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 BURNLEY
Saturday, 13:45
The home side can’t make any upward progress from ninth spot, with two rounds of games left, so it’s a fairly humdrum matter of trying not to slip a notch or two. Birmingham should just win, with Burnley deflated by confirmed relegation but perhaps still defending some club pride as best they can.
Rob: Birmingham 1 Burnley 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00
There are a few ding-dong battles remaining in the quest for all-important fourth place on the table, and this is certainly one of them. I’m going for the City win, adding to the dominant sentiment, simply based on home advantage. They did beat these opponents in this fixture last season.
Rob: Manchester City 2 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 2-1
George: 2-2
Last season: 2-0
PORTSMOUTH v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00
Relegated by the proverbial landslide and still in the grips of an awful cash crisis, Pompey (to their credit) haven’t yet collapsed like a pack of cards on the field – holding Bolton away was a sign of that. And let’s not forget that some of their squad will be fighting for FA Cup final places! Wolves are safe and may not be that hungry.
Rob: Portsmouth 1 Wolves 0
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-0
George: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
STOKE v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
When a team takes a real pasting, as the Potters did in losing 7-0 at Chelsea, I tend to fancy them to try to salvage respect next time out. By that formula, I see Stoke holding visitors Everton, and George even suggests they’ll win. The rest of the tipsters take the more orthodox route.
Rob: Stoke 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-2
David: 0-2
George: 2-1
Last season: 2-3
TOTTENHAM v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00
With Spurs clinging jealously to fourth place, and a hungry mob still bidding to unseat them, the hosts would be mortified if they failed to take out Bolton in north London. I reckon they will do the job comfortably … and so say all of us!
Rob: Tottenham 3 Bolton 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 2-0
David: 3-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 2-0
FULHAM v WEST HAM
Sunday, 16:00
It’s been a mediocre season in the Premiership for Fulham, but they have more than made up for that by reaching the Europa League final. Heads still in the clouds? I don’t reckon so; they will want to carry some momentum into the Euro showpiece against Atletico Madrid. Mind you, our panel give you all sorts of options on this London derby. The Hammers are 99.9 percent safe anyway, but one more point would take relegation right out of the equation.
Rob: Fulham 2 West Ham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 1-2
Last season: 1-2
LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA
Sunday, 14:30
Presumably down in the dumps after blowing their chance of a trophy at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday, will Liverpool get up for the visit of Chelsea? Despite all the hoo-ha about their not wanting to do Manchester United any favours, I have a gut feel they will! Garrin and Ray share my belief.
Rob: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-2
George: 1-2
Last season: 2-0
SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 17:00
This game taking place after the Anfield crunch, the outcome of that one could play a role in determining the result here. If Liverpool have not lost to Chelsea, the Red Devils will be cock-a-hoop and go all-out to conquer the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light. Morale may be a tad lower if Chelsea have triumphed, but they should prevail anyway, dragging the title race to the last day. Dave sees a hatful.
Rob: Sunderland 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-3
David: 1-4
George: 0-2
Last season: 1-2
BLACKBURN v ARSENAL
Monday, 18:00
Third place looks a virtual certainty for the Gunners, although the mere knowledge that arch-rivals Spurs still have a mathematical shout for it (assuming they’ve beaten Bolton the day before), ought to motivate Arsenal to win. Blackburn are bidding to end top of the bottom half or thereabouts, and George stands alone in backing them to hold the visitors.
Rob: Blackburn 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-2
David: 0-3
George: 1-1
Last season: 0-4
WIGAN v HULL
Monday, 14:30
Hull’s relegation may be mercifully sealed by the time they play this Sunday match. And even if it isn’t, they would need to win by a hatful and then repeat the trick on the last day, at the very least. Wigan have little to play for, so this could be grim … or it might even be a relaxed, no-stakes feast! Three of us opt for the home three-pointer, though.
Rob: Wigan 2 Hull 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 3-0
Last season: 1-0
*ABBREVIATED FORECASTS FOR ADDITIONAL MATCHES:
FULHAM v STOKE
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: Fulham 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-0
David: 1-1
George: 1-0
Last season: 1-0
MANCHESTER CITY v TOTTENHAM
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: Manchester City 1 Tottenham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 2-2
George: 2-3
Last season: 1-2
*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):
275 Rob (7 points in last round)
273 Ray (11)
269 George (10)
264 Dave (9)
243 Garrin (11)
Verdict: Anxious? Moi? Cracking up, more likely. Having hogged the lead for a long time, I am losing my composure like Elin’s been known to in marital spats with Tiger. And what a bad time to buckle, with the “silverware” just two rounds from my grasp! I brought up the rear for results from the last round, managing only seven points while second-placed Ray made up four on me with 11: that means he’s only two off the lead and chirpy about it. George still has a shout, too, though Dave may be like the plucky Sharks in the Super 14 … still hopeful, but unlikely now to suck on a cigar. Garrin? A tad too late to have found your touch, big Toffee!
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 BURNLEY
Saturday, 13:45
The home side can’t make any upward progress from ninth spot, with two rounds of games left, so it’s a fairly humdrum matter of trying not to slip a notch or two. Birmingham should just win, with Burnley deflated by confirmed relegation but perhaps still defending some club pride as best they can.
Rob: Birmingham 1 Burnley 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 2-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable
MANCHESTER CITY v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00
There are a few ding-dong battles remaining in the quest for all-important fourth place on the table, and this is certainly one of them. I’m going for the City win, adding to the dominant sentiment, simply based on home advantage. They did beat these opponents in this fixture last season.
Rob: Manchester City 2 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 2-1
George: 2-2
Last season: 2-0
PORTSMOUTH v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00
Relegated by the proverbial landslide and still in the grips of an awful cash crisis, Pompey (to their credit) haven’t yet collapsed like a pack of cards on the field – holding Bolton away was a sign of that. And let’s not forget that some of their squad will be fighting for FA Cup final places! Wolves are safe and may not be that hungry.
Rob: Portsmouth 1 Wolves 0
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-0
George: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
STOKE v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
When a team takes a real pasting, as the Potters did in losing 7-0 at Chelsea, I tend to fancy them to try to salvage respect next time out. By that formula, I see Stoke holding visitors Everton, and George even suggests they’ll win. The rest of the tipsters take the more orthodox route.
Rob: Stoke 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-2
David: 0-2
George: 2-1
Last season: 2-3
TOTTENHAM v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00
With Spurs clinging jealously to fourth place, and a hungry mob still bidding to unseat them, the hosts would be mortified if they failed to take out Bolton in north London. I reckon they will do the job comfortably … and so say all of us!
Rob: Tottenham 3 Bolton 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 2-0
David: 3-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 2-0
FULHAM v WEST HAM
Sunday, 16:00
It’s been a mediocre season in the Premiership for Fulham, but they have more than made up for that by reaching the Europa League final. Heads still in the clouds? I don’t reckon so; they will want to carry some momentum into the Euro showpiece against Atletico Madrid. Mind you, our panel give you all sorts of options on this London derby. The Hammers are 99.9 percent safe anyway, but one more point would take relegation right out of the equation.
Rob: Fulham 2 West Ham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 1-2
Last season: 1-2
LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA
Sunday, 14:30
Presumably down in the dumps after blowing their chance of a trophy at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday, will Liverpool get up for the visit of Chelsea? Despite all the hoo-ha about their not wanting to do Manchester United any favours, I have a gut feel they will! Garrin and Ray share my belief.
Rob: Liverpool 0 Chelsea 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-2
George: 1-2
Last season: 2-0
SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 17:00
This game taking place after the Anfield crunch, the outcome of that one could play a role in determining the result here. If Liverpool have not lost to Chelsea, the Red Devils will be cock-a-hoop and go all-out to conquer the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light. Morale may be a tad lower if Chelsea have triumphed, but they should prevail anyway, dragging the title race to the last day. Dave sees a hatful.
Rob: Sunderland 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 0-3
David: 1-4
George: 0-2
Last season: 1-2
BLACKBURN v ARSENAL
Monday, 18:00
Third place looks a virtual certainty for the Gunners, although the mere knowledge that arch-rivals Spurs still have a mathematical shout for it (assuming they’ve beaten Bolton the day before), ought to motivate Arsenal to win. Blackburn are bidding to end top of the bottom half or thereabouts, and George stands alone in backing them to hold the visitors.
Rob: Blackburn 0 Arsenal 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-2
David: 0-3
George: 1-1
Last season: 0-4
WIGAN v HULL
Monday, 14:30
Hull’s relegation may be mercifully sealed by the time they play this Sunday match. And even if it isn’t, they would need to win by a hatful and then repeat the trick on the last day, at the very least. Wigan have little to play for, so this could be grim … or it might even be a relaxed, no-stakes feast! Three of us opt for the home three-pointer, though.
Rob: Wigan 2 Hull 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 3-0
Last season: 1-0
*ABBREVIATED FORECASTS FOR ADDITIONAL MATCHES:
FULHAM v STOKE
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: Fulham 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-0
David: 1-1
George: 1-0
Last season: 1-0
MANCHESTER CITY v TOTTENHAM
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: Manchester City 1 Tottenham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 2-2
George: 2-3
Last season: 1-2
*LEADERBOARD (three points for wholly correct score-line, one for right result):
275 Rob (7 points in last round)
273 Ray (11)
269 George (10)
264 Dave (9)
243 Garrin (11)
Verdict: Anxious? Moi? Cracking up, more likely. Having hogged the lead for a long time, I am losing my composure like Elin’s been known to in marital spats with Tiger. And what a bad time to buckle, with the “silverware” just two rounds from my grasp! I brought up the rear for results from the last round, managing only seven points while second-placed Ray made up four on me with 11: that means he’s only two off the lead and chirpy about it. George still has a shout, too, though Dave may be like the plucky Sharks in the Super 14 … still hopeful, but unlikely now to suck on a cigar. Garrin? A tad too late to have found your touch, big Toffee!