The biggest Premiership story of the week is without doubt the re-appointment of Kevin Keegan as Newcastle United’s manager. Keegan, who was a legend as a player at the club and went on to manage the Magpies from 1992-97, is a shock replacement for Sam Allardyce, who recently became the league’s eighth managerial casualty.
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Saturday’s game at the Madejski Stadium between Reading and Manchester United looks as close as you can get for a banker for goals. The Royals have the worst defensive record in the Premiership (joint with Derby) while no club has scored more goals than the visitors. The Red Devils gave their goal-scoring tally a healthy boost last weekend, smashing six second half goals past hapless Newcastle, with Cristiano Ronaldo – the division’s top scorer – bagging his first hat-trick for the club.
United crept past Arsenal last weekend to top the Premiership, courtesy of their excellent goal difference, and Alex Ferguson will want to keep them their with three points in Berkshire. Steve Coppell’s side were beaten 1-0 at home by Spurs in their midweek FA Cup replay, but he has made no secret of his indifference to that competition. Survival in a difficult second season is his priority, which could prove a challenge on recent form. The Royals have lost three straight in the league conceding eleven, and transfer rumours hang over several of their key players. Bettors should note however, that in five recent meetings of the clubs, Reading have drawn three, and lost the other two games by an identical 3-2 score.
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Keegan moved from Newcastle to Fulham, England and then Man City, after which he stated that nothing would tempt him back into football management. Some see as his appointment of the ex-European Player of the Year as the heart ruling the head at Newcastle, but Keegan’s presence on Wednesday night inspired the Magpies to a 4-1 FA Cup win over Stoke. Staurday evening’s game against Bolton now assumes greater significance, which is probably bad news for the Trotters. They have lost four of their last five games, are without an away win all season and their star striker – Nicolas Anelka – has gone to Chelsea, so the heightened atmosphere at an expectant St.James Park will make it difficult for Wanderers to end that poor run.
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