Prediction League Week 34

It was a positive Week 33 for leader Nobes who saw his advantage at the top of the Prediction League stretched to six points.

That gap appears bridgeable for Turls. However, with Lakes now ten points off the summit, time appears to be running out for the oldest member of the crew to get himself back into contention.

Things could all change very quickly though and this weekend sees Preston and Boston in action on Saturday and Forest waiting until Monday evening to come into play.


Preston North End vs. QPR

Lakes: PNE 3-1 QPR
Nobes: PNE 2-1 QPR
Turls: PNE 3-2 QPR



North Ferriby United vs. Boston United

Lakes: North Ferriby United 0-2 Skyrockets
Nobes: North Ferriby United 1-2 Skyrockets
Turls: North Ferriby United 1-2 Skyrockets



Newcastle United vs. Nottingham Forest

Lakes: Newcastle United 2-0 Forest
Nobes: Newcastle United 2-0 Forest
Turls: Newcastle United 1-0 Forest

JPT Final: Preview

In the concluding day of our JPT Week here on Soccer AM/MW, Turls looks ahead to this weekend's final.

Everyone writes off the Johnstone's Paint Trophy as a joke competition but for a time, it looked like it was going to be final that was worthy of a 1970's FA Cup final.

Leeds United and Southampton were the two clubs who were heavily favoured to make it an all ex-Premier League final.

They both looked relatively comfortable as they sauntered their way to their respective regional finals but penalties at Brunton Park meant that Carlisle United ruined the Football League's dreams of a huge Wembley crowd.

Now, I'm not saying that Carlisle and Southampton won't take a lot of fans to London but no-one can deny that it would have been a completely different situation had Leeds made it to the JPT final.

Still, let's not dwell too much on the past and who could have made the final.

Instead, let's prepare for a football feast as the Cumbrians prepare to take on the Saints in the greatest club competition that involves teams from League One and League Two.

We all know how Carlisle beat Leeds in the Northern Final - and if you don't, I can't quite fathom out why you're reading this article - but it could have been a very different story had Morecambe not buckled under pressure.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott is hoping to spring a surprise win on Sunday

In Carlisle's opening fixture, they were taken to penalties by the seaside club after a 2-2 draw. Eventually, the Cumbrians progressed to the next round but it was a nervy beginning to the campaign.

After that shaky beginning, it was pretty simple for the North West club. They thumped four past Macclesfield Town and then scored three past Chesterfield and Bradford City.

It was relatively free-scoring campaign that saw them score 16 goals in six games.

Carlisle were very fortunate that they avoided League One opposition all the way to the regional final because Southampton were not granted the same amount of luck.

The Saints got off to an identical start to their JPT Final opponents. A 2-2 draw against seaside opposition - in the seagull shape of Torquay United - forced the game to penalties.

Southampton progressed and were faced with the tough task of playing Charlton Athletic.

A 2-1 victory over the Addicks did nothing to ease the pain as they were drawn with the best side still in the competition in the shape of Norwich City.

It was a tight game which went to penalties after a nervy 2-2 draw. The Saints went through to the Southern Final, where they would meet the MK Dons.

After the difficult of the previous rounds, the Southern Final was relatively comfortable for Southampton and the progressed to the JPT Final thanks to a 4-1 aggregate win.

Rickie Lambert is Southampton's main goal threat

So who is going to win?

Well, Southampton are looking in great nick at the moment and have got a good team and a good manager.

They should have the experience of playing in a large stadium - although St Mary's is nothing like Wembley - and they will go into the game as favourites.

Rickie Lambert has been his typical free-scoring self and should be a real handful for the Carlisle defence.

However, with smart money going on the South Coast club, the pressure of being expected to win might takes its toll on the players and they may very well crumble when it matters most.

It would be foolish to count out Carlisle - as they proved in the Northern Final. They are a resilient team who are capable of playing good football and should be a real threat.

They go into the game as underdogs and this could benefit them as it should allow the team to play with freedom and no pressure.

The worry is that they can concede goals for fun away from home. Although they have tightened up at the back, they still look susceptible to a player with class and this could cost them against the likes of Lambert.

All in all, I think this is going to be a game that is open from kick-off and will definitely have a few goals in it. Now you don't get that in an FA Cup Final do you?

Turls' Prediction: Southampton 3 Carlisle United 1

Classic JPT Finals

As we look forward to Sunday's JPT Final, Nobes takes a look back at classic JPT Finals of years gone by.

While many competitions seem to have an anti-climax in their Finals, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy bucks the trend. Thrilling, high-scoring events have often been the order of the day, and we can only hope this weekend's delivers more of the same.

Here are some of the past great finals of the Football League's most prestigious competition.


2008/9

Luton Town 3-2 Scunthorpe United (AET)

Bottom of the entire Football League Luton Town staged one of the biggest upsets in the competition's history in beating Scunthorpe in last season's final.

The Bedfordshire club, starting relegation to the Conference in the face after a 30 point deduction, were facing an Iron team gunning for promotion to the Championship.

They also got off to a nightmare start when United striker Gary Hooper found the back of the net after just 14 minutes.

Luton responded though and Chris Martin equalised just after the hour mark, and the Hatters were on course for victory with Tom Craddock's second half volley.

However, with time running out, the Lincolnshire side were level with a stunning strike from midfielder Grant McCann.

The two sides were forced into an extra half an hour's play and it was Town's substitute striker Claude Gnapka who lifted the ball over Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy to seal the extra time win.


2006/7

Bristol Rovers 2-3 Doncaster Rovers (AET)

Doncaster continued their renaissance with a stunning JPT Final win against Bristol Rovers in the last final held at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium

The South Yorkshire side got off to the perfect start when Jonathan Forte fired them ahead after just 43 seconds. Just four minutes later they were 2-0 ahead - Paul Heffernan latching onto a long ball forward to double their lead.

However, the Gas fought back in the second half and, after Richard Walker's penalty had reduced the arrears, Sammy Igoe's half-volley levelled matters.

That meant the game went into extra time and it was Doncaster who summoned up the strength to take the lead and eventually the trophy. Graeme Lee meeting Sean Thornton's corner to head the Vikings to glory.




2004/5

Southend United 0-2 Wrexham

Financially striken Wrexham put their woes behind them as two extra time goals were enough to beat Southend United.

The Welsh club, who had entered administration not soon before and been deducted 10 points for their troubles, were facing a Southend side who would go on to win promotion from League Two in May.

It was no surprise that the final was a tight one therefore. Juan Ugarte went narrowly wide for the Red Dragons, and United responded with Spencer Prior's powerful header being well saved.

The teams continued to trade blows in the second half but, with neither side making the breakthrough, the game was forced into extra time.

Wrexham stepped up their game and took the lead when Ugarte headed home a corner. The Essex club searched for a leveller, but were caught on the break when Darren Ferguson poked home Wrexham's second.

It provided a rare moment of joy for the troubled club's fans when their points deduction would prove decisive in their demotion to League Two.


1997/8

Grimsby Town 2-1 Bournemouth (AET)

The first ever own goal scored by a goalkeeper helped Alan Buckley's Grimsby Town win the Auto Windscreens Shield as these two clubs made their debut appearances at Wembley.

John Bailey had given the Cherries a first half lead, and the cash-strapped club appeared to be on their way to a fairytale win. However, with fifteen minutes remaining, Town equalised.

A cross into the box was met by Kingsley Black whose header deflected in off the keeper's leg for the equaliser.

The goals panel later put the strike down as an own-goal on behalf of the goalkeeper - a certain Jimmy Glass. They obviously thought he'd never write himself into history any other way...

The Mariners, boosted by the goal, went on to win the game in extra time. Wayne Burnett's volley from a corner was the Golden Goal to bring the trophy back to Lincolnshire.


1994/5

Birmingham City 1-0 Carlisle United (AET)

Birmingham City made Wembley history with the national stadium's first ever Golden Goal to settle the 1995 Auto Windscreens Final.

The Blues, who would also win promotion back to the second tier in the same season, were the strong favourites against plucky Carlisle, but toiled throughout the match.

Rod Thomas missed a glorious chance for the Cumbrians and Steve Claridge hit the post for City in normal time, but with the match remained scoreless after 90 minutes, forcing extra time.

Then 13 minutes into the additional time a cross into the box was glanced on by Paul Tait [right] leaving the Carlisle keeper with no chance, and the Shield in the hands of the Midlanders.

Wembley history had been made.