Useless Facts About This Weekends Fixtures
Swansea v Aston Villa
Villa have never won at Swansea, in the top division. They’ve only played there twice, losing 1-2 each time. They won there in 1971 when they were in the Old Third Division.
The first time they met in the old First Division was 15th December 1981. Swansea won 2-1 and that took them to the top of the table.
By the time Villa visited again in May 1983, Swansea were 2nd from bottom and despite winning 2-1 they were still 3pts from safety with just two games left, and were ultimately relegated.
Chelsea v Wolves
These two have met 38 times at Stamford Bridge in the First Division/Premier League, with 14 victories each. Chelsea have won all the Premier League meetings, but Wolves won their last meeting in the First Division when they won 2-1 in March 1979. Wolves have failed to score in their past two visits.
Stoke v Blackburn
Blackburn have come away goalless in their 3 previous visits to Stoke. They’ve also failed to win for the past 15 times. In fact, you have to go back to Boxing Day 1902 for the last time they won there. Stoke have been victorious in 6 out of the last 7 times they’ve played Blackburn at home.
Bolton v Everton
68 times these two have met at Bolton and the current tally is 28-27 in Everton’s favour. Bolton have won the last 2 meetings, which ended a run of 4 games since they last beat Everton at home.
Man Utd v Newcastle
Newcastle have been successful on just 7 occasions of the 65 times they’ve played at Old Trafford. They’ve only scored once in their past 5 visits. United have gone 27 games since they last lost to Newcastle at home and the last time was way back in February 1972, when Newcastle won 2-0.
Norwich v QPR
These two have met just 16 times in the top division, with QPR only winning 3 times, 2 of them in their last 4 visits. The last two meetings between these two at Carrow Road have brought goals. Norwich won 4-2 in October 1994 with QPR winning 4-3, the previous March.
Liverpool v Man City
Man City have gone 8 games since they left Anfield with a win. In May 2003, two Anelka goals, against his old club, saw City pull off a 2-1 win when they were losing up to the final 15 minutes. Before that, you have to go back to Boxing Day in 1981 for next previous win. Liverpool’s 3-0 win over City in April, was the first time they’d won by more than 1 goal for the last 10 games, since they won 6-0 in October 1995.
West Brom v Spurs
Over the years, West Brom have a good record at home against Spurs. Their unbeaten in the past 4 games, with Spurs last win coming in April 2003 when they came from 1-2 down to win 3-2.
That Spurs win was the end of a 5 game unbeaten run at The Hawthorns, but in 50 meetings in the top division, West Brom has won 28 and lost just 13.
Sunderland v Wigan
These two have only met 5 times at Sunderland in the top division, with both sides winning twice. Sunderland won the last meeting here, 4-2 in April with goals from Henderson and Gyan. Both those players have gone now, but Wigan aren’t in great shape themselves. They last won at Sunderland in March 2009, 2-1.
Arsenal v Fulham
Fulham first league visit to Arsenal was in November 1949. They’ve been travelling there 22 times and have still to register a victory. They’ve only drawn 3 times over that period, with the last time being February 2009 when they earned a 0-0 draw. So the odds on a Fulham win must be very long indeed, but there’s always a first time for everything
2011-11-25, 23:35
