Source: Daily_Mail
Jamie Redknapp's Weekend Watch: Can Villa keep pressure on top four?
FOUR-MIDABLEThey draw you in and then hurt you with their pace. Martin O'Neill sets up his team to win away from home, because they'll catch you on the counter attack. Now we are talking about them as top four contenders and they go to Sunderland on Tuesday, needing to follow their Old Trafford win with another result on the road. Can they keep it up?MIDLANDS MAGIC IIAnother hat-trick of wins for the three Midlands outfits; Villa, Birmingham and Wolves. It's now becoming a nice habit for those clubs. I was at White Hart Lane where Jody Craddock of Wolves was excellent in seeing off Jermain Defoe and then Peter Crouch. They were strong in midfield too as they collected another huge three points.[LNB]Lee's hot stuffLee Bowyer was a hard midfielder to play against when he was on top of his game. He had an amazing engine and would run all over the pitch, left and right, hunting for the ball and seeking space in and around the box. Then he went off the boil for a few years and looked as if his best days were behind him. Now he's on fire again for improving Birmingham.BECKHAM STILL BESTThe longest shot I tried was from about 35 yards, because I was always certain mine would end up drifting across Stanley Park, so I have to respect Maynor Figueroa of Wigan for his 61-yard goal. David Beckham's long-range goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon is still the finest, though, because his was improvised and not a dead ball strike.[LNB]HE'S NO FALL GUYAnyone who has worked with Craig Bellamy knows he plays on the edge and often steps over the line. But he is no cheat. That will hurt him more than any other sending off, especially as the referee, Mark Clattenburg, was wrong with the decision to show Bellamy a second yellow card for 'simulation'. It should have been a free kick to City. The ref got it wrong.HOME ALONEAlex McLeish's Birmingham were the only team to win at home in the Barclays Premier League this weekend. Remarkable when you think Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Spurs all had home fixtures. Once again, it's a reward for the dare of away teams who are more bold in their approach. There are no easy games in this league.[LNB]NO DOUBTING THOMASIt's been some comeback by Thomas Vermaelen. He was muscled out of it by Didier Drogba three weeks ago and a given a real 'Welcome to the Premier League' seeing to. After that game, Arsenal were 11 points behind Chelsea and a beaten team. Now they're six points behind with a game in hand and Vermaelen was excellent yesterday against Fernando Torres. Lesser players could have gone into their shell. He's a star.[LNB] Jamie Redknapp's weekend watch - homepageJamie Redknapp's weekend watch: Chelsea's petulant side resurfacesJamie Redknapp: The moment you're told that's itJAMIE REDKNAPP: Rooney's golden boot can fire us to World Cup glory[LNB] Explore more:People:Lee Bowyer, CRAIG BELLAMY, Peter Crouch, FERNANDO TORRES, Jermain Defoe, David Beckham, Didier Drogba, ThomasVermaelen, Alex McLeish, Jamie RedknappPlaces:Birmingham, Stanley Park
