With two FA Cup semi-finals, a Tyne-Wear derby and a very important clash at the Britannia, it’s a bumper weekend of football across the water.
Tyney-Toons clash no laughing matter for Sunderland
The Tyne and Wear derby is always a significant occasion for fans of both sides but rarely is it as important as the meeting between the two at St. James’ Park at noon on Sunday.
The highly emotional reactions of the Newcastle players, management and fans last weekend were partly down to the manner of their victory over Fulham but also partly because it is a result that is likely to secure their Premier League status for next season.
Still, with safety not assured just yet and with the possibility of increasing the chances of their closest rivals going down, not to mention the opportunity to get one over on Paolo di Canio, whose appointment wasn’t exactly welcomed in the north east, there’ll be no letting up from the Magpies on Sunday.
Newcastle, with three wins in their last six league games, are in far better form than Sunderland, whose last win was nine games ago, and if that rot doesn’t stop quick, the fierce bang of relegation that’s hanging around the Black Cats isn’t going to go away anytime soon.
Who’ll rule at the Britannia?
Speaking of a bang of relegation, Stoke City are another side that fall into that category after an incredibly dramatic collapse since Christmas, at which point the pundits, most notably Gary Neville, were queuing up to laud their industry, organisation and defensive abilities that had moved a side who were already one of the most difficult to beat in the league onto another level altogether.
Since New Year’s Day, however, the foundations have collapsed from under Tony Pulis’ side and they have collected only five points from a possible 36 in what has certainly been an annus horribilis to date.
He can pick his nose all he wants, but picking his way out of a relegation battle is more of a priority for Tony Pulis right now
In that respect, although they’ll be fighting for their lives, Manchester United couldn’t have picked a better time to play them as the Champions elect are in the middle of a bad funk at present despite holding a 12-point lead at the top of the table.
Ever since going out of the Champions League to Real Madrid, Fergie’s men have not been themselves and while the prospect of them collapsing at the business end for a second season in a row seems unthinkable, a defeat at the Britannia on Sunday will make United fans sweat just a little bit with some difficult games ahead.
Chelsea v City: Who needs it more?
At the start of the season, Chelsea and Manchester City would have imagined that their ambitions in the middle of April would have been far grander than an FA Cup triumph but that’s the way the cookie has crumbled in what has been an ultimately disappointing campaign for both clubs.
With Chelsea having the Europa League still to play for and with Rafa Benitez almost certainly on his way out of the club in the summer, you could argue that City’s need for a trophy is greater, especially given that the City hierarchy have already stated that Roberto Mancini’s position will be under review at the end of the season.
An FA Cup success is hardly going to strengthen Benitez’s claims to stay on as Chelsea boss – they simply don’t like him enough down at Stamford Bridge – but it wouldn’t look bad on a CV that already includes a Champions League and a couple of La Liga triumphs whenever he’s on the hunt for a new gig.
An extra layer of spice should be added to Sunday’s clash because of the fact that the winners will be stonewall favourites no matter who emerges victorious from the Wigan v Millwall semi-final and even though there’s a very good chance that none of the managers will be in charge of their respective sides come August, they’ll be going all out to get one over on the other at Wembley.
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