The obstacle Man United must overcome to make history

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Manchester United remain marginal favourites to win their 19th league title next season despite losing Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez. To confirm their place as the country’s most successful side in history, they must become the first English team to win four successive titles. How hard can it be?

FOURTH SEASON SYNDROME

Huddersfield (1926-27)
The first ever team to win three successive top-flight titles were toppled by Newcastle when they attempted to win a fourth in 1926-27. The Terriers started poorly, winning just three of their first 12 games but by March they were joint-top. Newcastle had a better goal average and a game in hand but Jack Chaplin’s side were in a good position - they still had to play Newcastle and in the previous three seasons they had saved their best form for the final stages of the season. However, they won just three of their final 11 games and lost 1-0 at Newcastle, meaning they finished the campaign five points behind the Magpies in second. Huddersfield haven’t won the title since.

Arsenal (1935-36)
Herbert Chapman won the first two of Huddersfield’s three straight titles and tragically died while on course to deliver the second of Arsenal’s trio. They sealed the second under Joe Shaw and then the third under George Allison but were slow out of the blocks in season four. A good run in late 1935 saw

Posted: July 10th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Six reasons why Leeds should fight back against Millwall

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Photo Credit: Daniel Hambury/PA Wire

Best friends Leeds and Millwall meet for the second time in six days tonight and it is the Londoners who travel to Yorkshire with a 1-0 advantage. Leeds have suffered plenty of play-off heartache in recent years but getting to finals hasn’t been their problem. Here are five stats which suggest they will qualify:

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1. Leeds boasted the best home record in League One this season, winning 17 of the 23 games they have hosted.

2. Their home form has been ever better under Simon Grayson, the 2007 play-off winning manager. They have won 12 straight home games, conceding just once in their last six.

3. The Whites have won their last three clashes with Millwall at Elland Road.

Posted: May 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Blackburn are likely to beat Wigan at Ewood Park

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Sam Allardyce shifted the blame for losses to Liverpool and Stoke on injuries to strikers but chickendinner won’t accept that excuse if they lose at home to Wigan because Morten Gamst Pedersen, Benni McCarthy and El-Hadji Diouf are a trio that most Hull and West Brom fans would be glad of. Here’s why Steve Bruce is unlikely to get a chance to “disrespect” the Blackburn boss:

» Allardyce has lost just one of his ten home games in charge of Blackburn.

» Wigan have won just one of their eight away games in 2009, losing five.

» The Latics have triumphed in just two of their last 12 league games.

» Wigan have never won at Ewood Park and have lost on four of their five visits.

» Bruce has failed to beat Blackburn away in eight attempts as Huddersfield, Birmingham and Wigan boss.

Posted: April 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Holloway, Jackett and Mackay 4/1 to take over at Watford

Three joint-favourites to replace Boothroyd at Vicarage Road

Chickendinner was excitedly looking forward to telling you that Watford caretaker boss Malky Mackay was good value to take over full-time at 25/1only for SkyBet decided to be mean and cut his odds to 4/1.

It may prove significant considering SkyBet’s punters were on the money yesterday about Boothroyd leaving Vicarage Road, with him starting the day at 14/1 to be the next Championship boss sacked before being backed down to 6/4.

Posted: November 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment