Rob Houwing

Each round of the English Premiership season, those in the know at Sport24 – and those happy to thumb-suck – take a stab at predicting the results.

Compiled by Chief Writer Rob Houwing, with predictions from Managing Editor Garrin Lambley, Multimedia Editor Raymond Kilfoil, Commercial Manager David Brooke and former Bafana striker and current Sport24 columnist George Dearnaley, we’ll have you confused in no time … take our advice at your peril!

Here goes …

BLACKBURN v STOKE
Saturday, 17:00

The visitors are on a pretty good run at the moment, with a win and then trio of resilient draws to their credit after being thrashed at Manchester United (absent from this week’s programme). But ailing Blackburn, even if coming off a depressing 3-0 reverse at Wigan, have a new boss in Big Sam and I have a feeling this “freshening” aspect will power them to a home win – even if only a temporary phenomenon! Not too much support for my view …

Rob: Blackburn 2 Stoke 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2
David: 0-0
George: 2-0
Last season: Not applicable

BOLTON v PORTSMOUTH
Saturday, 17:00

Pompey have been nothing special in recent weeks, as evidenced by the shock 0-3 outcome against Newcastle at Fratton Park. But they got a midweek morale-booster against Heerenveen in the Uefa Cup, even if a pretty academic one, and ought to be good enough to get something at Bolton, who leaked four goals at Aston Villa last Saturday.

Rob: Bolton 2 Portsmouth 2
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 2-1
George: 2-1
Last season: 0-1

FULHAM v MIDDLESBROUGH
Saturday, 17:00

Boro did the double over Fulham last winter. Both sides come off draws last weekend, with the north-east side holding Arsenal pretty tenaciously. Nothing more than gut feel (and look where that’s got me of late!) tells me Fulham will nick this mid-table affair, and I have some support in my belief from the Flutter crew.

Rob: Fulham 1 Middlesbrough 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 0-0
David: 2-0
George: 1-0
Last season: 1-2

HULL v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 17:00

I scoffed when my visiting, Sunderland-supporting father-in-law assured me last week that the Black Cats would “easily down” West Brom … and they duly prevailed 4-0!  (I went for the conservative 1-0, which got me a hard-earned but welcome Flutter point.) He says they’ll also win at Hull: I can’t quite see it, but am prepared to give them a fighting draw. Deep down, I do reckon the home side will prevail, but there you go. A few of the panel see no lack of goals.

Rob: Hull 1 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 3-2
David: 3-2
George: 2-2
Last season: Not applicable

WEST HAM v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 19:30

Visitors Villa have successive wins and seven goals to their credit, so present form is pretty promising. It’s primarily on those grounds that I’ve gone for the away win here, because it won’t be easy to dismantle the Hammers. They held Chelsea to a creditable draw at Stamford Bridge in a fierce London derby last weekend. Ray and George (of course) see Villa cruising …

Rob: West Ham 0 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 0-3
David: 1-1
George: 1-3
Last season: 2-2

ARSENAL v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 18:00

Are they entirely happy bunnies at Anfield, despite the fact that the Reds are in with a great title shout as things stand and head the table going into the festive season? Perhaps the best news for them is that this is an away fixture! That said, it’s a daunting one against a Gunners side desperate to keep in touch with the front-runners. I see Arsenal coming out on top. 

Rob: Arsenal 2 Liverpool 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 1-2  
David: 2-1
George: 1-1
Last season: 1-1

NEWCASTLE v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 17:00

I turned against the Toon – sacrilege – for their trip to Pompey and what did they promptly do? Win 3-0. So this is a tough one to call, especially as Spurs confirmed their improved mettle by holding Manchester United to a goalless draw. I’ve taken the copout 1-1 here. Mind you, look at last season’s results between these two: Newcastle won 3-1 at home and 4-1 away!

Rob: Newcastle 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 2-2
Raymond: 1-2
David: 1-2
George: 2-4
Last season: 3-1

WEST BROM v MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday, 15:30

City continue to under-achieve, as demonstrated by their rather pallid league position and a home defeat by Everton last time out. The Baggies prop up the table and things look ominous, especially after being roasted at the Stadium of Light. Some of the tipsters see a comfortable City triumph, but this is the kind of fixture where a steely display by West Brom could feasibly earn them a precious point.

Rob: West Brom 1 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 1-3
Raymond: 0-2
David: 1-1
George: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable

EVERTON v CHELSEA
Monday, 22:00

A lot of support for the Chelsea win – even from chewy old Toffee Garrin! Everton have been a bit up-and-down of late, although they come off an away win. The Londoners were restricted to a draw by pumped-up West Ham last Sunday and know they need the win to confirm their title pedigree. They prevailed in this fixture last season and will do so again.

Rob: Everton 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-2
Raymond: 1-3
David: 0-1
George: 1-1
Last season: 0-1

*LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 17 (three points for a fully correct scoreline, one point for correct result)

115 Ray (4 points last round)
112 Garrin (4)
100 Rob (2)
87 Dave (4) and George (4)

Verdict: Round 17 was a grim one for everyone (heard that one before?), and a shocker for the horribly out-of-form yours truly. My only consolation is that nobody ran riot to jump away from the pack, and that I sneaked rather ingloriously to my century via the inside edge. But there’s no change in the pecking order, especially at the bottom where George and Dave remain Siamese Twins … now there’s a thought!