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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
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S P O R T S

Will sunny shine for Kochi?
Gavaskar finds himself in spotlight ahead of IPL meeting

Kochi is not the only franchisee which has approached me. I have been approached by many others even before the first auction was done. Mumbai, October 26
Ahead of the crucial IPL Governing Council meet to decide Kochi's fate, Sunil Gavaskar's role in the consortium has created a flutter with the franchise claiming to have roped him in an advisory capacity but the former Indian skipper denying accepting the offer just yet.

"Kochi is not the only franchisee which has approached me. I have been approached by many others even before the first auction was done.



EARLIER STORIES

NO GO in Goa
October 25, 2010
India aim for clean sweep
October 24, 2010
Not all in Wayne
October 23, 2010
Dhoni lauds his batsmen
October 22, 2010
Virat show by Kohli 
October 21, 2010
India aim to go one up
October 20, 2010
Rooney urged to learn from Tendulkar
October 19, 2010
Paes-Melzer win Shanghai Masters
October 18, 2010
Kochi ODI UNDER cloud
October 17, 2010

Modi offers to be available in London for interrogation
Mumbai, October 26
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has offered to make himself available in London for interrogation by Enforcement Directorate and said he would bear the expenses of ED personnel travelling to the British capital to question him for alleged FEMA violations by IPL franchises.

Nehra wants the real Test!
New Delhi, October 26
Nearly six and half years after he last played a Test match, speedster Ashish Nehra is now ready to make himself available for the longer version of the game during the upcoming Test series in South Africa in December.

Watson, Haddin back for SL series
Melbourne, October 26
Skipper Ricky Ponting and all-rounder Shane Watson returned from a short break along with fit-again wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the 15-member Australian cricket squad announced today for the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.

Ponting has ‘more doubts’ about Sydney Test now
Michael Clarke walks back after being dismissed during the infamous Sydney Test. Melbourne, October 26
Australian captain Ricky Ponting's doubts about the genuineness of his team's win in the Sydney Test against Pakistan are mounting amid reports that the ICC knew of suspected match fixer Mazhar Majeed's activities during the game. The game had been investigated and cleared of any match-fixing by the ICC a few months ago but Majeed claimed that the result was indeed manipulated during a sting operation carried out by a British tabloid.

Michael Clarke walks back after being dismissed during the infamous Sydney Test.


On This Day: In 1977, Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was born.

Unreal to be named with Bradman: Tendulkar
New Delhi, October 26
The only current cricketer to be named in ESPNcricinfo's all-time World XI, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar says he finds it "unreal and extraordinary" to be placed alongside legends such as Don Bradman with whom he would have loved to play.

Venkys to buy Blackburn Rovers
London, October 26
Blackburn Rovers hope the sale of the club to Indian conglomerate Venkys will be completed in November, the Premier League club said in a statement on Tuesday. “A series of meetings, including discussions with the Premier League, have followed an extensive due diligence process.

Wayne’s vacation Roo-ined?
London, October 26
It seems all is not well between footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen. It was earlier reported that Rooney and Coleen flied to Dubai to celebrate England striker's 25th birthday and 250,000-a-week contract to stay at Manchester United. But simmering tensions over the star's hooker sessions later sizzled to the surface as they ate at a swish steak house.

Women’s trio honoured
Ludhiana, October 26
The women trio, who made the state as well as the nation proud with their stupendous performance in the recently held XIXth Commonwealth Games (CWG) at Delhi were felicitated by the Punjab basketball Association (PBA).

Mumbai clubs’ matches to be shifted
Mumbai, October 26
The I-League matches involving three city-based clubs are likely to be shifted to the South Western Maharashtra city of Kolhapur and the Western India Football Association is awaiting the final go-ahead from the AIFF.

 

Am a successful captain because I have got a good team. Cricket is all about a team game. I have got some great players who back each other, help each other and that really helps the cause of the team. — MS Dhoni Am a successful captain because I have got a good team. Cricket is all about a team game. I have got some great players who back each other, help each other and that really helps the cause of the team. — MS Dhoni

 


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Will sunny shine for Kochi?
Gavaskar finds himself in spotlight ahead of IPL meeting

Mumbai, October 26
Ahead of the crucial IPL Governing Council meet to decide Kochi's fate, Sunil Gavaskar's role in the consortium has created a flutter with the franchise claiming to have roped him in an advisory capacity but the former Indian skipper denying accepting the offer just yet.

The consortium, struggling to put its house in order, has also sought more time from the BCCI to resolve its internal differences. Gavaskar was a member of the IPL Governing Council before being ousted due to a payment dispute some weeks ago. Kochi said it has got him on board but the former cricketer said he is yet to take a call.

The BCCI, on the other hand, said it was unaware of Gavaskar's role in the franchise, which is battling to end internal squabbling on how the franchise would be run. "We consortium partners are very close to resolving our internal differences and would like the BCCI to give us some more time and have also sought this," franchise CEO Satyajit Gaekwad told PTI today.

"We have not defaulted on any payment to the BCCI and just want some more time," he said. Gaekwad said Gavaskar has already accepted the consortium's offer and that it was done only after the cricket legend quit as a member of the IPL's Governing Council.

"We approached him after he was no longer a member of the IPL Council to Sunil Gavaskar to act in an advisory capacity with the franchise and he has accepted the offer," he said.

"He does not have any stakes in the franchise," he informed. Gavaskar confirmed that he has been approached by Kochi but insisted that he is yet to decide and has been approached by other franchises as well. "They have asked me individually and collectively to come in for the cricketing part of the team. I will take a call once the internal issues are resolved," he said.

Kochi call after BCCI decision: Gavaskar

New Delhi: Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar today denied that he has already accepted an offer from Kochi IPL team to head their cricketing operations and said he will take a call only after the BCCI takes a decision on the franchise's future tomorrow at its governing council meeting.

Gavaskar also denied having any stakes in the Kochi IPL consortium and said his association if any will be on purely cricketing matter. "I have been approached for taking care of their cricketing operations and there is nothing in writing. Let all their internal issues get resolved and afterwards, may be, I will take a call on that. The association as of now is pretty much in the air and things like formal association is not there," Gavaskar said.

"Nothing can be said further till what's happening today and tomorrow. Once BCCI takes a decision tomorrow, then one can react about the future association with the Kochi franchise. If that does not happen, I am quiet happy for what I am doing at the moment," he told NDTV.

Gavaskar said he was approached earlier also by other franchises even before the first auction but nothing had come out of them.

"Kochi is not the only franchisee which has approached me. I have been approached by many other franchises even before the first auction was done. Nothing has come through. Basically, they talk about the cricketing aspect. But I am not so sure what I am getting at," he said.

Gavaskar denied he is getting any stake in the Kochi franchise, saying his association, if any, will be purely in cricketing matters. "That is not correct at all. Nothing to do with investing. Absolutely nothing," he said when asked if he is going to have any stake in the team.

Asked about the meeting of the IPL Governing Council tomorrow in Nagpur to decide on the Kochi franchise issue, Gavaskar said, "They are doing among themselves, I have got nothing to do with their internal issues. I hope they sort out the issues. "It is not an individual case, it is a case for the whole franchise. I am not sure whether they are taking my name. But BCCI will only look into the merits of the case. I just hope the consortium gets together and sort out the issues. Then it will be easier for the BCCI to take a call on them," said Gavaskar, who was recently dropped from the IPL Governing Council.

Kochi team's chief executive Satyajit Gaikwad had claimed that Gavaskar has accepted the offer to head the cricketing operations of the team.

"We approached him after he was no longer a member of the IPL Governing Council. WE offered Sunil Gavaskar to act in an advisory capacity with the franchise and he had accepted the offer," Gaikwad said.

BCCI not aware of Gavaskar's Kochi links

The BCCI today said it was not aware of the Kochi consortium's "links" with ex-Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar, who was a member of the IPL's Governing Council before being ousted a few weeks ago. The fate of the Kochi consortium, which has sought some more time to resolve its internal differences, would be decided tomorrow in a meeting of the IPL Governing Council in Nagpur.

Gavaskar has been roped in an advisory capacity by the franchise, which says it did so after he had been ousted from the Governing Council. BCCI vice-President Rajiv Shukla said the Board was not aware of the consortium's move.

"We were not aware of Gavaskar's links with the Kochi IPL," Shukla said. "We were never informed because this issue was never there. This is for the first time we are coming to know about this. We will discuss the issue in the meeting tomorrow," he added.

Gavaskar was ousted from the IPL Governing Council after a reported payment dispute. The crux of the dispute in the Kochi franchise is that who will run the affairs of the franchise, bought from the Cricket Board for USD 333 million, once the joint venture was formed.

The investors include corporate firms Anchor Earth, Parinee Developers, Rosy Blue and Film Wave - who hold 75 per cent of the equity. The remaining 25 per cent has been given to the family of Gaekwads - Shailendra, his brother Ravi and their parents plus a few others, all part of the group of promoters - Rendezvous Sports World - as free equity for services rendered in successfully bidding for the franchise.

The Board had given the franchise 10 days' time on October 10 to resolve their internal differences and the franchise responded by submitting a letter to the BCCI on the last day of the deadline - October 20. — PTI

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Modi offers to be available in London for interrogation

Mumbai, October 26
Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has offered to make himself available in London for interrogation by Enforcement Directorate and said he would bear the expenses of ED personnel travelling to the British capital to question him for alleged FEMA violations by IPL franchises.

"Its nothing new and from day one we have been saying that he's willing to be interrogated. Now Modi is willing to bear the cost of ED's appropriately authorised Commission to interrogate him in the Indian High Commission in London," Abdi told PTI today.

Maintaining that the Modi camp was fully co-operating in the investigations, Abdi said such an action was permissible under section 131 of the Income Tax Act. "The ED authorities can appoint a Commission to take statement and collect information. It's not anything new and is permissible under the law," he said.

"The offer is that he will be available for questioning for as many days as they want in London. The other alternative is through video conferencing," Abdi said.

"The only reason for all these is because Modi faced a threat to his life in India, which is known to the Mumbai police".

The ED has already issued a Blue Notice - an international alert to law enforcement agencies to obtain information about a person's identity and activities -- against Modi in its probe into the finances of the Twenty20 league. — PTI

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Nehra wants the real Test!

New Delhi, October 26
Nearly six and half years after he last played a Test match, speedster Ashish Nehra is now ready to make himself available for the longer version of the game during the upcoming Test series in South Africa in December.

"I had never said that I will not play Test cricket again. It was just that initially after my comeback, I wanted to concentrate on the ODIs and Twenty20s. Now that I am back in the national side for one and half years, I feel confident to make a comeback in the Test fold. I will like to make myself available for selection during the South Africa Test series," Nehra told PTI today.

The senior pacer, who last played against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in April, 2004 has taken 44 wickets from 17 Test matches apart from his 146 ODI scalps from 108 matches. He will be travelling to NCA to continue a strict fitness regimen as he won't be playing in the Test series against New Zealand. — PTI

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Watson, Haddin back for SL series

Shane Watson
Shane Watson

Melbourne, October 26
Skipper Ricky Ponting and all-rounder Shane Watson returned from a short break along with fit-again wicketkeeper Brad Haddin in the 15-member Australian cricket squad announced today for the ODI series against Sri Lanka next month.

"The selection of this One-day squad marks the start of a very important summer of One-day cricket for the Australian side as it continues its preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Indian subcontinent," NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.

"The squad sees the return of Ricky Ponting and Shane Watson after missing the Indian One-day series and also the return of Brad Haddin from injury," he said. The return of the trio, however, shut the door on the explosive David Warner and Callum Ferguson, who were part of the squad for the just-concluded ODI series against India but did not get a game after two of the three matches were washed out. Australia lost the series 0-1.

"Unfortunately this has meant that both David Warner and Callum Ferguson who were in India with for the One-day series have not been selected. This makes way for the return of several of our key batsmen," Hilditch said. "It is a pity neither player got an opportunity in India due to the weather, but both players will return to interstate cricket and look to score plenty of runs and press for selection during the summer," he added.

On the bowling front, Mitchell Johnson returns to lead the attack after being given a break. "We have several key fast bowlers out of the side at present with injury, but this does create a great opportunity for several or our young fast bowlers in Mitchell Starc, John Hastings and Clint McKay to continue to gain experience on the international stage. — PTI

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Ponting has ‘more doubts’ about Sydney Test now

Melbourne, October 26
Australian captain Ricky Ponting's doubts about the genuineness of his team's win in the Sydney Test against Pakistan are mounting amid reports that the ICC knew of suspected match fixer Mazhar Majeed's activities during the game. The game had been investigated and cleared of any match-fixing by the ICC a few months ago but Majeed claimed that the result was indeed manipulated during a sting operation carried out by a British tabloid.

And the latest report about ICC knowing about Majeed's activities but choosing not to issue a warning during the match has only added to the suspicions surrounding it.

"I probably have a few more doubts now that there have been some allegations made about some of the finer points and littler things that happened during that Sydney Test match," Ponting told 'ABC' channel.

"The one thing I'm very protective of though is the performance that we put up that day ... touch wood the Sydney Test match is not one that has anything untoward happening out of it because I really feel that coming off the ground that day, that's one of the proudest moments of my career," he added. But Cricket Australia chairman James Sutherland said he still firmly believes that the match, which the Aussies won after a stunning Pakistani collapse, was clean.

"That's scuttlebutt that is to be proven. I trust that is the subject now of a proper investigation by the ICC and we can get to the bottom of that, because if there is any truth to that then that's obviously something of great concern to cricket fans and cricket administrators all over the world," Sutherland said.

ICC not to investigate Sydney Test: Lorgat

The International Cricket Council will not re-investigate the Sydney Test between Australia and Pakistan despite being confronted with reports that it knew of suspected match fixer Mazhar Majeed's "activities" during the game.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the governing body did not have "sufficient evidence" to warn the Australian authorities about Majeed's activities during the January series. Australia won the Sydney Test after Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse and committed several fielding errors. — PTI

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Unreal to be named with Bradman: Tendulkar

New Delhi, October 26
The only current cricketer to be named in ESPNcricinfo's all-time World XI, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar says he finds it "unreal and extraordinary" to be placed alongside legends such as Don Bradman with whom he would have loved to play.

Tendulkar is the only Indian in the team which features four Australians, three West Indians, two Englishmen and a Pakistani. "It would have been great to play in this dream team, to walk out with Bradman after lunch, or build a partnership with Viv Richards, and talk to Sobers about cricket," Tendulkar told ESPNcricinfo.

"Just playing and having a conversation with them about cricket. I would have liked to have asked (Jack) Hobbs and (Len) Hutton what it was like to play on uncovered wickets, who were the best bowlers they had faced, and of course, the mental aspect of the game," the 37-year-old, who has been in international cricket for over two decades, added.

Tendulkar said he is glad that he played with or watched live nearly 60 per cent of the selected side. "I played with Malcolm Marshall in county cricket, I played against Viv Richards in an exhibition game, and Lillee bowled to me at the nets at the MRF Pace Academy, when I was 15," he said.

"It was such a thrill. I remember I called my brother and said to him that Dennis Lillee had bowled to me. So to now find myself in this company is unreal. I first met him when I was 12. Pace legend Wasim Akram, the only Pakistani to have made the elite XI, said it was one of his biggest achievements to be named in the star-studded line-up.

"I never thought I would play for Pakistan, let alone be picked for an all-time World XI like this. It is a very special thing, to be picked by these judges and even more of an honour to be in the same team as guys like Sir Don Bradman, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Garry Sobers, Sachin and the others," he said.

"A lot of people ask me who was the best bowler I ever saw. Imran was great, no doubt, very hardworking and shrewd. Dennis Lillee I never really saw, but people tell you obviously about how good he was. But when I rate a bowler, I look at how he did around the world, on different pitches in England, the subcontinent and Australia, and Malcolm Marshall, I feel, was the best of the lot," he added.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who currently plays in the Indian Premier League, said, "to be one of only four Australian players to be chosen is an absolute honour, although I do think there were several other wicketkeepers, like Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Mark Boucher or Alan Knott, who could have easily been picked ahead of me in this team." — PTI

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Venkys to buy Blackburn Rovers

London, October 26
Blackburn Rovers hope the sale of the club to Indian conglomerate Venkys will be completed in November, the Premier League club said in a statement on Tuesday. “A series of meetings, including discussions with the Premier League, have followed an extensive due diligence process. Both parties are hopeful that the transaction will be completed in November,” Rovers' chairman John Williams said in a statement on the club's website (www.rovers.co.uk).

Venkys' chief Anuradha J Desai added: "We expect to be the first Indian company to acquire a Premier League team and we are particularly delighted that the team is Blackburn Rovers, with whom we believe we have many shared values and ambitions.” The V.H Group, of which Venkateshwara Hatcheries P Ltd is the flagship company, specialises in poultry farming and claims to be the “largest fully integrated poultry group in Asia”.

Its diversified businesses interests include food processing, animal healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Its website said its valuation was $300 million, while Indian media reported the company are likely to pay 40 million pounds ($63.51 million) for Rovers if the deal materialises.

Poultry firm eyes EPL team purchase

Deal worth £ 40 million

Bid rival remains interest in Rovers

When contacted by Reuters on Tuesday, a company spokesman said they would be releasing a statement later in the day." Blackburn, managed by Sam Allardyce, are fourth from bottom in the league - one place above the relegation zone - with nine points from as many games.

Last week Allardyce had backed new investment for the the 1995 Premier League champions, who were put up for sale by the Jack Walker Trust three years ago. “The club has been up for sale for some time and new investment would be most welcome," Allardyce said on Friday. “It would seem that things are progressing and maybe we are getting closer to a decision.”

In September, investment company Western Gulf Advisory (WGA) said that they were conducting due diligence on Rovers. A WGA spokesperson told Reuters in an email on Tuesday they were still interested in purchasing the club but "did not wish to comment on the current developments". — Reuters

Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The club was established in 1875, becoming a founding member of The Football League in 1888. It is one of only three clubs to have been both a founder member of the Football League and the Premier League (the others being Aston Villa and Everton). In 1890 Rovers moved to its permanent home at Ewood Park. Prior to the formation of the Premier League in 1992, most of the club's successes were before 1930, when it had gained league and FA Cup trophies on several occasions. Relegation in 1966 was followed by 26 successive seasons of football outside the top flight.

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Wayne’s vacation Roo-ined?

London, October 26
It seems all is not well between footballer Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen. It was earlier reported that Rooney and Coleen flied to Dubai to celebrate England striker's 25th birthday and 250,000-a-week contract to stay at Manchester United. But simmering tensions over the star's hooker sessions later sizzled to the surface as they ate at a swish steak house.

And fellow diners watched in astonishment when a glass was accidentally broken as Rooney argued with 24-year-old Coleen. "It was a sad scene. We're fans and wanted to go over and say hello, but staff stopped us," the Sun quoted one onlooker at the trendy Sea Fire restaurant in Dubai's vast Atlantis resort as saying.

"I don't know how it happened, but a glass was accidentally smashed as they argued," the onlooker added. The British mum of two, who was dining nearby with her husband, added: "They've got all the money in the world now but didn't look happy. They've obviously still got problems." Another Brit tripper was shocked by the apparent coolness the pair showed towards each other at their fabulous seven-star Burj al Arab hotel.

She said: "I saw them in the hotel lobby when there were no fans or photographers anywhere near and their relationship looked very strained. She was sat down while he stood a little apart from her. — ANI

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Women’s trio honoured
Anil Dutt
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, October 26
The women trio, who made the state as well as the nation proud with their stupendous performance in the recently held XIXth Commonwealth Games (CWG) at Delhi were felicitated by the Punjab basketball Association (PBA). The trio, including ace sprintera Manjit Kaur, Mandeep Kaur and discus thrower Harwant Kaur were honoured at a function held at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Police Academy (PPA), Phillaur near here. Besides, their coaches Ranbir Singh Sidhu and Baljinder Singh along with chief national coaches (boxing) GS Sandhu and (wrestling) PR Sondhi were also honoured on this occasion. The secretary general, Punjab Olympic Association Raja KS Sidhu, Retd. DGP, RS Gill, president Basketball Federation of India (BFI), Ludhiana police commissioner Ishwar Singh, Kartar Singh, former hockey star SS Sodhi, Olympian Balbir Singh (railway) and Teja Singh Dhaliwal were present on the occasion.

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Mumbai clubs’ matches to be shifted

Mumbai, October 26
The I-League matches involving three city-based clubs are likely to be shifted to the South Western Maharashtra city of Kolhapur and the Western India Football Association is awaiting the final go-ahead from the AIFF. "We have proposed to hold these matches in Kolhapur as we are starting our work to lay the artificial turf at Cooperage," said Wali Mohammed today. — PTI

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 BRIEFLY

Pak cricket cheated: Roebuck
Sydney:
Pakistan cricket has been betrayed by the people it trusted most, its officials and captains, noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck has said. In a syndicated column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck wrote that bookies are not the ones to be blamed for the country's cricket being in shambles because "the unscrupulous will always try to shave the odds". — ANI

UDRS to nail Oz: Emburey
London:
Former England cricketer John Emburey believes that off-spinner Graeme Swann can capitalize on Australian conditions, and use the umpire referral system as a weapon during next month's Ashes series. "With the referral system in place, the Australian left-handers will struggle against him when he bowls at them from round the wicket. You've now got HotSpot and Hawk-Eye working in your favour and getting you lbw's," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Emburey, as saying. — ANI

Shara's ring costs $250K
Washington:
Maria Sharapova was recently spotted with her new engagement ring, which was given to her by her fiancee L.A. Laker Sasha Vujacic. "This ring makes a statement. It's no wonder why Maria is smiling in the photos! " UsMagazine.com quoted jewelry expert Michael O'Connor as saying. O'Connor gave more details: the center stone appears to be a cushion-cut diamond of approximately 7 to 8 carats on a thick, split-shank platinum band. Estimated cost, according to O'Connor: $50,000. — ANI

‘Woods’ ex-wife a gold digger’
New York:
Tiger Woods' mistress Loredana Jolie has opened up about her sex relationship with the golfer in her new book, 'The Real Diary: Lessons from the Good Time Girl to Champion.' The first tell-all from one of Woods' many bedroom conquests claims the "largely endowed" golfer liked three-way sex with women, fantasized about men and was stuck in a marriage to an uncaring gold digger. — ANI

Mega deal for left-back Evra
London:
Manchester United has said that it could offer left-back striker Patrice Evra a Wayne Rooney type megabucks contract. According to The Sun, the Manchester United management is considering a proposal to raise Evra's pay from £70,000 a week to £100,000 a week in a new four-year agreement. That will set the club back by a further amount of 20-million-pounds, on top of Rooney's £65m five-year bonanza. — ANI

EPL fixtures

Playing on Saturday
Arsenal v West Ham
Blackburn v Chelsea
Everton v Stoke City
Fulham v Wigan Athletic
Wolves v Man City
Man United v Tottenham
Playing on Sunday

Aston Villa v Birmingham
Newcastle v Sunderland
Bolton v Liverpool
Playing on Monday
Blackpool v West Brom

 

 

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