TLFG: 16-22 September 2013

Hi there and welcome to TLFG.

I was lucky enough to squeeze another game into my schedule this week, taking in QPR's win over Birmingham City at Loftus Road.

It was Rangers' fourth consecutive victory, all of which have been by a 1-0 margin. City fought hard and will have been disappointed to have gone home with nothing having hit the post, missed an open goal, had another ruled out and a penalty appeal turned down.

The downside was a smoke bomb thrown by their fans on to the pitch which saw play suspended for several minutes during the second half.

Next up for me is QPR's game against Brighton on Wednesday night which is usually one of our biggest of the season. Although the Seagulls are not a London club, they're not far from the capital so this always has the feel of a derby to it. There are a few tickets left so I suggest you check it out if you've got nothing better to do.

Anyway, that's enough about my week. Remember to let me know what you've been up to and if you're interested in reviewing a ground within the London area for this blog then get in touch. Also keep the general correspondence coming, I enjoy answering your questions and offering advice if I can.

You can contact TLFG through the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or even by good old email.

LATEST TICKET NEWS

Each week at TLFG we attempt to compile a list of what's on general sale to non-members at London's Premier League clubs and for other notable matches (click on the team name for details).

ENGLAND

Friday 11 October, 8pm - Montenegro, World Cup qualifier, Wembley
Tuesday 15 October, 8pm - Poland, World Cup qualifier, Wembley

ARSENAL

Nothing currently available

CHELSEA
Wednesday 18 September, 745pm - FC Basel, Champions League
Sunday 6 October, 11am - Manchester City, U21 Premier League (must buy in advance)

CRYSTAL PALACE
Nothing currently available

FULHAM
Tuesday 24 September, 8pm - Everton, League Cup (on sale 10 Sep)

Saturday 5 October, 3pm - Stoke City, Premier League
Saturday 23 November, 3pm - Swansea City, Premier League

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Thursday 19 September, 805pm - Tromso, Europa League (on sale 9 Sep)
Sunday 27 October, 4pm - Hull City, Premier League (on sale 12 Sep)

WEST HAM UNITED
Saturday 21 September, 3pm - Everton, Premier League
Tuesday 24 September, 745pm, Cardiff City, League Cup (on sale 10 Sep)
Saturday 19 October, 530pm - Manchester City, Premier League
Saturday 23 November, 530pm - Chelsea, Premier League
Thursday 26 December, 3pm - Arsenal, Premier League
Saturday 22 March, 3pm - Manchester United, Premier League
Saturday 5 April, 3pm - Liverpool, Premier League
Saturday 3 May, 3pm - Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League

TICKET DEALS

The discount tickets this week can be found in the European competitions with Chelsea charging a flat rate of £35 for their Champions League group game against FC Basel while it's £25-£30 to watch Spurs host Tromso in the Europa League.

Looking ahead to next week, there's more good value to be found in the next round of the League Cup.

Once again West Ham have the best deal in place as they welcome fellow Premier League side Cardiff City. It's £15 in advance and £20 on the day.

Over at Craven Cottage we have another all Premier League tie between Fulham and Everton and there's a flat rate of £20.

Lastly, Watford entertain Norwich City with tickets ranging from £15-£20.

If you know of any other deals I may have missed or your club is running a promotion let me know.

There are over 80 matches in the London area this week including matches in the FA Cup and FA Vase in addition to all the usual league matches.

As always, check with clubs before you travel just in case a game has been called off or venue has been changed. Also, please let me know if anything is wrong or missing.

Details on all of this week's games can be found in the following match map. If you've never used it before, please note that when there is more than one match at a specific ground you'll only be able to see individual match pins if you zoom right in. If you don't, the pins obscure each other and you might miss them. To avoid this, you can also scroll down the list of games on the left side of the map page to make sure you get all the information.

Also if you're unfamiliar with the English league structure I indicate the level at which an individual league sits in the national 'pyramid' with the Premier League at the top (Level 1) and various minor leagues at the bottom (Level 10). Typically a top level game will see crowds of anywhere between 20,000-60,000. These figures will gradually decline as you go down the leagues until you get to Levels 8-10 where attendances of 150 or less are most common.

MATCH MAP
Green pin - Tuesday fixtures

Turquoise pin - Wednesday fixtures
Purple pin - Thursday fixtures
Magenta pin - Friday fixtures

Blue pin - Saturday fixtures

Red pin - Sunday fixtures

View London match map 16-22 September 2013 in a larger map

Next up is this week's TLFG match recommendations where I list a few games which I think could be worth a watch. Add your own in the comments section below.

TLFG TOP 10

ARSENAL v STOKE CITY

After the first match of the season, the Gunners were described by all and sundry as a club in crisis following their 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa. Four weeks on and things couldn't be more different thanks to three straight wins which have put them top of the Premier League (at the time of writing). With Mesut Ozil enjoying an impressive debut at Sunderland on Saturday they are looking like a far more effective outfit. Stoke had a disappointing season last time but have started well under new boss Mark Hughes. This weekend they held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw and have only lost once so far. The Potters often make life difficult for the Gunners on their own turf but they haven't won at Arsenal since 1981. (Premier League, Sunday 22 September, 130pm. Ticket info)

CHELSEA v FULHAM

With QPR having slipped into the Championship, this is now the only west London derby in the Premier League. If you're new to watching football in London and don't know the geography then I should point out that these two are the closest of any professional London clubs with their grounds around mile apart. The Blues are and always have been the biggest club in the area with the Cottagers only emerging as a challenger at the turn of this century when the joined the Premier League after years in the lower divisions. Fulham rarely win these games but they do get a lot of draws. (Premier League, Saturday 21 September, 530pm. Ticket info)

CHARLTON ATHLETIC v MILLWALL

It's derby time in south-east London on Saturday too as these two Championship rivals meet for the first time this season. Both sides have made disappointing starts to their campaigns but form will go out the window in the battle for bragging rights. Tickets for this will be tough to get hold of without membership as security is tight to avoid crowd trouble. Matches between the two in recent years have been relatively rare as the clubs have gone up and down the divisions and consequently the Addicks haven't managed a win against the Lions since 1996. This could be their best chance for some while. (Championship, Saturday 21 September, 1245pm. Ticket info)

QUEENS PARK RANGERS v BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION

One of the longest match-ups in terms of characters, this Championship game is usually a big occasion for the respective clubs. As mentioned above, this always feels to me like a derby as Brighton's geographically closest rivals are all based in the capital. Rangers have adapted really well to life back in this division, have yet to lose and are joint top with Blackpool. The Seagulls were among the promotion contenders again this season but their results have been a bit inconsistent so far with two wins, two draws and two defeats. Although QPR should start as favourites, this could go either way. (Championship, Wednesday 18 September, 745pm. Ticket info)

AFC WIMBLEDON v BURTON ALBION

After spending most of their first two seasons in the Football League at the wrong end of it, the Dons have made a great start this time round. After seven games they sit seventh, which if the season ended now would see them in the play-offs. They would be even higher up the table but lost to leaders Chesterfield 2-0 this weekend. On Saturday Burton Albion come to town knowing that a win will see them leapfrog Wimbledon to get among the leading pack. They have, however, lost their last two and have never won at Kingsmeadow. (League Two, Saturday 21 September, 3pm. Ticket info)

BROMLEY v BASINGSTOKE TOWN

After comfortably seeing off Staines in one of the featured matches of last week, Bromley are still sitting snugly in second in the Conference South table just a point behind Eastleigh. On Saturday they face a tricky Basingstoke side who are up in the play-off places themselves. It will almost certainly be tight but I'm tipping the Lillywhites to win it even though the Hampshire side have come out on top in their last three visits. (Conference South, Saturday 21 September, 3pm. Club info)

NORTH GREENFORD UNITED v HARROW BOROUGH

On Tuesday we've got a local derby to look forward to in the FA Cup. By all accounts North Greenford should have recorded a cup upset on Saturday as they outplayed their higher ranked opponents despite having 10 men for most of the second half. Harrow almost lucked their way through with a late goal which put them 2-1 up much against the run of play only for the visitors to grab an equaliser deep into injury time. The vibe going into this match seems to suggest Boro will start as underdogs and given their current form it's hard to disagree. (FA Cup, Tuesday 17 September, 745pm. Club info)

THURROCK v VCD ATHLETIC

Isthmian League Division 1 North side Thurrock enjoyed a notable win over higher ranked Bury Town in the FA Cup on Saturday. A morale boosting win like this is just what they need ahead of a fixture against one of the hottest teams in the country right now. VCD got promoted from the Kent League last season and have slain all before them at the start of this Isthmian League campaign. Having won their opening eight league games, they are already four points clear and will head to Ship Lane as favourites.  (Isthmian League Division 1 North, Tuesday 17 September, 745pm. Ticket info)

ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDLESEX) v KETTERING TOWN

I've gone for this match as it's your chance to see famous old non-league club Kettering perhaps before they go out of business. With debts mounting, a campaign is currently under way to save the club so get along to Short Lane and see how they do. Even though the Poppies are a much bigger club than Ashford, they're having pretty similar seasons so far and are both at the wrong end of the Southern League so it should be competitive. (Southern League Division 1 Central, Saturday 21 September, 3pm. Ticket info)

EPSOM & EWELL v WHYTELEAFE

These two enjoyed a bit of a ding-dong battle in the FA Cup recently with 13 goals being scored in the original tie and replay. Whyteleafe eventually came out on top by a surprising 6-1 margin. That reverse had been the only blip for E&E all season until Saturday when they suffered another upset in the Combined Counties League against Chessington & Hook United. The Leafe are still up among the leaders in the Southern Counties East League so this FA Vase tie has the potential to be another cracker. (FA Vase, Saturday 21 September, 3pm. Club info)

If you have any questions or want advice about watching football in London, you can contact TLFG using the comments section below or via Facebook, Twitter or email.