celtic (2.)

- Motherwell: sie sind in den neun Spielen im neuen Jahr unbesiegt (6 3 0 | A: 2 2 0); zuletzt 1-0 gg. Kilmarnock (9.) & davor ebenfalls 1-0 gg. die Hibs (4.) & 0-0 bei Hamilton (11.) & 1-1 gg. die Rangers (1.) & 1-0 gg. Hamilton (11.) & 3-0 bei Aberdeen (7.) & 0-0 bei Falkirk (12.)

Lukas Jutkiewicz is still struggling with a knee injury ahead of Motherwell's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash at St Johnstone.
The on-loan Everton striker received treatment on Merseyside earlier this week and remains a doubt.
Marc Fitzpatrick and Shaun Hutchinson remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries but Jim O'Brien has recovered from illness.

Jody Morris and Murray Davidson are doubtful for St Johnstone.
Morris is still struggling with a stomach complaint, while fellow midfielder Davidson faces a late fitness test on the groin strain that forced him out of the Scotland Under-21 squad this week.
Graham Gartland has recovered sufficiently from an infection, Kenny Deuchar should play through the pain of an ankle problem and Kevin Moon should be okay, but the game comes too soon for captain Kevin Rutkiewicz (knee), while Martin Hardie (knee), Peter MacDonald (knee) and Stuart McCaffrey remain out.

Portugal Superliga

Fr 12.03.10 21:15
Ass Naval (11.; 7 5 10 | 13 - 24) - Uniao Leiria (6.; 8 6 8 | 28 - 25) | 2,45 2,95 2,80
H: 5 2 3; 9 - 8 | last3: 2 1 0; 3-1 (Sieg gg. Belenenses (16.) & UE gg. Guimaraes (5.) & Sieg gg. Maritimo (10.))
A: 4 2 5; 14 - 14 | last3: 1 0 2; 2-3 (Sieg bei RioAve (9.) & verloren bei Benfica (1.) & Maritimo (10.))
H2H:
Hin: 0-2
07/08: 1-0 (2-0)
06/07: 2-1 (2-2)
05/06: 0-2 (1-2)

- Ass Naval: letzte sechs Spiele 1x verloren (3 2 1 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 0-0 bei RioAve (9.) & davor 2-1 gg. Maritimo (10.) & 1-0 bei Setubal (14.) & 0-0 gg. Guimaraes (5.) & besagte Niederlage mit 0-3 beim FCPorto (3.) & 1-0 gg. Belenenses (16.)

- Uniao Leiria: letzter Auswärtssieg am 17.01. mit 2-0 bei RioAve (9.); danach ebenfalls 2-0 gg. Olhanense (13.) & 0-3 bei Benfica (1.) & 0-1 bei Maritimo (10.) & dann 3x in Folge @home: 3-3 gg. Setubal (14.) & 0-1 gg. Guimaraes (5.) & zuletzt 2-1 gg. Leixoes (15.)


England Premier League

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8562187.stm

Sa 13.03.10 16:00
Birmingham (8.; 12 7 9 | 28 - 29) - Everton (9.; 11 8 9 | 44 - 40) | 2.95 3.20 2.40 | AHC0 @2.05 (expekt)
H: 7 5 2; 13 - 8 | last3: 2 1 0; 4-2 (UE gg. Tittenham (4.) & Siege gg. die Wolves (17.) & Wigan (15.))
A: 3 3 7; 16 - 22 | last3: 1 0 2; 2-3 (Sieg bei Wigan (15.) & verloren bei Pool (6.) & Tittenham (4.))
H2H: 1 2 2 (1 6 4)
Hin: 1-1
07/08: 1-1 (1-3)
05/06: 0-1 (0-0)
04/05: 0-1 (0-0)

- Birmingham: sechs ihrer neun Niederlagen, darunter auch die beiden Heimniederlagen, kassierten sie in den ersten neun Spielen (2 1 6 | H: 1 1 2); zuletzt 2-1 bei Pompey (20.) & davor 1-0 gg. Wigan (15.) & 1-2 bei Fulham (10.) & 0-2 bei WestHam (16.) & 2-1 gg. die Wolves (17.) & 1-1 gg. Tittenham (4.)

- Everton: den letzten Auswärtssieg landeten sie am 08.11. mit 2-1 bei WestHam (16.); zuletzt 5-1 gg. Hull (19.) & davor 1-2 bei Tittenham (4.) & 3-1 gg. ManU (1.) & 2-1 gg. Chelski (2.) & 0-1 bei Pool (6.) & 1-0 bei Wigan (15.)

MATCH PREVIEW
Birmingham's goal is to qualify for Europe for the first time since 1962, and manager Alex McLeish has identified Everton as the chief threat to that aim.
Birmingham have a two-point advantage over Saturday's visitors, as well as a name in their ranks that is guaranteed to make Evertonians recoil: Benitez.
Striker Christian Benitez made the surname he shares with Liverpool's manager even more unpopular on the blue side of Stanley Park when he scored one of the goals that knocked Everton out of the FA Cup in January.
The Ecuadorian was recalled for the midweek win at Portsmouth and has been challenged by McLeish to add goals to his guile, admitting that his side need to score more often to clinch a Europa League spot.
Everton manager David Moyes celebrates eight years at Goodison Park next week, and believes his current squad is the best he has ever had at the club. A key player in Everton's resurgence over the second half of the campaign has been on-loan forward Landon Donovan, who is due to return to the US for the start of the Major League Soccer season after this match.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football...ton/8554684.stm

Birmingham midfielder Lee Boywer has recovered from illness and should be available for the home Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday.
Bowyer was ruled out of the mid-week win at Portsmouth when Blues boss Alex McLeish decided to rest several regular players.
Sebastian Larsson, James McFadden and skipper Stephen Carr will be in contention for a return to the starting line-up.
Veteran striker Kevin Phillips is battling to shake off a hamstring niggle.
But right-back Stuart Parnaby, who deputised for Carr at Fratton Park, is ruled out with an ankle injury in the latest of a series of setbacks this season.

Everton will be without midfielder Leon Osman with a groin problem that is likely to sideline him for at least two weeks.
Fellow midfielder Tim Cahill is back in training after a calf injury, but is more likely to play against Bolton in a week's time.
Striker Louis Saha is also training again after a hamstring problem, but he is also unlikely to be involved at St Andrews.
The match is expected to be Landon Donovan's final game for Everton before returning to Los Angeles Galaxy in the MSL after a two-month loan spell.


Schottland Premier League

Sa 13.03.10 16:00
Motherwell (5.; 11 12 6 | 35 - 31) - Hearts (6.; 10 7 11 | 26 - 30) | 2,00 3,20 3,55
H: 7 4 3; 18 - 14 | last3: 2 1 0; 3-1 (UE gg. die Rangers (1.) & Siege gg. die Hibs (4.) & Kilmarnock (9.))
A: 3 4 8; 12 - 19 | last3: 1 0 2; 1-3 (verloren bei Celtic (2.) & Sieg bei Aberdeen (7.) & verloren bei DundeeU (3.))
H2H: 8 3 6 (10 7 18)
Hin:
09/10: 1-0 (0-1)
08/09: 1-0 (1-2 | 2-3)
07/08: 0-1 | 0-2 (2-1)
06/07: 0-2 | 0-1 (1-4)

- Motherwell: die letzte Heimniederlage kassierten sie an Boxing Day (26.12.) mit 1-3 gg. St.Johnstone (8.); danach noch eine 0-1-Niederlage im Hinspiel bei den Hearts (6.); in den folgenden elf Partien blieben sie ohne Niederlage (7 4 0 | H: 4 1 0); zuletzt 0-0 bei St.Mirren (10.) & davor 2-1-Revanche bei St.Johnstone (8.) & 1-0 gg. Kilmarnock (9.) & ebenfalls 1-0 gg. die Hibs (4.) & 0-0 bei Hamilton (11.) & 1-1 gg. die Rangers (1.)

- Hearts: zuletzt 0-1 bei DundeeU (3.); davor drei Siege in Folge: 1-0 bei Aberdeen (7.) & davor 2-0 gg. Hamilton (11.) & 3-2 gg. Falkirk (12.); davor drei Niederlagen in Folge: 0-2 bei Celtic (2.) & 0-1 bei St.Johnstone (8.) & 0-3 gg. Aberdeen (7.)

Motherwell have an unchanged squad for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against Hearts.
Lukas Jutkiewicz could return to the starting line-up after remaining on the bench during Tuesday's goalless draw against St Mirren following his recent knee injury.
Marc Fitzpatrick and Shaun Hutchinson remain on the sidelines with hamstring injuries.

Hearts' selection crisis has eased slightly ahead of Saturday's game.
Jamie MacDonald and Scott Robinson are both fit, Dawid Kucharski (groin) could also return, while Eggert Jonsson and Laryea Kingston are available after suspension.
But Michael Stewart (calf), Marius Zaliukas, Ismael Bouzid (both hamstring), Marian Kello (hand), Ian Black, Andrew Driver, Ruben Palazuelos, Craig Thomson and Johnny Stewart (all knee) all remain out.

Spanien Primera Division

So 14.03.10 17:00
Santander (16.; 6 8 11 | 24 - 37) - Zaragoza (17.; 6 7 12 | 30 - 48) | 2.25 3.30 3.10 | AHC0 @2.16
H: 2 3 7; 10 - 22 | last3: 0 1 2; 1-6 (UE gg. Atl.Madrid (12.) & verloren gg. Malaga (15.) & Almeria (13.))
A: 2 3 8; 16 - 35 | last3: 2 1 0; 6-2 (Sieg auf Teneriffa (19.) & UE bei Valladolid (18.) & Sieg bei Getafe (9.))
H2H: 2 2 3 (2 7 6)
Hin: 2-2
07/08: 2-2 (1-1)
06/07: 0-2 (0-0)
05/06: 0-0 (1-1)

- Santander: den letzten Heimsieg landeten sie Anfang Januar am 16. Spieltag mit 2-0 gg. Teneriffa (19.); den letzten Sieg insgesamt feierten sie Ende Januar am 19. Spieltag mit 1-0 bei Gijon (11.); somit letzte sechs Spiele nicht gewonnen (0 3 3 | H: s.o.): zuletzt 0-0 bei Valencia (3.) & davor 0-2 gg. Almeria (13.) & 0-4 bei Barca (2.) & 0-3 gg. Malaga (15.) & 1-1 gg. Atl.Madrid (12.) & 0-0 bei Getafe (9.)

- Zaragoza: in den letzten Wochen konnten sie sich aus den Abstiegsplätzen herausarbeiten und sogar ein kleines Punktepolster zu den Abstiegsrängen aufbauen, denn in den letzten sechs Spielen verloren sie nur 1x (3 2 1 | A: s.o.): zuletzt 1-1 gg. Atl.Madrid (12.) & davor 2-0 bei Getafe (9.) & 1-3 gg. Gijon (11.) & 1-1 bei Valladolid (18.) & 2-1 gg. den FCSevilla (4.) & 3-1 auf Teneriffa (19.)

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/ove...er_Preview.html

Portugal Superliga

Mo 15.03.10 21:15
Pacos Ferreira (7.; 7 8 7 | 26 - 26) - Maritimo Funchal (10.; 7 6 9 | 29 - 31) | 2,20 3,00 3,20
H: 3 5 3; 13 - 13 | last3: 2 1 0; 7-4 (Sieg gg. Academica (12.) & UE gg. Sporting Lisboa (4.) & Sieg gg. Setubal (14.))
A: 2 4 4; 15 - 16 | last3: 1 0 2; 4-5 (Sieg bei Leixoes (15.) & verloren bei Braga (2.) & Ass Naval (11.))
H2H: 5 1 2 (6 4 7)
Hin: 1-3
08/09: 2-1 (1-4)
07/08: 3-1 (1-3)
06/07: 2-1 (1-1)

- Pacos: in den acht Spielen im neuen Jahr nur 1x verloren (4 3 1 | H: s.o.) und zwar in der letzten Partie mit 1-3 auswärts bei Spitzenreiter Benfica (1.); davor 5-3 gg. Setubal (14.) & 2-1 bei RioAve (9.) & 0-0 gg. Sporting Lisboa (4.) & 2-1 bei Guimaraes (5.) & 2-1 gg. Academica (12.)

- Maritimo: in den acht Spielen im neuen Jahr nur 2x gewonnen (2 2 4 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 0-0 gg. Academica (12.) & davor 1-2 bei Ass Naval (11.) & 1-1 gg. Nacional (8.) & 1-2 bei Braga (2.) & die beiden besagten Siege mit 1-0 gg. Leiria (6.) & 2-1 bei Leixoes (15.)

England Championship

Di 16.03.10 20:45
Coventry (8.; 13 11 12 | 41 - 47) - Cardiff (6.; 15 7 13 | 57 - 44) | 2,35 3,25 2,80
H: 8 7 3; 24 - 20 | last3: 2 1 0; 4-2 (Siege gg. QPR (15.) & Scunny (22.) & UE gg. Plymouth (23.))
A: 7 3 8; 31 - 30 | last3: 0 0 3; 0-6 (verloren bei PNE (12.) & Ipswich (17.) & Leicester (5.))
H2H: 1 3 2 (3 4 6)
Hin: 0-2
08/09: 0-2 (1-2)
07/08: 0-0 (1-0)
06/07: 2-2 (0-1)

- Coventry: ihre drei Heimniederlagen kassierten sie gg. Swansea (4.), gg. Reading (16.) & die letzte Anfang Dezember gg. Newcastle (1.); somit letzte acht Heimpartien nicht verloren (6 2 0); letzte zehn Spiele insgesamt 1x verloren (5 4 1 | H: 3 2 0); zuletzt 1-1 gg. Plymouth (23.) & davor 1-0 bei Peterbro (24.) & 2-1 gg. Scunny (22.) & 1-0 bei Palace* (20.) & besagte Niederlage mit 1-4 bei Newcastle (1.) & 1-0 gg. QPR (15.) & ebenfalls 1-0 gg. Forest (3.)

- Cardiff: den letzten Auswärtssieg landeten sie Ende Januar mit sage und schreibe 6-0 bei BristolC (14.); die vier folgenden Auswärtspartien verloren sie allesamt (1-11 Tore); letzte acht Spiele insgesamt nur 2x (@home) gewonnen (2 1 5 | A: 0 0 4); zuletzt 0-1 bei Leicester (5.) & davor 0-2 bei Ipswich (17.) & 1-0 gg. Boro (10.) & 0-3 bei PNE (12.) & 3x in Folge @home: 0-2 gg. Barnsley (13.) & davor 1-1 gg. WBA (2.) & 2-0 gg. Peterbro (24.)

* Palace wurden 10P. abgezogen; sinst mit 48P. auf dem 12. Platz

MATCH PREVIEW
A run of only one defeat in 10 matches has seen Coventry rise up the table from 17th to eighth - and they now get the chance to move into the play-off places.
Cardiff have remained in the top six despite losing four of their last five games. But their position has been precarious for some time, with a group of teams - including Coventry - breathing down their necks.
The Sky Blues' dramatic improvement has largely been down to their excellent home form, which is an ominous sign for the Bluebirds as they look to end a dismal run of away results.
The Welsh club, plagued by problems both on and off the pitch, have slumped to four consecutive away defeats and have failed to score in their last three away games.

Coventry will assess the fitness of Sammy Clingan over the next 24 hours as they look to leapfrog sixth-placed Cardiff in the table when the two sides meet at the Ricoh Arena.
The midfielder emerged from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Plymouth complaining of a tight calf and did not train on Monday as he received treatment.
Manager Chris Coleman is hopeful the former Norwich man will be okay but will not make a decision on his availability until Tuesday.
Centre-back Leon Barnett returns from his most recent two-match suspension although he is unlikely to start due to the recent return of Richard Wood, who played all 90 minutes against the Pilgrims after a hip problem.
David Bell also made it on the bench at the weekend after a knee problem and he is in contention again but defenders Ben Turner, Issac Osbourne and Jordan Clarke remain out for the longer-term.
The visit of Cardiff is followed by trips to fellow promotion rivals Swansea and West Brom in the space of a testing week. Asked whether he is tempted to shuffle his line-up, Coleman replied: "Yeah I am, not because anybody has done anything wrong but these games are going to be really tough on the squad and we're going to need to utilise it."

Gabor Gyepes and Kevin McNaughton are both doubts for Cardiff, leaving manager Dave Jones with a potential defensive headache.
Centre-back Gyepes was ruled out of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Leicester with a sore back, leaving full-back McNaughton to come across and fill in.
But now McNaughton is struggling with a thigh strain, meaning Jones could be short of options at the heart of defence.
Captain Mark Hudson (ankle) is not expected to return until around mid-April, along with influential midfielder Joe Ledley (hips).
Striker Michael Chopra serves the second game of his two-match ban for accruing 10 bookings this season, meaning he will miss out at the Ricoh Arena as the Sky Blues look to leapfrog the Bluebirds into the play-off places.
However, Jones has received good news in that the trio of Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail and Mark Kennedy - who all returned to action at the Walkers Stadium after lengthy absences - have suffered no ill-effects and should be okay to continue.


Preston (12.; 12 11 13 | 45 - 52) - Wednesday (21.; 10 8 18 | 38 - 56) | 1.90 3.25 4.05
H: 8 7 3; 27 - 18 | last3: 2 1 0; 7-3 (Sieg gg. Cardiff (6.) & UE gg. Doncaster (11.) & Sieg gg. Forest (3.))
A: 3 5 10; 13 - 30 | last3: 0 1 2; 0-6 (verloren bei Reading (16.) & WBA (2.) & UE bei Swansea (4.))
H2H: 3 4 0 (8 5 2)
Hin: 2-1
08/09: 1-1 (1-1)
07/08: 1-0 (1-2)
06/07: 0-0 (3-1)

- PNE: ihre drei Heimniederlagen kassierten sie gg. Reading (16.), gg. Newcastle (1.) & die letzte Anfang Februar mit 1-4 gg. Barnsley (13.); in den letzten acht Spielen verloren sie 2x und zwar auswärts (3 3 2 | H: 3 2 0); zuletzt 3-2 gg. Forest (3.) & davor 1-1 gg. Doncaster (11.) & ebenfalls 1-1 bei Plymouth (23.) & 3-0 gg. Cardiff (6.); davor die beiden erwähnten Auswärtsniederlagen mit 0-3 bei Newcastle (1.) & 3-5 bei Derby (18.)

- Wednesday: zwei ihrer drei Auswärtssiege holten sie in Folge Mitte Januar jeweils mit 2-1 Barnsley (13.) & danach bei Blackpool (7.); somit letzte fünf Auswärtspartien nicht gewonnen (0 1 4); letzte acht Spiele insgesamt 2x (@home) gewonnen (2 1 5 | A: 0 1 3); zuletzt 0-0 bei Swansea (4.) & davor 0-1 bei WBA (2.) & 2-0 gg. Leicester (5.) & 0-5 bei Reading (16.) & 3x in Folge @home: 0-1 gg. Ipswich (17.) & davor 0-2 gg. Doncaster (11.) & 2-0 gg. Blackpool (7.); davor 1-2 bei Forest (3.)

MATCH PREVIEW
Alan Irvine returns to Deepdale to face his former club for the first time since being sacked as Preston manager in December.
That dismissal seemed harsh on the Scot, who had guided North End to the play-offs on a limited budget only a few months earlier.
Having squeezed Preston into the top six on the final day of last season, Irvine is now trying to help Wednesday survive a relegation battle that could also go to the wire.
The Owls, who have won one of their last six games, are above the drop zone only on goal difference. Saturday's goalless draw at Swansea was the fifth time in six matches that Wednesday have failed to score.

Preston boss Darren Ferguson has major doubts over the fitness of three players ahead of the home clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
French defender Youl Mawene succumbed to a groin injury in the first half of Saturday's thrilling 3-2 victory against Nottingham Forest at Deepdale.
He was replaced by Liam Chilvers shortly before half-time and Ferguson will hope to have him available to face the Owls.
Left-back Tom Williams and striker Jon Parkin missed Saturday's match due to ankle and knee injuries respectively.
They will also be assessed but Ferguson admitted they are doubtful for the clash.
On-loan Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck has returned to Old Trafford for treatment on a knee injury and remains sidelined.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Alan Irvine has no new injury or suspension problems.
Irvine, who replaced Brian Laws as permanent boss at Hillsborough after his surprise sacking by Preston in late December, is not expected to make any changes following the 0-0 draw at Swansea on Saturday.
Midfielder Sean McAllister remains doubtful after missing out over the weekend due to a strained stomach muscle and defender Lewis Buxton is still struggling with a hamstring problem.
Irvine named striker Marcus Tudgay on the substitutes' bench at Swansea after his recent illness and must decide whether to recall his leading goalscorer or stick with Leon Clarke up front alongside on-loan Luke Varney.
Wednesday's point gained at Swansea was enough to lift them out of the bottom three and a win for Irvine on his first return to Deepdale could see the Owls climb to 19th place in the table.


Watford (19.; 10 9 15 | 44 - 51) - Ipswich (17.; 9 17 10 | 40 - 46) | 2.45 3.25 2.75 | AHC0 @1.90
H: 7 4 6; 27 - 20 | last3: 0 0 3; 1-4 (verloren gg. Newcastle (1.) & Swansea (4.) & Peterbro (24.))
A: 3 7 8; 20 - 30 | last3: 1 1 1; 2-2 (Sieg bei Wednesday (21.) & UE bei Scunny (22.) & verloren bei Blackpool (7.))
H2H: 3 1 2 (6 3 4)
Hin: 1-1
08/09: 2-1 (0-0)
07/08: 2-0 (2-1)
06/07: 2-1 (1-0)

- Watford: den letzten Sieg landeten sie Anfang Februar mit 2-0 gg. BristolC (14.); danach 2-2 bei Scunny (22.) & 1-2 gg. Newcastle (1.) & 0-2 bei Derby (18.) & jeweils 0-1 gg. Swansea (4.) & zuletzt gg. Peterbro (24.)

- Ipswich: letzte neun Spiele 2x verloren (4 3 2 | A: 2 1 2); zuletzt 1-0 gg. Scunny (22.) & davor 2-0 gg. Cardiff (6.) & 0-1 bei Blackpool (7.) & 0-0 gg. BristolC (14.) & 4x in Folge auswärts: 1-1 bei Scunny (22.) & davor 1-0 bei Wednesday (21.) & 1-3 bei Peterbro (24.) & 2-1 bei QPR (15.)

MATCH PREVIEW
Fast-fading Watford look to stop the rot against Ipswich, who usually struggle against the Hornets. The Blues have failed to win their last 10 games against the Vicarage Road outfit.
Malky Mackay's side have lost form at the worst possible time, with Saturday's loss to bottom side Peterborough their fourth consecutive defeat.
In contrast, Roy Keane's men are gradually hauling themselves clear of trouble, losing only four of their last 25 league games. The frustration for Town fans is the number of draws.
Ipswich have shared the points 17 times this season, the highest figure in the Championship. Had they converted those draws to wins, they would sit five points clear of Newcastle at the top. Then again, had they lost those games, the Blues would be five points adrift at the bottom.

Beleaguered Watford boss Malky Mackay will pick from an unchanged squad when Ipswich visit Vicarage Road.
The Hornets suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at the hands of rock-bottom Peterborough on Saturday but with no injuries or suspensions, Mackay could keep faith with the same players.
Winger Will Buckley was overlooked for a place on the bench against Posh, despite a midweek run-out for the reserves following a thigh injury, but he could come into contention for a first appearance since his January move from Rochdale.
Tom Cleverley made his return from a ban against Posh in place of Jon Harley and the on-loan Manchester United midfielder should retain his place.
If Mackay is thinking of shuffling his pack around, striker Will Hoskins will be hoping to be a beneficiary after he replaced Danny Graham midway through the second half on Saturday.
The game against Town is one they can ill-afford to lose as their poor run of form has seen an alarming side down the table and the Hornets are now just one point above the drop zone.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane will have to wait on the outcome of a Football Association disciplinary hearing before naming his side.
Defender Damien Delaney was sent off against Scunthorpe at the weekend but Keane has appealed to the FA and will find out on Tuesday afternoon whether the Republic of Ireland international will be available to face the free-falling Hornets.
If the FA do not rescind the red card then Pim Balkestein or the recalled Tommy Smith will start at the back.
Midfielder Grant Leadbitter will return after a two-match suspension of his own while 16-year-old striker Connor Wickham will be hoping to start.
The teenager scored his first league goal to give Town victory over Scunthorpe on Saturday and could be handed a start.
Keane remains without long-term absentees Richard Wright and Luciano Civelli, who are recovering from knee surgery.

Schottland Premier League

Di 16.03.10 20:45
St Johnstone (7.; 8 7 11 | 41 - 46) - Aberdeen (8.; 7 9 11 | 25 - 34) | 2,20 3,15 3,10
H: 4 3 5; 20 - 19 | last3: 2 0 1; 7-3 (Siege gg. die Hearts (6.) & die Hibs (5.) & verloren gg. Motherwell (4.))
A: 3 6 4; 13 - 14 | last3: 0 2 1; 4-6 (UE bei den Hibs (5.) & verloren bei Falkirk (12.) & UE bei Hamilton (10.))
H2H:
09/10: (1-2)
01/02: 0-1 | 1-1 (0-1)
00/01: 0-3 | 0-0 (3-3 | 1-1)
99/00: 2-1 | 1-1 (1-2 | 3-0)

- St Johnstone: letzte acht Spiele 2x verloren (3 3 2 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 2-1 bei Falkirk (12.) & davor 1-2 gg. Motherwell (4.) & 1-1 bei den Hibs (5.) & 5-1 gg. denselben Gegner & 2-3 bei Kilmarnock (9.) & 1-1 bei St.Mirren (11.) & 1-0 gg. die Hearts (6.) & 3-3 bei DundeeU (3.)

- Aberdeen: den letzten Auswärtssieg landeten sie am 27.01. mit 3-0 bei den Hearts (6.); dies war auch gleichzeitig ihr letzter Sieg insgesamt; somit letzte sieben Spiele nicht gewonnen (0 3 4 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 1-1 bei Hamilton (10.) & davor 0-1 gg. die Hearts (6.) & 1-3 bei Falkirk (12.) & 4-4 gg. Celtic (2.) & 2-2 bei den Hibs (5.) & 0-1 gg. Falkirk (12.) & 0-3 gg. Motherwell (4.)

Graham Gartland returns to the St Johnstone squad for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Aberdeen at McDiarmid Park.
The Saints defender missed Saturday's win over Falkirk with a virus but has recovered.
Steven Anderson, Martin Hardie and Peter MacDonald (all knee injuries) and Stuart McCaffrey remain out while captain Kevin Rutkiewicz has recovered from his knee injury but is not yet ready.

Davide Grassi returns from suspension for Aberdeen.
Aberdeen have no fresh injury worries for the crucial contest. Peter Pawlett (knee) and Andrew Considine (hip) are long-term absentees.

England League One

Fr 19.03.10 20:45
Tranmere (20.; 10 7 18 | 31 - 56) - Hartlepool (18.; 10 8 17 | 44 - 55) | 2,10 3,30 3,10
H: 8 2 8; 22 - 27 | last3: 1 0 2; 3-7 (verloren gg. Huddersfield (7.) & Sieg gg. Soton* (10.) & verloren gg. Leeds (2.))
A: 3 3 11; 20 - 32 | last3: 0 0 3; 1-7 (verloren bei Norwich (1.) & Millwall (5.) & Yeovil (12.))
H2H: 4 2 0 (5 4 4)
Hin: 0-1
08/09: 1-0 (1-2)
07/08: 3-1 (1-3)
05/06: 0-0 (0-0)

- Tranmere: letzte sieben Spiele 2x verloren (3 2 2 | H: 2 0 2); zuletzt 0-0 bei BristolR (9.) & davor 1-4 gg. Leeds (2.) & 2-1 gg. Soton* (10.) & 0-2 gg. Huddersfield (7.) & 2-1 gg. LeytonO (14.) & 1-1 bei Southend (22.) & 1-0 bei Gillingham (19.)

- Hartlepool: letzter Auswärtssieg am 17.10. mit 2-0 bei Swindon (4.); somit aus den letzten zehn Auswärtsspielen nur 1P. geholt (0 1 9); zuletzt 0-4 bei Yeovil (12.) & davor 3-0 gg. Southend (22.) & 0-1 bei Millwall (5.) & 3x @home in Folge: 4-1 gg. Carlisle (11.) & 0-2 gg. Huddersfield (7.) & 2-2 gg. Leeds (2.); davor 1-2 bei Norwich (1.)

* Soton wurden 10P. abgezogen; sonst mit 57P. auf dem 8. Platz

Tranmere boss Les Parry will be without defender Zoumana Bakayogo for the crunch home clash with fellow strugglers Hartlepool.
The left-back begins a two-match ban following his sending off in last Saturday's goalless draw at Bristol Rovers. He will miss the game with Hartlepool and next Saturday's trip to Brighton.
Youngster Aaron Cresswell will deputise for Bakayogo at left-back against Pools but then start a three-game suspension of his own.
"We're looking to bring someone in on loan because left-back is such an important position," Parry said.
Elsewhere, Parry is hopeful goalkeeper Luke Daniels will be passed fit after he went over on his ankle in training.
Rookie stopper Joe Collister has also picked up a knock, and Parry admits he could also be forced to sign another goalkeeper on loan.

James Brown is pushing for a start as Hartlepool director of sport Chris Turner contemplates wholesale changes.
Brown has made four substitute appearances since recovering from a serious knee injury but is now in line for a first start after a dismal display from Pools in a 4-0 defeat at Yeovil last weekend.
Other players who will be hoping to be involved at Prenton Park are Colin Larkin, Ritchie Humphreys, Leon McSweeney, Jonny Rowell and Michael Mackay after they impressed for the reserves against Newcastle in midweek.
Ben Clark and Armann Bjornsson did not feature in the 2-0 win against the Magpies and that could be with Friday night in mind.
Striker Denis Behan remains a long-term absentee with an ankle injury.

England Championship

Sa 20.03.10 16:00
Doncaster (8.; 13 12 12 | 49 - 45) - Sheff.United (7.; 14 10 13 | 52 - 49) | 2,25 3,20 3,00
H: 8 6 4; 24 - 19 | last3: 1 1 1; 3-3 (verloren gg. Leicester (4.) & UE gg. Palace* (21.) & Sieg gg. Derby (18.))
A: 4 3 11; 18 - 30 | last3: 0 0 3; 0-3 (verloren bei Forest (3.) & Palace* (21.) & Peterbro (24.))
H2H:
Hin: 1-1
08/09: 0-2 (1-0)

- Doncaster: letzte zehn Spiele 2x verloren (5 3 2 | H: 2 1 1) oder besser: letzte fünf Partien nicht verloren (3 2 0 | H: 1 1 0); zuletzt 2-1 bei Peterbro (24.) & davor ebenfalls 2-1 gg. Derby (18.) & 1-1 bei Preston (13.) & 5-2 bei BristolC (15.) & 1-1 gg. Palace* (21.); davor die beiden Niederlagen in Folge: 0-1 gg. Leicester (4.) & 1-2 bei QPR (16.)

- Sheff.U: letzter Auswärtssieg Anfang Dezember mit 1-0 bei Plymouth (23.); somit aus den letzten acht Auswärtsspielen nur 1P. geholt (0 1 7); @home sind sie wesentlich stärker und kassierten ihre letzte Heimniederlage Anfang November mit 0-1 gg. Newcastle (1.); zuletzt 3-0 gg. Blackpool (9.) & davor 1-1 gg. QPR (16.) & jeweils 0-1 bei Peterbro (24.) & bei Palace* (21.) & 4-3 gg. Plymouth (23.) & 0-1 bei Forest (3.)

* Palace wurden 10P. abgezogen; sonst mit 48P. auf dem 13. Platz

MATCH PREVIEW
After suffering seven consecutive away defeats, Sheffield United face a team whose inspired recent form has resulted in an unexpected charge towards the play-offs.
Doncaster are eighth and, like United - the team immediately above them - are looking to keep up the pressure on Cardiff, who have been nervously clinging onto the final play-off position for some time.
Rovers have won their last two matches and are unbeaten in five. Only Premier League-bound Newcastle are currently enjoying a longer unbeaten run in the Championship.
But only two of their 13 wins this season have been against top-half sides - an encouraging sign for the Blades as they look to finally end their dismal away run.

Doncaster will be without striker Billy Sharp for the South Yorkshire derby clash against his parent club Sheffield United.
Sharp, who has scored 15 goals for Rovers since arriving on a season-long loan in September, is not available for manager Sean O'Driscoll, who is expected instead to hand a start to James Hayter.
O'Driscoll has several selection headaches as key players return to full fitness following injury.
Central defender Adam Lockwood is pushing for his place back in the starting line-up after a foot injury, while Shelton Martis and Sam Hird were partnered together for the midweek win at Peterborough.
Defender James O'Connor and midfielder Mark Wilson are also hoping to return after dropping to the substitutes' bench on Tuesday night.
Rovers, unbeaten in their last five league matches, could close to within one point of the play-offs with victory over the Blades, who lie one place and a point above their rivals.

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell must decide between the experienced Ian Bennett or Estonian international Mihkel Aksaluin in goal.
First-choice Mark Bunn has been recalled by parent club Blackburn following an injury to Paul Robinson so Bennett and Aksalu, who signed a two-and-a-half year deal in January when he arrived from Flora Tallinn, are vying to replace him.
Skipper Chris Morgan will complete his two-game ban, so Nyron Nosworthy should continue alongside Marcel Seip in central defence.
Midfielder Lee Williamson (hamstring) and on-loan Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley (food poisoning) returned to the substitutes' bench in midweek and could feature again.
But on-loan Fulham full-back Toni Kallio (calf), Jamie Ward (hamstring) and Ched Evans (collarbone) are still out, as are long-term absentees Gary Naysmith and Ryan France (both knee) and Derek Geary (ankle).


England League One

Sa 20.03.10 16:00
Oldham (17.; 10 10 15 | 30 - 41) - Brighton (15.; 10 11 15 | 43 - 52) | 2.40 3.20 2.75 | AHC0 @1.89
H: 5 6 6; 16 - 18 | last3: 1 1 1; 4-3 (verloren gg. Norwich (1.) & Sieg gg. LeytonO (14.) & UE gg. Wycombe (23.))
A: 6 8 4; 26 - 27 | last3: 1 2 0; 3-2 (UE bei Leeds (2.) & Sieg bei Charlton (3.) & UE bei Colchester (6.))
H2H: 1 3 1 (3 4 4)
Hin: 2-0
08/09: 1-1 (1-3)
07/08: 1-1 (0-1)
06/07: 1-1 (2-1)

- Oldham: letzte vier Spiele nicht verloren (2 2 0 | H: 1 1 0), dabei aber 3x gg. bzw. bei Teams aus der Abstiegszone gespielt: zuletzt 1-0 bei Stockport (24.) & davor 2-2 gg. Wycombe (23.) & 2-0 gg. LeytonO (14.) & 1-1 bei Exeter (21.); davor drei Niederlagen in Folge: 0-1 gg. Norwich (1.) & 0-2 bei Leeds (2.) & 0-1 bei Colchester (6.)

- Brighton: sie gehören zu den auswärtsstärksten Teams der Liga, nur die ersten vier der Tabelle haben mehr Auswärtspunkte auf dem Konto; sie sind aber auch eines der heimschwächsten Teams der Liga, nur der Letzte Stockport (24.) hat weiniger Heimpunkte vorzuweisen; letzte sechs Spiele 1x verloren (3 2 1 | A: s.o.); in diesen sechs Partien holten sie auch zwei ihrer vier Heimsiege; zuletzt 3-0 gg. Brentford (16.) & davor besagte Niederlage mit 0-1 gg. Swindon (4.) & 0-0 bei Colchester (6.) & 2-0 gg. Exeter (21.) & 2-1 bei Charlton (3.) & 1-1 bei Leeds (2.)

Oldham boss Dave Penney is hopeful midfielder Dale Stephens will be available for the home clash with Brighton.
The 22-year-old missed the 1-0 win at Stockport in midweek due to hip and hamstring injuries but they are not thought to be serious.
That means Stephens, who has become a prominent figure for the Latics, has a chance of featuring.
Penney made a total of five changes to his starting line-up for Tuesday's win at Edgeley Park and may opt to tinker with his side again.
The Oldham chief, who has allowed striker Keigan Parker to join Bury on a month's loan, is set hand on-loan Doncaster striker Lewis Guy his home debut.
Winger Joe Colbeck (ankle) will be assessed but midfielder Jim Goodwin (thigh) looks set to miss out.

Kazenga LuaLua is out for Brighton but fellow loanee Diego Arismendi could be available.
Newcastle winger LuaLua faces a fortnight on the sidelines with a hamstring strain but midfielder Arismendi has finally begun training after a thigh injury and could be added to the squad for the first time since joining from Stoke.
Striker Chris Holroyd limped out of Tuesday night's 3-0 win over Brentford with a hamstring tweak and will be assessed closer to kick-off.
Peter Brezovan continues in goal with Michel Kuipers ruled out with a broken finger while defender Colin Hawkins is still sidelined by an Achilles injury.
Dean Cox, Seb Carole and Nicky Forster are pushing for recalls after playing for the reserves in midweek.


Spanien Primera Division

Sa 20.03.10 18:00
Athl.Bilbao (7.; 12 5 9 | 34 - 30) - Getafe (9.; 11 3 12 | 34 - 32) | 2,05 3,20 3,40
H: 8 1 3; 20 - 14 | last3: 3 0 0; 9-3 (Siege gg. Xerez (20.) & Teneriffa (18.) & Valladolid (19.))
A: 3 1 9; 13 - 20 | last3: 0 1 2; 2-4 (verloren bei Barca (2.) & Valencia (3.) & UE bei Osasuna (13.))
H2H: 3 0 2 (3 3 5)
Hin: 0-2
08/09: 0-1 (1-1)
07/08: 1-0 (0-2)
06/07: 2-0 (0-0)

- Athl.Bilbao: ihre drei Heimniederlagen kassierten sie gg. den FCSevilla (4.), gg. Gijon (12.) & die letzte Anfang Dezember mit 1-2 gg. Valencia (3.); somit letzte fünf Heimspiele nicht nur nicht verloren, sondern allesamt gewonnen (5 0 0; 12-3 Tore), u.a. auch 1-0 gg. RealM (1.); letzte sechs Spiele insgesamt 1x verloren (3 2 1 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 0-0 bei Gijon (12.) & davor 2-0 gg. Valladolid (19.) & 0-0 beim FCSevilla (4.) & 4-1 gg. Teneriffa (18.) & besagte Niederlage mit 1-2 bei Villarreal (8.) & 3-2 gg. Xerez (20.)

- Getafe: ihre drei Auswärtssiege holten sie gleich im ersten Saisonspiel bei Santander (16.), bei Espanyol (14.) & den letzten am 19.12. mit 2-1 beim FCSevilla (4.); somit letzte fünf Auswärtsspiele nicht gewonnen (0 1 4); zuletzt ein 3-0-Heimsieg gg. Malle (5.); davor sechs Partien ohne Sieg: 0-0 bei Osasuna (13.) & davor 0-2 gg. Saragossa (17.) & 1-2 bei Valencia (3.) & 2-2 gg. Almeria (11.) & 1-2 bei Barca (2.) & 0-0 gg. Santander (16.)

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/ove...ao_Preview.html


Holland Casino Eredivisie

Sa 20.03.10 19:45
PSV (2.; 20 5 2 | 60 - 22) - Twente (1.; 22 4 1 | 51 - 21) | 1.85 3.45 4.05 | X2 @1.85
H: 12 2 0; 36 - 11 | last3: 2 1 0; 8-2 (Sieg gg. DenHaag (17.) & UE gg. Sparta (14.) & Sieg gg. Waalwijk (18.))
A: 9 3 1; 21 - 11 | last3: 2 0 1; 3-4 (verloren bei Ajax (3.) & Siege bei Vitesse (15.) & Waalwijk (18.))
H2H: 6 4 0 (10 10 1)
Hin: 1-1
08/09: 0-0 (1-1)
07/08: 1-1 (0-0)
06/07: 2-0 (0-1)

- PSV: sie sind neben den beiden Sitzenteams Ajax (3.) & Twente (1.) @home noch ungeschlagen; somit kassierten sie ihre beiden Niederlagen auswärts und zwar in den letzten beiden Spielen in Folge: zuletzt 1-4 Ajax (3.) & davor 1-2 bei NAC (9.); davor 5-1 gg. Waalwijk (18.) & 1-1 gg. Sparta (14.)

- Twente: in Holland bahnt sich sowas wie ne Sensation an: zum zweiten Male nacheinander könnte der Meister NICHT Ajax oder PSV oder gar Feyenoord heissen; in der letzten Saison war's AZ und diesmal könnte es Twente sein, bei derzeit 5P. Vorsprung auf PSV und noch sieben ausstehenden Spielen; diese Partie bei Verfolger PSV könnte also eine Quasi-Vorentscheidung bringen; die bisher einzige Saisonniederlage kassierten sie Anfang Februar mit 0-3 bei Ajax (3.); danach fünf Siege in Folge: 2-1 bei Vitesse (15.) & 1-0 gg. Willem II (16.) & 2-1 gg. NEC (13.) & 1-0 bei Waalwijk (18.) & zuletzt 3-1 gg. DenHaag (17.)

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/ove...&TEAMHD=holland

England Championship

Di 23.03.10 20:45
Scunthorpe (20.; 11 8 18 | 43 - 66) - Peterborough (24.; 7 9 22 | 39 - 60) | 1,90 3,25 3,90
H: 8 5 5; 27 - 24 | last3: 1 2 0; 5-4 (UEs gg. Watford (19.) & Ipswich (15.) & Sieg gg. Plymouth (23.))
A: 1 4 14; 10 - 30 | last3: 1 0 2; 1-2 (verloren bei Swansea (5.) & Sieg bei Watford (19.) & verloren bei Forest (3.))
H2H:
Hin: 0-3
08/09: 1-0 (1-2) League One

- Scunny: die letzte Heimniederlage kassierten sie Anfang Februar mit 1-2 gg. Palace* (22.); somit letzte vier Heimspiele nicht verloren (2 2 0); zuletzt 2-1 gg. Plymouth (23.) & davor 3x in Folge auswärts: 0-3 bei Newcastle (1.) & 0-1 bei Ipswich (15.) & 1-2 bei Coventry (10.); davor 3x in Folge @home: 1-1 gg. Ipswich (15.) & 2-2 gg. Watford (19.) & 2-1 gg. Barnsley (12.)

- Peterbro: der bereits abgeschlagene Letzte (10P. Rückstand auf einen Nichtabstiegsplatz) ist das mit Abstand auswärtsschwächste Team der Liga; zwei Siege aus den letzten sechs Spielen (2 0 4 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 0-1 bei Forest (3.) & davor 1-2 gg. Doncaster (8.) & der bisher einzige Auswärtssieg mit 1-0 bei Watford (19.) & ebenfalls 1-0 gg. Sheff.U (7.) & 0-1 gg. Coventry (10.) & 0-1 bei Swansea (5.)

* Palace wurden 10P. abgezogen; sonst mit 49P. auf dem 12. Platz

Scunthorpe will make a late decision on leading scorer Gary Hooper ahead of their crunch home clash with bottom-of-the-table Peterborough.
The former Southend striker has missed the last three games with a groin injury and was unable to train again on Monday but boss Nigel Adkins will monitor his fitness on the day of the game.
If Hooper is ruled out then Adkins could play winger Garry Thompson alongside Paul Hayes in attack once again after he scored in Saturday's win against Plymouth.
Midfielder Josh Wright did not feature against the Pilgrims due to a bruised toe and it is not yet known how long he will be out for.
Defenders David Mirfin and Marcus Williams recovered from groin injuries to play at the weekend and came through the game unscathed.
Skipper Cliff Byrne serves the third game of a five-match suspension, while Ian Morris (knee) also remains on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Peterborough boss Jim Gannon has defensive problems ahead of the trip.
Wales international centre-half Craig Morgan missed the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday with an ankle injury and is still struggling, so on-loan Wolves right-back Mark Little will continue to fill in.
Record signing Ryan Bennett is another defensive casualty as he recovers from an ankle injury of his own so Gabriel Zakuani will play alongside Little.
Midfielder Lee Frecklington is out with a knee injury while strikers Izale McLeod and Aaron Mclean are also sidelined with knee injuries.
Gannon's side have lost their last two games to slip 10 points adrift of safety and have eight games remaining to stage a remarkable escape.


Di 23.03.10 21:00
QPR (17.; 11 12 14 | 50 - 55) - Derby (18.; 12 8 18 | 45 - 56) | 1.85 3.30 4.20
H: 7 7 4; 33 - 24 | last3: 2 1 0; 6-2 (Siege gg. WBA (2.) & Plymouth (23.) & UE gg. Swansea (5.))
A: 2 6 11; 13 - 28 | last3: 0 1 2; 2-6 (verloren bei Reading (13.) & Doncaster (8.) & UE bei Wednesday (21.))
H2H:
Hin: 4-2
08/09: 0-2 (2-0)
06/07: 1-2 (1-1)
05/06: 1-1 (2-1)
04/05: 0-2 (0-0)

- QPR: die letzte Heimniederlage kassierten sie Anfang Februar mit 1-2 gg. Ipswich (15.); somit letzte vier Heimspiele nicht verloren (3 1 0); zuletzt 1-1 gg. Swansea (5.) & davor 0-1 bei Reading (13.) & 1-1 bei Sheff.U (7.) & 2-0 gg. Plymouth (23.) & 3-1 gg. WBA (2.) & 0-2 bei Boro (11.) & 2-1 gg. Doncaster (8.)

- Derby: die beiden Auswärtssiege holten sie Mitte Dezember mit 1-0 bei Watford (19.) & Mitte Januar mit 3-0 bei Peterbro (24.); somit letzte sechs Auswärtsspiele nicht gewonnen (0 2 4); ein (Heim-)Sieg aus den letzten sieben Partien (1 2 4 | A: 0 1 3); zuletzt 0-0 bei Wednesday (21.) & davor 2-2 gg. Boro (11.) & 1-2 bei Doncaster (8.) & 1-4 bei Reading (13.) & besagter Sieg mit 2-0 gg. Watford (19.) & 1-3 bei WBA (2.)

Jay Simpson and Damion Stewart return to the QPR squad for the home clash with Derby.
On-loan Arsenal striker Simpson missed Saturday's 1-1 draw against Swansea with a tight hamstring but boss Neil Warnock says he will be fine.
Centre-half Stewart was suspended at the weekend and could be restored to the starting line-up, with Matt Connolly reverting to right-back and Peter Ramage dropping out.
Teenage striker Antonio German will start on the bench again despite his goalscoring cameo against the Swans.
Warnock has no new injury concerns although midfield duo Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon remain long-term absentees with knee problems.
Rowlands is out for the season but Mahon hopes to figure at some point during the run-in.

Meanwhile, Derby boss Nigel Clough must decide whether to recall skipper Robbie Savage against QPR.
The midfielder was rested for Saturday's goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday, with Michael Tonge moving into the centre of midfield to partner Paul Green and Gilles Sunu starting on the right.
Whether Clough starts with the same side or recalls the experienced Savage as the Rams continue their battle to avoid relegation, remains to be seen.
Stephen Bywater will start in goal once again after returning at Hillsborough following a back problem.
Steve Davies (hamstring) was on the bench at the weekend but Rob Hulse and Chris Porter are likely to continue in attack.
Fit-again trio Gary Teale, Lee Croft and Lee Hendrie will be hoping for a recall to the squad, while Kris Commons (hamstring) is targeting a return for the clash with Ipswich on Easter Monday. Miles Addison (foot) is a long-term absentee.

England Premier League

Mi 24.03.10 21:00
Blackburn (12.; 9 8 13 | 32 - 49) - Birmingham (9.; 12 8 10 | 31 - 34) | 2.05 3.35 3.55
H: 8 5 2; 22 - 13 | last3: 2 1 0; 5-1 (Siege gg. Hull (19.) & Bolton (14.) & UE gg. Chelski (3.))
A: 5 2 8; 16 - 24 | last3: 1 0 2; 4-6 (verloren bei Fulham (10.) & Sieg bei Pompey* (20.) & verloren bei Sunderland (13.))
H2H: 4 3 0 (7 3 5)
Hin: 1-2
07/08: 2-1 (1-4)
05/06: 2-0 (1-2)
04/05: 3-3 (1-2)

- Blackburn: sie gehören zwar zu den auswärtsschwächsten Teams der Liga (nur zwei auswärts sieglose Teams haben weniger Punkte), @home aber gar nicht mal übel (nur sieben Teams haben mehr Heimpunkte); die beiden Heimniederlagen kassierten sie gleich im ersten Saisonspiel mit 0-2 gg. ManCity (5.) & kurz vor XMas ebenfalls mit 0-2 gg. Tittenham (4.); somit letzte sechs Heimspiele nicht verloren (4 2 0); zuletzt 1-1 gg. Chelski (3.) & davor 2x in Folge auswärts: 1-3 bei Tittenham (4.) & 1-2 bei Pool (6.); davor 2x in Folge @home: 3-0 gg. Bolton (14.) & 1-0 gg. Hull (19.); davor 2x in Folge auswärts: 0-3 bei Stoke (11.) & 0-0 bei WestHam (17.); davor 2x in Folge @home: 2-1 gg. Wigan (15.) & 2-0 gg. Fulham (10.)

- Birmingham: sie sind zwar @home in elf Spielen seit Ende Oktober ungeschlagen (6 5 0), aus den letzten fünf Auswärtspartien holten sie aber nur 3P. (1 0 4); zuletzt 1-3 bei Sunderland (13.) & davor 2-2 gg. Everton (8.) & besagter Auswärts-3er mit 2-1 bei Pompey* (20.) & 1-0 gg. Wigan (15.) & 1-2 bei Fulham (10.) & 0-2 bei WestHam (17.)

* Portsmouth sind 9P. abgezogen worden; sonst mit 22P. trotzdem auf dem letzten Platz

MATCH PREVIEW
When Birmingham beat Blackburn in December, the Blues really were flying high. Five straight wins had lifted them to sixth in the table and fans were daring to dream of European football.
Fast forward three months and Alex McLeish's side are still comfortably in the top ten, but their away form has hampered them. They've suffered four defeats in their last five games on the road and now face the team who hit Chelsea's title hopes at the weekend.
Blackburn's 1-1 draw with Chelsea came off the back of four straight home wins and only Manchester City and Tottenham have come away from Ewood Park with three points this season.
With the eagerly-awaited derby against Burnley to come on Sunday, this is a big week for Rovers. Manager Sam Allardyce believes his side could be all but safe by the end of the weekend - if they play like they did in the second half against Chelsea.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce again has injury concerns ahead of his side's Barclays Premier League game with Birmingham at Ewood Park.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson (calf), captain Ryan Nelsen (knee), Gael Givet (groin), Lars Jacobsen (hernia) and Vince Grella (calf) are all likely to be sidelined.
Loan striker Franco di Santo comes back into the equation after being ineligible to play against parent club Chelsea in Sunday's 1-1 draw.
Midfielder David Dunn is also available despite being withdrawn after 56 minutes with tightness in his calves.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has no fresh injury worries.
Defender Gregory Vignal, who was among the substitutes against Sunderland at the weekend, stepped up his fitness levels by playing 90 minutes for the reserves last night after a recent calf problem.
On-loan Sunderland utility player Teemu Tainio is available again after being ineligible to face his parent club. James McFadden, Lee Bowyer and Sebastian Larsson are all contenders to start after being substitutes at the Stadium of Light.


Spanien Primera Division

Mi 24.03.10 20:00
Tenerife (19.; 6 5 16 | 26 - 55) - Villarreal (9.; 10 6 11 | 38 - 39) | 2,70 3,20 2,45 | AHC0 @1,85
H: 6 3 5; 17 - 22 | last3: 2 0 1; 6-6 (Sieg gg. Malle (4.) & verloren gg. RealM (1.) & Sieg gg. Espanyol (14.))
A: 1 3 9; 12 - 26 | last3: 0 1 2; 2-8 (verloren bei RealM (1.) & UE bei Espanyol (14.) & verloren bei Malaga (15.))
H2H:
Hin: 0-5
01/02: 2-0 (1-2)
99/00: 3-1 (0-0) Segunda

- Tenerife: sie sind auswärts sieglos und auch das punktschlechteste Team auf fremden Plätzen; @home aber haben immerhin sechs Teams weniger Punkte geholt als sie; zuletzt 1-2 bei Xerez (20.) & davor 4-1 gg. Espanyol (14.) & 1-3 bei Depor (6.) & 1-5 gg. RealM (1.) & 1-4 bei Athl.Bilbao (7.) & 1-0 gg. Malle (4.)

- Villarreal: sie sind das viertstärkste Heimteam, auswärts hat aber nur ein Team weniger Punkte gesammelt als sie (das bisher auswärts sieglose Teneriffa (19.)); den bisher einzigen Auswärtssieg holten sie Mitte Dezember mit 2-1 bei Atl.Madrid (10.); somit letzte sechs Auswärtspartien nicht gewonnen (0 2 4); zuletzt 0-2 bei Malaga (15.) & davor 2-0 gg. Xerez (20.) & 0-0 bei Espanyol (14.) & 1-0 gg. Depor (6.) & 2-6 bei RealM (1.) & 2-1 gg. Athl.Bilbao (7.) & 0-1 auf Malle (4.)

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/ove...fe_Preview.html

England Premier League

West Ham (17.; 6 9 16 | 38 - 54) - Stoke (12.; 8 12 10 | 29 - 35) | 2,00 3,30 3,60 | AHC0 @2,51
H: 5 4 6; 25 - 25 | last3: 1 0 2; 5-5 (Sieg gg. Hull (19.) & verloren gg. Bolton (14.) & die Wolves (15.))
A: 2 7 5; 8 - 16 | last3: 1 2 0; 4-3 (UE bei Wigan (16.) & Sieg bei Pompey (20.) & UE bei Burnley (18.))
H2H:
Hin: 1-2
08/09: 2-1 (1-0)
04/05: 2-0 (1-0) Championship
03/04: 0-1 (2-0) 1.Div

- West Ham: nach dem 3-0-Heimsieg gg. Hull (19.) kassierten sie fünf Niederlagen in Folge: 0-3 bei ManU (1.) & 1-2 gg. Bolton (14.) & 1-4 bei Chelski (2.) & 0-2 bei Arsenal (3.) & zuletzt 1-3 gg. die Wolves (15.)

- Stoke: sie gehören zu den UE-Königen der Liga und können auch -zusammen mit ManCity (5.)- die meisten Auswärts-UEs vorweisen; letzte elf Spiele 2x (@home) verloren (3 6 2 | A: 1 3 0); wenn man es negativ ausdrücken will: letzte vier Spiele ohne Sieg (0 2 2 | A: 0 1 0), allerdings ging es dabei gg. Top-Teams; zuletzt 1-2 gg. Tittenham (4.) & davor 0-0 gg. Villa (7.) & 1-1 bei Burnley (18.) & 1-3 gg. Arsenal (3.); davor 2-1 bei Pompey (20.) & 1-1 gg.ManCity (5.) & ebenfalls 1-1 bei Wigan (16.)

MATCH PREVIEW
There have been few more damaging defeats in the Premier League this season than the one West Ham suffered against Wolves on Tuesday and the fallout is likely to be felt in the weeks and months to come.
Co-owner David Sullivan's emotional and highly-critical outburst of the display by Gianfranco Zola's team, delivered via a statement on the club's website, has not gone down well with the players.
Zola's head is firmly on the block and reports this week suggest that he has been asked to hand in a report to the owners about the tactics, formations and selection policy he is going to employ to help the club stave off relegation.
His place, though, seems secure for now with Sullivan saying, "I don't think bringing in an Iain Dowie mark II will make us a better team". Hardly reassuring words, but Zola knows he has to win back the support of not only Sullivan and David Gold, but also the support of sections of the Upton Park crowd.
Given their current malaise, Saturday's opponents Stoke are one of the last teams West Ham would want to meet. The Hammers' lightweight back four will hardly relish the prospect of bruisers Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe getting in their faces.
Tony Pulis believes West Ham cannot play as badly as they did on Tuesday, but as long as referee Mike Dean is not the man in the middle, the Potters boss fancies his chances against anyone. Pulis was livid that Dean sent off a Stoke player for the third time this season last week and has asked for him not to officiate any of his side's matches in the foreseeable future.

West Ham will be without striker Guillermo Franco (Achilles) and defender James Tomkins (ankle) for the clash with Stoke at Upton Park .
Defender Manuel da Costa returns from a three-match suspension, while Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer are both fit again after missing the midweek home defeat by Wolves.
Herita Ilunga and Jack Collison (both knee) will miss the Barclays Premier League match.

Ryan Shawcross (Stoke) faces a late fitness test ahead of the game.
Having served a three-match suspension, Shawcross was unable to return to the Potters team for last weekend's match against Tottenham due to a niggling ankle problem which could keep him out once again.
Dean Whitehead will definitely be absent as he serves a one-match ban after being sent off in the Spurs match.
James Beattie and Salif Diao still remain in the treatment room with knee and calf problems respectively.


England Championship

Sa 27.03.10 16:00
Plymouth (23.; 10 7 21 | 40 - 55) - Blackpool (7.; 14 12 13 | 60 - 50) | 2,65 3,20 2,50 | AHC0 @1,82
H: 5 5 8; 19 - 22 | last3: 1 2 0; 5-4 (UEs gg. Leicester (4.) & Preston (15.) & Sieg gg. BrsitolC (13.))
A: 3 7 9; 20 - 30 | last3: 0 0 3; 2-7 (verloren bei Barnsley (14.) & WBA (2.) & Sheff.U (8.))
H2H: 3 0 2 (5 2 4)
Hin: 0-2
08/09: 1-2 (1-0)
07/08: 3-0 (0-0)
03/04: 1-0 (1-0) 2.Div

- Plymouth: die letzte Heimniederlage kassierten sie Anfang Februar mit 0-1 gg. WBA (2.); letzte zehn Spiele mit ausgeglichener Bilanz und @home unbesiegt (3 4 3 | H: 1 3 0); zuletzt 2-0 bei Ipswich (16.) & davor 1-2 bei Scunny (19.) & 3-2 gg. BristolC (13.) & 1-1 bei Coventry (12.) & 0-2 bei QPR (17.) & 1-1 gg. Preston (15.) & 3-4 bei Sheff.U (8.) & jeweils 1-1 gg. Leicester (4.) & Swansea (5.)

- Blackpool: sie gehören zwar zu den heimstärksten Teams, auswärts aber nicht ganz so toll; so landeten sie den letzten Auswärtssieg an Boxing Day (26.12.) mit 2-0 bei Derby (18.); somit letzte sieben Auswärtsspiele nicht gewonnen (0 3 4); zuletzt 5-1 gg. Swansea (5.) & davor 2-2 gg. Palace* (22.) & 0-3 bei Sheff.U (8.) & 2-3 bei WBA (2.) & 1-0 gg. Ipswich (16.) & 0-1 bei Barnsley (14.)

* Palace wurden 10P. abgezogen; sonst mit 49P. auf dem 13. Platz

MATCH PREVIEW
Blackpool boss Ian Holloway is sure to get a hostile reception from the Home Park faithful when he returns to Plymouth for the first time since walking out on the club to take over as Leicester manager in 2007.
The manner of his departure meant his time at Leicester started controversially. And a dismal run of results meant it ended in relegation to League One - an outcome that pleased many Plymouth fans angry at Holloway's decision to move on.
But now it is Argyle facing the prospect of dropping out of the Championship, while Holloway has restored his reputation by guiding Blackpool to the cusp of the play-off race. Their 5-1 hammering of Swansea was a major achievement given the Welsh side's excellent defensive record this season.
Plymouth also pulled off a great result in midweek, beating boss Paul Mariner's former club Ipswich 2-0. The Pilgrims remain one off the bottom of the table, but are now within five points of safety.

Plymouth head coach Paul Mariner could be forced to change his winning team for the Championship clash against Blackpool.
Left-back Chris Barker started Tuesday night's 2-0 victory at Ipswich, but hobbled out of the game after 67 minutes with a hamstring injury that makes him an injury doubt to face Roy Keane's side.
Chris Clark dropped back from midfield to cover for Barker, with on-loan Blackburn midfielder Alan Judge introduced on the wing.
With on-loan Burnley full-back Richard Eckersley (ankle) and David McNamee (hamstring) ruled out and Gary Sawyer having joined Bristol City on loan, Clark may have to fill in at left-back once again.
On-loan West Ham central defender Bondz N'Gala made his Argyle debut at Ipswich and is set for his home bow against a Blackpool side managed by former Argyle boss Ian Holloway.
Centre-half Kari Arnason (hip) and winger Craig Noone (knee) are still sidelined, while striker Ashley Barnes has joined Brighton on loan for the rest of the season.

Blackpool are boosted by the return of Stephen Dobbie ahead of the clash against the Pilgrims.
The Scottish forward is on loan at Bloomfield Road from Swansea but was ineligible to face his parent club on Tuesday due to the terms of the deal.
The Seasiders hammered the Swans 5-1 to keep their play-off hopes alive and Holloway will be reluctant to make changes as he prepares to return to his former club.
Yet midfielder David Vaughan remains a doubt with an ankle injury and on-loan Leicester striker DJ Campbell is still missing with a thigh problem.
Defender Neal Eardley is also absent due to a hamstring tear and Algeria international Hameur Bouazza is still sidelined with a groin problem.


Reading (11.; 14 9 14 | 50 - 52) - West Brom (2.; 23 9 7 | 77 - 42) | 2,70 3,35 2,35 | AHC0 @1,89
H: 7 6 5; 24 - 18 | last3: 3 0 0; 7-1 (Siege gg. Derby (18.) & BristolC (13.) & QPR (17.))
A: 9 7 3; 35 - 22 | last3: 1 0 2; 4-5 (verloren bei BristolC (13.) & QPR (17.) & Sieg bei Swansea (5.))
H2H:
Hin: 1-3
03/04: 1-0 (0-0)

- Reading: letzte elf Spiele 1x verloren (9 1 1 | H: 6 0 0) und zwar am 20.02. mit 0-2 bei Blackpool (7.); danach 4x in Folge @home: 5-0 gg. Wednesday (20.) & 4-1 gg. Derby (18.) & 2-0 BristolC (13.) & 1-0 QPR (17.); danach 1-1 bei Boro (9.) & zuletzt 2-1 bei Leicester (4.)

- WBA: letzte acht Spiele 2x (auswärts) verloren (6 0 2 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 1-0 gg. Coventry (12.) & davor 3-2 gg. Preston (15.) & 2-0 bei Swansea (5.) & 3-2 gg. Blackpool (7.) & 1-0 gg. Wednesday (20.) & 1-3 bei QPR (17.) & 3-1 gg. Derby (18.) & 1-2 bei BristolC (13.) & 1-1 bei Cardiff (6.)

MATCH PREVIEW
Reading's brilliant run of nine wins from their last 11 matches means they have not only hauled themselves away from the relegation zone, they are also still in with a chance of sneaking into the play-offs.
Their vastly improved home form has been a major factor in the club's rise up the table. The Royals have won six consecutive league games at the Madejski Stadium, conceding only two goals and keeping four clean sheets.
They will need all their defensive strength against freescoring West Brom, who have netted more goals than any other Championship side and beat Coventry in midweek to record a fifth successive victory and move to within two points of leaders Newcastle.
Much of their success has been down the outstanding Graeme Dorrans, who has 18 goal assists to his name this season - more than any other player in the division. The Scot has also scored 16 goals himself this season, with four of them coming in his last five appearances.

Reading will be without midfielder Jay Tabb when West Brom make their second visit to the Madejski Stadium this season.
Tabb left the field on a stretcher in the second-half of the 2-1 win at Leicester on Wednesday and is beginning a lay-off after spraining his ankle.
His place in midfield alongside Brian Howard will go to either Brynjar Gunnarsson or Jem Karacan, who returned from a hand injury to be an unused substitute at the Walkers Stadium.
Captain Ivar Ingimarsson will also be missing as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury sustained at Middlesbrough last Saturday, so on-loan Blackburn man Zurab Khizanishvili will continue.
Ingimarsson has been booked in for surgery on Saturday and will not play again this season.
Kalifa Cisse (thigh) and long-term absentees Chris Armstrong and Noel Hunt (both knee) remain sidelined as Brian McDermott's in-form side look for a 10th win in 12 league games.

Second-placed West Brom will be without Chris Brunt while fellow midfielder Robert Koren is a doubt.
Northern Ireland international Brunt was forced off in the second half of Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Coventry with an ankle injury and he has failed to shake it off in time for the trip to the Madejski Stadium.
Koren also sustained a calf problem against the Sky Blues and could join Brunt, Roman Bednar (thigh), Marek Cech (groin) and Gonzalo Jara (broken metatarsal) on the sidelines.
However, apart from Jara who is likely to miss the rest of the season, Albion's treatment room is expected to empty out for the Easter period.
But there is good news for Roberto Di Matteo as defensive lynchpin Jonas Olsson has a chance of making a return against the Royals having missed the last two games due to a calf problem.


England League Two

Sa 27.03.10 16:00
Barnet (18.; 10 11 15 | 38 - 47) - Burton (12.; 15 8 14 | 61 - 58) | 2,30 3,30 2,65 | AHC0 @1,85
H: 6 9 3; 24 - 13 | last3: 0 2 1; 4-5 (UEs gg. Cheltenham (22.) & Bury (6.) & verloren gg. Accrington (13.))
A: 7 4 7; 28 - 29 | last3: 3 0 0; 8-3 (Siege bei Hereford (19.) & Aldershot (7.) & Accrington (13.))
H2H:
Hin: 0-2
04/05: 2-3 (1-1) Conference
03/04: 2-1 (3-2) Conference
02/03: 2-2 (3-0) Conference

- Barnet: zwei (Auswärts-)Siege aus den letzten acht Spielen (2 3 3 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 2-1 bei Darlo (24.) & davor 1-2 gg. Accrington (13.) & 2-2 bei Crewe (15.) & 0-0 gg. Bury (6.) & 0-3 bei Bournemouth (4.) & 2-0 bei PortVale (11.) & 1-1 gg. Cheltenham (22.)

- Burton: zwei (Heim-)Niederlagen aus den letzten sechs Spielen (3 1 2 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 2-0 bei Accrington (13.) & davor 2-2 gg. Chesterfield (5.) & 5-6 gg. Cheltenham (22.) & 2-0 bei Aldershot (7.) & 0-1 gg. Rotherham (3.) & 4-3 bei Hereford (19.)

Barnet will have veteran striker Paul Furlong back for the visit of Burton.
The 41-year-old has missed the last five games with an eye problem after he was smashed in the face by the ball from close range at Port Vale last month.
But he has been given the all-clear by Moorfields Eye Hospital and will be in Ian Hendon's squad against the Brewers.
Centre-half Ismail Yakubu is still ruled out with a back injury which has kept him sidelined since the end of January, so Clovis Kamdjo will partner Gary Breen.
Striker Jake Hyde has a knee problem and is set to miss out as the Bees look for a first home win since February 6.

Keith Gilroy returns to contention for Burton.
The winger has been absent due to suspension but, with Jacques Maghoma still sidelined by a knee injury, will challenge Jimmy Phillips for a starting role.
Boss Paul Peschisolido faces a striker conundrum. The Canadian must decide whether to recall Steve Kabba or stick with the in-form partnership of Shaun Harrad and Greg Pearson.
Harrad is likely to keep his place after scoring his 17th goal of the season in the 2-0 win over Accrington in midweek.
Pearson also made a strong case for his inclusion with his second goal in as many games at the Crown Ground after Peschisolido decided to rest Kabba.
"From a manager's point of view, it's a good headache to have," said Peschisolido. "There's a saying that teams are only as good as their strikers and we've got three of them who are on form at the minute."


Bury (6.; 17 10 10 | 43 - 41) - Aldershot (7.; 16 9 12 | 56 - 47) | 1,85 3,30 3,70 | AHC0 @2,58
H: 9 5 4; 21 - 17 | last3: 0 3 0; 1-1 (UEs gg. Morecambe (14.) & Dag&Red (9.) & Darlo (24.))
A: 6 3 9; 20 - 27 | last3: 2 0 1; 4-3 (Sieg bei Chesterfield (5.) & verloren bei Bradford (16.) & Sieg bei Darlo (24.))
H2H:
Hin: 3-2
08/09: 2-1 (3-3)

- Bury: letzte sechs Spiele nicht gewonnen (0 4 2 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 0-1 bei Rotherham (3.) & davor 0-2 bei Macclesfield (20.) & 1-1 gg. Darlo (24.) & 0-0 gg. Dag&Red (9.) & ebenfalls 0-0 bei Barnet (18.) & wieder 0-0 gg. Morecambe (14.)

- Aldershot: zwei Niederlagen aus den letzten sechs Spielen (4 0 2 | A: s.o.); zuletzt 2-1 bei Darlo (24.) & davor 2-0 gg. die Shrews (10.) & 1-2 bei Bradford (16.) & 0-2 gg. Burton (12.) & jeweils 1-0 gg. Bradford (16.) & bei Chesterfield (5.)

Aldershot manager Kevin Dillon will include new signing Dean Morgan in his squad to face fellow play-off contenders Bury.
Morgan, who can operate as a winger or a striker, joined the Shots on loan from MK Dons on Thursday and comes into contention for the clash at Gigg Lane.
Dillon could also be boosted by the return of Dave Winfield and Andy Sandell.
Centre-half Winfield has sat out the last four games with a hamstring injury while left-back Sandell has missed three with his own hamstring problem, but the duo are both back in contention as the Shots look for a third-straight win which could move them into the top seven.
Winfield is likely to have to make do with a place on the bench but Sandell could return and end Anthony Charles' run as a makeshift full-back.
Former Reading midfielder John Halls is unlikely to feature again this season after complications hampered his recovery from groin surgery but Dillon has no other worries.

Bury have signed rookie Manchester City midfielder James Poole ahead of Saturday's game.
Poole, a regular goalscorer for City's reserve side, will go straight into the Shakers' squad after agreeing a loan until the end of the season.
Efe Sodje is sidelined for two weeks with a leg injury but fellow defender Paul Scott is in contention for a start after returning to full training late last week following a knee injury.
Striker Danny Carlton is still recovering from a long-term Achilles injury and midfielder Damien Allen remains sidelined with a groin problem.
Leading scorer Ryan Lowe serves the second game of his three-match suspension.
The Shakers' hopes of going up automatically have been hit by a dismal six-match winless streak in which they have scored only one goal.

Spanien Primera Division

So 28.03.10 17:00
Osasuna (15.; 8 7 13 | 25 - 32) - Almeria (11.; 9 9 10 | 31 - 37) | 2,15 3,20 3,20 | AHC0 @2,20
H: 4 5 4; 12 - 12 | last3: 0 2 1; 2-4 (UEs gg. Valladolid (18.) & Getafe (9.) & verloren gg. Santander (14.))
A: 2 4 8; 14 - 23 | last3: 1 1 1; 4-4 (UE bei Getafe (9.) & Sieg bei Santander (14.) & verloren bei Valencia (3.))
H2H:
Hin: 0-2
08/09: 3-1 (1-2)
07/08: 2-1 (0-2)

- Osasuna: nach vier Siegen in Folge von Mitte Januar bis Anfang Februar, haben sie in den folgenden sieben Spielen nicht mehr gewinnen können (0 2 5 | H: s.o.): zuletzt 0-2 bei Barca (2.) & davor 1-3 gg. Santander (14.) & 0-1 bei Atl.Madrid (10.) & 0-0 gg. Getafe (9.) & 2-3 bei Gijon (12.) & 1-1 gg. Valladolid (18.) & 0-1 beim FCSevilla (5.)

- Almeria: in den dreizehn Spielen im neuen Jahr bzw. nach der Pause haben sie nur 2x verloren (6 5 2 | A: 1 3 2); zuletzt 1-0 gg. Saragossa (17.) & davor 0-2 bei Valencia (3.) & 1-0 gg. Malaga (16.) & 2-2 gg. Barca (2.) & 2-0 bei Santander (14.) & 1-0 gg. Atl.Madrid (10.) & 2-2 bei Getafe (9.)


Portugal Superliga

So 28.03.10 17:00
Leixoes (15.; 3 6 14 | 19 - 41) - Ass Naval (8.; 8 5 10 | 14 - 24) | 2,30 3,00 3,00 | AHC0 @2,00
H: 2 5 4; 13 - 18 | last3: 0 1 2; 1-6 (UE gg. den FCPorto (3.) & verloren gg. Benfica (1.) & Setubal (14.))
A: 2 3 7; 4 - 16 | last3: 1 1 1; 1-3 (verloren beim FCPorto (3.) & Sieg bei Setubal (14.) & UE bei RioAve (10.))
H2H:
Hin: 0-1
08/09: 1-1 (0-1)
07/08: 0-1 (1-2)

- Leixoes: der letzte Heimsieg gelang ihnen Anfang Oktober mit 3-2 gg. Leiria (7.); somit letzte sieben Heimspiele nicht gewonnen (0 3 4); der letzte Sieg insgesamt gelang ihnen Mitte Januar mit 3-1 beim Letzten Belenenses (16.); aus den folgenden sieben Partien holten sie nur 1P. (0 1 6 | H: 0 1 3); zuletzt 1-2 gg. Setubal (14.) & davor ebenfalls 1-2 bei Leiria (7.) & 0-4 gg. Benfica (1.) & 0-2 bei Guimaraes (5.) & 0-0 gg. den FCPorto (3.)

- Ass Naval: letzte sieben Spiele 1x verloren (4 2 1 | A: s.o.) und das mit 0-3 beim FCPorto (3.); danach 0-0 gg. Guimaraes (5.) & 1-0 bei Setubal (14.) & 2-1 gg. Maritimo (11.) & 0-0 bei RioAve (10.) & zuletzt 1-0 gg. Leiria (7.)


So 28.03.10 19:00
Leiria (7.; 8 6 9 | 28 - 26) - Pacos Ferreira (6.; 8 8 7 | 27 - 26) | 2,15 3,00 3,30 | AHC0 @2,20
H: 4 4 3; 14 - 11 | last3: 1 1 1; 5-5 (UE gg. Setubal (14.) & verloren gg. Guimaraes (5.) & Sieg gg. Leixoes (15.))
A: 4 3 4; 13 - 13 | last3: 2 0 1; 5-5 (Siege bei Guimaraes (5.) & RioAve (10.) & verloren bei Benfica (1.))
H2H: 3 2 2 (6 5 4)
Hin: 1-0
07/08: 1-1 (1-2)
06/07: 0-0 (0-0)
05/06: 3-0 (1-1)

- Leiria: ein Sieg aus den letzten sechs Spielen (1 1 4 | H: s.o.); zuletzt 0-1 bei Ass Naval (8.) & davor 3x in Folge @home: besagter Sieg mit 2-1 gg. Leixoes (15.) & davor 0-1 gg. Guimaraes (5.) & 3-3 gg. Setubal (14.); davor 0-1 bei Maritimo (11.) & 0-3 bei Benfica (1.)

- Pacos: in den neun Spielen nach der Pause bzw. im neuen Jahr nur 1x verloren (5 3 1 | A: 2 2 1); zuletzt 1-0 gg. Maritimo (11.) & davor besagte Niederlage mit 1-3 bei Benfica (1.) & 5-3 gg. Setubal (14.) & 2-1 bei RioAve (10.) & 0-0 gg. Sporting Lisboa (4.) & 2-1 bei Guimaraes (5.)


Holland Casino Eredivisie

So 28.03.10 12:30
NEC (13., 7 7 14 | 31 - 49) - Feyenoord (4.; 14 9 4 | 43 - 26) | 3,10 3,30 2,10
H: 5 3 6; 19 - 23 | last3: 1 0 2; 2-5 (Sieg gg. Willem II (17.) & verloren gg. Groningen (8.) & Roda (10.))
A: 8 4 2; 22 - 15 | last3: 2 1 0; 7-4 (UE bei Utrecht (7.) & Siege bei Groningen (8.) & Roda (10.))
H2H: 3 0 7 (5 1 15)
Hin: 0-2
08/09: 1-0 (2-0)
07/08: 0-2 (3-1)
06/07: 4-1 (1-1)

- NEC: der 2-1-Heimsieg gg. Willem II (17.) war gleichzeitig auch ihr bislang letzter 3er; die folgenden fünf Spiele haben sie allesamt verloren: 0-2 gg. Groningen (8.) & 1-2 bei Twente (1.) & 0-1 bei Utrecht (7.) & 0-2 gg. Roda (10.) & zuletzt 1-4 bei Heerenveen (11.)

- Feyenoord: drei ihrer vier Niederlagen kassierten sie in den ersten zwölf Spielen (7 2 3 | A: 3 1 2); somit letzte fünfzehn Partien nur noch 1x verloren (7 7 1 | A: 5 3 0) und zwar Anfang Februar mit 1-2 gg. AZ (5.); danach 0-0 bei Utrecht (7.) & 2-2 gg. DenHaag (15.) & 3-2 bei Groningen (8.) & 4-2 bei Roda (10.) & zuletzt 1-1 gg. Heracles (6.)