Chelsea look to maintain goal spree

Chelsea, who hit six goals past West Bromwich Albion in their season opener at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, visit Wigan this evening.

The Latics had a poor start to their league campaign as they suffered a 4-0 home defeat to newcomers Blackpool.

This evening, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will cross swords with another foreign boss in Spaniard Roberto Martinez. Last season, Wigan were one of five sides that beat Chelsea on their travels, 3-1 (Bramble, Rodallega, Scharner − Drogba).

After Joe Cole left Chelsea to join Liverpool on a free transfer, club chairman Bruce Buck launched a stunning attack on the Reds. Buck said the England winger has joined a “smallish club somewhere north of the M25”.

Wigan fans are urging chairman Dave Whelan to sack Martinez after their disappointing showings so far. Martinez has had to do without Charles N’Zogbia who wants to leave the club. On a more positive note, Wigan’s hot prospect, Victor Moses, put on a great showing for England U-21 a fortnight ago.

Manchester United, buoyed by their 3-0 victory over Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday, travel to London to play guests to Fulham tomorrow.

The Red Devils have a score to settle at Craven Cottage after they lost back-to-back Premier League matches in the last two seasons without scoring a goal – 0-2, 0-3.

After Roy Hodgson left the club to take over at Liverpool, Fulham handed the manager’s job to ex-United stalwart Mark Hughes.

While defender Rio Ferdinand is still six weeks away from completing his recovery from a knee injury, Ryan Giggs has remarked that he would love to manage United in the future.

Arsenal had their lucky stars to thank for saving a point in the last minute of their opening game against Liverpool after a rare fumble by goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

The Gunners will have home comforts today as they entertain Blackpool at the Emirates.

Manager Arsene Wenger has signed a new three-year deal with the Gunners while Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer looks set to join the London club next week.

The Tangerines sent their fans in ruptures last weekend as they thrashed Wigan on their debut in the Premier League. The happiest man in Blackpool was their former star Jimmy Armfield who said the Seasiders were living ‘a tangerine dream’ after they occupied top spot in the classification for a few hours.

The last time Arsenal met Blackpool in the top flight was in 1970-71 and the Gunners won 1-0 (Storey) at Highbury.

After losing 3-2 to Swiss side Young Boys on their Champions League debut, Tottenham return to the domestic scene with a visit to Stoke.

Tottenham should have gained the three points against Manchester City last Saturday but found goalkeeper Joe Hart in top form. The match ended goalless.

Yet, their outing against Young Boys in Berne was a totally different story. Manager Harry Redknapp defused rumours that he can’t make new signings and stressed that chairman Daniel Levy is working tirelessly to bring in a host of targets.

At Eastlands, Manchester City will have a full house for the visit of Liverpool in the Lancashire derby.

Liverpool boss Hodgson was gutted after Reina’s mistake handed Arsenal a last-minute equaliser but the English manager didn’t point fingers at the Spaniard, Liverpool’s player of the year last season and team saviour on many occasions in the past.

Joe Cole has been given a three-match ban after his sending-off against Arsenal.

Villa vacancy

Diego Maradona is the latest candidate to be linked with the vacant managerial job at Aston Villa.

The Midlanders, having started with a flourish in their resounding 3-0 win over West Ham, are also considering appointing caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald on a permanent basis.

Aston Villa are away to Newcastle tomorrow. After their loss at Manchester United, Newcastle will be hoping to show their best form at home as they seek their first points of the season. In their last four visits to the Toon’s lair, the Villans failed to register a win.

At Goodison Park, Everton will be keen to collect their first points of the term against Wolves, who defeated Stoke in their first fixture at Molineux.

Wolves have high hopes of avoiding the relegation battle after shrewd boss Mick McCarthy added reliable players to his squad.

Birmingham came back from 2-0 down to force a draw with Sunderland. This afternoon, the Blues host Blackburn who launched their league campaign with a home win over Everton.

Birmingham have won their last four matches against the Rovers in the Premier League, including a 4-1 (Jerome 2, Murphy, Muamba) rout in April 2008.

West Ham, under new boss Avram Grant, will try to make amends for their 3-0 loss at Aston Villa when they take on Bolton Wanderers.

Hammers co-owner David Sullivan has once again warned Tottenham to keep away from Scott Parker. The Hammers are expected to offer the English midfielder a new five-year deal.

Bolton manager Owen Coyle has told the fans to support striker John Elmander who has yet to make his mark in the Premier League.

West Brom will be giving their all to avoid an immediate return to The Championship. Their opening 6-0 thrashing to Chelsea doesn’t augur well but their home match against Sunderland this afternoon is a great opportunity for West Brom to get their first points on board and show their determination to fight for survival.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League

Arsenal-Blackpool - 1
Birmingham-Blackburn - X
Everton-Wolves - X
Stoke-Tottenham - 2
West Brom-Sunderland - X
West Ham-Bolton - 1
Wigan-Chelsea (18:15) - 2

Tomorrow:
Fulham-Man. United (17:00) - 2
Newcastle-Aston Villa (14:30) - X

Monday:
Man. City-Liverpool (21:00) - X

The Championship

Coventry-Derby (13:15) - 1
Leeds United-Millwall (13:30) - 1
Bristol City-Barnsley - 1
Burnley-Leicester - X
Cardiff-Doncaster - X
Crystal Palace-Ipswich - 1
Hull-Watford - 1
Norwich-Swansea - 1
Preston-Portsmouth - X
QPR-Scunthorpe - 1
Reading-Nott. Forest - X

Tomorrow:
Middlesbrough-Sheff. Utd (14:15) - 1

League One

Carlisle-MK Dons - X
Charlton-Oldham - 1
Exeter-Bristol Rovers - X
Notts County-Dagenham - 1
Peterborough-Huddersfield - X
Rochdale-Colchester - X
Sheffield Wed.-Brighton - 1
Southampton-Leyton Orient - 1
Swindon-Brentford - 1
Tranmere-Bournemouth - 1
Walsall-Plymouth - X
Yeovil-Hartlepool - 1

League Two

Acc. Stanley-Macclesfield - X
Burton Albion-Morecambe - 1
Bury-Northampton - 1
Chesterfield-Hereford - 1
Crewe-Barnet - 1
Gillingham-Lincoln City - 1
Rotherham-Cheltenham - 1
Shrewsbury-Aldershot - 1
Southend-Port Vale - X
Stevenage-Stockport - 1
Torquay-Bradford - 1
Wycombe-Oxford Utd - 1

Scottish Premier

Hamilton-Hearts (13:00) - X
St Johnstone-Aberdeen (16:00) - X

Tomorrow:
Celtic-St Mirren (16:00) - 1
Dundee Utd-Inverness (16:00) - 1
Hibernian-Rangers (13:15) - 2
Kilmarnock-Motherwell (16:00) - X

First Division

Dundee-Ross County - 1
Falkirk-Stirling - 1
Morton-Partick Thistle - 2
Raith Rovers-Dunfermline - 2

Tomorrow:
Cowdenbeath-Queen of South - X

Second Division

Ayr-Dumbarton - 1
East Fife-Peterhead - X
Forfar-Brechin - 2
Livingston-Airdrie Utd - 1
Stenhousemuir-Alloa - 2

Third Division

Albion-Queen’s Park - X
Annan Athletic-Stranraer - 1
Clyde-Berwick - 1
Elgin-East Stirling - 2
Montrose-Arbroath - 2

Hot Four

Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers, Southampton, Rotherham.