Matchday 19 ~ {Recap of all matches} - Page 3

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

CHELSEA

Didier DROGBA and Frank LAMPARD are Chelsea's top scorers with nine goals, and five each in the Premier League.

LAMPARD is one shy of 100 goals for Chelsea.

DROGBA is a hat-trick short of 50 Premier League goals in Chelsea colours.

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

If on the field from the outset:-

Ashley COLE will be making his 200th career league start (Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea).

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

ASTON VILLA

Gabriel AGBONLAHOR is Aston Villa's leading scorer, with six Premier League goals.

Gareth BARRY and Olof MELLBERG have both been on the field for every minute of every one of Villa's league and cup games this season.

AGBONLAHOR, BARRY, MELLBERG, Wilfred BOUMA, Martin LAURSEN and Ashley YOUNG have appeared in every Premier League game; no other club has as many as six players to have figured in at least a part of each of their league outings.

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

HEAD TO HEAD

Zat Knight scored on his debut for Aston Villa in the 2-0 victory in this season's reverse fixture, which helped shatter Chelsea's 18-match eight-month unbeaten Premier League record of 12 wins and six draws.

Villa's only victory in nine Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge was 1-3 on 11 May 2002, when Peter Crouch, Darius Vassell and Dion Dublin ensured an end-of-season maximum.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Chelsea 44 wins, Villa 48, Draws 29
Prem: Chelsea 13 wins, Villa 9, Draws 9

at Chelsea only
League (inc PL): Chelsea 31 wins, Villa 18, Draws 11
Prem: Chelsea 8 wins, Villa 4, Draws 3

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa
30 September 2006 - Ref: Graham Poll
Chelsea scorer: Drogba 3
Villa scorer: Agbonlahor 45

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE

Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea
2 September 2007 - Ref: Mark Clattenburg
Villa scorers: Knight 47, Agbonlahor 88

Freddy Adu · 12-24-2007, 07:47 PM

REFEREE

Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:33 PM

Birmingham v Middlesbrough

St Andrews
Wednesday, 26 December
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
BBC coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on Match of the Day. Featured game on Score and Final Score.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:33 PM

Birmingham skipper Liam Ridgewell is available after serving a one-match ban and look set to replace Radhi Jaidi.

Manager Alex McLeish is expected to recall striker Mikael Forssell to play alongside Cameron Jerome in attack.

Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate is a concern after being substituted in three of the last four games because of cramp.

Fabio Rochemback is available after serving a one-match ban but Gary O'Neil is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:33 PM

Birmingham (from): Maik Taylor, Parnaby, Kelly, Sadler, Queudrue, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Djourou, Larsson, De Ridder, Muamba, Nafti, Johnson, Sheffrey, Kapo, Jerome, Forssell, O'Connor, Doyle.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:34 PM

Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Turnbull, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Pogatetz, Huth, Cattermole, O'Neil, Boateng, Arca, Rochemback, Johnson, Shawky, Aliadiere, Downing, Tuncay, Lee, Hutchinson.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:34 PM

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:
"I knew it was a tough job when I took it on, a massive challenge.

"I don't have a magic wand. If we keep making the errors then it's going to cost players their places.

"We've got a team that can bounce back, but we will be trying to look to do something in January to add some quality to the squad."

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:34 PM

Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate on the defeat to West Ham:
"We've taken a kick in the nuts, but we've got to get it out of our system.

"There's nothing we can do about it now. We're bitterly disappointed but there's nothing we can do about it now. We just have to get back on track.

"They did a job on us - a classic away smash and grab."

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:34 PM

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Birmingham and Middlesbrough sit side by side in lower mid table, both chasing their fifth win of the league campaign and knowing that defeat could see either in the relegation zone.

Birmingham have a 50 winning record on Boxing Day in the Premier League; won two of four.

Middlesbrough have not picked up three points on Boxing Day, since defeating Manchester United 3-1 at the Riverside in 2002.

Middlesbrough did the double over Birmingham when they were last in the Premier League together in 2005-06, and the Teessiders could repeat the feat this time, having won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Riverside in September in 'Boro's 1,500th league win.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Highest realistically achievable: 14th
Lowest could fall: 19th

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

MIDDLESBROUGH
Highest achievable: 13th
Lowest could fall: 18th

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Olivier KAPO and Cameron JEROME are Birmingham's joint top scorers with five Premier League goals each.

Stephen KELLY has played every minute of every one of Birmingham's Premier League games this season.

Garry O'CONNOR is a hat-trick shy of 50 goals in English and Scottish league football (Hibernian and Birmingham).

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

If selected:-

Radhi JAIDI will be making his 100th appearance for an English club (Bolton and Birmingham).

Stuart PARNABY and Franck QUEUDRUE will be playing against their former club.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

If on the field from the outset:-

JEROME will be making his 100th career league start (Cardiff and Birmingham).

Matthew SADLER will be making his 50th league start for Birmingham.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

MIDDLESBROUGH

Stewart DOWNING is Middlesbrough's top scorer, with four Premier League goals.

DOWNING is the only remaining player to have started every one of Middlesbrough's Premier League matches this season.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

If selected:-

Mark SCHWARZER will be making his 350th league appearance in a Middlesbrough goalkeepers' jersey.

Adam JOHNSON will be making his 50th career league appearance (Middlesbrough, Leeds and Watford).

Jonathan WOODGATE will be making his 40th appearance for the Teessiders.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:35 PM

HEAD TO HEAD

Birmingham lost their 100 home Premier League record against Middlesbrough, when heavily beaten in this corresponding fixture in the season before last. It was the only time the club away from home had won in a Premier League fixture between these two.

There was never been a draw between these clubs in nine previous Premier League meetings.

Gareth Southgate's last goal for Middlesbrough came against Birmingham, in a 5-3 victory on Teesside on 20 March 2004.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:36 PM

Home and away
League (inc PL): Birmingham 34 wins, Middlesbro 29, Draws 28
Prem: Birmingham 3 wins, Middlesbro 6, Draws 0

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:36 PM

at Birmingham only
League (inc PL): Birmingham 24 wins, Middlesbrough 8, Draws 13
Prem: Birmingham 3 wins, Middlesbrough 1, Draws 0

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:36 PM

THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Middlesbrough 2-0 Birmingham City
1 September 2007 - Ref: Rob Styles
Middlesbrough scorers: Wheater 12, Downing 37

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:36 PM

REFEREE
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:41 PM

Portsmouth (7th) v Arsenal (1st)
Last Season: 13/05/07, Portsmouth 0 - 0 Arsenal D W D W L L Form W W D L W W

Arsenal striker Theo Walcott has been struggling with a knee injury and is not expected to return for the Barclays Premier League match at Portsmouth on Boxing Day.

Emmanuel Eboue picked up knee/ankle problems last week but came through 74 minutes of the win over Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

Robin van Persie was not in the squad for the Spurs match and may not be risked against Pompey.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:42 PM

Long-Term Absentees

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp could welcome back defender Noe Pamarot.

The former Tottenham man missed the weekend defeat to Liverpool with a hamstring injury, but it is not as serious as first feared and could feature on Boxing Day.

Sean Davis missed the defeat at Anfield after picking up a knock in training, while Linvoy Primus (knee) and Martin Cranie (broken leg) remain long-term absentees.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:42 PM

Squads

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Pedro Mendes, Benjani, Kanu, Taylor, Nugent, Lauren, Hughes, Ashdown.

Arsenal: Almunia, Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Gilberto, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Diarra, Rosicky, van Persie, Adebayor, Senderos, Traore, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Diaby, Eduardo.

Freddy Adu · 12-25-2007, 10:42 PM

Injuries & Suspensions

20	Cranie
16	Pamarot
2	Primus
Cut and paste above here, leave bottom row alone
	= suspended (1 match)
	= suspended (+1 match)
	= injured

12-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#62 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	If on the field from the outset:- Ashley COLE will be making his 200th career league start (Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea).

12-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#63 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	ASTON VILLA Gabriel AGBONLAHOR is Aston Villa's leading scorer, with six Premier League goals. Gareth BARRY and Olof MELLBERG have both been on the field for every minute of every one of Villa's league and cup games this season. AGBONLAHOR, BARRY, MELLBERG, Wilfred BOUMA, Martin LAURSEN and Ashley YOUNG have appeared in every Premier League game; no other club has as many as six players to have figured in at least a part of each of their league outings.

12-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#64 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	HEAD TO HEAD Zat Knight scored on his debut for Aston Villa in the 2-0 victory in this season's reverse fixture, which helped shatter Chelsea's 18-match eight-month unbeaten Premier League record of 12 wins and six draws. Villa's only victory in nine Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge was 1-3 on 11 May 2002, when Peter Crouch, Darius Vassell and Dion Dublin ensured an end-of-season maximum. Home and away League (inc PL): Chelsea 44 wins, Villa 48, Draws 29 Prem: Chelsea 13 wins, Villa 9, Draws 9 at Chelsea only League (inc PL): Chelsea 31 wins, Villa 18, Draws 11 Prem: Chelsea 8 wins, Villa 4, Draws 3

12-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#65 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa 30 September 2006 - Ref: Graham Poll Chelsea scorer: Drogba 3 Villa scorer: Agbonlahor 45

12-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#66 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE Aston Villa 2-0 Chelsea 2 September 2007 - Ref: Mark Clattenburg Villa scorers: Knight 47, Agbonlahor 88

12-24-2007, 07:47 PM	#67 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	REFEREE Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire)

12-25-2007, 10:33 PM	#69 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham skipper Liam Ridgewell is available after serving a one-match ban and look set to replace Radhi Jaidi. Manager Alex McLeish is expected to recall striker Mikael Forssell to play alongside Cameron Jerome in attack. Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate is a concern after being substituted in three of the last four games because of cramp. Fabio Rochemback is available after serving a one-match ban but Gary O'Neil is a doubt with a hamstring injury.

12-25-2007, 10:33 PM	#70 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham (from): Maik Taylor, Parnaby, Kelly, Sadler, Queudrue, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Djourou, Larsson, De Ridder, Muamba, Nafti, Johnson, Sheffrey, Kapo, Jerome, Forssell, O'Connor, Doyle.

12-25-2007, 10:34 PM	#71 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Turnbull, Young, Woodgate, Wheater, Pogatetz, Huth, Cattermole, O'Neil, Boateng, Arca, Rochemback, Johnson, Shawky, Aliadiere, Downing, Tuncay, Lee, Hutchinson.

12-25-2007, 10:34 PM	#72 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham manager Alex McLeish: "I knew it was a tough job when I took it on, a massive challenge. "I don't have a magic wand. If we keep making the errors then it's going to cost players their places. "We've got a team that can bounce back, but we will be trying to look to do something in January to add some quality to the squad."

12-25-2007, 10:34 PM	#73 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate on the defeat to West Ham: "We've taken a kick in the nuts, but we've got to get it out of our system. "There's nothing we can do about it now. We're bitterly disappointed but there's nothing we can do about it now. We just have to get back on track. "They did a job on us - a classic away smash and grab."

12-25-2007, 10:34 PM	#74 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	BIG-MATCH FACTS Birmingham and Middlesbrough sit side by side in lower mid table, both chasing their fifth win of the league campaign and knowing that defeat could see either in the relegation zone. Birmingham have a 50 winning record on Boxing Day in the Premier League; won two of four. Middlesbrough have not picked up three points on Boxing Day, since defeating Manchester United 3-1 at the Riverside in 2002. Middlesbrough did the double over Birmingham when they were last in the Premier League together in 2005-06, and the Teessiders could repeat the feat this time, having won the reverse fixture 2-0 at the Riverside in September in 'Boro's 1,500th league win.

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#75 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	BIRMINGHAM CITY Highest realistically achievable: 14th Lowest could fall: 19th

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#76 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	MIDDLESBROUGH Highest achievable: 13th Lowest could fall: 18th

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#77 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	BIRMINGHAM CITY Olivier KAPO and Cameron JEROME are Birmingham's joint top scorers with five Premier League goals each. Stephen KELLY has played every minute of every one of Birmingham's Premier League games this season. Garry O'CONNOR is a hat-trick shy of 50 goals in English and Scottish league football (Hibernian and Birmingham).

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#78 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	If selected:- Radhi JAIDI will be making his 100th appearance for an English club (Bolton and Birmingham). Stuart PARNABY and Franck QUEUDRUE will be playing against their former club.

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#79 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	If on the field from the outset:- JEROME will be making his 100th career league start (Cardiff and Birmingham). Matthew SADLER will be making his 50th league start for Birmingham.

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#80 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	MIDDLESBROUGH Stewart DOWNING is Middlesbrough's top scorer, with four Premier League goals. DOWNING is the only remaining player to have started every one of Middlesbrough's Premier League matches this season.

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#81 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	If selected:- Mark SCHWARZER will be making his 350th league appearance in a Middlesbrough goalkeepers' jersey. Adam JOHNSON will be making his 50th career league appearance (Middlesbrough, Leeds and Watford). Jonathan WOODGATE will be making his 40th appearance for the Teessiders.

12-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#82 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	HEAD TO HEAD Birmingham lost their 100 home Premier League record against Middlesbrough, when heavily beaten in this corresponding fixture in the season before last. It was the only time the club away from home had won in a Premier League fixture between these two. There was never been a draw between these clubs in nine previous Premier League meetings. Gareth Southgate's last goal for Middlesbrough came against Birmingham, in a 5-3 victory on Teesside on 20 March 2004.

12-25-2007, 10:36 PM	#83 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Home and away League (inc PL): Birmingham 34 wins, Middlesbro 29, Draws 28 Prem: Birmingham 3 wins, Middlesbro 6, Draws 0

12-25-2007, 10:36 PM	#84 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	at Birmingham only League (inc PL): Birmingham 24 wins, Middlesbrough 8, Draws 13 Prem: Birmingham 3 wins, Middlesbrough 1, Draws 0

12-25-2007, 10:36 PM	#85 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE Middlesbrough 2-0 Birmingham City 1 September 2007 - Ref: Rob Styles Middlesbrough scorers: Wheater 12, Downing 37

12-25-2007, 10:36 PM	#86 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	REFEREE Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

12-25-2007, 10:42 PM	#88 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Long-Term Absentees Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp could welcome back defender Noe Pamarot. The former Tottenham man missed the weekend defeat to Liverpool with a hamstring injury, but it is not as serious as first feared and could feature on Boxing Day. Sean Davis missed the defeat at Anfield after picking up a knock in training, while Linvoy Primus (knee) and Martin Cranie (broken leg) remain long-term absentees.

12-25-2007, 10:42 PM	#89 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Squads Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Diop, Muntari, Kranjcar, Pedro Mendes, Benjani, Kanu, Taylor, Nugent, Lauren, Hughes, Ashdown. Arsenal: Almunia, Lehmann, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Gilberto, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Diarra, Rosicky, van Persie, Adebayor, Senderos, Traore, Song, Denilson, Bendtner, Diaby, Eduardo.