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'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town – Each round of the 2011/12 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff or guest tipsters have a crack at predicting the results – do it yourself, if you like, and see how you compare afterwards.

Our forecasts also offer assistance (if that is the right word!) to those who take part in the SuperBru megapool (Pool code: cropriot) created by Sport24.

Compiled by Rob Houwing (the champion for the last two seasons but a Newcastle supporter for his sins), the others are Garrin Lambley (very Everton-partial), and David Brooke (Manchester United).

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

MANCHESTER CITY v ARSENAL
Sunday, 18:10


Beaten for the first time this season at Chelsea on Monday night, City gave the chasing pack a sense that the race has opened up again, didn’t they? They are now only two points ahead of arch-rivals Man United, with Sir Alex Ferguson doubtless hoping that presently smooth-firing Arsenal can at least hold them in another tricky fixture – albeit back at Eastlands. The Gunners won the equivalent game by a surprisingly comfortable 3-0 margin last season, but it was helped by City being reduced to 10 men (Dedryk Boyata red-carded) after five minutes. Still, all three tipsters see the Blues getting back to winning ways – narrowly.

Rob: Manchester City 1 Arsenal 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-1
Last season: 0-3

THE GRUDGE MATCH


WIGAN v CHELSEA
Saturday, 19:30


This gets the grudge billing because of what happened in last season’s corresponding match – Wigan were absolutely roasted 6-0 at home, with a pair of goals each for Messrs Kalou and Anelka. So the hosts will want at the very least to be rather more competitive on this occasion. They’re buoyed by a fine 2-1 away victory at West Brom last weekend, which sees them move to within one slot of escaping the drop zone. Mind you, Chelsea come off that heartening victory over Manchester City and are in great form generally – all of us still have the Blues bagging all three points without too much sweat.

Rob: Wigan 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 0-3
David: 1-4
Last season: 0-6

THE DESPERATE DUEL

FULHAM v BOLTON
Saturday, 17:00


Only nine points from 15 outings ... ouch, it’s not looking great for Bolton, even if there are plenty of unturned stones yet on the 2011/12 road. Hardly helped by losing 2-1 at home to Villa last time out, the Trotters have slipped to bottom slot. Fulham are no great shakes themselves in 14th right now, and also enter this game off a 0-2 reverse at promoted Swansea. So confidence is hardly an ally of either side, although home advantage has presumably been viewed as a tilting factor in this one – a full house says Fulham will win.

Rob: Fulham 1 Bolton 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-0
Last season: 3-0

THE OTHERS

BLACKBURN v WEST BROM
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Blackburn 0 West Brom 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 0-1
Last season: 2-0

EVERTON v NORWICH
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Everton 1 Norwich 1
Garrin: 2-1
David: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable

NEWCASTLE v SWANSEA
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Newcastle 1 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable

WOLVES v STOKE
Saturday, 17:00


Rob: Wolves 1 Stoke 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-2
Last season: 2-1

QPR v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 14:00


Rob: QPR 1 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 0-2
David: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable

ASTON VILLA v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 16:05


Rob: Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 0-2
David: 0-1
Last season: 1-0

TOTTENHAM v SUNDERLAND
Sunday, 17:00


Rob: Tottenham 2 Sunderland 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-2
Last season: 1-1

WOLVES v NORWICH
Tuesday, 21:45


Rob: Wolves 0 Norwich 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable

BLACKBURN v BOLTON
Tuesday, 22:00


Rob: Blackburn 1 Bolton 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 0-1
Last season: 1-0

ASTON VILLA v ARSENAL
Wednesday, 21:45


Rob: Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-2
David: 1-1
Last season: 2-4

MANCHESTER CITY v STOKE
Wednesday, 21:45


Rob: Manchester City 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 3-0
David: 3-0
Last season: 3-0

NEWCASTLE v WEST BROM
Wednesday, 21:45


Rob: Newcastle 2 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-0
Last season: 3-3

EVERTON v SWANSEA

Rob: Everton 1 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable

FULHAM v MANCHESTER UNITED

Rob: Fulham 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 1-2
David: 1-2
Last season: 2-2

QPR v SUNDERLAND


Rob: QPR 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable

WIGAN v LIVERPOOL

Rob: Wigan 1 Liverpool 2
Garrin: 0-2
David: 0-1
Last season: 1-1

TOTTENHAM v CHELSEA

Rob: Tottenham 0 Chelsea 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-1
Last season: 1-1

LEADERBOARD

Garrin has nipped into the lead on his own under the Sport24 scoring system (three points for a wholly correct scoreline, one for correct result) after another close round with only a piffling two points separating the three combatants. My tally of seven points was best offering, but still not enough to move me off the bottom of the ladder ... not yet, anyway.
107 Garrin (6 points in last round)
106 David (5)
97 Rob (7)
*In the broad, open-to-all-comers Sport24.co.za pool on SuperBru, which presently sports 1,306 players, “Geoff” steadfastly retains the lead having moved to 138.05 points, but “Serb” has returned to second place, now on 134.50 ... these two have shown excellent consistency.

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