Former Aston Villa & Arsenal defender Martin Keown
Football Focus

Image source, AFP

"With Aston Villa playing a more direct style of football, survival is certainly achievable, although it's a difficult situation. I was relegated there myself, and it's hard to turn things around when you are on a slippery slide.

"I think they have enough within the group and Tim Sherwood certainly believes himself as a manager. He needs to look no further than today. They will win that one I think. There hasn't been much to cheer about for the Villa fans, but Sherwood is relishing the challenge."

Football Focus
BBC Sport

Former Blackburn striker James Beattie on his former Rovers team-mate Tim Sherwood, who will take charge of Aston Villa for the first time today: "I saw it as player he was very influential and he was a leader. He took that on through his career as a player and took it into his short time at Tottenham. He went into the dressing room on Sunday and had an immediate impact.

"He is a winner, he is confident in his ability and I think he is the right man for the job. He always took an interest in the young players and I think that is going to be really important."

Football Focus
BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Former Saints striker James Beattie on Southampton youngster James Ward-Prowse: "He's a young player with tremendous ability and he has been rightly rewarded with a new five-year contract. He has stamped his authority on the team and despite not starting the season he is now a regular in a very good side.

"I really enjoyed my time at Southampton, I was happy when I was there and I have still got a massive regard for Southampton".

BBC Radio 5 live

Today we've been asking you: 'What is the thing you remember from attending your very first match?'

We've had so many responses on the Match of the Day Facebook page,, external so keep them coming.

Image source, Getty Images

Steven Brown: Burnley 3 Chelsea 0. April 1983. The old second division. That's when Chelsea didn't have any fans. No trophies. And no Russian to bankroll them. Short memories.

Keith Johnston: Man United v Everton 1991. I was six years old and got hit by the ball from a Ryan Giggs shot, cried my eyes out at the time, a few years later it seemed quite cool.

Former Middlesbrough & England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Riverside Stadium

"Neil Redfearn was in charge of the Leeds academy before taking over the first team - like Tim Sherwood did at Spurs. Redfearn knows the younger players, he knows their character. At the moment there isn't an awful lot of money to play with, what with the lack of an owner if you like, and Redfearn has put his belief in youth.

"You will have good days and bad days when you are playing with young players, but it's a great start for Leeds. Middlesbrough like to push forward and look very neat and tidy, but they are susceptible to the counter attack here."

You can follow the action in that game in a separate live text commentary.

Football Focus
BBC Sport

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Former Southampton and Blackburn striker James Beattie on Manchester City's new striker Wilfried Bony: "If you look at his physique he must made of stone, he is a huge man and a huge player and it is going to be a huge loss for Swansea. Seeing him play up front with Sergio Aguero is something I would pay to see.

"Stevan Jovetic has started 11 games and scored eight goals so it is tough on him but the manager holds Bony in such high regard. City played two up front last season with Negredo and I think they want to do that again."

Image source, BBC Sport

It is a terrible start for the hosts and a terrible start for home goalkeeper Tomas Mejias. His poor throw only finds Leeds' Lewis Cook, who is able to run into the penalty area, and pull the ball back for Alex Mowatt, who puts his side ahead.

Former Middlesbrough & England defender Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Riverside Stadium

"Aitor Karanka has done an exceptional job at Middlesbrough. When he came here there were one or two questions asked. Who was he, what sort of style does he play, but he has transformed this club.

"They've been playing some fantastic football, while bringing through young players and it is great to see. It's a fantastic stadium here, almost full today, Boro are very well supported. But of course Leeds are on a decent run themselves."

You can follow the action in that game in a separate live text commentary.

Day two coverage of the FA People's Cup is under way and you can follow all the action on the dedicated live page.

Did your team take part in the tournament last night or will you be doing so this weekend?

You can get in contact on Twitter by using the hashtag #PeoplesCup, external on Facebook at the Get Inspired, external page or email in to getinspired@bbc.co.uk

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We have a dedicated live text commentary for the game at Riverside Stadium between Championship leaders Middlesbrough and Leeds United.

Boro will extend their lead at the top of the table to four points if they win.

Football Focus BBC Sport

Football Focus is on BBC One now. So do not miss out. Coverage is available (UK only) by pressing the play button at the top of this page.

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First up is an interview with Manchester City's new striker Wilfried Bony.

Image source, Getty Images

This morning we've been asking you: 'What is the thing you remember from attending your very first match?'

Paul Hudson: The noise, the singing, the friendliness. 101 steps then at the top, smelling the freshly cut grass and then seeing the other stands and the pitch. Watching the ground fill up two hours before kick off. The excitement as it gets closer.

"Every so often someone would jump, just because they can't contain themselves. Then it happens, scarves in the air, flags waving, then...'You'll Never Walk Alone'. The hairs all over your body stand up and you tingle. OMG..This is Anfield, This is The Kop. My first time. Love it. 1971, I was 10."

Arsene Wenger mentioned Crystal Palace's new management. And it has been an impressive start to life at Selhurst Park for former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.

Image source, BBC Sport

More from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, this time talking about today's opponents Crystal Palace and ex-Gunners striker Marouane Chamakh.

"They have found confidence again and have got positive results with their new management," says Wenger. "Chamakh lost confidence at Arsenal. I'm happy he's got a good career at Crystal Palace now."

Image source, AFP

Chamakh, who has been playing while wearing a mask recently after breaking his nose, only scored eight Premier League goals in 40 appearances during a three-year spell with the Gunners.

One Premier League game we have not mentioned much this morning is Crystal Palace v Arsenal, so let's correct that now.

If selected, the match could provide a welcome return to action for England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has been out for three months after needing an ankle operation.

Image source, AFP

He was recently pictured on the back page of a national newspaper appearing to be holding a shisha pipe, and has been pictured in the past smoking.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger says: "I don't know how everybody is but I think every professional footballer has to control his life and dedicate it to the game.

"Jack is a bit ahead of schedule and has worked hard with no big problems, so it's good to have him back."

BBC Radio 5 live

This morning we've been asking you: 'What is the thing you remember from attending your very first match?'

We've had so many responses on the Match of the Day Facebook page,, external so keep them coming.

Nik Edwards: 1982 - Aston Villa v Dynamo Kiev. Eight years old. My dad tried to smuggle me in through the turnstiles. Under instruction to crawl below the counter whilst he paid for himself, the cunning plan was foiled when I bumped my head on the said turnstile and let out a perfectly audible 'Ow!'. At least we got a win for the additional cost.

Shane Stopforth: Freezing to death at Burnden Park aged 12 on my own. Sat next to an old man who did not speak a word to me, at the start of the second half he emerged with two cups of Bovril and handed me one. Never seen him before or since and still love Bovril.

Image source, BBC Sport

Middlesbrough are in their sixth consecutive season in English football's second tier and they can go four points clear at the top of the Championship, albeit probably only for a few hours.

Second-placed Bournemouth face play-off hopefuls Brentford, while Derby and Ipswich are at home to Sheffield Wednesday and Reading respectively.

Watford and Norwich, the two other teams in the above picture, play each other at Vicarage Road.

There are no early Premier League kick-offs today, but there's a big game in the Championship as leaders Middlesbrough take on Leeds.

Image source, AFP

Here is the team news.

Middlesbrough played an hour with 10-men in a midweek draw at Birmingham and manager Aitor Karanka makes six changes from that side. Keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos was the man sent off in that game and he is replaced by Tomas Mejias, while striker Patrick Bamford drops to the bench and is replaced by Kike.

Leeds boss Neil Redfearn names the same side that beat Millwall last time out, with the only change being the return of centre-back Liam Cooper to the bench.

Middlesbrough XI: Mejias, Nsue, Kalas, Gibson, Friend, Leadbitter, Clayton, Adomah, Reach, Vossen, Kike.

Leeds XI: Silvestri, Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci, C Taylor, Byram, Austin, Murphy, Cook, Mowatt, Morison.

Some breaking transfer news and it is good news for Wigan fans.

The Championship strugglers have signed former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant until the end of the season.

Image source, AFP

The 32-year-old, a free agent, has been training with the club this week and is manager Malky Mackay's 10th signing.

"He's got terrific experience and is hungry for a way back into the English scene," said Mackay. "There were a number of clubs interested, so we are delighted we can now call upon him to help us."

Most recently, Pennant played for FC Pune City in the Indian Premier League and joins Wigan with the Latics second from bottom of the Championship.

BBC Radio 5 live

This morning we've been asking you: 'What is the thing you most remember from attending your very first match?'

We have had a fantastic response, so keep your comments coming in to us. Here are a few more of your messages.

Steven Fyfe: My first game was Dundee United in the UEFA Cup. I remember a sea of orange and the smell of burger and onions.

Alan Scantlebury: Gillingham 1964. Shouting, singing, smell of liniment, sledging the opposition goalie on run up to goal kicks.

Image source, Getty Images

Pauline Milligan: Blackburn v Man Utd. I was nine-ish. Sitting on my dad's shoulders. Girls screaming at George Best. No-one could get the ball off him.

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