Whether you support a successful side, a mediocre one, or Darlington, I’m sure you’ve had cause over the years to criticise some of your team’s manager’s decisions. Ill-advised substitutions or tactics, dodgy acquisitions, or just being Sam Allardyce are all justifiable causes for fans to be concerned about their sides’ guardians, but in my opinion on Tuesday, Mick McCarthy made an unforgiveable decision that may well come back to haunt his relegation-threatened side in May. Having won their previous two matches, including away to Spurs, and dragged themselves out of the bottom three, McCarthy decided that, faced with a trip to an injury-hit Old Trafford, he would change all ten outfield players and simply roll over for United by putting his reserves on the pitch. This act came shortly after a weekend when shock results were prevalent, and in a season where Burnley have beaten Man.United and Wigan have beaten Chelsea, so to just give up before a ball was kicked was quite astounding, and the fans who had paid £42 each for tickets to support their side would have every right to be outraged. It would certainly not have been out of the question for Wanderers’ first team to grind out a point from the match, but come the day of reckoning, even a 2-0 defeat rather than 3-0 may have saved them if relegation comes down to goal difference. Oh, Mick. You are not a master tactician. Please learn to leave well alone.

One more round of fixtures before Christmas, and we start at Fratton Park:

1) Portsmouth v Liverpool: You would have thought that when Liverpool are struggling to put positive results together, this would be just the sort of fixture they would relish. Away from home, they should enjoy a bit more freedom to play their own game against a side experiencing severe difficulties of their own, but in fact on two of the last three occasions that Liverpool have visited Fratton Park, they have failed to win, and on the third occasion, they needed two goals in the last five minutes to come from behind and win 3-2. It really isn’t that difficult to pinpoint Liverpool’s shortcomings as they are not exactly overburdened with players that other Premier League managers envy, but should they fail to reach the Champions League this season, they may be out in the wilderness for some time as financial pressures take full effect. Worrying times for Reds’ fans, particularly if this match ends all square as I expect it to. Incidentally, with the party season upon us, I wonder if this column’s favourite comedy striker will be inviting family and friends round to his house at Christmas time for a Dindane do? If not, I suppose they could have a similar affair at Daniel Agger’s.

2) Aston Villa v Stoke: Two goals in the last two minutes denied Villa victory in this fixture last season, and they will need to be extremely cautious of a similar outcome this time around against a Stoke team who have drawn half of their away matches so far, scoring a paltry four goals in the process. The current signs are that Villa have recaptured last season’s form with three consecutive wins to nil, and Stewart Downing seems to have fitted in seamlessly, while Richard Dunne and Brad Friedel in particular continue to impress. If Villa get their noses in front on Saturday, I can’t see Stoke getting back into it.

3) Blackburn v Tottenham: This is a weekend with some very tight looking encounters in the Premier League, and this one is certainly no exception. Prior to last season’s final minute winner for Rovers following the sending off of Wilson Palacios, the previous three encounters at Ewood Park had all been draws, and with Rovers not having lost at home since the opening day of the season, Spurs may not find it easy to repeat their performance from Wednesday night against Man.City. One to leave alone from a betting perspective, but the one result I can’t see is a home win.

4) Fulham v Man.U.: What a tough one this one is to call as well. United’s numerous defensive absentees may well include Nemanja Vidic after he picked up an injury against Wolves’ reserves on Tuesday, and memories will still be fresh of last season’s ill-tempered 2-0 defeat at Craven Cottage, when Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were sent off. Fulham have conceded just six goals at home so far, but their only defeats have come at the hands of United’s title rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, so I would normally lean slightly towards an away victory, but really wouldn’t be surprised if Fulham managed to put another dent in United’s campaign.

5) Man.City v Sunderland: Tuesday’s defeat against Villa could be even more costly for Sunderland following the injury sustained by Michael Turner and Lorik Cana’s suspension following his red card. Goalscoring has become the Black Cats’ weakness over recent weeks as they have now registered just two goals in their last six matches, and only five away all season. Their hosts continue to disappoint, though, and Robinho’s performance and then his petulance when substituted at Tottenham on Wednesday typify the problems Mark Hughes will continue to face if the club attempt to build a team of star names rather than reliable performers. The goal drought at Sunderland, however, is the deciding factor for me, and with City having beaten Sunderland on all five of their previous Premiership visits, I would go for a home win.

6) Arsenal v Hull: Arsene Wenger has become a very angry man all of a sudden, hasn’t he? His half time rant at the players at Anfield on Sunday seemed to do the trick though, but their failure to kill off Burnley when they had the chance at 1-0 up was the sort of performance that drives fans and managers to despair, and following the match, he laid into the fixture compilers, Mick McCarthy and various other targets to vent his anger. The presence of Cesc Fabregas on Saturday is in doubt following the injury he collected on Wednesday, and if he doesn’t make it, Hull will see their chance to repeat last season’s stirring comeback from a goal down to win this fixture 2-1. Just one other thought after Arsenal’s match at Burnley. Which bright spark in the Arsenal marketing department thought it would be a good idea to have an away kit in Tottenham’s colours? I’m sure they will be flying off the shelves in the run up to Christmas. Unbelievable.
 
7) Wolves v Burnley: How embarrassing (and funny) it would be if Wolves’ reinstated first team lost this match after Tuesday’s fiasco. I can’t really see that happening though with Burnley still struggling to find their first away win, and not even having come close so far. A home victory could propel Wolves much higher in the League due to how close the points totals are of the teams above them, and in a match which promises to produce a few goals, the only outcome which doesn’t seem likely to me is an away win. It is worth noting that despite the regularity of this fixture in various divisions over the years, it has not thrown up a draw since 1976, so perhaps one is due this time around. Score draw.

8) Everton v Birmingham: Everton have relied on a missed penalty and some kamikaze opposition defending to gain points from their last two matches, but the results will have boosted confidence nevertheless as they await the visit of the Premier League’s form team. Five consecutive victories and unbeaten in eight, Birmingham find themselves in a lofty position that in my opinion owes slightly more to the quality of the opposition they have faced than to their suitability for European football, but success can breed more success, and a trip to Goodison Park should hold little fear, even though City’s last victory there came before the release of The Bridge on the River Kwai. That was 1957 in case any of you care, and while I think that record should remain intact, Birmingham’s dogged defence should see them extend their admirable unbeaten run with a draw.

9) West Ham v Chelsea: Those of us whose teams have been relegated before know only too well that such sides are not satisfied with just losing consistently, but also seem to feel the need to find ever more imaginative and cruel ways of dropping points as the season progresses. Enter Robert Green, who may as well book himself a nice European summer holiday, as he certainly shouldn’t be going anywhere near South Africa. Having helped his teammates towards a 1-1 scoreline at Bolton on Tuesday, the most basic of handling errors sent Wanderers on their way to leapfrogging West Ham, and plunging them into the depths of despair. At least they face a straightforward fixture on Saturday, eh? Away win, and just to rub it in, with the winning goals probably coming from Frank Lampard or Joe Cole. 

In injury time. 

Deflected off a beachball.

10) Wigan v Bolton: Despite results having been largely disappointing this season, I can’t really see either of these sides being relegated in May, but Gary Megson and Roberto Martinez still have plenty of work to do if their teams are to climb the table in the near future. Goalscoring remains a problem for both sides with Wigan having scored just nine at home and Bolton nine away. Last season, this fixture ended 0-0. Anyone want a ticket?

OK, for a final crack at another winning accumulator before Christmas, how about combining Arsenal, Dundee, Ross County and Chelsea in a £10 fourfold that would return £37.21 with skybet.com if all won their matches? If you fancy something a little spicier, try adding Gillingham to bump the potential return up to £64.27, also with skybet.

I’ll be back next week with a preview of the traditional Boxing Day upsets, so have a good Christmas and good luck!