'Expert' UK footy tips

Cape Town - Each round of the 2012/13 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff and occasional 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 (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton, and last season’s winner), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool) and Herman Mostert (Chelsea).

Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

SWANSEA v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 15:30

Since earning a very decent 2-0 victory at Arsenal, Swansea’s form has fallen away a little ... they have subsequently lost at home to Norwich (that 3-4 game of ping-pong) and then most recently by the lone goal at Tottenham. But they remain a respectable 10th in the table and the log-leading Red Devils’ trip to Wales won’t be the easiest they undertake this season, that’s for sure. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have had five Premiership wins on the trot, however, so confidence in their dressing room must be sky-high and it is hard to see Swansea nicking anything from this fixture. Javier Hernandez got the only strike, early on, in the corresponding encounter last season. 

Rob: Swansea 0 Manchester United 2 
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 0-1     

THE GRUDGE MATCH

SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER CITY
Wednesday, 17:00

These are not the brightest times in the north-east, with both Sunderland and Newcastle down among the relative deadbeats at present. Yet the Black Cats can take some heart, as they prepare to host champions Manchester City on Wednesday, at how surprisingly well they fared against these foes last season (which is what introduces the grudge element as far as City are concerned). The otherwise smooth-firing Blues were held 3-3 at home, and in the fixture at the Stadium of Light were seen off 1-0 ... Korean substitute Ji Dong-won netted a dramatic, injury-time winner on New Year’s Day. But lightning to strike again? It seems unlikely.

Rob: Sunderland 0 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-0

THE DESPERATE DUEL

NEWCASTLE v QPR
Saturday, 17:00

Pretty grim times to be a Toon fan, yours truly has to admit. Sadly memories of last season’s mostly sterling feats, in which the Magpies earned a fifth-spot finish and place in the Europa League, have faded at a rate of knots and, as we approach the midway mark, relegation is actually a twitchy little possibility. So this game is a bit of a “must win” ... because next up for Alan Pardew’s strugglers are Man Utd and Arsenal away! The stakes have only been raised further by Rangers’ sudden burst of promise under the stewardship of Harry Redknapp. Although they remain second from bottom, they will make the long trek to St James’ Park fired up by their maiden win of the campaign against Fulham. I’m still going to very stubbornly venture that Newcastle will do enough to bag this one ... 

Rob: Newcastle 2 QPR 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-0  

THE OTHERS

WIGAN v ARSENAL
Saturday, 14:45

Rob: Wigan 0 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 0-4

MANCHESTER CITY v READING
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Manchester City 4 Reading 0
Garrin: 3-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable  
  
SOUTHAMPTON v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Southampton 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable

TOTTENHAM v STOKE
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Tottenham 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-1    

WEST BROM v NORWICH
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: West Brom 1 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-2

WEST HAM v EVERTON
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: West Ham 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable

LIVERPOOL v FULHAM
Saturday, 19:30

Rob: Liverpool 2 Fulham 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 0-1

CHELSEA v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 18:00

Rob: Chelsea 2 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-3     

ARSENAL v WEST HAM
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: Arsenal 3 West Ham 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-1
Last season: Not applicable

EVERTON v WIGAN
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: Everton 2 Wigan 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 3-1    

FULHAM v SOUTHAMPTON
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: Fulham 1 Southampton 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable

MANCHESTER UNITED v NEWCASTLE
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: Manchester United 2 Newcastle 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 3-1
Herman: 3-1
Last season: 1-1

NORWICH v CHELSEA
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: Norwich 0 Chelsea 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 0-0

QPR v WEST BROM
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: QPR 1 West Brom 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-1     

READING v SWANSEA
Wednesday, 17:00

Rob: Reading 1 Swansea 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable

ASTON VILLA v TOTTENHAM
Wednesday, 19:30

Rob: Aston Villa 2 Tottenham 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-1    

STOKE v LIVERPOOL
Wednesday, 21:45

Rob: Stoke 1 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: 1-0

*LEADERBOARD

137 - Dominic (9 points in last round)
136 - Herman (11)
134 - Garrin (7)
123 - Rob (9)