Aston Villa manager John Gregory expects his side to shrug off the disappointment of their defeat at Blackburn when they play Sheffield Wednesday today. With Chelsea and Manchester United meeting tomorrow night, Villa will go back on top of the English Premiership if they win at home.
Gregory saw his side lose goalkeeper Michael Oakes in a controversial dismissal before they went on to a 2-1 defeat at Ewood Park on Saturday.
"We have had a few punches on the nose at various times - and we have shown the characteristics to bounce back and win our next game. That is what we need to do against Wednesday," said Gregory. Gregory will appeal Oakes's 54th-minute dismissal for allegedly handling outside the area. Referee Dermot Gallagher sent off the Villa goalkeeper, but the weight of television evidence showed Oakes let go of the ball as he left the area, leaving a furious Gregory with a ready-made plan of action.
"We will be appealing, absolutely 100 per cent," Gregory said.
Chelsea will be without injured top scorer Gustavo Poyet, the big Uruguayan whose goals have carried them to the top of the Premiership, for their clash with Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. United manager Alex Ferguson has declared his intention to attack at Stamford Bridge. "Our record at Chelsea has been brilliant and we have been excellent down there - just like they have been up here at Old Trafford," he said. "We've always threatened to score goals down there and I hope that continues."
Arsenal, on the back of two wins, have finally started their title defence in earnest and they should add three further points at Charlton today. However, striker Nicolas Anelka has been ruled out for the next three weeks after suffering an ankle injury in the 1-0 win against West Ham on Saturday.
Their options for the trip to Charlton appear limited in the extreme. Christopher Wreh was an inept deputy against West Ham and Fabian Caballero is suspended.
Nigel Winterburn is ready to return at full back at Charlton after being an unused substitute against West Ham following injury, even if David Seaman, Stephen Hughes, Tony Adams and Fredrik Ljunberg are still out.
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, lacking striking alternatives because of injuries, will again be without Clive Mendonca.
Nottingham Forest manager Dave Bassett believes it is do-ordie time for his team in their relegation basement battle with Southampton today. The Premiership's bottom two clubs slug it out at the City Ground with three precious points up for grabs.
If Forest do not win they will beat their record of 16 games without a win. Forest's cause has not been helped by a lengthy absentee list due to injury, suspension and illness. However, Steve Chettle should play despite his niggling back problem. In today's other big game, Newcastle travel to Liverpool with the Anfield club reeling from a tabloid sex scandal. Liverpool reminded their players of their responsibilities as public figures after a report of their Christmas party was splashed across the front page of a Sunday tabloid.
The News of the World claimed a fancy dress celebration at a Liverpool pub turned into "a wild sex orgy", with England Under-21 star Jamie Carragher at the centre of the allegations which involved a female stripper.
In a statement yesterday, the club said they regretted that the article and pictures had been published.
"This was an annual private Christmas party organised by the players themselves and arranged a full six days before the team's next Premiership fixture," said the statement.
"Liverpool Football Club obviously regret that an article of this nature about their players should appear on the front page of a national newspaper. The club have reminded all players of their responsibilities as public figures and as representatives of Liverpool FC and have confirmed that the matter will be dealt with internally."
