Sport & Fitness

See all London's Christmas and New Year football fixtures

English football would be ruined by an oft-mooted winter break. Quite apart from clubs ‘giving their players a rest’ by jetting out to Japan for a quick money-spinner, where would we be without managers spouting clichés about asking Santa for points? Or truisms about the survival prospects of teams bottom of the table on New Year’s Day? Or the masochistic, uniquely British excitement of playing four matches in 11 days?

The Premier League is largely off-limits unless you’re a season ticket-holder or booked seats well in advance, but there’s plenty of football to enjoy over the festive fortnight with no fewer than 28 league games in the capital.
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Clubs in crisis
Go 520 minutes without scoring a goal, lose 7-0 at Peterborough and slide worryingly close to the relegation zone and a manager’s time is usually up. Terry Butcher insisted ‘I love everything about the club’ but Brentford chairman Greg Dyke promptly terminated the affair. Brentford’s Boxing Day opponents are Wycombe Wanderers – themselves tonked 6-0 by Stockport recently.
Coca-Cola League Brentford v Wycombe Wanderers

Rightful indignation
Watford midfielder Al Bangura faces deportation to Sierra Leone after an Asylum and Immigration Tribunal rejected the 19-year-old’s case to stay. Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd was livid: ‘We vote to elect people to power and then we presume they will put civil servants in place who will do a good job.’ Watford face Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers – great opportunities for local Labour MP Claire Ward to continue rallying support.
Coca-Cola Championship Watford v Cardiff City
Coca-Cola Championship Watford v Queens Park Rangers

Manager of the year?
No, not Arsène. Look down to League 1 where Martin Ling has turned Leyton Orient from overwhelming favourites for relegation into genuine promotion contenders. One of the arguments against the O’s moving into a reconfigured Olympic Stadium after 2012 is that an average crowd of just 5,000 will rattle around a 25,000-seater. If a few more turn up to watch them play Yeovil Town and Gillingham then the move may start to look more appealing.
Coca-Cola League Leyton Orient v Yeovil Town
Coca-Cola League Leyton Orient v Gillingham

One to watch (on Sky)
December has brought a reality check to Arsenal, with the nadir of a pathetic defeat at Middlesbrough. Unless Hleb, Fabregas and Flamini are present and correct in midfield, the team lacks invention up front and the necessary guile to protect the back four. For Spurs, who arrive at the Emirates on Saturday 22, it’s a chance to avenge not only their 3-1 reverse in September but a whole host of other defeats this century. Is Darren Bent really worth £16 million? Will Dmitar Berbatov still be around after the January sales?
Barclays Premier League Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

East End promise
Paul Benson’s return from injury has given Dagenham & Redbridge the cutting edge missing for much of their debut League 2 campaign. He didn’t score in the Daggers’ 3-0 win over Wrexham, their first at home since September 1, but his presence is a major boost as London’s friendliest club battle to climb the table. They’re at home to Notts County and Brentford, and also visit Barnet on Boxing Day.
Coca-Cola League Dagenham & Redbridge v Notts County
Coca-Cola League Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge
Coca-Cola League Dagenham & Redbridge v Brentford

Special offers
You won’t be sitting next to Naomi Campbell or Tamara Beckwith, both spotted in W12 as guests of Queens Park Rangers’ new owner Flavio Briatore, but two adults and two kids can watch Rangers play Colchester United on Saturday 22 for £20. Crystal Palace have a similar 2+2 deal for their match against Norwich City on New Year’s Day – but costing £52. For that price, you might reasonably expect a half-time routine from Eagles fans Eddie Izzard, Sean Hughes and Jo Brand.
Coca-Cola Championship Crystal Palace v Norwich City

First half only
If Fulham’s games lasted 45 minutes, they’d be near the top of the Premier League. On second-half scores alone, the Cottagers are relegation fodder – so leave their games against Wigan Athletic and Chelsea early to avoid disappointment.
Barclays Premier League Fulham v Chelsea

Fit to bust
A few pounds to lose? Then head down to The Den to watch Millwall play Brighton or Crewe Alexandra, and find out about the Millwall Fit Club devised by the Lions Trust, the supporters club and the matchday medical team. You can follow the progress of a ‘Slobby Seven’ as they lose weight for charity. Why not join them and make your new year’s resolution a week early?
Coca-Cola League Millwall v Brighton & Hove Albion
Coca-Cola League Millwall v Crewe Alexandra

See all London's Christmas and New Year football fixtures