Up for the Cup

Scintillating Stoke, a vital win for Wigan, and all that late drama at the Emirates... it's Chris Kamara's picks!

Chris Kamara's Picks of the Weekend

Every Saturday afternoon, Chris Kamara heads to stadiums up and down the country to deliver his unique match reports for Soccer Saturday. On Sundays you can see him back in the Sky Sports studios as he brings you all of the highlights on Goals on Sunday. And then on Mondays you can find Kammy right here on skysports.com as he brings you his picks of the weekend. Join us every week as he runs through his highs and lows...

GAME - Bolton 0-5 Stoke
I know this is supposed to be my Premier League picks, but I am going to make an exception for this category and say the FA Cup semi-final between Stoke and Bolton. Stoke were awesome; they didn't have a bad player in the team. They defended superbly, Jermaine Pennant and Matthew Etherington were excellent on the wings; Rory Delap and Glenn Whelan dominated in midfield; and Jonathan Walters and Kenwyne Jones were a real force up front. You get to a semi-final and you're looking for players to perform and how they did. Unfortunately for Owen Coyle, Bolton didn't really turn up and went down very, very meekly. There wasn't really a passage in the game where they had a real go and put the pressure on. But take nothing away from Stoke. People said they wouldn't be able to perform and dictate in the wide open spaces at Wembley - they were wrong. They are nowhere near as direct as they're perceived to be; you can't be with people like Pennant and Etherington in the team. They will give Manchester City a real game in the final, mark my words.

GOAL - Dirk Kuyt
In terms of importance, Dirk Kuyt's 90th-minute penalty against Arsenal was huge; it could have a massive bearing on the title race. But from a Gunners point of view, it should never have happened. Arsenal just needed someone on that pitch to organise them once they'd scored and see them through to the final whistle - just one player who'd shake a few fists. The old Arsenal wouldn't have let that game slip. They really lack someone with experience and stature and it looks as though that could cost them the Premier League title.

GAFFER - Kenny Dalglish
Kenny's done a great job at Liverpool. I know their equaliser yesterday was fashioned from a terrible error by Eboue, but the fact they kept going after falling behind so late on shows you how he has galvanised that club. Let's not forget that they were missing Steven Gerrard, while Jamie Carragher and Andy Carroll had also left the field by the time they scored. Kenny has found a perfect blend of youth and experience in that side and instead of persisting with some of the players that failed under Roy Hodgson, he has given new blood a chance with the likes of Jay Spearing and John Flanagan. He has really revived Anfield.

PLAYER - Robert Green
Liverpool's young trio of Spearing, Flanagan and Jack Robinson were outstanding against Arsenal. Spearing had added real bite to the Reds' midfield, while the two full-backs didn't look at all out of place; Flanagan was always in the right place and Robinson - who replaced Fabio Aurelio after 22 minutes - didn't let Theo Walcott pass him once. I probably would give the award to Robert Green, though. He was outstanding for West Ham, albeit in a losing cause against Aston Villa.

TEAM - Wigan
What a massive win for Wigan. Blackpool shot themselves in the foot - falling 1-0 down after three minutes in the manner that they did - but Wigan played well, and they are a very good side when they get a bit of confidence. They're up to 17th now and even though there will be plenty of twists and turns yet, they look to have a quite favourable run-in. I thought Wigan would stay up when I watched them beat Birmingham about a month ago; they've got quality and when Charles N'Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega fire, they can test anybody.

GRIPE - Wenger's post-match reaction
As a manager, you do tend to put you rose-tinted glasses on and back your own team, but in a day and age where you can see these things before you come and speak to the media, Arsene Wenger's view that Liverpool shouldn't have been awarded a penalty was strange. You look at Cesc Fabregas' reaction after Emmanuel Eboue had fouled Lucas and it tells you absolutely everything, so perhaps Arsene's reaction was a bit silly. But it's not the first time he hasn't seen something he should have!