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Focus multimedia - Which two countries have won consecutive World Cups?
Saturday 02 May 1998 Previous News 2 Next

WILSON: IT'S DO OR DIE
Leicester City v Barnsley

Barnsley head to Leicester today knowing nothing less than three points will stop them from returning to the Nationwide League after nine tension-packed months in the top flight. Wilson's side are just 90 minutes away from joining Crystal Palace back in the First Division and Wilson's aware that one final triumph on the road will be all that's needed to take their dramatic season to the wire and into a home clash with Manchester United.

Things won't be easy though. Barnsley have managed just three clean-sheets away from Oakwell this season and opponents Leicester are still in with the chance of a UEFA Cup place.

The lads have been really committed and really focused this week, revealed Wilson. But we can't go into the game cavalier. We know we need to win to keep our options open, but it's no good being 2-0 down before you even know it. There has to be an element of caution. If we can keep a clean sheet it will give our strikers a chance of winning the game.

"But clean sheets are what have been lacking all season on a consistent basis. We've been fighting the goals-against column every week, so what we need is a good defensive performance to keep us in the hunt. If we lose the game we're down. There are no ifs and buts. Obviously it would be fantastic if we could take it to the last game of the season and play Manchester United with everything riding on it. That would be very welcome.

Barnsley, however, also need more than the odd result to go their way as Bolton, Everton, Spurs and Newcastle are all fighting for their lives. Even if we were to win our last two games there's no saying we would stay up, added Wilson. Other teams have got to slip up. Nobody owes us any favours as we don't owe anybody else any The other teams will be committed to winning their own battles. All we can do is pick up maximum points and see where we stand after that.

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill acknowledged the great job done by Wiulson this season when he said: Danny has turned Barnsley into the most popular team in the country, so I know it will make us unpopular if we beat them. But we still have a decent chance of reaching Europe if we can win our last games so we are desperate to get the three points. A draw will be no use to either side so it promises to be an extremely open game.

Wilson has virtually a full squad to choose from with only striker Georgi Hristov and defender Chris Morgan, who complete three and five match bans respectively, on the sidelines. But striker Ashley Ward should return to the starting after coming on came on as a sub and playing with a kidney infection in last week's 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.

Leicester midfielder Neil Lennon, meanwhile, is fighting fit to play after his touchline clash with Newcastle striker Alan Shearer in the midweek game at Filbert Street. Lennon has suffered no adverse reaction to the controversial incident, despite being left with a bloodied nose, bruised cheek and cut lip O'Neill has no fresh injury worries and is expected to field an unchanged side.

MATCH FACTS
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Last five League matches: Leicester W D D W D, Barnsley L W L D L
Top scorers: Ian Marshall (Leicester) 10, Jan Aage Fjortoft(Barnsley) 18
Match odds: H 4-7 A 10-3 D 3-1

FOOTBALL365 PREDICTS
Leicester 2 Barnsley 0. Danny Wilson's side has been the outfit everyone has warmed to this season and who wouldn't rather see the Tykes stay in the Premiership at the expense of dull-as-ditchwater Newcastle and their mealy-mouthed manager? Sadly the first part of the season has cost them dear and with Leicester in good form and gunning for Europe, there will no fairytale ending here.


GREGORY STILL NOT A EURO-SCEPTIC
Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa
 
Aston Villa manager John Gregory is still claiming his side can secure a European place - but only if they win at Sheffield Wednesday today:

We had a major setback losing to Bolton last week, but still have a chance of reaching Europe to rescue something from the season, said Gregory. I've been very pleased with the form that we've shown in the last eight weeks and we have to take the defeat against Bolton as a minor setback and make sure that we are ready for Wednesday. You can't afford to slip-up at all at this level.

Villa's central defender Gareth Southgate and utility player Simon Grayson are on course to win their battles to be fit for the game. Both Southgate (ankle) and Grayson (calf) have been under treatment all week after picking up injuries in last weekend's 3-1 defeat by Bolton. But defenders Steve Staunton and Riccardo Scimeca are definitely out with hamstring injuries.

Italian teenage striker Francesco Sanetti is poised to be on the bench for Wednesday in their final home game of the season. The 19-year-old has finally received international clearance and Owls boss Ron Atkinson is likely to give him a taste of the big time. Atkinson has three players back from suspension - Italian striker Benito Carbone, Yugoslav defender Dejan Stefanovic and right-back Earl Barrett are all available again after completing one-match bans. Striker Andy Booth (groin) is the only injury doubt for Hillsborough, where Wednesday are unbeaten in the Premiership since December 20, so Alan Quinn may make his full Premiership debut.

MATCH FACTSLast season: Sheff Wed 2-1 Aston Villa, Aston Villa 0-1 Sheff Wed
Last five League matches: Sheff Wed W L D L W, Aston Villa W W W W L
Top scorers: Paolo Di Canio (Sheff Wed) 14, Dwight Yorke (Aston Villa) 14
Match odds: H 13-8 A 5-4 D 5-2

FOOTBALL365 PREDICTS
Sheffield Wednesday 2 Aston Villa 1. Villa have more riding on this game than Wednesday, but we have a sneaking suspicion that the Yorkshiremen may end up being Midlands party-poopers. The home side will want to put on a display for their fans and Ron Atkinson will be looking to put one over his old club. He's got enough talent in his side to do it, too.

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