Saturday 30th August 2008Tottenham midfielder David Bentley believes a victory at Chelsea on Sunday can be the catalyst for a successful season.
Spurs lost their opening Premier League games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and face an ominous trip to Stamford Bridge to face Luiz Felipe Scolari's in-form Blues.
But Bentley told www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "It's great to test yourself against a side like Chelsea and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.
"If we go there and put in a solid performance, play good football and get a positive result it could kick-start our season."
Also on Sunday, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill insists he will have no qualms about playing Gareth Barry in their home match against Liverpool - the club the England midfielder looked set to join for most of the summer.
Barry took another step nearer to regaining full sharpness and fitness by playing 90 minutes at left-back in Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with Icelandic part-timers Hafnarfjordur at Villa Park.
O'Neill said: "I am delighted Gareth is staying. It is a situation that three weeks ago I couldn't have envisaged.
"In my mind I thought he would go. It is great that it didn't materialise, a big lift for us all.
"Gareth has a pretty good chance of starting on Sunday."
Like Villa, Manchester City were in UEFA Cup action on Thursday, sneaking past Danish side FC Midtjylland on penalties.
Mark Hughes' side resume their Premier League campaign against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
On Saturday, Newcastle face a difficult trip to face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
And midfielder Danny Guthrie is less concerned about picking up unexpected points on the road than making sure St James' Park is re-established as one of the Premier League's least-favoured destinations for visiting teams.
"Our home form is massive this season," he told www.nufc.co.uk.
"If you win your home games you will finish high up the table."
Matthew Upson insists West Ham's squad are focused on facing Blackburn this weekend - but they are desperate for any uncertainty behind the scenes at Upton Park to disappear.
Anton Ferdinand's departure to Sunderland raised questions following Alan Curbishley's insistence the defender was part of his plans the week before, then the Hammers boss was jeered by his own fans during the Carling Cup win over Macclesfield.
Upson said: "I think once things settle down behind the scenes and stabilises then I think the players will be pleased.
"But we're here to do a job and all that stuff is not really any of our business to be honest, it's happening at the club we play for but it's not a lot to do with us and we just have to focus on what we're doing."
Also on Saturday, Hull City will look to continue their unbeaten start to their maiden top-flight campaign at home to Wigan, fellow Premier League new boys Stoke travel to Middlesbrough, Bolton battle West Brom and Everton host Portsmouth.
Spurs lost their opening Premier League games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and face an ominous trip to Stamford Bridge to face Luiz Felipe Scolari's in-form Blues.
But Bentley told www.tottenhamhotspur.com: "It's great to test yourself against a side like Chelsea and I'm thoroughly looking forward to it.
"If we go there and put in a solid performance, play good football and get a positive result it could kick-start our season."
Also on Sunday, Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill insists he will have no qualms about playing Gareth Barry in their home match against Liverpool - the club the England midfielder looked set to join for most of the summer.
Barry took another step nearer to regaining full sharpness and fitness by playing 90 minutes at left-back in Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with Icelandic part-timers Hafnarfjordur at Villa Park.
O'Neill said: "I am delighted Gareth is staying. It is a situation that three weeks ago I couldn't have envisaged.
"In my mind I thought he would go. It is great that it didn't materialise, a big lift for us all.
"Gareth has a pretty good chance of starting on Sunday."
Like Villa, Manchester City were in UEFA Cup action on Thursday, sneaking past Danish side FC Midtjylland on penalties.
Mark Hughes' side resume their Premier League campaign against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
On Saturday, Newcastle face a difficult trip to face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
And midfielder Danny Guthrie is less concerned about picking up unexpected points on the road than making sure St James' Park is re-established as one of the Premier League's least-favoured destinations for visiting teams.
"Our home form is massive this season," he told www.nufc.co.uk.
"If you win your home games you will finish high up the table."
Matthew Upson insists West Ham's squad are focused on facing Blackburn this weekend - but they are desperate for any uncertainty behind the scenes at Upton Park to disappear.
Anton Ferdinand's departure to Sunderland raised questions following Alan Curbishley's insistence the defender was part of his plans the week before, then the Hammers boss was jeered by his own fans during the Carling Cup win over Macclesfield.
Upson said: "I think once things settle down behind the scenes and stabilises then I think the players will be pleased.
"But we're here to do a job and all that stuff is not really any of our business to be honest, it's happening at the club we play for but it's not a lot to do with us and we just have to focus on what we're doing."
Also on Saturday, Hull City will look to continue their unbeaten start to their maiden top-flight campaign at home to Wigan, fellow Premier League new boys Stoke travel to Middlesbrough, Bolton battle West Brom and Everton host Portsmouth.
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