Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Live - Wednesday football

Midweek Final Score

Live video - Midweek Final Score

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times GMT)

606: DEBATE

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By Sam Lyon

1943: With the Fulham and Portsmouth players just finishing their warm-ups, the Leeds and Tottenham teams stride out into a cacophony of noise at Elland Road. If the home fans are half as good as they were at the Lane last time out, we are in for a treat.

Dan via text: "The omens are good after last night's FA Cup results. If Butterfield can score a hat-trick, then we can win. Come on Leeds!"

1937: Don't listen to 'em PaulSeaton - Pavlyuchenko's a magnificent vocalist. His tunes from the sidelines could be crucial. Erm, if he's there. Otherwise, it's all about the Russian's powers of mind control I'm afraid which, judging by his failure to impress Harry Redknapp this season, can't really be all that. Ahem.

JamieCutteridge on Twitter: "RE: Paulseaton - Looking at the Spurs team, that could be difficult for Pavlyuchenko...!"

1935: So, with 10 minutes until Leeds-Spurs get started, why don't you good people give your browsers a cheeky refresh. Before you can say 'what the blazes for Lyon?' the magic of "Midweek Score" will appear at the top of this page and a link to our 5 Live coverage for the FA Cup and Premier League matches will reveal themselves on the right hand side. You can't say fairer than that, can you?

1933: FULHAM v PORTSMOUTH TEAM NEWS
Roy Hodgson's injury headache must be pounding with Zoltan Gera and Andrew Johnson now stuck on the sidelines, so he puts loan signings Nicky Shorey and Roma striker Stefano Okaka straight into the starting XI for their Fulham debuts against cash-strapped Pompey. Portsmouth welcome back African Cup of Nations trio Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda and Aruna Dindane. New striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie makes his debut, while new boy defender Ricardo Rocha is on the bench.

PaulSeaton on Twitter: "Last time out Beckford was the man of the moment, but tonight will belong to Pavlyuchenko & Dawson."

1931: LEEDS v TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS
Spurs
bring back Jermaine Jenas to partner Tom Huddlestone in central midfield, with Wilson Palacios dropping to the bench. Niko Kranjcar comes in for compatriot Luka Modric, who is also a substitute, while Sebastien Bassong replaces the rested Ledley King at the heart of defence. Leeds are without loan signings Gary McSheffrey and Shane Lowry, so Andrew Hughes, back from illness, and Bradley Johnson return to the side.

1928: FULHAM v PORTSMOUTH LINE-UPS
Fulham:
Schwarzer, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Shorey, Duff, Murphy, Baird, Greening, Okaka Chuka, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Stoor, Smalling, Dikgacoi, Elm.
Portsmouth: James, Finnan, Wilson, Ben-Haim, Belhadj, Yebda, Basinas, Boateng, O'Hara, Dindane, Piquionne. Subs: Ashdown, Rocha, Mullins, Owusu-Abeyie, Vanden Borre, Webber, Hughes.
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)

Anon via text: "This is a must-win game for Pompey tonight. Next three matches are Man Utd, the High Court and Southampton... If they last that long!"

1924: EARLY TEAM NEWS
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson hands immediate debuts to deadline-day signings Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka.

Spurf on 606: "Leeds v Spurs - two teams with other things on their minds, but tonight the FA Cup is all that matters."

1920: LEEDS v TOTTENHAM LINE-UPS
Leeds:
Ankergren, Bromby, Naylor, Michalik, Hughes, Howson, Doyle, Johnson, Snodgrass, Beckford, Becchio. Subs: Alan Martin, Crowe, Grella, Robinson, Somma, Hatfield, White.
Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, Jenas, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Alnwick, Palacios, Modric, Rose, Dervite, Parrett, Fredericks.
Referee: Andre Marriner (W Midlands)

1918: As for the Fulham-Portsmouth tie, it pits two of the league's worst teams of recent times together (though they will have to go some to beat Sunderland-Stoke for sheer stick-a-fork-in-my-eye-please dullness, for sure). The Cottagers, who lost at home on Saturday for the first time in 12 matches, are without a win in six league games, while Portsmouth have only gone one better - one win in seven. I predict either a coma-inducing stalemate or absolute goal-fest. No in between.

Anon via text: "Any expert score predicter should know to never count out Leeds at ER with a 39,000 backing! As a Leeds fan I hope you eat your words Steve (below), but we shall see..."

RetroGirl on Twitter: "Leeds need to lose this for the sake of their league position. Just preparing their excuses for them, ahead of a thumping!"

1911: Lest we forget, Leeds - courtesy of man-of-the-moment Jermaine Beckford - snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane in the original tie with Tottenham, and the omens are good for whichever team goes through this evening, even if penalties are needed. Leeds have only ever beaten Tottenham once in this competition - in 1972, the year they secured their one and only FA Cup triumph, while Spurs beat the Whites at this very stage on their way to glory in 1982. Who believes in magic?

1908: EARLY TEAM NEWS
Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch start up front in a strong Spurs XI.

Steve on 606: "Fulham should beat Pompey, Spurs will beat Leeds, and West Brom will win their game. Can't be bothered with scores though!"

1905: "Where do we fit into all this?", I hear you cry. Well, as well as gasping in wondrous amazement at the delights of football at its finest alongside my sensational chat on all the action as and when it happens, of course, why not give yourself the chance to be web famous for 15 minutes and text me your chat to 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide); get involved in the debate on 606; and/or hit sampatricklyon on Twitter. You know you want to...

1903: We've also got a couple of league matches to add to our smorgasbord of football entertainment, with Fulham playing host to the club that must wish it had bought shares in the term 'Premier League crisis club' Portsmouth, and Championship high-flyers West Brom travelling to Blackpool eyeing the three points that will lift them back into the automatic promotion spots. As a Pompey fan might say to a Pompey director... where's ya money?

1902: That's right, the exits of Wigan and Wolves on Tuesday mean there are a mere nine Premier League teams left in the FA Cup and we're not even through the fourth round yet. Tonight, Leeds will be looking to make that eight as they host a Tottenham side who traditionally love this competition like 'beardies' love Adrian Chiles. Forty two places separate the teams in the league, but what - or, more to the point, who - will separate them this evening?

1900: So - 11 down, nine to go. The FA Cup hasn't quite proved the smoothest of rides for Premier League teams this season has it?

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