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Cape Town - Each round of the 2009/10 English Premiership season, a panel of self-proclaimed Sport24 soothsayers have a crack at predicting the week’s results.
Compiled by Chief Writer Rob Houwing (2008/09 runner-up), with regular predictions also from Managing Editor Garrin Lambley (the defending champion), Content Producer Raymond Kilfoil, Commercial Manager David Brooke and former Bafana Bafana and AmaZulu striker George Dearnaley, you’ll seldom find us singing from the same song-sheet.
Occasionally we invite a celebrity guest tipster to have a crack at a round of matches; watch this space …
This week’s fixtures:
BIRMINGHAM v HULL
Saturday, 16:00
Strugglers Hull may be second from bottom but they do have a game in hand for solace, so if they can pull off an upset at Birmingham their chances of staying up suddenly turn a bit brighter. That said, actually achieving it is another thing – all of us have the home side winning although I reckon it’ll be very close.
Rob: Birmingham 1 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 3-1
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
BLACKBURN v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
If they could frustrate Manchester United, getting a ruddy-faced Fergie to decimate his chewing gum in the process, then Blackburn ought to be capable of holding the credible Toffees too. Majority forecaster thought is 1-1, a result not dissimilar to last year’s here.
Rob: Blackburn 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-2
George: 1-2
Last season: 0-0
FULHAM v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00
Fulham are pretty innocuous in the league this season, and have been distracted anyway by their admirable “Europa” successes. Improved Wolves can make absolutely sure they don’t go down in this one, but three of us still reckon Fulham will nick it.
Rob: Fulham 2 Wolves 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-0
David: 2-1
George: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 13:45
The thrills and spills came in the first-round game at Old Trafford, that 4-3 heart-stopper where Michael Owen broke City hearts deep into stoppage time. So Garrin and I both fancy that this will be less eventful, even if there is still lots at stake. It’s interesting that even diehard Red Devils fan George has clearly lost faith in their campaign!
Rob: Manchester City 1 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2
David: 2-1
George: 3-1
Last season: 0-1
STOKE v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00
I saw quite a lot of Bolton’s gutsy performance in going down only 1-0 at Chelsea in midweek, and if they can retain the same levels of spirit, a point at solid Stoke is a good prospect. But I am alone in that belief, with a volley of 1-0s marking the other panellists’ picks.
Rob: Stoke 1 Bolton 1
Garrin: 1-0
Raymond: 1-0
David: 1-0
George: 1-0
Last season: 2-0
SUNDERLAND v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00
This cock-a-hoop Newcastle fan, knowing promotion is in the bag, is prepared to give bitter rivals Sunderland some faith for once! They have pretty much pulled clear of trouble in recent weeks and ought to deepen Burnley’s own plight. George is especially sure of that.
Rob: Sunderland 2 Burnley 1
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 2-0
David: 1-0
George: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable
TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA
Saturday, 18:30
Spurs are jubilant after pipping Arsenal in a compelling Wednesday derby, but can they earn a second huge London scalp on the trot? I am not so sure, especially with the Blues within sniffing distance of the title. Garrin joins me in backing the Blues away pilfer, but there’s also good support for Tottenham.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 2-2
David: 1-0
George: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
PORTSMOUTH v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 17:00
In the peculiar position of already being relegated but also anticipating an FA Cup final, it’s not hard to twig as to where Pompey’s priorities lie! Surely they must now wrap some of their better players in cotton wool through the next couple of weeks? It should only aid Villa in their quest to comfortably bag the three points. Dave goes intriguingly against the grain, however.
Rob: Portsmouth 0 Aston Villa 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-1
David: 1-1
George: 0-2
Last season: 0-1
WIGAN v ARSENAL
Sunday, 14:30
Despite their depressing loss to arch-rivals Spurs, the Gunners still have a shout for second spot and Arsene Wenger will remind his men of that fact. With Robin van Persie fit and sharpish again, they should be too silky for Wigan, leaving the Latics still with work to do to stave off the dreaded drop. Last season’s lopsided result is no comfort!
Rob: Wigan 1 Arsenal 3
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-2
David: 1-4
George: 0-2
Last season: 1-4
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM
Monday, 21:00
The Hammers frustrated the Kop last season in this fixture, and a similar result would be manna from heaven for Gianfranco Zola considering their peril on the table. But after another sub-standard campaign the Reds are desperate to finish with a flourish and should be a tad too strong. All are in agreement.
Rob: Liverpool 2 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 1-0
David: 2-1
George: 2-0
Last season: 0-0
HULL v ASTON VILLA
Wednesday, 20:45
Here’s that “spare” Hull fixture I mentioned earlier! A chance to aid their bid to repeat last season’s great escape. But they could have done with lesser opponents than Villa, and you can’t find any takers for a Hull point, let alone three. Martin O’Neill’s lads won here in 2008/09, into the bargain.
Rob: Hull 0 Aston Villa 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-1
David: 1-2
George: 0-2
Last season: 0-1
*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):
260 Rob (5 points in last round)
257 Ray (8)
250 Dave (4)
248 George (3)
225 Garrin (3)
Verdict: Everybody seems to be getting the jitters as we near the final straight … there were no really special performances in the last round, made up of a couple of weekend matches and then some more recent midweekers. But Ray was fairly comfortably the best of a bad bunch, and now moves to within one correct scoreline – yes, just three points – of yours truly at the top. Worrying times, and especially because Dave and George are not exactly out of the title picture either. But I still dream of a “Newcastle double” … the already-promoted Magpies to wrap up the Championship some time in the next three days and this ardent Toon supporter to hold his nerve for the Footy Tips, er, silverware as well. Gee, they’ve never had it so good at St James’s Park …
Compiled by Chief Writer Rob Houwing (2008/09 runner-up), with regular predictions also from Managing Editor Garrin Lambley (the defending champion), Content Producer Raymond Kilfoil, Commercial Manager David Brooke and former Bafana Bafana and AmaZulu striker George Dearnaley, you’ll seldom find us singing from the same song-sheet.
Occasionally we invite a celebrity guest tipster to have a crack at a round of matches; watch this space …
This week’s fixtures:
BIRMINGHAM v HULL
Saturday, 16:00
Strugglers Hull may be second from bottom but they do have a game in hand for solace, so if they can pull off an upset at Birmingham their chances of staying up suddenly turn a bit brighter. That said, actually achieving it is another thing – all of us have the home side winning although I reckon it’ll be very close.
Rob: Birmingham 1 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 3-1
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
BLACKBURN v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
If they could frustrate Manchester United, getting a ruddy-faced Fergie to decimate his chewing gum in the process, then Blackburn ought to be capable of holding the credible Toffees too. Majority forecaster thought is 1-1, a result not dissimilar to last year’s here.
Rob: Blackburn 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-2
George: 1-2
Last season: 0-0
FULHAM v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00
Fulham are pretty innocuous in the league this season, and have been distracted anyway by their admirable “Europa” successes. Improved Wolves can make absolutely sure they don’t go down in this one, but three of us still reckon Fulham will nick it.
Rob: Fulham 2 Wolves 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-0
David: 2-1
George: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 13:45
The thrills and spills came in the first-round game at Old Trafford, that 4-3 heart-stopper where Michael Owen broke City hearts deep into stoppage time. So Garrin and I both fancy that this will be less eventful, even if there is still lots at stake. It’s interesting that even diehard Red Devils fan George has clearly lost faith in their campaign!
Rob: Manchester City 1 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2
David: 2-1
George: 3-1
Last season: 0-1
STOKE v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00
I saw quite a lot of Bolton’s gutsy performance in going down only 1-0 at Chelsea in midweek, and if they can retain the same levels of spirit, a point at solid Stoke is a good prospect. But I am alone in that belief, with a volley of 1-0s marking the other panellists’ picks.
Rob: Stoke 1 Bolton 1
Garrin: 1-0
Raymond: 1-0
David: 1-0
George: 1-0
Last season: 2-0
SUNDERLAND v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00
This cock-a-hoop Newcastle fan, knowing promotion is in the bag, is prepared to give bitter rivals Sunderland some faith for once! They have pretty much pulled clear of trouble in recent weeks and ought to deepen Burnley’s own plight. George is especially sure of that.
Rob: Sunderland 2 Burnley 1
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 2-0
David: 1-0
George: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable
TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA
Saturday, 18:30
Spurs are jubilant after pipping Arsenal in a compelling Wednesday derby, but can they earn a second huge London scalp on the trot? I am not so sure, especially with the Blues within sniffing distance of the title. Garrin joins me in backing the Blues away pilfer, but there’s also good support for Tottenham.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 2-2
David: 1-0
George: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
PORTSMOUTH v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 17:00
In the peculiar position of already being relegated but also anticipating an FA Cup final, it’s not hard to twig as to where Pompey’s priorities lie! Surely they must now wrap some of their better players in cotton wool through the next couple of weeks? It should only aid Villa in their quest to comfortably bag the three points. Dave goes intriguingly against the grain, however.
Rob: Portsmouth 0 Aston Villa 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-1
David: 1-1
George: 0-2
Last season: 0-1
WIGAN v ARSENAL
Sunday, 14:30
Despite their depressing loss to arch-rivals Spurs, the Gunners still have a shout for second spot and Arsene Wenger will remind his men of that fact. With Robin van Persie fit and sharpish again, they should be too silky for Wigan, leaving the Latics still with work to do to stave off the dreaded drop. Last season’s lopsided result is no comfort!
Rob: Wigan 1 Arsenal 3
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-2
David: 1-4
George: 0-2
Last season: 1-4
LIVERPOOL v WEST HAM
Monday, 21:00
The Hammers frustrated the Kop last season in this fixture, and a similar result would be manna from heaven for Gianfranco Zola considering their peril on the table. But after another sub-standard campaign the Reds are desperate to finish with a flourish and should be a tad too strong. All are in agreement.
Rob: Liverpool 2 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 1-0
David: 2-1
George: 2-0
Last season: 0-0
HULL v ASTON VILLA
Wednesday, 20:45
Here’s that “spare” Hull fixture I mentioned earlier! A chance to aid their bid to repeat last season’s great escape. But they could have done with lesser opponents than Villa, and you can’t find any takers for a Hull point, let alone three. Martin O’Neill’s lads won here in 2008/09, into the bargain.
Rob: Hull 0 Aston Villa 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-1
David: 1-2
George: 0-2
Last season: 0-1
*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):
260 Rob (5 points in last round)
257 Ray (8)
250 Dave (4)
248 George (3)
225 Garrin (3)
Verdict: Everybody seems to be getting the jitters as we near the final straight … there were no really special performances in the last round, made up of a couple of weekend matches and then some more recent midweekers. But Ray was fairly comfortably the best of a bad bunch, and now moves to within one correct scoreline – yes, just three points – of yours truly at the top. Worrying times, and especially because Dave and George are not exactly out of the title picture either. But I still dream of a “Newcastle double” … the already-promoted Magpies to wrap up the Championship some time in the next three days and this ardent Toon supporter to hold his nerve for the Footy Tips, er, silverware as well. Gee, they’ve never had it so good at St James’s Park …
