Midweek TV Preview: 26 - 29 January

Monday 26 January

19:45 Burton Albion v Barrow, Blue Square Premier, Setanta Sports 1
Albion dropped points for the first time since October at the weekend. While hardly a chink in the leader's armour, new boys Barrow will draw some encouragement for their trip to the Pirelli Stadium.

Tuesday 27 January

20:00 Portsmouth v Aston Villa, Premier League, Sky Sports 2 and HD2
Portsmouth are in it right up to their necks as Gregory Peck might have said. This season has seen them lose both Diarra and Defoe along with their manager Harry Redknapp, who seems hell bent on turning Tottenham into the next Southampton. Tony Adams is one of the good guys and you hope that he succeeds in keeping Pompey out of trouble. There are those among the SPAOTP ranks who believe that Villa don't have the squad depth to maintain their top four spot. This fixture will be something of a litmus test.

Wednesday 28 January

19:45 Celtic v Dundee Utd, Co-operative Insurance Cup, BBC1 Scotland
Hmmm. The Scottish League Cup. Perhaps our good chum Seb @ Inside Left has something worthwhile to say about this one...

20:00 West Ham Utd v Hull City, Premier League, Sky Sports 2 and HD2
Zola has laid many anxieties to rest and has got the Hammers playing like a team worthy of their history. Perhaps his best signing was that of Chelsea coach Steve Clarke. I heard a good gag about Hull that they were to be congratulated for suffering Second Season Syndrome in their first season. Both Premier League matches this week should be well worth a watch.

Thursday 29 January

19:30 Quarter Final 2nd Leg, Copa Del Rey, Sky Sports 1
Sky will pick one from Barca v Espanyol, Betis v Mallorca, Sevilla v Valencia or Gijon v Bilbao.

19:45 Cambridge Utd v Oxford Utd, Blue Square Premier, Setanta Sports 1
The BSP play-off zone is not for the faint hearted. Only Histon in second have any breathing space. This clash at the Abbey Stadium sees an Oxford United team, resurgent under coach Chris Wilder. However, with the Bulls' financial status murkier than a peer's bedpan, promotion is a must. Cambridge have only a point more that their Varsity rivals. A decent game is in store for those hardy enough to watch it.

21:30 Palmeiras v Real Potosi, Copa Libertadores, Setanta Sports 2
Great to see Setanta continuing with the 'South American Champions League' which kicks off this week. Presumably, Brazilian giants Palmeiras will be expected to overcome their Bolivian opponents over two legs and progress to the group stages. Or will they?