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In a game that could prove defining in their respective seasons Bolton and Blackburn go head-to-head in an epic relegation six pointer at Ewood Park.

Steve Kean is under huge pressure to turn his side’s campaign on it’s head and lift them out of the bottom three. It’s been reported that this game will determine Kean’s future at Ewood Park with the clubs owners supposedly weighing whether to sack their second manager in the space of the year after defeat to West Brom on Saturday. The coach turned manager has been walking the tightrope ever since he replaced Sam Allardyce last December and is now on the brink of losing his job after collecting just 32 points from the 37 games he’s taken charge of. Performances haven’t exactly been terrible this season with Rovers usually losing by the odd goal and rarely finding themselves on the end of a hiding. However in a results driven business playing well whilst losing games isn’t going to keep you in the top flight and Kean is likely to pay the price for that. His cause hasn’t been helped this season with injuries decimating his back four and he goes into the game against Bolton without five first team defenders. That means the onus will once again be placed on Yakubu to score the goals necessary to ensure all three points. The Nigerian hasn’t scored in the last couple of games since scoring four against Swansea but he is sure find the net coming up against the Trotters brittle rearguard.

Bolton have endured an awful season to date slumping to the foot of the table after losing 13 of their 16 games this season. The manner in which they lost at Fulham on Saturday will have annoyed Owen Coyle who continues to shoulder the burden of his side’s spiritless performances. The Scot admitted that their current position is ‘absolutely killing him’ and losing to Rovers could just tip him over the edge. Defeat would certainly enhance the prospect of relegation considering West Brom are the only team in the history of the Premier League to beat the drop despite being bottom at Christmas. That same fate is unlikely to befall Bolton if they continue to play like they did at the weekend with the Cottagers easing to a 2-0 success. The lack of cohesion in defence and midfield along with a disturbing bluntness in attack made it another difficult afternoon for Coyle and co. The former Burnley boss needs his brood of experienced players to stand up and be counted with captain Kevin Davies, Gary Cahill, Nigel Reo Coker and Jussi Jaaskelainen all proven top-flight performers. Starting at Blackburn on Tuesday night would be the best Christmas present they could give their manager.

Blackburn 19th : 10 points

Team News: Blackburn have been crippled with injuries over the last few months and news that Scott Dann will be out for six-weeks with a groin injury will hit them hard. He joins Ryan Nelsen, Gael Givet, Martin Olsson, Junior Hoilett and Michel Salgado on the sidelines.

Key Player: Yakubu

The Nigerian has been a revelation since his switch from Everton in the summer giving Blackburn a goal scoring edge up front. Yakubu has made a career out of scoring goals and his habit of finding the net on a regular basis will be key to Rovers pulling away from danger going into the New Year.

Bolton 20th : 9 points

Team News: Bolton have David Wheater back from suspension but are still without seven key players. Gretar Steinsson and Chris Eagles could earn recalls after their bright displays at Fulham.

Key Player: Kevin Davies

If there was ever a time Bolton needed their inspirational skipper to step up then it is now. Davies has been a virtual bystander in the past couple of weeks as the Trotters continue to flounder with age seemingly catching up on the 34-year-old. Boss Owen Coyle needs Davies to start exerting more influence in games if they are to stand a chance of pulling away from danger.

PREDICTION

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With so much riding on this game it’s likely both sides will sacrifice all defensive tactics and go out to win the game. Bolton have won only twice on their travels this season whilst Blackburn have lost six of their eight home games. For me the latter is the more likely of the two records to be broken on Tuesday night.

Score: 1-0

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Spain will be eager to preserve their perfect record in the Euro 2012 qualifiers when they meet the Czech Republic in Granada on Friday.The defending world and European champions sit atop Group I with three wins from as many games, while their opponents lie in second place, having recorded two victories and a loss.

Spain will be without Carles Puyol, Cesc Fabregas and Pedro Rodriguez for the Friday’s qualifier, with Andoni Iraola, Javi Mart?nez (both of Athletic Bilbao) and Valencia’s Juan Mata being drafted into the squad in their place.

Puyol’s absence is likely to see Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos move into the centre of defence to partner Gerard Pique.

Spain playmaker Xavi will make his 100th appearance for the national team against the Czechs, while David Villa, who has scored two goals so far in qualifying, will equal Raul’s record tally of 44 goals for the country should he score on Friday.

Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque has labelled his Friday opponents “one of the best teams in Europe in recent years”.

“They are our biggest threat. They have great physical and technical qualities,” Del Bosque said.

The Czech Republic welcome back Galatasaray forward Milan Baros from injury; the former Liverpool ace is expected to provide a much-needed scoring outlet.

The 1996 European Championship runners-up have registered only three goals in qualifying so far and will be eager to have Baros back in the fold.

The fixture will pit Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech against his new club team-mate Fernando Torres, and Cech was keen to point out he has never finished on the winning side when facing the former Liverpool favourite.

“He (has) beat me in every game we played in as opponents,” Cech said. “I hope it will be different on Friday.”

Czech coach Michal Bilek stressed the importance of neutralising the Spanish passing game by keeping a compact shape when the World Cup champions are in possession.

“They are beatable from time to time, it is possible to achieve a reasonable result against them,” Bilek said.

“We need to tighten up the space in our own half and make it impossible for their key players to pass the ball. We will aim for quick counter-attacks after winning possession.”

Terry Neill was once a centre-back at Arsenal and also became the clubs manager during the years of 1976-1983, but after retiring from the game all those years ago, what has Neill been up to?

I feel it only right that we take a look back at what the Northern Irishman achieved during his playing and managerial career:

The former Northern Ireland international signed for the Gunners on December 1959, where he spent one year in the youth ranks before making his senior debut on the 23rd of December against Sheffield Wednesday at the age of 18.

In the 1964/65 season, Neill established himself as one of the youngest players in Billy Wright’s team, playing in either the centre-back or full-back role. Wright’s successor Bertie Mee kept Neill in his plans when he took over in 1966. During this decade Terry Neill became a regular for the Gunners, appearing in over 40 games for three consecutive seasons, as well as playing in the 1968 League Cup against Leeds in which Arsenal lost. Cementing his place in the Arsenal line-up, Neill was also an intricate apart of the Northern Ireland set-up.

The centre-back made 59 appearances for his country during the years of 1961-1973, and was also given the captaincy in 1968. Neill was an intellectual and uncompromising centre-back who also possessed flair and physicality.

Terry Neill was diagnosed with Jaundice which restricted the defender’s appearances for both club and country in the 1968/69 season. Evidently, the centre-back missed the 1969 League Cup final against Swindon Town, in which Arsenal lost. Incapable of regaining his first-team place at Arsenal, Neill only managed to make 25 appearances in the 1969/70 season and soon became a bit part player for the club. During his 11 years at Arsenal, the centre-back made 275 appearances for the club and scored a total of 10 goals along the way.

In 1970, Terry Neill signed for Hull City as a player-manager at only the age of 28 (one of the youngest ever managers in the history of the game). A year later the defender also became player-manager of his country. Neill made over 100 appearances for Hull City during the years of 1970-1973 and a year later signed for Tottenham. Neill spent 2 years at White Hart Lane before taking over at Arsenal from Bertie Mee at the age of 34 (the clubs youngest manager to date).

During his 7 year reign at Arsenal, Neill guided the North London club to a trio of F.A. Cup finals (1978, 1979 and 1980) where they won the 1979 one. Arsenal also managed to reach the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1980 but sadly lost to Valencia on penalties. This was the best Neill could do and was unfortunately sacked in 1983 after a League Cup exit to Walsall.

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Terry Neill retired from the game at the age of 41, and has since opened up several sports bars in Hendon and Holborn in Central London. In his spare time the former Arsenal player-manager also appears on Arsenal TV where he commentates on games. Neill is also well respected amongst the Arsenal faithful and at times loves to go and see the current squad at the Emirates.

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Championship side Cardiff City piled more misery on lowly Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, as the home team defeated the Premier League basement dwellers 2-0 in Wales.

Veteran Scottish striker Kenny Miller opened the scoring for the hosts in the first half, before Anthony Gerrard doubled Cardiff’s lead early in the second period.

The defeat leaves Steve Kean with a disgruntled and frustrated Lancashire fan-base to deal with, and attention will now turn to picking up points in the Premier League to avoid being bottom at Christmas.

The Scottish coach was clearly disappointed with the result, but admitted his team selection was effected by the upcoming league clash with Swansea on Saturday.

“The side we put out tonight was with one eye on Swansea at the weekend,” he told Sky Sports.

“I felt that we started the game very well. I felt the first 15 minutes we had the best two opportunities and then when Cardiff managed to score they had a good period

“I took the decision to make five changes and on top of that we have (Christopher) Samba and (Martin) Olsson back so we will have seven faces fresh for Swansea.

“Saturday’s a massive game for us and a game we need three points from; obviously I’ve got one eye on it.

“We’ve some very good games at home coming up, teams that are within touching distance of us and these are our cup finals, the league games coming up are all cup finals,” he concluded.

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Cardiff supporters meanwhile will be dreaming of glory, as they enter the semi finals draw for the cup, and are joined in the hat by Liverpool, Manchester City and either Manchester United or Crystal Palace.

By Gareth McKnight

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Cardiff blew a golden chance to take second place in the Championship on Sunday after twice relinquishing the lead in their 2-2 draw with Barnsley.Three points would have seen Cardiff leapfrog Norwich and Swansea into second place in the table, and things began brightly enough when midfielder Peter Whittingham handed them the lead after 21 minutes with a spectacular long-range effort.Eight minutes later Barnsley were level, however, when Scottish striker Andy Gray fired a shot past Cardiff goalkeeper Stephen Bywater from the edge of the box.Dekel Keinan found himself on the end of a great cross from winger Chris Burke to head Cardiff into the lead once more, but again it was Gray who equalised with a fine header just one minute from the end to ensure a share of the spoils.The point helped Barnsley climb to 15th place, while Cardiff remained in fourth position, but moved a point clear of fifth-placed Leeds.

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has revealed that talks have begun in an effort to lure goalkeeper David James to Parkhead.

Lennon is hoping to sign the veteran England international from Portsmouth following the departure of former number one Artur Boruc to Fiorentina.

The 39-year-old shot-stopper is out of contract at Fratton Park and available on a free transfer following the south coast club's relegation from the Premier League last season.

The former Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City and West Ham keeper has been offered a player-coach role by Pompey but has yet to put pen to paper.

"We are still a long way off and it's early days in terms of negotiation," Lennon is quoted as saying.

"But just the fact he is interested is very encouraging from our point of view.

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"I want to get the best goalkeeper I possibly can.

"Not only for the league and Europe but also someone who can fill Artur's shoes – and he's one who can."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Manchester City midfielder James Milner has stated that the team spirit at the club is excellent, and this could be a key reason for the side’s success.

The Etihad Stadium outfit sit on top of the Premier League, are unbeaten and five points clear of cross-town rivals Manchester United.

Despite a number of controversial players causing problems in the past, Milner has hailed the squad’s togetherness.

“We’ve a good bunch of lads and there’s always banter going on. We enjoy ourselves,” he told Mirror Football.

“That’s important – the spirit – because when things aren’t going well on or off the field, you need to pull together for that last-minute winner or to grind out a result if you’re down to 10 men.

“That’s when wanting to run that extra five yards for your team-mate comes into it,” he stated.

Despite an influx of high profile foreign players, Milner feels that the English core to the side could be the recipe for success.

“Look down the squad list, it’s full of top players.

“We’ve a good core of English players, which you need, just as you need a core of Italian players in Italy, say, but we’ve got good foreign players as well.

“We want to win and it’s exciting times here. We won’t get ahead of ourselves, but we all want to create history for this club and to win trophies.

“I’m here to win the medals I can look back on when my career is over. I hope the FA Cup is just the first of many.

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“It was great for our fans – sharing a city with a club that’s done so well over the years has been tough on them. Now it’s down to us to get on a par.

“They [Manchester United] have set those standards and we have to match them,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Lazio defender Lionel Scaloni said his side’s experience helped them keep a clean sheet in their victory over Palermo on Sunday in Serie A.The Roman club triumphed 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, courtesy of a first-half brace to Giuseppe Sculli.But 32-year-old Scaloni said the striker’s defensive capabilities in the clash was just as crucial.”Yes, it was a great match, above all we showed our maturity, because today we played against a great team and a draw would have meant losing fourth place in Serie A, with the derby on Sunday ahead of us,” Scaloni said. “The team played excellently in the first fifteen to twenty minutes, it was clear we wanted to win. That’s why I say Lazio has improved a lot especially in our attitude.””We now start difficult matches differently from last year. We played against a great team and the goals came one after the other. That was important for us. However, it’s also true they created difficulties for us. It was always two against one, (but) luckily (Giuseppe) Sculli and (Alvaro) Gonzales came to help me and we managed to win the match.” The win put Lazio back into fourth place on the table – 10 points from league leaders AC Milan – but Scaloni said the club had more realistic ambitions than dreaming of the Scudetto.”We are on our way. I think we need to take one match at a time. We need to keep playing like we did today, especially the way we played early on in the match. If we play like this for 45 to 60 minutes then we might have a chance to battle for third place,” the Argentine said.

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has confirmed that no bids have been tabled for the Premier League outfit since they were put on the market by owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in May.

The Merseysiders, who announced Roy Hodgson as the club's new manager on Thursday, have been the subject of buy-out rumours recently, but British Airways chairman Broughton has admitted no offers have actually been made.

However, he has suggested a number of interested parties are lining up lucrative offers for the English and European giants.

Speaking to reporters, he said:"There have not been any offers at this stage.

"There haven't been any offers to turn down and I wouldn't have expected there to have been at this stage. There are a number of interested parties but there's no specific deadline on it.

"We are looking to the middle of July-ish for the first round of bids but that's not a final stage – that's a first entry through.

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"We're hopeful – and I wouldn't put it any stronger than that – that a deal can be done by the end of the transfer season.

"That was always from the outset a hope rather than necessarily an expectation, because these things can take time. We are on course, pretty well, with where we would have expected to be."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Football is a funny old game. One minute your team looks like they have a match or a league title in the bag, the next it can escape their grasp. The term ‘choke’ is synonymous in sporting circles with people or teams that are in a commanding position but suffer a meltdown mentally, losing their composure and consequently the match or competition. With the United States choke against Panama in the Gold Cup fresh in the memory, I have decided to look at some of the famous footballing chokes over the years.

AC Milan, Champions League Final 2005

The Champions League final is the biggest stage in world club football and AC Milan and Liverpool contested the 2005 final in Istanbul, Turkey. The game was a story of two choking sides, firstly Liverpool were the team to freeze up as they were overawed by the occasion and let in a soft goal in the first minute to veteran Italian defender Paolo Maldini. From there Rafa Benitez’s team conceded two more in the first half, with Kaka the architect and Argentine striker Hernan Crespo the executioner. Half time; Liverpool 0 Milan 3, it looked like it could get embarrassing for the English side. However choking can be infectious and the Rossoneri caught the bug in the second half, as Steven Gerrard inspired his side to fight back and the Italian side capitulated under the pressure of being 45 minutes away from European glory. Goals from Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso saw the match finish 3-3, go to penalties and it was Milan’s darling Andriy Shevchenko who eventually crumbled under the pressure and missed the decisive penalty, giving Liverpool the Champions League title.

Bayern Munich, Champions League Final 1999

Manchester United and Bayern Munich contested the 1999 Champions League final in the Nou Camp, Barcelona, in what would be a prime example of the footballing choke. In an end to end match the German side started the brighter, and deservedly took the lead through a Mario Basler effort after only six minutes. United attacked well but the German side had key chances to win the game by getting the decisive second goal; firstly Mehmet Scholl hit the post and then Carsten Jancker struck the crossbar with an overhead kick. With time almost up, Die Roten started to defend and retreat, looking to protect their precious goal advantage. Enter substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In injury time Peter Schmeichel came forward to attack a United corner, and in a me-lay in the German box Sheringham managed to convert a poor clearance and give The Reds parity. However the best was yet to come as less than thirty seconds later Solskjaer toe poked home the winner following a Sheringham headed effort. Totally capitulation and a great football choke achieved by Ottmar Hitzfeld’s team in three minutes of injury time.

Tottenham, vs Manchester United, September 2001 and April 2009

Tottenham took on English Champions Manchester United at White Hart Lane on Saturday September 29th 2001, with much anticipation around the London club. In a barnstorming first half performance by the home side, goals from Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege gave Spurs a 3-0 lead at the break. North London was full of energy. This could be the start of something big for Glenn Hoddle’s men. Sir Alex Ferguson and United had other ideas as five second half goals from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistlerooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham broke Spurs hearts and the game ended 5-3.

Almost eight years later and Harry Redknapp took his talented Tottenham side to Old Trafford to lock horns with The Reds, and in an attacking performance in the first half the London club found themselves 2-0 up at half time with goals from Darren Bent and Luka Modric. Redknapp will have urged his team not to solely sit back and defend, to have belief in themselves and to go and win the game in his half time teamtalk, but instead his team choked and again conceded five second half goals to Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Wayne Rooney (2) and ex-striker Dimitar Berbatov, with the game finishing 5-2 to United.

Continued on Page TWO

Chelsea, vs Arsenal, October 1999

Fourth placed Chelsea hosted second placed Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in a highly charged match on 23rd October 1999, with local bragging rights and the Premiership title up for grabs. Arsene Wenger had started to mould the Gunners team into his own, an had signed Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu from Inter Milan in February 1999. In the match Chelsea took the lead through Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo on 39 minutes and Dan Petrescu gave The Blues a 2-0 advantage on 51 minutes. The chant of “we want five” rang around The Bridge from a euphoric Chelsea support. In a wet and windy day, Kanu stepped up and got one back for Arsenal on 75 minutes, slotting home a miscued Marc Overmars shot, and the home side, and their fans, became slightly edgy. Kanu shocked the home faithful with seven minutes remaining as he drove home an Overmars cross, but the African striker still had more to come. In the last minute of the game, Kanu closed down a clearance and found himself close to the cornerflag, confronted by home keeper Ed de Goey, who had rushed out of his goal. The lanky striker avoided de Goey’s sliding tackle and converted from the tightest and most impossible angle to give the Gunners the match 3-2, with Chelsea in despair.

Real Madrid, 2003-2004 La Liga Season

In the 2003-04 La Liga season, Real Madrid had a star studded team full of world beaters, were champions from the previous season and followers at the Bernabeu had Ronaldo, Beckham, Figo, Roberto Carlos and Zidane to surely lead them to a second consecutive title. This looked very likely, as by the end of February Los Blancos were eight points ahead at the top of the standings and looking for the treble. However a four month choke by Carlos Quieroz’s side saw them lose the Copa del Rey final to Real Zaragoza, get kicked out of Europe at the hands of Monaco and lose their grip on the domestic title. A loss in El Classico and a 4-1 home defeat to Real Sociedad on the last day of the season saw Valenica lift the title, and the Galacticos finish fourth behind Barcelona and Deportivo La Coruna.

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Newcastle United, 1995-96 Premier League Season

Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle side of 1995-96 were labelled ‘The Entertainers’, as the Toon amassed a quality side with the likes of Les Ferdinand and David Ginola in their ranks. Keegan’s men dispatched all in front of them and rushed into a 12 point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Geordies had finished second a couple of years earlier, but for the St James Park faithful this would be the season of glory. However Keegan’s men fell victim to a run of inconsistent form and perennial strong finishers Manchester United caught Newcastle up, and won the league from under their noses. Newcastle have fallen from grace since, and the choke of 1996 has significantly impacted upon the team’s fortunes.

The old cliches of ‘it’s not over til it’s over’ and ‘it’s a game of two halves’ spring to mind when reminiscing about some of the great footballing chokes, and it shows that a team must be mentally prepared as well as physically and tactically to succeed at the highest level.

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