Fat Ronaldo's

Malky’s kids take Watford to another level + Predictions

Despite an unappetising fixture on paper, last night Watford (horrible home record) and Sheffield Wednesday (horrible away record) put on a show The Championship could be proud of (less so Wednesday who were deflated early by a couple of 50/50 decisions from the officials).

Malky Mackay’s young squad is finding its rhythm this season in no small part thanks to Tom Cleverly (on loan from Manchester United) and Henri Lansbury (on loan from Arsenal). It was the latter whose star shone brightest at Vicarage Road last night with the footwork, vision and confidence of an Arsenal first-teamer. Henri played on loan in League One last season, helping Scunthorpe to the play-offs at the first time of asking, unfortunately he missed the final with a foot injury but did manage to shake it off for the Arsenal youth FA Cup Final when a side lead by himself, Jay-Emmanuel Thomas (currently on loan at Blackpool), Jack Wilshire and Francois Coquelin (expect him to grace the Premier League before season’s end) pummeled an underdeveloped Liverpool side into oblivion in front of some 20,000 at The Emirates Stadium.

An aura of class surrounded Lansbury last night as Wednesday grew weary at his presence, he began to find it easy to draw space and ultimately supply the killer touch; two top quality finishes and a fantastic assist topped off a fantastic evening for the North-of-London side. His and Cleverly’s loan-spells come to an end at Christmas and if Watford are to have a chance of the play-offs this season he’ll need to protect them from burn-out and hope Wenger and Fergie do him a solid by letting them stay until May (Wenger’s the more likely with Watford’s training ground a stones throw from London Colney).

TOP DIVISION

Champions League and Europa League fixtures have rendered the greatest kick-off time in the world somewhat flaccid this afternoon.

Sunderland at Birmingham should be a spicy meatball with Bruce taking a performing team back to St Andrews where he found himself a little mistreated (although I think he learned a lot from that period and righted a lot of wrongs in his approach, certainly the media, but also to other managers). Darren Bent will be hoping to continue his fine run of form with a winner in what’s shaping up to be a tight affair in the West Midlands. Despite investment, Phillips remains Blues’ greatest goal threat to my eye, but Chucho can unleash his clear potential at any moment…still waiting though.

Burnley will be hoping to scare a growing Wigan side into an away defeat at Turfmoor today, Martinez’s side must find consistency if they’re to draw themselves away from the bottom seven in the early stages of the season.

Chelsea host Blackburn, who will have nothing to lose (scoring two goals at The Emirates and still being humiliated shows there’s not an inch given that isn’t taken away with gusto in the top-four). The West-London side’s form has been erratic so far, looking unplayable at their best and clueless at their worst, problems in the Ancelotti family may work in their favour as the Italian’s influence may be proving a little Scolari-esque with the dropping of Carvalho and the insistence on starting Deco proving potentally ominous signs.

Paul Hart will see a trip to Hull as the best and probably last chance of saving his job before the new owners at Portsmouth get rightly pissed-off and give him his marching orders. The steady improvement in the Pompey side over the last few weeks should see the South-Coast side pick up the away win against Phil Brown’s clueless side. A lack of biting edge in the final third could well prove their undoing though. If they’re to claim the much needed three-points, Dindane’s going to have to concentrate when it’s time to pull the trigger.

Spurs will continue their fine start to the season (remember their start last season? What a difference a twitchy con-man can make) at home to Stoke today. Despite Tony Pulis’ men performing fantastically in the league already this season, I wouldn’t expect them to collect any points today. Still; it’s worth noting the comfort with which Stoke sit in the Premier League this season, a worthy and settled addition to the top division, if they snatched a draw I wouldn’t be surprised but I can’t really see it.

Wolves host Villa in the early kick-off (twenty minutes in fact. I’d better hurry-up). Villa will see the local derby as an opportunity to improve on their shocking tally of just twenty-two shots on target all season. The opportunity to sit in the top four, if only for a twenty-seven or so hours may prove daunting to a Villa side that last season failed to match their expectations when Saturday came.

PREMIER LEAGUE

Birmingham-1 Sunderland-2

Burnley-1 Wigan-0

Chelsea-2 Blackburn-0

Hull-1 Portsmouth-2

Tottenham-2 Stoke-0

Wolves-1 Aston Villa-3

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Barnsley-1 Bristol City-2

Coventry-1 West Brom-1

Crystal Palace-1 Nottingham Forest-1

Derby-0 QPR-2

Newcastle-3 Doncaster-0

Peterborough-1 Scunthorpe-1

Plymouth-1 Ipswich-2

Preston-2 Middlesbrough-1

Sheffield United-3 Cardiff-2

Swansea-1 Blackpool-2

MY LEAGUE ONE AND LEAGUE TWO FIXTURES CAN BE FOUND HERE

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