Mid-week football roundup

Barclays Premier League

In the only Premier League fixture to be played on Monday West Ham and West Brom laboured to a 0-0 draw at Upton Park. The result came as a slight suprise to me since the Hammers have been in good form of late. West Brom, on the other hand, have been woeful recently, so my earlier prediction of a 1-0 home win seemed possible.

West Brom battled though and probably deserved to come way with three points, though it is almost certain to prove fruitless as the midlands club delay the inevitable. Now four points adrift of Middlesbrough above them, and with only nine games left, Tony Mowbray's side should now start to plan for next season in the Championship, keeping players should not prove to be too difficult since most of their best performers (ie. Greening, Bednar, Morrison) were with them last season when they won promotion.

West Ham, however, have been a big suprise this season. Perhaps they have overachieved but it is fair to say that Gianfranco Zola has got them playing some good attacking football as well as the right results in recent times. They currently sit in seventh place though they may struggle to maintain that place with an injury-hit side and some teams beginning to hit form below them, like Spurs.

A top six club is almost certain to win the FA Cup, therefore seventh place comes with the added bonus of a place in next season's new-look UEFA Cup, now named the Europa League. This will give extra incentive to the teams below the Hammers but they should be able to hold on to their place.


F.A Cup Quarter-Final

The Emirates was the scene for a feisty Quarter-Final as Arsenal scored two late goals to see off Hull City.

The Tigers took the lead through veteran Nick Barmby but were pegged back, first by Robin Van Persie, who poked home from close range after some good work by Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin, and then William Gallas who nodded into an empty net from three yards. Replays showed that Gallas was at least a yard offside as Boaz Myhill failed to claim a cross and Hull manager Phil Brown wasn't happy with the decision which, ultimately, cost them the game:

"We haven't been beaten by Arsenal, and they are fourth top of the Premier League. We have been beaten by a linesman's decision and a referee's decision for Gallas' goal."

The result sets-up a mouthwatering Semi-Final with London rivals Chelsea at Wembley.

The game was marred by an incident after the game in which Cesc Fabregas was accused of spitting at Hull Assistant Manager Brian Horton.

Fabregas has since denied any wrong-doing.