WBA - Arsenal

West Brom look much better under Roy Hodgson, they’re undefeated in last four in league and in previous round won in derby away vs. Brum (3-1). But, the fact is they haven’t kept a clean sheet in previous 27 games. On the other hand, from the bottom-half sides only Blackpool have scored more goals (WBA 39). Key midfielder Dorrans is out, other midfielder Mulumbu is doubtful, while Vela cannot play against parent club.

Arsenal suffered two painful defeats in last 10 days (Barca and Man Utd), but they still look good in the title race. Three points less than Utd, but with a game in hand (counting on Utd’s injuries and tough game vs. Bolton today). Arsenal have good record on the road against bottom sides, but Wenger is facing a long injury list. Seven players are out, Fabregas, Djourou, Diaby, Vermaelen, Szczesny, Walcott and Song. Jens Lehmann is in the squad which makes me think they will be vulnerable more than usual. Good news for Wenger is Bendtner returns.

The Gunners are desperate for points, but absolutely the same is with WBA. I expect an open game and goals on both sides.

Bet: Over 2.5
Odd: 1.93 Pinnacle
Stake: 8/10
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Birmingham - WBA (12:45 GMT)

The Brummies did lift the trophy, but this game is returning to the cruel Premier reality. They’re two points above the relegation line, this is six-pointer and I’m pretty sure they won’t suffer from a Cup hangover. Despite their bad position on the table, Birmingham have lost just three of their last 29 Premier games at St Andrew's. Barry Ferguson and Craig Gardner got some injuries in the Cup final and are in doubt for today’s clash.

West Brom are going to West Midlands derby after four draws of last five games (three in the row) and five away defeats of six matches. Hodgson added some stability to a horrible defence line, but they became a less dangerous in front as well (excluding Vela, of course). They have made a record with 26 Premier games without a clean sheet (three of them with Hodgson), but Hodgson as Premier League manager won just one of his last 28 away matches. Key man in the midfield, Graham Dorrans, suffered an ankle injury in training on Friday and is a major doubt.

The host will have a sky-high confidence, great support from the stands and they’re probably better team. WBA are pretty poor travellers, they avoided defeats in last two games coming to the point in last minutes and their luck should be spent. Home win (with some limitation regarding the draw). 1-0 correct score.

Bet: Birmingham -0.25
Odd: 2.21 188bet
Stake: 7/10
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Tuesday's gossip column

BREAKING GOSSIP

Manchester City are set to rival Juventus for the services of Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez for next season. According to Italian newspaper La Stampa, City are apparently willing to offer the Spaniard a huge transfer kitty and long term contract to leave Anfield and replace current City boss Roberto Mancini Eastlands. (footylatest.com) 
However, Tuttosport, the Turin based newspaper, has revealed that Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has verbally agreed to take over as Juventus coach. (imscouting.com) 
According to Italian website Tutto Mercato, Arsenal are in pole position to sign Fiorentina's highly rated goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.( imscouting.com) 
But German media outlet Sportbild are convinced that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will make a concerted effort to sign Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler this summer. (footylatest.com) 
Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin, a long-time Barcelona fan, still dreams of playing for the Spanish giants one day, the Russian international has revealed. "Even playing just one season for Barcelona would make a pinnacle of my whole career," said Arshavin. (Reuters Press Agency)
Chelsea are set to launch their summer spending spree with a move for Valencia striker David Villa, who is also a target for Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.(goal.com) 

TRANSFER GOSSIP

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan is planning a radical shake-up at Upton Park after conceding the club will listen to offers for any player except Scott Parker. "Other than Parker, there is not a player we wouldn't sell if it was the right bid," confirmed Sullivan.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa will be the first to test out West Ham's willingness to sell with a £10m bid for England striker Carlton Cole.(Daily Mai) 
West Ham have also bid £4m for West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans as they begin their squad overhaul.(Daily Mirror )
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to switch attention from one Aston Villa winger to another by aiming to snap up England international Ashley Young instead of his Villa Park team-mate James Milner.(caughtoffside.com) 
Bolton boss Owen Coyle is ready to let up to 10 of his players go as he makes way for a new wave of signings at Wanderers. Record buy Johan Elmander is likely to be among those who squeezed out by fresh faces.(Daily Mirror) 
Coyle is also set to raid former club Burnley for midfielder Chris Eagles and defender Clarke Carlisle.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool are set to sign Swedish teenage forward Kristoffer Peterson from Savedalens IF after the 15-year-old impressed on trial.(Daily Mail) 
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona are lining up a shock bid for Newcastle defender Stephen Taylor, with Carles Puyol heading to St James' Park in return.(imscouting.com) 
Real Madrid's veteran midfielder Guti has reportedly signed a deal to play in Dubai, ending rumours that he could join Tottenham this summer.(imscouting.com) 
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is apparently considering a move for Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz.(caughtoffside.com) 
Wenger has also placed Borussia Dortmund's Serbian international centre back Neven Subotic at the top of his summer spending plans as he looks to freshen up his defensive options.(caughtoffside.com) 
Wolves are chasing £3m-rated Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard.(Daily Mail) 
Wanderers are also lining up a double summer swoop for Reading's Gylfi Sigurdsson and AZ Alkmaar winger Jeremain Lens.(Daily Mirror) 
The midlands club are also keen to re-sign striker Robbie Keane from Tottenham. The 29-year-old, who began his career at Wolves, spent the latter part of this season on loan at Celtic.(The Sun) 
Ex-England keeper Richard Wright is poised to leave Ipswich for the second time with Town manager Roy Keane looking to shed the former Arsenal man's £15,000 a week wages.(Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle are considering a £1m summer move for Blackburn striker Jason Roberts.(Daily Mail) 
Former Arsenal star Alexander Hleb could return to England this summer with Manchester City, Aston Villa and Sunderland among a host of clubs across Europe keen on recruiting the Barcelona midfielder.(Daily Mail) 
Preston boss Darren Ferguson is planning talks with his father, Manchester United manager Sir Alex, about bringing Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck back to Preston on loan next season. Wellbeck arrived at Deepdale on loan in January but made just eight appearances before returning to Old Trafford because of a knee injury.(Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Ex-Everton striker Wayne Rooney is asking Liverpool to do his Manchester United side a favour when Rafael Benitez's side face Chelsea as the Red Devils look to seal a a record 19th top-flight title. United currently trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by a point, with two games left to play.(Times) 
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has emerged as a leading contender to replace Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. The Israeli heads a shortlist, which also includes Ajax manager Martin Jol, FC Twente's former England boss Steve McClaren and ex-Hammers defender Slaven Bilic, now in charge of Croatia.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are to launch an audacious bid to end Joe Hart's loan spell at Birmingham City and take the goalkeeper back to Eastlands in a move that will enrage their Premier League rivals.(Guardian) 
Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc is prepared to fly to Liverpool this week to try and force Rafa Benitez's hand over accepting his offer of a four-year contract worth £16m.(Daily Mail) 
Adam Pearson, the Hull City chairman, is understood to be considering his future at the troubled club as they face up to their imminent relegation from the Premier League and an impending financial meltdown at the club, who are £35m in debt.(The Times) 
Crisis club Hull are going to ask their players to take a 40% pay-cut in a desperate bid to save money and avoid administration. The Tigers were relegated to the Championship last week.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov has revealed that the questioning of his side's fitness by Chelsea captain John Terry in the aftermath of the Blues' 7-1 win over Villa in March has spurred them back into Champions League contention. Villa have picked up 13 points from the past five games and are now level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Hull chairman Adam Pearson has revealed that the Tiger's goal-shy strikers have cost the club a whopping £901,875 a goal this season. Pearson admitted the club are spending £195,000 a week on strikers, which in total this campaign has cost them £7.215m for a return of eight goals. (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk

Crystal Palace 1-1 West Brom

West Brom denied Crystal Palace the chance of securing their Championship status, handing relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday a reprieve.
Palace, who need a buyer by the end of the season, went ahead when Steven Reid sliced a free-kick into his own net. 
But the Baggies drew level inside four minutes when Gabriel Tamas headed home a Chris Brunt left-wing free-kick. 
Palace, who had Neil Danns sent off for a headbutt, now face a relegation showdown at Wednesday on Sunday. 
With the Owls having lost 3-2 at Cardiff on Saturday, Palace knew three points against West Brom on Monday would have been enough for them to avoid relegation to League One. 
But the south Londoners failed to take their chance, meaning that a season to forget - during which they have been docked 10 points as a result of falling into administration and lost manager Neil Warnock to Queens Park Rangers - will be decided by a visit to Hillsborough. 
Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer echoed round Selhurst Park before kick-off but during an engrossing game the home side's players fought tooth and nail to be the masters of their own fate. 
They gave themselves the perfect start when Darren Ambrose's well-placed right-wing free-kick was sliced past his own keeper by Reid from six yards. 
But Paul Hart's men were pegged back four minutes later when Tamas headed the visitors level.
However, in the last 10 minutes the Eagles twice had chances to make sure of the points only for substitute Stern John to head wide at the back post before, six minutes into injury time, Marek Cech cleared an Ambrose effort off the line. 
That Palace were even in a position to potentially snatch a winner late on was a testimony to both the wastefulness of the dominant visitors and the superb performance from home keeper Julian Speroni. 
The Argentine stopper produced a string of saves to deny the Baggies, most notably to keep out Chris Brunt from close range, tip over a dipping 35-yard effort from Graham Dorrans in the first half and block well-struck efforts from Cech and Youssouf Mulumbu in the second. 
In addition, West Brom striker Roman Bednar missed a number of good opportunities, heading a Dorrans cross against the bar and then shooting harmlessly wide after being released by the same player. 
After Danns was shown a straight red by referee Dean Whitestone for headbutting Dorrans it seemed certain that West Brom would make their numerical advantage count. 
But they were unable to do so, and Palace's own late profilgacy in front of goal means they face a long, nervous final game of the season in Sheffield. 
As long as Hart's men, who have a two-point advantage over Wednesday, avoid defeat they will beat the drop, sending the Owls down.
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Monday gossip

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Bayern Munich are set to open negotiations with their French star Franck Ribery as the Bundesliga side bid to stop the midfielder leaving for Real Madrid or Manchester United.(IMScouting)
Birmingham City are interested in signing Kris Boyd from Rangers, with Blues set to send scouts to see the striker play for Scotland against the Czech Republic on Wednesday. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal have become the latest Premier League club to monitor West Brom midfielder Graham Dorrans (on photo), who is believed to command a price tag of £6m. (Daily Mail)
John Rooney, the 19-year-old younger brother of Manchester United superstar Wayne, will have a second trial for Nigel Clough's Derby County this week.(Various)
Liverpool's highly-rated new 15-year-old striker, Raheem Sterling, who has been signed from QPR, was enticed to Anfield with a £300,000 contract offer. (Daily Mirror)
Sheffield United and Carlisle are both chasing York City striker Richard Brodie, who is joint top-scorer in the Blue Square Premier league with 20 goals so far this season. (The Sun)
Burnley manager Brian Laws wants to sign 29-year-old Cameroon international winger Salomon Olembe, who is a free agent after leaving Turkish team Kayserispor. (Daily Mirror)
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OTHER GOSSIP

Chelsea defender John Terry is seething over Craig Bellamy's insults, directed at the former England captain after Manchester City's 4-2 win on Saturday, saying: "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."(Various)
Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is keen to leave the Italian club to take over as the Real Madrid manager, should current boss Manuel Pellegrini be sacked by the Spanish giants, according to Spanish daily Sport.(IMScouting)
Aaron Ramsey's broken leg is not as bad as the fracture suffered by team-mate Eduardo, and the Wales international could return for the north Londoners in only six months' time.(Daily Mirror)
Midfielder Jack Wilshere will not be recalled prematurely to Arsenal from his loan spell with Bolton, despite his club-mate Ramsey's injury which has reduced Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's options in the centre of midfield. (Daily Mirror)
AC Milan midfielder Alexandre Pato may miss his team's Champions League second leg tie against Manchester United on 10 March after the Brazilian international hurt his right thigh in the Rossoneri's 3-1 Serie A victory over Atalanta on Sunday. (Daily Mail)
Blackburn striker El-Hadji Diouf was warned by police following his confrontation with Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard, which spilled into the tunnel at half-time, during the home side's 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield on Sunday.(Daily Mirror)
Cardiff City boss Dave Jones is considering leaving the financially stricken Championship club in the summer after being told by chairman Peter Ridsdale that he must sell players and rely on free transfers in the close-season.(Daily Mirror)
Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone will have a scan on his right foot on Monday after leaving White Hart Lane on crutches following Spurs' 2-1 victory over Everton. (The Daily Telegraph)
Charlton midfielder Nicky Bailey has branded Southend manager Steve Tilson "a total disgrace" for claiming that he feigned injury in the incident which led to the sending off of the Shrimpers' Jean Francois Christophe in the Addicks' 2-1 away win on Saturday. (Daily Mirror)
England coach Fabio Capello, Liverpool's Rafael Benitez and Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli all feature on a Juventus shortlist to replace Alberto Zaccheroni at the Turin club in the summer. (IMScouting)
Celtic have lodged an appeal with the Scottish FA over Scott Brown's red card in Sunday's Old Firm derby defeat.(Daily Record)
Southampton have been given a record 44,000 ticket allocation for their Johnstone's Paint Trophy final against Carlisle at Wembley on 28 March. (The Sun)

AND FINALLY

Saturday's Stamford Bridge referee Mike Dean reversed the pre-match handshake protocol by asking Manchester City captain Shay Given to lead his away team down the Chelsea line, thereby avoiding an even more embarrassing situation for John Terry which would have seen the home skipper standing in front of Wayne Bridge demanding a reaction. (Daily Mail)
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