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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.
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 MANCHESTER UNITED
Monday, 21:00
One of the most important Manchester derbies ever ... and also a game that is desperately hard to predict, when you think about it in earnest. That is because City, until very recently, had been in a rather wretched decline in the title chase and then, with United seemingly about to place one hand on the trophy, they themselves went and blew a 4-2 lead against Everton to throw their great rivals a lifeline. But will the Blues actually make use of it, or do Fergie’s boys have enough been-there-done-that experience and mental strength to shut the lid on them once more? Personally, I’m just leaning that way for the Eastlands cracker, despite speaking as a complete neutral on this one. I fancy that the Red Devils will be fired-up enough to want to reverse memories of that nightmarish 1-6 pasting at Old Trafford in the first-round clash this season. And yes, even 1-0 would do perfectly under the current circumstances. That’s my score-line tip and I see that it’s David’s, too. A wee reminder, just to briefly appease indignant City fans, of the visiting scorers in that rout: Balotelli 2, Dzeko 2, Aguero and Silva, versus a Fletcher consolation. But keep in mind that United have won at City previously this campaign: 3-2 in the FA Cup third round. Let’s all raise a glass to a sizzler, shall we?
Rob: Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 0-1
Last season: 0-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
CHELSEA v NEWCASTLE
Wednesday, 20:45
Of course my tongue was pressed to a cheek when I suggested in a tweet immediately after Chelsea’s great Champions League semi result at Barcelona that the Blues would soon have to face the “new Barca” – the high-flying, hot-streak Newcastle United – in the Premiership. However optimistic that assumption from an unashamed Toon man, the game does have strong relevance in terms of Champs League slots for next season. Before this attractive meeting next Wednesday, both sides have earlier league obligations ... Newcastle at Wigan and Chelsea in a London derby against QPR. But the stakes ought to remain very high when the game comes around, nonetheless. It gets grudge billing on the grounds of the Blues handing the Magpies their worst home reverse of the season thus far: 3-0 in the first-round fixture in the north-east. Despite the Toon’s stirring, all-conquering charge of late, I have a reluctant hunch Stamford Bridge is where it will come to a halt ...
Rob: Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 3-2
Last season: 2-2
THE DESPERATE DUEL
TOTTENHAM v BLACKBURN
Sunday, 17:00
In age-old Spurs fashion, really promising form earlier in the season has petered out more recently – and then some. They come off defeats away to QPR and at home to Norwich, so confidence is hardly at a dizzy high around White Hart Lane right now, and they badly need a restorative victory over Blackburn to reignite their stuttering Champions League drive. All of see them doing it (in two cases only just, mind) against visitors just as desperate but for other reasons – Rovers remained rather firmly in a drop slot (19th) as this was written although they would have been heartened by seeing off the Canaries last time out, something Tottenham failed dismally to do!
Rob: Tottenham 1 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-1
Last season: 4-2
THE OTHERS
EVERTON v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Everton 1 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-0
Last season: 2-1
STOKE v ARSENAL
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Stoke 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 0-2
David: 1-3
Last season: 3-1
SUNDERLAND v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 1 Bolton 1
Garrin: 2-1
David: 3-0
Last season: 1-0
SWANSEA v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 1 Wolves 2
Garrin: 2-1
David: 3-1
Last season: Not applicable
WEST BROM v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Brom 0 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-0
Last season: 2-1
WIGAN v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Wigan 0 Newcastle 2
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-2
Last season: 0-1
NORWICH v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: Norwich 1 Liverpool 2
Garrin: 0-1
David: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable
CHELSEA v QPR
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Chelsea 2 QPR 1
Garrin: 2-0
David: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable
LIVERPOOL v FULHAM
Tuesday, 20:45
Rob: Liverpool 2 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-2
Last season: 1-0
STOKE v EVERTON
Tuesday, 20:45
Rob: Stoke 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-1
Last season: 2-0
BOLTON v TOTTENHAM
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: Bolton 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
David: 0-1
Last season: 4-2
LEADERBOARD
All square at the top between Garrin and Dave entering pretty much the final bend of the season - this one is going thrillingly to the wire. But it’s not all bad for moi ... my week-topping haul of eight points last weekend just about keeps alive my own hopes. I concede I’ll still have to do something really special in the last fortnight or so and bank on a stinker here or there for the others, but hope spring eternal. This being football and all that.
243 David (5 points in last round)
243 Garrin (4)
234 Rob (8)
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 MANCHESTER UNITED
Monday, 21:00
One of the most important Manchester derbies ever ... and also a game that is desperately hard to predict, when you think about it in earnest. That is because City, until very recently, had been in a rather wretched decline in the title chase and then, with United seemingly about to place one hand on the trophy, they themselves went and blew a 4-2 lead against Everton to throw their great rivals a lifeline. But will the Blues actually make use of it, or do Fergie’s boys have enough been-there-done-that experience and mental strength to shut the lid on them once more? Personally, I’m just leaning that way for the Eastlands cracker, despite speaking as a complete neutral on this one. I fancy that the Red Devils will be fired-up enough to want to reverse memories of that nightmarish 1-6 pasting at Old Trafford in the first-round clash this season. And yes, even 1-0 would do perfectly under the current circumstances. That’s my score-line tip and I see that it’s David’s, too. A wee reminder, just to briefly appease indignant City fans, of the visiting scorers in that rout: Balotelli 2, Dzeko 2, Aguero and Silva, versus a Fletcher consolation. But keep in mind that United have won at City previously this campaign: 3-2 in the FA Cup third round. Let’s all raise a glass to a sizzler, shall we?
Rob: Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 0-1
Last season: 0-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
CHELSEA v NEWCASTLE
Wednesday, 20:45
Of course my tongue was pressed to a cheek when I suggested in a tweet immediately after Chelsea’s great Champions League semi result at Barcelona that the Blues would soon have to face the “new Barca” – the high-flying, hot-streak Newcastle United – in the Premiership. However optimistic that assumption from an unashamed Toon man, the game does have strong relevance in terms of Champs League slots for next season. Before this attractive meeting next Wednesday, both sides have earlier league obligations ... Newcastle at Wigan and Chelsea in a London derby against QPR. But the stakes ought to remain very high when the game comes around, nonetheless. It gets grudge billing on the grounds of the Blues handing the Magpies their worst home reverse of the season thus far: 3-0 in the first-round fixture in the north-east. Despite the Toon’s stirring, all-conquering charge of late, I have a reluctant hunch Stamford Bridge is where it will come to a halt ...
Rob: Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 3-2
Last season: 2-2
THE DESPERATE DUEL
TOTTENHAM v BLACKBURN
Sunday, 17:00
In age-old Spurs fashion, really promising form earlier in the season has petered out more recently – and then some. They come off defeats away to QPR and at home to Norwich, so confidence is hardly at a dizzy high around White Hart Lane right now, and they badly need a restorative victory over Blackburn to reignite their stuttering Champions League drive. All of see them doing it (in two cases only just, mind) against visitors just as desperate but for other reasons – Rovers remained rather firmly in a drop slot (19th) as this was written although they would have been heartened by seeing off the Canaries last time out, something Tottenham failed dismally to do!
Rob: Tottenham 1 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-1
Last season: 4-2
THE OTHERS
EVERTON v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Everton 1 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-0
Last season: 2-1
STOKE v ARSENAL
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Stoke 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 0-2
David: 1-3
Last season: 3-1
SUNDERLAND v BOLTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 1 Bolton 1
Garrin: 2-1
David: 3-0
Last season: 1-0
SWANSEA v WOLVES
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 1 Wolves 2
Garrin: 2-1
David: 3-1
Last season: Not applicable
WEST BROM v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: West Brom 0 Aston Villa 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-0
Last season: 2-1
WIGAN v NEWCASTLE
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Wigan 0 Newcastle 2
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-2
Last season: 0-1
NORWICH v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: Norwich 1 Liverpool 2
Garrin: 0-1
David: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable
CHELSEA v QPR
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Chelsea 2 QPR 1
Garrin: 2-0
David: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable
LIVERPOOL v FULHAM
Tuesday, 20:45
Rob: Liverpool 2 Fulham 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 2-2
Last season: 1-0
STOKE v EVERTON
Tuesday, 20:45
Rob: Stoke 0 Everton 0
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-1
Last season: 2-0
BOLTON v TOTTENHAM
Wednesday, 21:00
Rob: Bolton 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
David: 0-1
Last season: 4-2
LEADERBOARD
All square at the top between Garrin and Dave entering pretty much the final bend of the season - this one is going thrillingly to the wire. But it’s not all bad for moi ... my week-topping haul of eight points last weekend just about keeps alive my own hopes. I concede I’ll still have to do something really special in the last fortnight or so and bank on a stinker here or there for the others, but hope spring eternal. This being football and all that.
243 David (5 points in last round)
243 Garrin (4)
234 Rob (8)
