Prediction Panel table: Spurs shake off Wigan defeat to close gap at top

Football . . .it’s a funny old game. I was expecting some big scores from our pundits this week as there were four seemingly nailed on home wins. However, while Chelsea beat Stoke City, Liverpool disposed of West Brom and Manchester United gave West Ham a hiding, Champions League new boys Tottenham ...

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Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City: Game has draw all over it

There are some games this weekend that seem like total home bankers – Chelsea v Stoke, Spurs v Wigan and Manchester United v West Ham – this game though, according to our Panel, seems like a stick on draw. Neither Bolton nor Birmingham have tasted defeat this season and they currently sit fifth and...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League quiz: Week Three

Some people think they know everything about football, well let’s see if they do. Here I have 10 questions which will separate the Spurs from the Young Boys. If you think you are clued up on the beautiful game then prove it. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: Who was the last player to be transferre...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Three – The Answers

Well, how did you get on? We’d love to hear from you. 1. Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal: David Bentley is the last player to have moved between the two sides. 2. Blackpool v Fulham: You could have said: Barry Hayles, Geoff Horsfield, Steve Finnan or Kit Symons. 3. Chelsea v Stoke City: Florent ...

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Prediction Panel Table: Wolves topple the Toffees

Wolverhampton Wanderers attracted a bit of criticism for their performance at Goodison Park on Saturday but their representative in our Prediction Panel, and current champion, has toppled the Toffees following another brilliant week. Chris Cox, the only pundit last week to predict that Chelsea woul...

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Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Away day pain again for Sam?

Birmingham City showed their resolve on the opening day of the season by coming back from two down at Sunderland to earn a draw. This weekend they entertain a Blackburn Rovers side that shocked most pundits by beating David Moyes’s Everton at Ewood Park. Sam Allardyce’s men do not have the best re...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Quiz: Week Two

It’s that time of the week again. Here is the latest batch of questions intended to leave you rooted to the spot like West Ham’s Robert Green! Last week’s questions were intentionally hard. This week we’ve lowered the mark a little but it’s still more taxing than your average GMTV phone-in. All the...

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Squarefootball's Premier League Quiz: Week Two - The Answers

Here are the answers to the second instalment of our quiz. 1. Arsenal v Blackpool: Alan Ball is the World Cup winner with links to both Arsenal and Blackpool. 2. Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Barry Ferguson is the former Rover who scored against Birmingham in 2003. 3. Everton v Wolves: ...

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Prediction Panel Standings: Toffees top the table

Everton may have lost their opening game against Blackburn Rovers but Toffees fan Chris Goodwin has given the blue half of Merseyside something to cheer by topping the Premier League Prediction Panel table. Mr Goodwin correctly predicted five correct results from the first weekend of top flight ac...

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Sunderland v Birmingham City: No Hart but Bramble gives Blues hope

Birmingham were one of the major surprises in the Premier League last season. Tipped by many to go down, Alex McLeish’s men finished the campaign in the top half thanks to an amazing 15 league and cup game unbeaten run. That stretch started with victory over the Black Cats at St Andrews in October a...

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Squarefootball’s Premier League Challenge: Week one

The new Premier League season kicks off this weekend and so does a new feature on squarefootball. Each Friday I’ll be testing your knowledge of the top flight clubs by posing you 10 questions relating to that weekend’s fixtures. There are no prizes on offer, only personal glory – we’re not made of m...

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Premier League Challenge answers: Week one

Here are the answers to the questions in our Premier League Challenge week one. 1. Tottenham v Manchester City: Joey Barton and David Sommeil were the goalscorers in City’s last league win at White Hart Lane. 2. Aston Villa v West Ham United: Marlon Harewood was the last player to have scored a ...

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Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers?

If everything I predicted 12 months ago came true I would be a very rich and happy man right now. Unfortunately Arsenal let me down in the league, West Ham failed me in the FA Cup and letting my heart rule my head in the SPL by putting £10 on my beloved Aberdeen to win the SPL really was a waste of ...

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Predictions: Who will be 2010/11’s main winners and losers Part 2

Well you’ve heard what our Panel members have had to say for themselves, now it’s time for the “experts” to have their say. We’ll start off with writer Hugh Larkin. He loves the underdog but he thinks Chelsea are just far too strong for anyone to cope with and thinks Arsenal and Spurs are going to...

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Fantasy football 2010/11 reminder

Do you think you can spend £100 million better than Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini? Do you think you could assemble a better squad than Spurs boss Harry Redknapp? Do you think you can guide your side to glory like Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti? If so then we want to hear from you. We at Squarefootba...

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Who Will Be Top Dogs In The Midlands?

Just a few years ago the Midlands representation in the Premiership was decimated leaving Aston Villa as the only real standard bearers for that part of the country. The East is still suffering but in 2010 the West is back with a vengeance. The traditional Big 4 of the West Midlands conurbation are...

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Squarefootball fantasy football invitation 2010/11

I saw more action and excitement this summer down at the mortuary than I did at the World Cup in South Africa. There was also a better atmosphere between me and my ex-girlfriend than there was inside the grounds, thanks to the constant drone of those awful vuvuzelas. And as for entertainment, I th...

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Get on side and sport your colours for Shelter this World Cup

In celebration of this years FIFA World Cup, housing and homelessness charity Shelter are teaming up with Nationwide Building Society, Official England Team sponsor, to launch their fantastic footy fundraiser, Strip4Shelter. Shelter is asking people across the country to replace their regular work ...

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Bolton Wanderers v Birmingham City: Scots square up at the Reebok

It’s the battle of the Scots again as Owen Coyle and Alex McLeish lock horns and both of them have enjoyed their time in the top flight this season. Owen Coyle worked miracles at Burnley before taking over the helm at struggling Bolton and has guided them to safety while Alex McLeish has led the Blu...

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Birmingham City v Burnley: Clarets seek a Blues double

There’s not a lot riding on this game; Birmingham are safe and Burnley are down, but the visitors will want to bow out of the Premier League with a double under their belt. The Clarets beat the Blues 2-1 back in October thanks to strikes from Steven Fletcher and Andre Bikey and they could beat Cit...

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Aston Villa vs Birmingham City: Villa eye fourth against fading Blues

With three games left a couple of wins for Villa have put them just three points adrift of fourth placed Tottenham. This game could be pivotal to Martin O'Neill's future and the destination of one or two star names in the summer - as a Champions' League campaign will feel like a late winner against...

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Birmingham City vs Hull City: Prediction panel

... preview to follow Birmingham City vs Hull City; Kick Off 3:00pm 17 Apr 2010 Prediction Panel Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf). Dave Blackburn : TBC Chris Cox : 2 - 1 Graham Enwright : TBC Sue Gardener : 2 - 2 Chris Goodwin : 2 - 1 Paul ...

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Manchester City v Birmingham City: No Hart, no points for the Blues

Manchester City absolutely annihilated relegation-threatened Burnley last weekend but they are sure to get a tougher game this afternoon against Alex McLeish’s Birmingham City. The men from St Andrews have built their season on a resolute backline but they will be missing one vital ingredient today ...

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Birmingham City v Liverpool: Blues out to thwart the Reds’ Champions League hopes

Liverpool turned on the style last weekend at Anfield against Sunderland to give their faint Champions League hopes a boost. This afternoon they travel to St Andrews though to take on a resilient Birmingham side that has the second best defensive record in the league at home and haven’t lost in fron...

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Birmingham City vs Arsenal: Gunners face true title test

Few teams get an easy ride against Birmingham and at St Andrews both Chelsea and Manchester United were lucky to escape with draws - Chelsea courtesy of a poor offside decision, United after a scrappy grind. So if Arsenal can win at Birmingham they will not only chalk off probably their hardest gam...

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Sunderland vs Birmingham City: Nailed on 1-1.

Sunderland's thumping 4-0 win over Bolton was the only win in the last six - but with four draws in the same time period, the north-east side is clearly scrapping its way back into some kind of form. Birmingham have scored just 30 times this season and yet managed to pick up 44 points (compared to ...

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Birmingham City v Everton: Toffees face a sticky trip to St Andrews

Birmingham City’s cup win at Goodison Park in January was their first win over the Toffees for almost six years but nobody would rule out their chances of making it two-in-a-row this afternoon. Alex McLeish’s men have only lost twice at St Andrews this season – their last defeat was against Bolton W...

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Portsmouth v Birmingham City: Grant targets repeat performance

Portsmouth have been in the doldrums all season but it was Birmingham City who left Fratton Park with the blues on Saturday in the FA Cup and Avram Grant will be hoping for a repeat performance tonight. A crucial second half brace from Frediric Piquionne booked cash-strapped Portsmouth’s place in t...

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Portsmouth v Birmingham: Blue day in store at Fratton Park

It’s amazing how far a club can fall in the space of two years. In 2008 Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City to lift only their second FA Cup and embarked on a European adventure. This season they are rooted to the foot of the Premier League having sold the majority of their star names, been placed in a...

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England: Who should Fabio choose as his No 1 for South Africa?

In less than 100 days the greatest show on earth kicks off in South Africa but England manager Fabio Capello still has major issues to resolve before he finalises on his squad who will be given the task of bringing the World Cup home. Who will fill the left-back role if Ashley Cole fails to recover ...

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Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic: McLeish seeks return to winning ways

Roberto Martinez just loves the Midlands. On two visits to the region this season he has left with maximum points. However, if he wants to make it a hat-trick of wins he must guide Wigan to their first win at St Andrews in their history. Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers have both succumbed t...

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Is Wayne Bridge right to turn his back on England?

Representing your country in the World Cup is supposed to be every footballer’s dream. Every one bar Wayne Bridge that is. The Manchester City left-back has kicked his international career into row Z due to the fall-out of John Terry’s alleged affair with his ex-girlfriend and mother of his children...

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Fulham v Birmingham City: Can the Blues break their capital hoodoo?

Lee Bowyer’s 16th minute goal at St Andrews was the difference between the two sides in November. Another three points for Alex McLeish’s side will hand the Blues their double over Fulham in the top flight since 1961. Both Fulham and Birmingham have surprised the pundits this season. Fulham were ex...

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Fulham v Birmingham City: Who’d make it into the ultimate starting XI?

Fulham and Birmingham City have been the surprise packages this season in the Premier League. Both sides were tipped to struggle to retain their Premier League status but here we are in the middle of February and both Roy Hodgson’s and Alex McLeish’s men are sitting pretty in the top half of the tab...

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Is the FA Cup heading back to the Midlands?

I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was 1987 and the sun shone on Wembley as unfancied Coventry City, managed by John Sillett and making their first ever appearance in an FA Cup Final, beat David Pleat’s Tottenham Hotspur in one of the most exciting finals ever. Coventry’s Keith Houchen’s fa...

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Birmingham City: Europe via the league or FA Cup glory – you decide?

I never thought I’d see the day that our Prime Minister would cry on national television nor did I think I’d ever see Burnley ply their trade in the Premier League and I certainly never thought I’d see Birmingham City sitting just seven points off a Champions League spot and in the quarter-finals of...

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West Ham United vs Birmingham City: West Ham players count the cost of owners remarks

West Ham's preparation for this match won't have been helped by the first shots in a cost reduction battle that the new owners insist will mean that everyone will need to take a pay cut at the club. How this will motivate the team against the new owners former club is open to question - but it will...

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Birmingham City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers: Prediction Panel 2009/10

With Spurs, Villa, Man City and Everton all slipping up Birmingham have a chance to close in on a top six finish against local rivals Wolves. For Wolves the Saturday games went badly, Hull and Burnley winning to move out of the bottom three and dump Wolves in it. Birmingham neither score nor conce...

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Birmingham City: Boyd or Pavlyuchenko? You decide!

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish has made no secret of his desire to bolster his striking options this month due to injuries to Cameron Jerome and Kevin Phillips and the two main names in the frame this transfer window have been Kris Boyd of Glasgow Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur’s Roman Pavlyuchenk...

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Birmingham City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Has the Blues bubble burst?

Eighth placed Birmingham take on fourth placed Tottenham in what promises to be a very tight match. The first defeat since October for Birmingham was a fairly comprehensive beating at Stamford Bridge; and there must be a suspicion that after such a long unbeaten run there could be a bad patch at so...

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Chelsea vs Birmingham City: Are Blues unbeatable?

Third placed Chelsea face an obdurate eighth placed Birmingham at Stamford Bridge. I reckon this is the first time that Chelsea have been as low as third since the league table settled down after three or four games, so the early return of Drogba and Kalou could offer the spark that Chelsea need to...

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Portsmouth v Birmingham City: Blues look to avoid slip up at crisis club

Birmingham City extended their amazing unbeaten record in the top flight to 12 last weekend by holding the champions Manchester United at St Andrews. This afternoon they travel to crisis-hit Portsmouth. Surely their remarkable run won’t come to a crashing end at Fratton Park? On current form it’s ...

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Alex McLeish Faces Tricky Decisions

At the highest level success brings both rewards and attendant problems. By guiding Birmingham City to their best-ever run in the top flight, Alex McLeish has given loyal Blues fans the best of Christmas/New Year presents- but hes raised expectation too. Since the takeover by Carson Yeung there has...

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Birmingham City vs Manchester United: Tight game in prospect

Eighth placed Birmingham City face second placed Manchester United in one of only two fixtures to survive today (so far). Birmingham City probably face Man United at a good time; United seem to be having a bit of a mid-season blip, their defence is below strength and the team is simply not creatin...

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Birmingham City transfer diary 21 December 2009 - 2 January 2010

Carson Yeung promised a transfer pot of £40m when he took over in the autumn - but that may have been the euphoria talking; Birmingham look good value to finish in the top half as things stand. If Yeung really wants to fund a push then with fourth place up for grabs would probably require a goalsco...

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Birmingham's Alex McLeish looks nailed on as manager of the month

Birmingham City's remarkable run of form is now the best at the club for over 100 years and seems sure to give Alex McLeish the manager of the month award. Arsene Wenger is the main competitor but although Arsenal have a similar league record in December (4 wins and a draw) they did lose twice in c...

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Stoke City v Birmingham City: Goals may be at a premium at the Britannia

Stoke City’s recent record against Birmingham City is about as embarrassing as my wife’s driving. The Potters have failed to score in their past six clashes with the Blues and includes a car crash of a result at the old Victoria Ground in 1998 when the Blues ran out 7-0 winners. Can the Staffordshir...

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Birmingham City v Chelsea: Will it be a Blue Christmas for Chelsea?

After beating Arsenal at the tail end of last month everyone and his dog thought Chelsea would go on to run away with the title. However, four games on, Ancelotti’s men have picked up just five points and seen their lead at the top cut to just four points. Today they travel to St Andrews to take on ...

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Everton v Birmingham City: Big Eck hopes to make it another Blue day for the Moyes

Birmingham City could enter Christmas in sixth spot with victory today over Everton but history is not on their side. The Blues have failed to beat the Toffees in the Premier League in six attempts and haven’t won at Goodison Park since 1957. However, this is a Blues’ side in a purple patch while Ev...

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Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers: Big Eck eyes top flight record for Blues

There are some things I never thought I would hear in my lifetime. “You’re hired” was one of them, “Yes I’ll sleep with you” was another, but the most surprising thing I’ve heard so far has to be “Birmingham City are the Premier League’s form side!” Birmingham City, tipped by many to be relegated ...

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