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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
ARSENAL v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 15:30
This particular, time-honoured derby featured two rollercoaster encounters last season – the game at White Hart Lane was shared 3-3, whilst the Emirates date finished with Spurs snatching it 3-2, courtesy of Younes Kaboul’s winner with five minutes to go. It was Spurs’ first league triumph at Arsenal since 1993. So will there be goals once more? Don’t rule that out, although our forecasts are a little more conservative on this occasion. I’ve nervously gone for the Gunners win, based on a hunch – and perhaps residual grumpiness over Spurs smashing the mighty Toon 5-0 -- whilst my two rivals in the tipster race both envisage a draw between the sides currently placed third (Tottenham) and fourth respectively.
Rob: Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-2
Last season: 2-3
THE GRUDGE MATCH
QPR v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00
This just had to claim the grudge slot: it might have commanded it simply on the basis of this being another London derby. But there’s more than that to consider: the first meeting in October ended in an extraordinarily lopsided way, with Fulham nailing their near-neighbours 6-0! Andy Johnson helped himself to a hat-trick in the rout. It was quite some way to register their first victory of the season, and took much of the gloss off a promising Rangers’ start to the campaign. In fact, QPR have been on a slide more or less since, and find themselves smack in the anti-relegation battle. This time, I see a cagey 1-1 outcome and Garrin agrees. Dave prefers the revenge triumph ...
Rob: QPR 1 Fulham 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
THE DESPERATE DUEL
CHELSEA v BOLTON
Saturday, 17:00
Bolton stay deep in the dwang, a situation they’ve become ominously familiar with this season. They are only a point ahead of bottom-sawyers Wigan, and now face a demanding trip to Stamford Bridge. Not only that, but they travel with ominous memories of the home clash earlier in the season – it was one of the Blues’ more inspired showings of the campaign as a Frank Lampard hat-trick saw them romp home 5-1. How boss Andre Villas-Boas must wish for a few more like that as his future at Stamford Bridge comes under deepening scrutiny. I believe he may get some reprieve here, with Chelsea bouncing back from the midweek Napoli defeat to restore some morale. We offer a full house on the home win, though Dave sees it as a tight affair, rather summing up Chelsea’s loss of their old killer touch.
Rob: Chelsea 3 Bolton 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
THE OTHERS
NEWCASTLE v WOLVES
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Newcastle 2 Wolves 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-0
Last season: 4-1
WEST BROM v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: West Brom 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
WIGAN v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Wigan 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-2
Last season: 1-2
MANCHESTER CITY v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 19:30
Rob: Manchester City 3 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 3-1
Last season: 1-1
NORWICH v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 15:30
Rob: Norwich 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 0-2
David: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable
STOKE v SWANSEA
Sunday, 17:00
Rob: Stoke 0 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
LEADERBOARD
The last round a fortnight ago (our system is three points for a wholly correct scoreline, one for right result) didn’t quite pan out the way I had hoped it would: let’s just say that my “charge” back into contention has been rather thwarted for the time being. A paltry three points was my tally, while the ding-dong tussle at the top between Garrin and Dave shows no sign of abating – the former has snuck into one-point superiority.
179 Garrin (8 points in last round)
178 David (7)
167 Rob (3)
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
ARSENAL v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 15:30
This particular, time-honoured derby featured two rollercoaster encounters last season – the game at White Hart Lane was shared 3-3, whilst the Emirates date finished with Spurs snatching it 3-2, courtesy of Younes Kaboul’s winner with five minutes to go. It was Spurs’ first league triumph at Arsenal since 1993. So will there be goals once more? Don’t rule that out, although our forecasts are a little more conservative on this occasion. I’ve nervously gone for the Gunners win, based on a hunch – and perhaps residual grumpiness over Spurs smashing the mighty Toon 5-0 -- whilst my two rivals in the tipster race both envisage a draw between the sides currently placed third (Tottenham) and fourth respectively.
Rob: Arsenal 2 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 2-2
Last season: 2-3
THE GRUDGE MATCH
QPR v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00
This just had to claim the grudge slot: it might have commanded it simply on the basis of this being another London derby. But there’s more than that to consider: the first meeting in October ended in an extraordinarily lopsided way, with Fulham nailing their near-neighbours 6-0! Andy Johnson helped himself to a hat-trick in the rout. It was quite some way to register their first victory of the season, and took much of the gloss off a promising Rangers’ start to the campaign. In fact, QPR have been on a slide more or less since, and find themselves smack in the anti-relegation battle. This time, I see a cagey 1-1 outcome and Garrin agrees. Dave prefers the revenge triumph ...
Rob: QPR 1 Fulham 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
THE DESPERATE DUEL
CHELSEA v BOLTON
Saturday, 17:00
Bolton stay deep in the dwang, a situation they’ve become ominously familiar with this season. They are only a point ahead of bottom-sawyers Wigan, and now face a demanding trip to Stamford Bridge. Not only that, but they travel with ominous memories of the home clash earlier in the season – it was one of the Blues’ more inspired showings of the campaign as a Frank Lampard hat-trick saw them romp home 5-1. How boss Andre Villas-Boas must wish for a few more like that as his future at Stamford Bridge comes under deepening scrutiny. I believe he may get some reprieve here, with Chelsea bouncing back from the midweek Napoli defeat to restore some morale. We offer a full house on the home win, though Dave sees it as a tight affair, rather summing up Chelsea’s loss of their old killer touch.
Rob: Chelsea 3 Bolton 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
THE OTHERS
NEWCASTLE v WOLVES
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Newcastle 2 Wolves 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 2-0
Last season: 4-1
WEST BROM v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: West Brom 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-1
Last season: 1-0
WIGAN v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 17:00
Rob: Wigan 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
David: 1-2
Last season: 1-2
MANCHESTER CITY v BLACKBURN
Saturday, 19:30
Rob: Manchester City 3 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 2-0
David: 3-1
Last season: 1-1
NORWICH v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 15:30
Rob: Norwich 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 0-2
David: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable
STOKE v SWANSEA
Sunday, 17:00
Rob: Stoke 0 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-1
David: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable
LEADERBOARD
The last round a fortnight ago (our system is three points for a wholly correct scoreline, one for right result) didn’t quite pan out the way I had hoped it would: let’s just say that my “charge” back into contention has been rather thwarted for the time being. A paltry three points was my tally, while the ding-dong tussle at the top between Garrin and Dave shows no sign of abating – the former has snuck into one-point superiority.
179 Garrin (8 points in last round)
178 David (7)
167 Rob (3)
