Capital One Cup 13/14: First Round Draw

picture: telegraph.co.uk

With the new season just over a month to go, the draw for the first round of the Capital One Cup was made. Although this competition plays second fiddle to the FA Cup, last years competition proved there is still as much entertainment as the FA Cup provides. It was Bradford City who stunned everyone last season as a mesmerising run saw them make the final having beaten Arsenal and Aston Villa on their route to Wembley. The fairytale was ended by Swansea as the Premier League side ran out comfortable 5-0 winners.

This years first round draw sees relegated QPR travel to Exeter while Football League new boys Mansfield and Newport County will face Tranmere and Brighton respectively. Runners up from last year Bradford face a tricky tie as they travel to Championship side Huddersfield Town.

Teams from the Championship down to League Two will compete from the first round with 14 teams from the Premier League entering at the second stage of the competition. The remaining six teams: Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Swansea will come in at the third stage as they are competing in Europe and to avoid fixture congestion. Wigan Athletic of the Championship will also enter at the third stage due to European commitments following their FA Cup final win. Reading will come in at the second round.

All first round ties will be played the week commencing the 5th August while the final will be held at Wembley on March 2nd 2014.

Keep up to date on EnglishFootball4U as we follow each round of the competition.

First Round Fixtures:

Bury v Crewe Alexandra
Shrewsbury v Bolton
Middlesbrough v Accrington Stanley
Doncaster v Rochdale
Preston v Blackpool
Barnsley v Scunthorpe Utd
Tranmere v Mansfield
York City v Burnley
Notts County v Fleetwood Town
Sheffield United v Burton Albion
Oldham Athletic v Derby County
Carlisle v Blackburn Rovers
Morecambe v Wolves
Notts Forest v Hartlepool Utd
Leeds Utd v Chesterfield
Huddersfield Town v Bradford City
Rotherham v Sheffield Wednesday
Port Vale v Walsall
Gillingham v Bristol City
Bournemouth v Portsmouth
Wycombe v Leicester City
Brentford v Dag & Red
Exeter v QPR
Charlton v Oxford Utd
Southend v Yeovil Town
Millwall v AFC Wimbledon
Swindon v Torquay
Birmingham City v Plymouth Argyle
Stevenage v Ipswich Town
Cheltenham v Crawley Town
Bristol Rovers v Watford
Northampton Town v MK Dons
Leyton Orient v Coventry City
Colchester Utd v Peterborough Utd
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newport County

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Premier League 2012/13: Season review

It was always going to be difficult to follow up the events of last season, but despite this, we were still treated to some exciting football throughout the season of 12/13 in the Premier League. This season has also seen some of the finest players to grace the Premier League hang their boots up and retire. Jamie Carragher, Michael Owen, Paul Scholes alongside PSG's David Beckham the most notable. They were joined by Sir Alex Ferguson who after 26 years as manager at Manchester United, decided it was his time to retire from the game.

It was Ferguson's side that won the race for the title taking it back from rivals City making it 20 league titles for the Scot. United finished 11 points clear of Mancini's men making it the perfect send off for Sir Alex. City were far from the side that pinched the league title last year, with significant injuries and poor signings in the transfer window to blame. Games they would have coasted a year ago were lost and drawn with players putting in far too many inconsistent performances. The signing of Robin Van Persie was particularly crucial with the former Arsenal man the Premier League's top goalscorer for United with 26 league goals to his name. City's top marksman in the league was Sergio Aguero who only managed the 12 league goals.

Sir Alex claimed his 20th league title

With the title decided before the close of the season, all eyes were on the race for the final Champions League position. With Chelsea filling the third place, it was North London sides Arsenal and Spurs who were battling for the final position. It came down to the final game of the season with Arsenal holding the advantage. Spurs needed to better Arsenal's result to stand a chance, but with both sides winning their games, it was Arsenal who took the place, leaving Spurs in fifth and playing in the Europa League next year.

Down at the other end of the table, Wigan Athletic once again found themselves in another relegation battle. However it wasn't to be for them as they couldn't make another miraculous escape. Roberto Martinez's men will now play in the Championship having had eight years in the top flight. They were  joined by QPR and Reading, with the latter making an immediate return to the Football League. Just like the battle for the top four, there were several sides battling to keep their place in the Premier League. Most notably Newcastle United, who having finished sixth last season, found themselves in contention for the drop. Like them, Stoke City were also hovering dangerously as having had one win in 13 games during the second half of the season meant that Tony Pulis' men were dragged into the battle.

In the domestic cups, there was plenty of drama. In the Capital One cup, Swansea emerged as winners, as they overcame surprise finalists Bradford City, who had a cup run to remember. In the FA Cup, there was more surprises with Wigan Athletic the winners having beaten Manchester City in the final with a late goal. There was success for English clubs in Europe as Chelsea, under interim manager Rafael Benitez, were crowned winners of the Europa League winning 2-1 against Benfica.

The fixtures for the 2013/14 Premier League season will be released on Wednesday 19th June at 9am.

Look out for an in depth Premier League season preview on EnglishFootball4U in August as we look ahead to the 2013/14 season.

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Championship 2012/13: Season Review

Moving on from League's One and Two, focus turns to the Championship and a time to reflect on a brilliant season in the top division of the Football League.

The craziness on the final day of the season was one that will take some beating, and as for the play-offs, the level of entertainment will be difficult to match. Automatic promotion, the play-off positions and relegation all needed sorting on the final day of the season with the majority of the sides in the league having something to play for.

The race for the title was settled fairly quickly as Cardiff finally secured promotion after a number of unsuccessful attempts in previous seasons. Under the management of Malky Mackay, the Bluebirds finished eight points clear of second place. It was the battle for second place though that caught the eye throughout the year as it went down to the final moments of the last game of the season. Watford and Hull had it all to play for as the latter at one point were six points clear of Watford. However after a poor run in their final few games, Hull managed to better Watford's result on the final day of the season to finish second and give Steve Bruce another chance to manage in the Premier League.

Malky Mackay guided Cardiff to the Premier League

For Watford and Gianfranco Zola, it was the play-offs. The drama continued for the Hornets as they overcame Leicester in the semi finals to reach Wembley and be 90 minutes away from the Premier League. The drama came as Leicester were awarded a late penalty in the second leg of the semi final which if scored, essentially sent them through to the final. However a heroic double save from Manuel Almunia allowed Watford to break up the field and score themselves sending their fans wild and putting them through to the final. They faced Crystal Palace in the battle for the final promotion spot, with an extra time penalty from Kevin Phillips making sure it was Ian Holloway's men who made a return to the top flight, after an eight year absence. They had beaten Brighton 2-0 over two games in their semi final.

Moving down to the other end of the table, and the fight for survival also went down to the final day of the season. Bristol City had already been relegated before the final day, as six teams went head to head to avoid the drop. Having already been relegated from the Premier League in the previous season, Wolves faced another relegation as they were beaten by Brighton to send them down to League One. They were joined by battling Peterborough United who threw away a 2-1 lead away at Palace to lose 3-2, and saw Barnsley draw at Huddersfield to end their time in the second tier of English football. The results on the final day meant that looking at the final league table, just the seven points separated third bottom Peterborough with tenth place Derby County.

Looking forward to the 2013/14 season, six new teams join the Championship. Coming from the Premier League will be QPR, Reading and Wigan Athletic, with all three teams looking to make an immediate return to the top flight. From League One, Doncaster, Bournemouth and Yeovil will join the division making up the 24 teams.

The fixtures for the 2013/14 Championship season will be released on Wednesday 19th June 2013 at 9am.

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Championship play-off final preview: Crystal Palace v Watford

In the final of the Football League play-off final, it's the biggest prize of them all with the Championship play-off final which sees the winner promoted to the Premier League. Last season saw West Ham score a late winner to beat Blackpool at Wembley. This year will see the return of a former Premier League side as Watford play Crystal Palace on Bank Holiday Monday.

Crystal Palace:
Ian Holloway's men secured a play-off place on the final day of the season with a home win against relegated Peterborough United. Holloway was introduced as manager in November 2012 taking over from Dougie Freedman who made his way north to Bolton. Funnily enough Bolton missed out on the play-offs leaving his former side just ninety minutes from the Premier League. The Eagles overcame Brighton in their semi finals, but will play without top scorer Glenn Murray. The striker ruptured his cruciate ligament in the first leg against Brighton and is set to be out for nine months. Star winger Wilfried Zaha will now be looked upon as the talisman and player to take them up to the Premier League. The England u-21 international will play his last game for Palace as he moves on to bigger and greater things in the form of Manchester United next season. The pacey wide man has just the eight goals to his name this season, but his two goals saw Palace overcome Brighton in the second leg of the tie.

Watford:
Watford were a penalty kick away from missing out on the play-off final as they witnessed a remarkable 90 seconds in the final moments of their semi final. Having seen Manuel Almunia save Anthony Knockaert's late penalty, the Hornets went up the other end and secured their place at Wembley through a strike from Troy Deeney.

We spoke to Watford fan Stephen Fletcher @sfletcherWFC about the semi final and what he's made of the season so far.

Describe the emotions you went through in the final moments of the semi final against Leicester?
Stephen: It is nearly impossible to describe what the 16,000 people packed into Vicarage Road went through in the last minute of that match; I still struggle to comprehend it! When the referee gave Leicester a penalty, we thought our season was finished. A season of hard work finished in an instant by a penalty. It didn't even cross my mind that 20 seconds later I'd be in the biggest crowd eruption of my life, as the Golden Boys booked their place at Wembley, thanks to the unbelievable counter from Almunia's fantastic double save. Talk about going from one extreme to the other; I've never seen anything like it.

How much would it mean for you as a fan to see Watford get promoted?
Stephen: We've had an unbelievable year and promotion would obviously be the icing on the cake, especially to do it at Wembley. We've played some of the best football Vicarage Road has ever seen this year and it would be a fitting end to a wonderful season. We've got a couple of good omens as well, for example, we got promoted through the play-offs in 1999 and 2006, so to do it again this year will mean we get promoted every seven years. Another bit if history we stand to make is that we'd become the first team to get promoted from the play-offs at three different venues in the form of the old Wembley (99), Millennium Stadium (06) and the new Wembley this year. Fingers crossed.

Some people have criticized Watford and Zola for their use of the loan policy this season, what do you make of that?
Stephen: Whilst I understand the criticism of many fans, managers and pundits alike, the key thing is that no rules were broken and we’ve just utilized a system which has allowed us to compete. Most Watford fans like to point to the successful model of our owners, who control La Liga side Granada and Seria A side Udinese, and they’ve achieved success through a great business model and through their acclaimed scouting network. I believe our model for business is much healthier than that of the big clubs who spend tens or hundreds of millions of pounds. Whatever people think of it, two things have been evident to Watford fans this year: the style of football is befitting of the Premier League, and the loanees have a passion, desire and love for the club. 

Will you be making the trip to Wembley?
Stephen: I’ll definitely be at Wembley on May 27^th; it’s going to be an unbelievable sea of yellow in the Watford end. I feel like nothing can happen at Wembley that can match what we saw at Vicarage Road against Leicester, but we will be loud, proud and very yellow.

In three words, describe you season so far?
Stephen: Exhilarating, intense & wonderful

What is the main reason behind such an excellent season?
Stephen: As mentioned above the loaness have come in and Gianfranco Zola has done incredibly well to create a brand new team, a new formation and a new style of play that Watford fans simply haven’t seen before. The passion the players have shown has been matched by their hunger and it has all combined to make it a memorable season. The final 20 seconds against Leicester in many ways summed up our season.

Almen Abdi
picture: watfordobserver.co.uk

Which player should we look out for Watford and why?
Stephen: Though Matej Vydra won the Championship Player of the Year award, for me the player to watch is Almen Abdi. The Swiss central midfielder is arguably one of the best players Watford have had, definitely in the recent years, possibly ever. He’s calm, composed, doesn’t give the ball away easily and is a major goal threat. Xavi may never play in the Championship but Almen Abdi is probably as close as we are going to get.

Danger player for Crystal Palace and why?
Stephen: It has to be young Wilfried Zaha; the £15 million man. Two semi-final legs against Brighton saw the two rivals at a deadlock, and the game didn’t look like going anywhere, until Zaha popped up with two big goals. He is the game changer, and the man we need to stop in the final. 

How do you rate your chances against Palace?
Stephen: The circumstances that saw us reach the final is just what our team needed after we missed out on automatic promotion on the final day against Leeds, and with renewed confidence and the squad absolutely buzzing I think we have a great chance. If we play the game, not the occasion, and play the football we are capable of we will win the game, I have no doubt. 


Predicted line-up?
Stephen: (3-5-2) Almunia; Doyley, Ekstrand, Cassetti; Anya, Hogg, Abdi, Chalobah. Pudil; Deeney, Vydra.

Stephen's score prediction:

Watford 3-0 Crystal Palace

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League One play-off final preview: Brentford v Yeovil Town

From League Two to League One and the play-off final this year will be between Brentford and Yeovil Town on Sunday 19th May. Last season's final was a nail biter as Huddersfield narrowly edged out Sheffield United on penalties to gain promotion to the Championship. This season two sides many might not have expected to make it to Wembley, particularly Yeovil Town who were favourites to go down at the beginning of the season.

Yeovil Town:
Under Gary Johnson, Yeovil Town upset the applecart by making the play-offs this season despite being favourites to take the drop at the beginning of the year. Finishing in fourth in the league, Yeovil came from a 1-0 deficit in the first leg of the play-off semi final against Sheffield United to win the tie 2-1 thanks to a 2-0 victory at Huish Park in the second leg of the tie. Johnson was appointed manager of Yeovil during January of last season, and having kept them in the division, now find themselves 90 minutes from the Championship. Johnson is in his second spell as Yeovil boss and it was him that took them from the non-league to the Football League back in 2003. The season after, Yeovil reached League One, again under the management of Johnson. The last time Yeovil were at Wembley was back in 2005/06 playing in the League One play-off final where they were beaten 2-0 by Blackpool.

Brentford:
It has been quite an eventful season with Brentford, missing out on automatic promotion on the last day of the season, as well as taking Chelsea to a replay in the FA Cup. The Bees have been in League One for four seasons now and having missed out on the play-offs in the previous two seasons, now find themselves within an arms length of the Championship.

We spoke to Brentford fan Adam Rosario (@poeticjustice92) on his team's chances next weekend.

First of all Adam, how is your health after the semi final against Swindon? Must have been quite a drama for a Brentford fan?
Adam: Being a Brentford fan for many, many years, I've seen us come close, and always somehow lose in the face of glory. Sunday, showed that we've turned the corner finally. The players love taking the fans on a rollercoaster of emotion, as we went through apprehension, elation, despair and elation again, all in approximately two hours! It's a relief especially after the game against Doncaster, we've got the best squad in the play-offs and we should already be promoted, so it's rewards in my honest opinion.

After the drama of Swindon and of course Doncaster, how much would it mean to see Brentford get promotion?
Adam: It would probably be the highlight of my fandom. Being a fan for the past 13 years, I've seen us have big upsets, and some very low lows. In the past, I've witnessed Brentford turning over Sunderland in the FA Cup, beat Everton on penalties in the League Cup, and take Chelsea to a replay earlier this season in the FA Cup. I've also seen us lose at Wembley, so if we were to win it, the players would be rewarding all of the loyal fans for what we have had to endure. A crazy 16 seconds last Saturday cost us a place in the Championship, and this season has proven that we deserve to be there.

Going back to Doncaster, describe your feelings in those last minutes of the game?
Adam: Unfortunately I wasn't in attendance for the game, but when it was announced on Sky Sports that we had a penalty, my first reaction was 'we've missed this'. When Marcello Trotta was announced as the man to take it, my reaction was we've really missed this!'. And then we all know what happened afterwards. I was confused to why Trotta had taken the penalty to be honest. I felt the only man who should be able to miss a penalty to take us up was Brentford stalwart Kevin O'Connor. So in the end I was distraught and confused, but not overly surprised at the result.

How do you see your chances against Yeovil in the final?
Adam: I feel that we will go into the match as favourites to be perfectly honest. we've lost the least amount of games in the league this year and boast the best home record too, the stats don't lie. Wembley is six miles away from us, so effectively we are at home for this match. The main problem will be whether the team get swallowed up by the size of Wembley and the whole occasion. As long as we get the ball down and play our game, we will be fine.

Yeovil beat you home and away this season, do you think this matters going into the game?
Adam: Not at all. This team has a spirit, desire and mentality which is screaming for the Championship. Uwe Rosler has instilled a sense of never say die in the team and the fans. As shown with late goals throughout the season, like against Portsmouth, Sheffield United, and Swindon in the first leg, Rosler has a team which plays for him and plays to the whistle for him and the fans. Rosler declared that the fans were the most important part of the play-offs as we can be the 12th man and give the players a boost when it’s needed. This is a cup final, all other games and results mean nothing even if we’ve been the best team at home. The players have the mentality, the spirit and the manager to complete the fairytale season we’ve had. If you had offered us this position at the start of last season, all the fans would’ve taken it.

Harry Forrester
Picture: london24.com

Who is the one player to look out for Brentford?
Adam: I'm going to cheat for this and pick a player out for each position!
GK: Simon Moore has been a revelation in goal, quick and commanding in the air, he’s been linked with Manchester United and deservedly so. He’ll be a key part of the machine if we do go up, as he is one for the future.
DF: In defence, the vice captain for the year, Harlee Dean. Joining after a spell on loan from Southampton, he’s been a leader when we’ve needed him. At 21, he’s got time on his side, and would not look out of place in the Premier League with a show-stealing performance against Chelsea this year, making him one to watch.
MF: Midfield maestro, and one of the best young players in the league, Adam Forshaw scored the winning penalty and had a match to remember in the semi final. Two-footed, calm, and with a great footballing brain, Forshaw can mix it with the best, and he’s one of the first names on the team sheet, with the eye for the killer pass and link up play to match.
FW: In my opinion, our best player this season, has been the forward, Harry Forrester. The boy can play, and he’s shown it this year. Joining Brentford after a trial at Ajax, in which he scored a hat trick in a reserve game, he’s had to wait for his chance and this year he has shown why he’s so highly rated in the league. Small in stature, but stamina, pace, two feet, tricks, set pieces, and a great shot, all point towards our talisman. Even if he starts on the bench, he can change any game he wants and we wouldn’t be here now without him.

What do you think has been the key to your successful season having missed out on the play-offs in the last couple of years?
Adam: Quite simply, Uwe Rosler. He’s come in with new ideas, a clear goal and he commands the respect of the players. He galvanises the team, even when we score. He’ll grab a player and tell them what they’re doing wrong and to filter in tactics. He’s always turned on, and is a great tactician. He knows when to switch game plans, and as I’ve stated, he’s got the spirit of never say die into the team. He likes to play positive free flowing football but doesn’t like to restrict the players to their positions, as seen with Forrester, who has been given a free role to move where he wants and where he feels he will make the most contribution.

Predicted line up for?
Adam: Moore; Logan, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Forshaw, Diagouraga, Adeyami, Forrester; Donaldson, Wright-Phillips.
Subs: Gounet (GK); O'Connor, Hodson, Douglas, Saunders, El Alagui, Trotta
* Adeyemi suffered a shoulder injury in the semi final which may rule him out, so if that is the case I think Saunders will replace him,

Adam's score prediction: 

Brentford to win 2-1, although penalties wouldn't be a surprise! 

Yeovil Town v Brentford will be shown live on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday 19th May from 13:00. 

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League Two play-off final preview: Bradford City v Northampton Town

With the Football League season only finishing a couple weeks ago, there are still promotion places to settle through the play-offs. The League Two play-off final is the first to take to the Wembley turf on Saturday 18th May, which will see Bradford City take on Northampton Town for the right to play in League One next season.

Bradford City:
Bradford find themselves visiting Wembley for the second time this season. The last visit was one to remember and forget for the Bantams as they were beaten 5-0 by Swansea in the Captial One Cup final. If they were to secure promotion as well this season, then it would have been an extraordinary season for them. Their run in the Capital One Cup saw them overcome Premier League opposition in both Arsenal and Aston Villa. Phil Parkinson's men came from a goal down in the play-off semi final eventually winning 5-4 on aggregate against Burton Albion. Having been 3-2 down from the first leg, City won 3-1 at the Pirelli to make the final. Once of the Premier League, Bradford have been in League Two since the 2007 season and will want to start making a return up the leagues with victory over Northampton come the 18th May.

Northampton Town:
The Cobblers find themselves 90 minutes away from a possible return to League One for the first time since 2009. Under the management of Aidy Boothroyd, Northampton have gone from narrowly avoiding relegation last year, to a top six finish this year. Beating Cheltenham over two legs in the semi finals, Town ended a poor run of form having only won one of their six games played in April. Northampton hadn't had much luck previously in the play-offs with defeats in 2003/04 to Mansfield and then again the following season to Southend United.

We spoke to Cobblers fan of 13 years Ashley Lambell (@ashlambell) about his side's chances in the final and his views on the season just gone.

What does it feel like to be 90 minutes away from promotion and League One?
Ashley: The prospect of local derbies against Peterborough and MK Dons as well as potential games against Wolves, Sheffield United and Coventry means that everyone associated with Northampton Town is really excited for this game!

Where does reaching the play-off final rank in the club's history?
Ashley: The play-off final will be another great moment in the history alongside the two previous visits to Wembley in the 1990s and the Carling Cup victory against Liverpool. Definitely in the top five I would say.

What do you think has been the key to your successful season having narrowly avoided relegation last season?
Ashley: We've looked a better team unit this season rather than a bunch of talented individuals thrown together. Aidy Boothroyd has instilled a real togetherness in the squad and the football club, and the players seem to believe that anything is possible this season.

How much of a threat are Bradford City, and is there a stand out player for them you are worried about?
Ashley: Bradford are a tough team and certainly won't be an easy game for us, especially as they've been to Wembley already this season. Nakhi Wells always has a great goalscoring record against us, and we will need to be wary of his sharpness and finishing on the day.

You drew and lost against Bradford in the league this season, do you think this matters going into the final?
Ashley: I don't think it does. We finished higher than Bradford in the league table and to me, that is a more accurate reflection of the season the two teams have had. Cheltenham had beaten us twice in the league before the play-off semi-final but we saw them off quite comfortably so there is no reason why we can't do the same again.

Which player should we watch out for Northampton Town?
Ashley: Everyone will, of course, look out for 'Bayo Akinfenwa' but I would say Chris Hackett is our stand out player. With his devastating mix of pace, power and clinical finishing, he is a winger to be feared and with the large pitch at Wembley, he could be a match-winner.

Chris Hackett
Picture: northamptonchron.co.uk

Going onto Akinfenwa, he has had an excellent season for you, how important is it for him to be on his game in the final?

Ashley: Massively important. When Bayo has his 'beastmode' switched on, he is almost impossible to handle and we certainly look a much better outfit when he performs well. Hopefully his experience of playing in a final before, for Swansea, will come in useful next weekend.

Finally, will you be making the trip to Wembley?
Ashley: I definitely will be! It's going to be a massive day for the club, and proof of just how far we have progressed in the last 18 months.

Predicted line up: 
Ashley: Nicholls; Tozer, Carlisle, Langmead, Collins; Demontagnac, Guttridge, Harding, Hackett; O'Donovan, Akinfenwa

Ashley's score prediction: 

Bradford 1-2 Northampton Town

Bradford City v Northampton Town will be shown live on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday 18th May from 13:00. 

FA Cup Final Preview: Man City v Wigan Athletic

It's that time of the year again when silverware is decided, memories are made and every decision is critical. This Saturday evening sees the FA Cup Final which will be contested between former Premier League champions Manchester City and fellow top flight side Wigan Athletic. It has been an interesting season for both clubs with this final meaning something different for both clubs. Manchester City look likely to finish second this season having missed out on the title to rivals United, while opponents Wigan are attempting another miraculous escape from the league's relegation zone.

Man City:

picture: mcfc.co.uk

Having missed out on the Premier League, Roberto Mancini will be desperate to win the FA Cup and take a piece of silverware back to the Etihad. His men have now made the final for the second time in three seasons after they beat Stoke at Wembley two years ago thanks to a Yaya Toure goal. City reached the final this year thanks to a 2-1 victory in the semi finals over Chelsea with goals from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero. But it is Carlos Tevez who leads the scoring charts for City this season, and is the top scorer in this competition for the blues with five goals. Goals have been hard to come by this year for City though, and this hasn't been helped with the injuries to Aguero and playmaker David Silva. City will be strong favourites to win the final but these two met just a few weeks ago in the league where City scraped a 1-0 home win. Second choice goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon has played in every round of the competition this season conceding just the once and Mancini is likely to keep faith with him by using him this weekend. The Romanian was a star performer in the semi final against Chelsea making a number of good saves.

One to watch: Carlos Tevez
Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez has been one of the stand out players for City this season. With 17 goals this season he leads the goalscoring charts for the club. His goal was enough to separate City and Wigan when they met a few weeks ago at the Etihad.  The forward has excellent vision and although he is well known to play up front, he is more than capable to drop off and create chances as an attacking midfielder. Tevez expressed his desire to leave at the end of the season recently to Argentinian TV, and a win on Saturday maybe the perfect send off for him.

Wigan Athletic:

picture: gettyimages

The Lactics are in yet another relegation battle this season. Despite this, Roberto Martinez's side have had quite a run in this year's competition which included a 3-0 away win at Everton. It was Millwall who Wigan defeated in the semi final with the Premier League side winning comfortably 2-0 with goals from Arouna Kone and Callum McManaman. It is the latter though that has gathered attention this season both good and bad. The youngster has been in fine form this season and has three goals in this season's FA Cup. As well as Millwall, the winger scored against Huddersfield and Everton and is very likely to be in the starting eleven at the weekend. The final has come at a very busy time for the Lancashire club as they play three games in a week. With victory over West Brom at the weekend, they host Swansea mid week before making the journey to Wembley on Saturday. Martinez will be desperate to avoid repeating Birmingham City, who in 2011, won the Carling Cup and then were relegated in the same season.

One to watch: Shaun Maloney
Scottish playmaker Maloney has been one of the star performers for Wigan this season without a doubt. The Scotsman has been involved in several key moments for them this season including a stand out performance in the recent away win at West Brom. His last minute free kick against QPR may also prove vital if Wigan are to stay up this season. Maloney's good form this season may see him leave at the end of the season with boss Martinez resigning to the fact this is very possible. His quick feet and pace is a pain for defenders and alongside his excellent set pieces, Maloney will have to be on top of his game if Wigan are to pull off a shock this Saturday.

Prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Wigan Athletic

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FA Cup Semi Finals: Preview

It's been a while since I have posted anything on here but despite this I shall be posting more regularly in the coming weeks and months as we come to the end of the season.

It's FA Cup weekend today as we see the semi finals of the competition take place at Wembley. There has been questions thrown into the mix recently into whether the semi finals should be played at Wembley or not. In previous years they have taken place at Villa Park and Old Trafford which seems logical and also means for fans there would be just the one trip to Wembley being the final. However now fans will go to Wembley twice within the space of a month or so and asks the question whether it takes away the excitement of going to the home of English football.

However moving on from that, the two semi finals see three Premier League sides and one Championship team take to the field in the battle for a place in the final. Winners from last season's competition, Chelsea, face fellow Premiership side Manchester City while Wigan Athletic take on Millwall in the first of the semi finals.

1# Wigan Athletic v Millwall

picture: the guardian.co.uk

Top flight side Wigan stunned everyone in their quarter final tie this year as they produced an excellent first half display to dispose of Everton at Goodison Park. Despite this they face themselves in yet another relegation fight in the league. The Premier League team will go into the tie as understandable favourites as they continue their cup journey. Roberto Martinez's side overcame Bournemouth, Macclesfield, Huddersfield and Everton to get here and will continue to rely on Jordi Gomez for the goals. The Spanish midfielder is their top scorer this season in the competition with three and alongside Arouna Kone the pair are a real threat. They come up against Championship side Millwall who are playing their second cup semi final in nine years. Kenny Jackett's men have only let one goal in, in their cup run this year and have kept clean sheets in their previous three games. They surprised everyone in the last round as they overcame Blackburn Rovers in a replay at Ewood Park thanks to a goal from Dan Shittu. Luton, Aston Villa and Preston have also fell victim to the London side in this year's competition. This tie will be the 23rd competitive meeting between the sides with Millwall winning nine and Wigan winning just the six.

Prediction: Wigan 2-0 Millwall

2# Chelsea v Manchester City

picture: bbc.co.uk

In this all Premier League tie winners of the competition last season Chelsea come up against Premier League champions Manchester City. It has been an interesting season for Chelsea as they find themselves in two semi finals and fighting for a Champions League place. Despite fans unrest with interim Rafa Benitez, the Spaniard has guided the side to semi final places in the FA Cup and Europa League. Manchester City came out on top in the Manchester derby on Monday at Old Trafford and with the title race all but over, they will want the FA Cup to be coming back to the Etihad. Roberto Mancini's men have had a relatively simple journey to the semi finals knocking out Barnsley, Leeds, Watford and Stoke scoring 13 goals and not conceding one. Having knocked Manchester United out in the last round, Chelsea will fancy their chances against City despite failing to beat them in three encounters this season. Manchester City came out on top in the Community Shield game at the beginning of the season as well as the league game at the Etihad. The two played a goal less draw at Stamford Bridge though back in November. 

Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Manchester City

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FA Cup Quarter Finals: Preview

As the season begins to get to the end, we focus on the quarter finals of the FA Cup this weekend. Only recently we saw the first piece of silverware won this season with Swansea beating Bradford 5-0 in the Capital One Cup final last month. The winners of the four FA Cup games will see them play at Wembley in the semi finals. There are three Championship sides and five Premier League teams battling it out for these places as we preview the four ties.

1# Manchester United v Chelsea

picture: chelseafc.tv

The cup so far has seen the big sides in the Premier League avoid each other up until now. The two teams faced each other in the Capital One Cup this season which saw a cracking game see Chelsea come out winners 5-4 after extra time. Both teams were involved in European action in the week but will both be determined to progress to the semi finals. Chelsea were the winners of the competition last season under Di Matteo beating Liverpool, while United have not won the competition since 2005. Victory for Chelsea would relieve some pressure under interim boss Rafa Benitez but at Old Trafford, a victory will be a massive task for the blues. United will look towards dutch maestro Van Persie for inspiration and goals as he looks to add to his goal tally this season.

Prediction: Man United 2-1 Chelsea

2# Manchester City v Barnsley

Barnsley will look to cause an FA Cup shock as they travel to the English champions. Having had an excellent run in the competition this season, the Championship side will want a repeat of their cup run of 2008 where they beat Chelsea at the same stage. City have had a relatively simple route to the quarter finals this season and will expect to get past their opponents. They will be without Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero but will still be expected to put out a strong side that will aim to repeat the club's success in the competition two seasons ago. As the league looks out of their grasp, Roberto Mancini's only other chance of silverware comes in the cup. The most recent tie between the clubs came in 2004 where City handsomely beat Barnsley 7-1 in the League Cup.

Prediction: Man City 3-0 Barnsley

3# Millwall v Blackburn Rovers

picture: bbc.co.uk

In the all Championship affair, the chance of a semi final place for both clubs will is massive. Had these respected clubs lost their fifth round ties then this hame would have seen non-league Luton host Premier League Arsenal. Instead Millwall produced a professional display to get past Luton while Blackburn were involved in the tie of the round as they beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates. Rovers under Michael Appleton have not won any of their five games in the league since the shock win having lost four and drawn one,. In the only league game between the two this season, Millwall were the winners as they beat Blackburn 2-0 at Ewood Park back in November. 

Prediction: Millwall 2-2 Blackburn

4# Everton v Wigan Athletic

In the opening cup game of the weekend, these two Premier League sides will battle it out for a place at Wembley. In the previous round, Everton needed a replay to dispatch of League One side Oldham, while Wigan comfortably saw of Championship side Huddersfield 4-1. Wigan will play their second game against a Merseyside club this week having played Liverpool at home in the league last Saturday where they were thumped 4-0. Everton going well in the league, reached the semi finals last season, but came out second best as they were beaten by city rivals Liverpool. This is the 18th meeting in all competitions between the clubs. The last time Wigan beat Everton at Goodison Park was back in 2005 when they won 1-0 in a league game. 

Prediction: Everton 2-0 Wigan Athletic

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Capital One Cup Final: Bradford City 0-5 Swansea City

Swansea City secured their first trophy in 101 years as they ended Bradford City's fairy tale with a comfortable 5-0 at Wembley. 

Double strikes from Nathan Dyer and Jonathan de Guzman and a goal from Michu was enough to get past the valiant efforts of Bradford who had keeper Matt Duke sent off in the second half. 

It was clear that Swansea meant business early on as they dominated possession swiftly moving the ball around and it was the Welsh side that opened the scoring. 

After breaking from their own half, Michu received the ball on the left side of the Bradford box which saw his shot palmed by keeper Matt Duke only to see Nathan Dyer race in to slide the rebound home. 

The League Two were struggling to create anything at the other end and would have been happy to have gone in at half time only a goal down. But five minutes before half time Swansea doubled their lead with a well taken finish from Michu.

picture: sky sports

The tie was all but over minutes after the restart as Swansea added a third through Dyer again. The winger received the ball in the Bradford box and cut in on his left foot, before slotting past the despairing Duke in goal. 

With the tie all but over, things went from bad to worse for the League Two side as they were reduced to ten men. Neat play around the Bradford box from Swansea, saw De Guzman receive the ball in the six yard box and after going round the grounded Duke, was cynically tripped by the keeper.

Referee Kevin Friend had little choice but to send the keeper off after denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. As Bradford arranged for their replacement keeper to come on, comedy broke out in the Swansea ranks as De Guzman and two goal Nathan Dyer argued over who was taking the spot kick.

Despite Dyer being on a hat trick, it was De Guzman who stepped up to convert the kick past substitute keeper Jon McLaughlin. 

De Guzman added his second and Swansea's fifth late on as he bundled home from close range to leave Swansea celebrating an historic moment in the club's history.

Despite being thrashed, Bradford fans continued to applaud their side after the game, and rightly so as they can look back on a memorable campaign. However focus is now back to the league as they battle for promotion.

Teams:

Bradford City: Duke, Darby, McHugh, McArdle, Good (Davies 46'), Thompson (Hines 73'), Atkinson, Jones, Doyle, Hanson, Wells (McLaughlin 57')

Swansea City: Tremmel, Williams, Rangel, Davies (Tiendalli 84'), Britton, Michu, Pablo, Dyer (Lamah 77'), Routledge, De Guzman, Ki Sung-Yeung (Monk 62')

Goals: Dyer 16', 47' De Guzman 59' pen, 90' Michu: 40'

Referee: Kevin Friend 

Att: 82,597

Capital One Cup Final Preview: Bradford City v Swansea City

The first final of the season has arrived and what a game we are in for. League Two side Bradford City play Swansea City from the Premier League in a must watch encounter. For both teams it is the biggest game in the club's history which sees both teams play each other for the first time in a cup competition. The last four encounters between the clubs have all come in League One with three of them being draws with one Swansea win. The winners of the final will earn a place in the Europa League however it has already been said that if Bradford are to win the final, they will turn down the opportunity to play in Europe next season.

Bradford City:

picture: the sun.co.uk

It is the stuff of fairytales. Bradford City of League Two have had an incredible run in this years competition. In getting to Wembley they beat Wigan Athletic and Arsenal in a penalty shoot outs, before dumping Aston Villa out over two legs in the semi finals. If they are to produce yet another Premier League scalp, then it may have to be in extra time or in a penalty shootout. Phil Parkinson's side have won their last nine penalty shoot outs and will be strong favourites if the game is to go the distance. Their incredible run has seen £1million generated for the club and the game and experience will sure to be a great day for the club and fans. Set pieces will be key on the day having scored three of their four goals against Villa from corners and free kicks. Frontman James Hanson caused all sorts of problems for Villa and again on his day could cause havoc for the Swansea back line. They may have shown grit and desire in the previous rounds but the main question is whether the occasion and being at Wembley will overwhelm them.

Swansea City:

picture: independent.co.uk 

In his first season as Swansea boss, Michael Laudrup has the chance to create history at the Welsh club. His side will go into the game as strong favourites and will have to put in a professional performance to avoid any other result. Only in their second season in the top flight, Swansea have come a long way in a short time and again have shown this season they are now an established Premier League side. Swansea's last appearance at Wembley came in 2011 when they beat Reading 4-2 in the Championship play-off final. That victory came under former manager Brendan Rogers whose new club Liverpool was one of the sides Swansea beat to reach the Capital One Cup final. Striker and main man Michu has undeniably been the star for them this season and for £2million right now is the bargain of the season.

Match Prediction:
On their day, a win for Bradford is of course very possible. We saw last year Cardiff run eventual winners Liverpool to the end. However a professional display and no complacency from Swansea will see them go back to Wales as winners of the competition. Everyone other than Swansea fans will be routing for Bradford City to cause an upset and what a story it will be for them if it happens. However I can't see past a Swansea win with the occasion possibly being too much for Bradford.

Prediction: Bradford 1-3 Swansea City

FA Cup Fourth Round: Ones to watch

Having witnessed a number of shocks in the third round, the FA Cup makes it's appearance again this weekend. The last round saw non-league sides Luton Town and Macclesfield fly the flag with shock victories over Wolves and Cardiff respectively. The last round also saw just the one Premier League side knocked out by lower league opposition. Newcastle United fell to Championship side Brighton at the AMEX which saw them continue their poor form this season.

#1 Brentford v Chelsea

picture: hounslowchronicle.co.uk

After being knocked out of the Capital One Cup semi finals this week, Chelsea will want a similar run in the FA Cup. The Premier League side are the current holders of the competition having beaten Liverpool in the final last season. Rafa Benitez has had a mixed spell as interim manager with defeats at home to Swansea in the cup, and to QPR in the league. Benitez will be expected to field a strong team that will be without Eden Hazard who got himself stupidly sent off against Swansea this week. The form of Fernando Torres continues with the striker failing to score since the 8-0 drubbing of Aston Villa in December. They come up against League One side Brentford who currently sit third in the table. The West London side have only lost once in the league since mid October, and have striker Clayton Donaldson to thank with the big man scoring 19 goals in all competitions for them this season. The former Crewe forward scored the winning goal in Brentford's third round replay against Southend.

Prediction: Brentford 1-4 Chelsea

#2 Norwich City v Luton Town

Non-league side Luton Town disposed of Championship side Wolves in the last round, resulting in the Midland's boss then being sacked. The current Conference side are currently battling for promotion from the top tier of non-league football having missed out narrowly in the play offs last season. Paul Buckle's men have a number of games in hand over their play off rivals and will certainly take pleasure in travelling to Premier League side Norwich City this weekend. The Canaries comfortably overcame Peterborough United in the last round beating the Championship side 3-0 at London Road. Chris Hughton's men have since been struggling in the league having not produced a win since 15th Dec where they beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 at home. Goals have been a problem this season, with Robert Snodgrass their top scorer with five goals. Norwich have only reached the fifth round once in the last four seasons, where they lost to Leicester City last season. 

Prediction: Norwich City 3-0 Luton Town

#3 Oldham Athletic v Liverpool

These two sides met in the competition last year in the third round, where Liverpool came out comfortable 5-1 winners. The Premier League side went on to the final last year ending up as runners up to Chelsea. Oldham currently sit 19th in League One fighting a relegation battle so a big FA Cup game has come as a useful distraction for the club and the fans. Striker Jose Baxter will certainly be looking forward to the game as a former Everton player and with 11 goals to his name this season, the forward will fancy himself to get on the scoresheet. Brendan Rogers' Liverpool will once again look for another cup run having won the competition seven times. Rogers' team currently sit in seventh place in the Premier League and have certainly improved over the season. New January signing Daniel Sturridge could not have asked for a better start to his Liverpool career having netted in each of is three appearances for the reds. The former Chelsea man has struck up an excellent partnership with Luis Suarez with the Uruguayan man who has 20 goals to his name this season. 

Prediction: Oldham Athetic 0-2 Liverpool

#4 Brighton v Arsenal

picture: telegraph.co.uk

Brighton reached this stage last season beating Newcastle United at home. The Championship side went on to the fifth round where they were beaten by Liverpool. Gus Poyet's men beat Newcastle again this year in the last round where they secured a home tie against Premier League giants Arsenal. The Championship side are again enjoying another season in the second tier of English football as they fight for a play off place. Striker Craig Mackail Smith is once again proving what a top player he is at this level with 11 goals this season to his name. Arsenal will not find it easy getting to the fifth round. Despite a 5-1 thumping of West Ham in the week, Arsene Wenger's side have been very inconsistent this season. They needed a replay to get past Swansea in the last round and had Jack Wilshere to thank for his late winner. The midfielder has been a much needed return for the Gunners as they aim to secure a Champions League place in the league. 

Prediction Brighton 1-2 Arsenal

#5 Macclesfield Town v Wigan Athletic

Having knocked out Cardiff City in the last round, non-league side Macclesfield Town will be looking for a similar result, this time against Premier League opposition. Two goals in the space of three minutes saw the shock of the round as high flying Cardiff City were dumped out of the cup. Striker Matthew Barnes-Homer is one to watch with the striker having scored 20 goals this season. The Conference side sit ninth in the league as they aim to get back into the football league. They come up against Wigan Athletic who needed a replay to get passed Bournemouth in the third round. Roberto Martinez's side will hope to avoid another cup upset as they were beaten by League One side Swindon in last year's third round. Wigan are again fighting another relegation battle in the Premier League, and a cup run for the Lancashire side would do no harm at all. Watch out for this game as another cup upset  is more than possible in this fixture.

 Prediction: Macclesfield 1-0 Wigan Athletic

Other fourth round ties:

Millwall v Aston Villa (Prediction: 1-1)

Stoke v Man City (Prediction: 1-2)

Bolton v Everton (Prediction: 1-2)

Derby v Blackburn Rovers (Prediction: 2-2)

Huddersfield v Leicester City (Prediction: 0-2)

Hull v Barnsley (Prediction: 0-1)

Middlesbrough v Aldershot (Prediction: 3-0)

QPR v MK Dons (Prediction: 2-0)

Reading v Sheff Utd (Prediction: 2-1)

Man Utd v Fulham (Prediction: 3-0)

Leeds Utd v Tottenham (Prediction: 1-2)

Capital One Cup: Semi final previews

Having witnessed a busy Christmas period in the football calendar, attention turns to the Capital Once Cup and the semi finals which sees Bradford City within 180 minutes of a Wembley appearance. Their shock penalty shoot out victory over Arsenal in the quarter finals stunned the football world as they embarrassed a full strength Arsenal team. The League Two side will face Aston Villa in the semi finals, whilst in the other semi, Swansea will face Chelsea.

#1 Bradford City v Aston Villa

picture: mirror.co.uk

League Two Bradford City's appearance in the semi finals sees them as the first team from the bottom tier of the Football League to play in the semis since Wycombe Wanderers back in 2006/07. Their penalty shoot out win over Arsenal was their ninth consecutive penalty shoot out victory on the bounce. The first leg will be played at Valley Parade in Bradford where they will look to try and gain an early advantage over their Premier League opponents. Villa will be pleased to have a distraction from the league having lost the last three games conceding 15 goals. Paul Lambert's side had surprisingly beaten Liverpool away from home before losing consecutive games to Chelsea, Spurs and Wigan. They made it to the semis having beaten Lambert's former side Norwich City 4-1 away from home. They have won five league cups, the last victory coming back in 1996.

#2 Swansea City v Chelsea

picture: independent.co.uk

Chelsea romped to a 5-1 victory in the quarter finals at Leeds and will be strong favourites to make the final at Wembley. Interim boss Rafael Benitez has guided the team to an unbeaten run in December which sees his side sit third in the table. Chelsea will be looking at adding another trophy to their collection after a double triumph last season with FA Cup and Champions League final victories. Striker Fernando Torres has begun to find some old form scoring 14 goals in all competitions so far this season. Opponents Swansea overcame Middlesbrough in the quarter finals and have also beaten Liverpool in the competition too, beating former manager Brendan Rogers' side 3-1 at Anfield. New man at the helm Michael Laudrup has guided the Welsh side to their first cup semi final in the history of the club, having experienced an excellent first few months in his role. New man up top, Michu, has been a brilliant acquisition firing in 14 goals in all competitions so far this season.

The two legs for both games will be played in the week of the 7th January and the 21st January.

What a hit! Some of football's great strikes

Having witnessed an unbelievable overhead kick from Zlatan Ibrahimovich this week for Sweden, we have put together a few of the best goals scored in England or by English players over the past few years. Enjoy!

1. Joe Cole v Sweden (WC 2006)
Joe Cole scored a sensational volley against Sweden in England's final group game of the World Cup in Germany. Cole took the ball on his chest and volleyed home superbly from 35 yards to give England a lead after 32 minutes. The game went onto finish 2-2 with Steven Gerrard scoring the other goal for England. The draw meant England progressed through to the round of 16 where they played Ecuador.

2. Peter Crouch v Man City (24/03/12)

Peter Crouch scored a stunning volley in the Premier League clash between Stoke and Manchester City last season. Crouch received the ball from Pennant on the right side of the box and expertly volleyed the ball over Joe Hart into the far side of the net.

3. Papiss Cisse v Chelsea (02/05/12)
Newcastle centre forward Papiss Cisse scored a wonderful half volley against Chelsea as his two goals meant Newcastle recorded a rare away win at Stamford Bridge. The Senegal striker collected the ball from a Demba Ba header and half volleyed home from the left edge of the box, watching the ball loop over Petr Cech and in off the bar for one of the goals of the season. 

4. Steven Gerrard v Middlesbrough (30/04/05)

Steven Gerrard has scored many a screamer but not many better than his wonderful volley against Middlesbrough. Gerrard received the ball from John Arne Riise 40 yards from goal, and after taking the ball down and letting it bounce twice, Gerrard struck an amazing strike that swerved into the top left corner of the goal. 2005 turned out to be an excellent season for the Liverpool skipper as he captained his side to Champions League glory.

5. George Boyd v Huddersfield (23/10/12)
Peterborough United's George Boyd scored a stunning 50 yard effort this season in a 3-1 home win against Huddersfield. Boyd received the ball in the centre circle and unleashed a stunning hit that looped over the Huddersfield keeper to score one of the current goals of the season. 

2012/13: League One & Two season previews

picture: stevesfootballstats.co.uk

League One was won by Charlton Athletic last season by a massive 8 points. They achieved automatic promotion along with Sheffield Wednesday who pipped rivals Sheffield United to second place. United had go through the play offs where they were cruelly beaten on penalties to Huddersfield in the final. Along with Sheffield United, Stevenage and MK Dons were the unfortunate teams to fall short in the play offs and remained in League One. MK Dons will once again be favourites for a top six finish having finished there in the past two seasons. Relegated from the Championship were Coventry, Doncaster and Portsmouth, who will start the season with minus ten points having entered administration.

Pompey have had to clear out their squad to remain in existence and the deduction at the beginning of the season makes them strong favourites to drop another division once again. Manager Michael Appleton has done a sterling job and through fielding youth team players, he has managed to put some sort of squad together for their pre-season.

Coventry will be favourites for a return to the second tier of English football, and will be joined by Paolo Di Canio’s Swindon Town who won League Two last year. The Italian has a squad filled with quality with the likes of Matt Ritchie and Paul Caddis who have remained with the club over the transfer period.  Along with Swindon, Shrewsbury and Crawley Town were the other two sides to achieve automatic promotion. Crewe were the fourth and final team to achieve promotion via the play offs. They went 19 games unbeaten to reach the play offs, and with the summer signing of creative midfielder Abdul Osman, they will be looking for a good finish in the league.

The relegation battle last season saw Leyton Orient narrowly escape along with Walsall who finished 20^th and 19^th respectively. These sides will want to get off to a good start to the season to avoid another battle at the bottom. Yeovil Town are another team who will be favourites to take the drop, but will go into this season playing their eighth successive campaign in the third tier of football.

picture: ftfcphotos.com

Moving onto League Two, we welcome Fleetwood Town and York City, who achieved promotion from the Blue Square Premier League last season.  Despite it being their debut season in the Football League Fleetwood lead the way along with Southend and Cheltenham for automatic promotion. Bradford City are another side who may fancy their chances, but will need to get off to a great start if they are to be challenging anywhere near the top of the division. Manager Phil Parkinson has brought in a number of players including Gary Jones from Rochdale signalling that his side mean business this year. Don’t rule out the relegated sides from League One, as they will be desperate to make an immediate return. Wycombe, Rochdale, Chesterfield and Exeter City all struggled in League One last year and their poor form resulted in relegation. It has been a summer of change at Rochdale with John Coleman newly appointed as manager. He has made wholesale changes to the team and will want an instant return back to League One.

Oxford United fell away near the end of last season and missed out on a play off place. The team suffered with some rotten injury luck last season, with the club investing £150,000 in a new fitness and sports science department. Manager Chris Wilder has added some new faces to the squad and fans will want at least a play-off place by the end of the season. The battle for the drop was hotly contested last season and saw Hereford Town and Macclesfield Town take the tumble out of the Football League. Barnet, Northampton Town and Plymouth were all amongst the teams that were lucky enough to keep their status. Once again, these teams will be amongst the favourites to fight out the relegation spots again.