Treffer: FOOTBALL FOCUS FOR THIS WEEKEND MATCHES.

A couple of wins, a couple of Michael Owen goals and suddenly the chattering classes are discussing how quickly Newcastle can catch Manchester United. The usual managerial mantra about concentrating on the league is sure to have been emanating from Underhill this week, but how can the players possibly avoid being distracted by the upcoming Carling Cup trip to Manchester United? The natives are getting restless on Teesside -- where losing at home to Sunderland is a crime worthy of a custodial sentence. Another Premiership weekend so it must mean another incredibly dull Lancashire derby. It was "Adrian who?" when Watford boss Boothroyd was appointed last season, but they knew all about his coaching abilities at Elland Road. Everyone seems to be waiting for Charlton to falter but, looking at Alan Curbishley's squad this season, that could take some time. This sees the return of Jermaine Pennant -- without his tag -- to the club that failed to keep his behavioural problems in check. As Brian Tinnion demonstrated at Bristol City, seven-goal thrashings have traditionally been a trigger for the bullet. How times change in football. The hold-up play of Alan Shearer combined with the finishing of Carl Leaburn. You could see the relief on the face of Mick McCarthy when his side finally got that elusive first Premiership win at Middlesbrough last weekend. Normally, following a defeat, the last team you would want to play next, Chelsea apart, would be Manchester United. Questions were being asked about Blackburn before they won at Manchester United. "It's not boring, it's tactical," was the Python-esque defence of Wednesday's tedious clash. A London team head for Humberside, so expect more hilarious chants and references to the 7 July bomb attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

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