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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!
BOLTON v HULL
Saturday, 16:00
The Trotters are safe and with little to play for. So despite their hapless limitations in recent weeks (make that months?), I see desperation taking hold for Hull and their grimly grabbing a point – which may or may not assist their stay-up cause. Stalemate is the majority tip, I see.
Rob: Bolton 0 Hull 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 3-1
David: 1-1
George: 2-2
Last season: Not applicable
EVERTON v WEST HAM
Saturday, 16:00
Not a vast amount on the line here, although these are sides who don’t just flop down on their backs. Hammers would have been miffed to go down 3-0 at home to Liverpool last week – they’re a steadier side than that – but Everton also don’t hand out favours and I see them edging it at Goodison, if only based on superior table position.
Rob: Everton 1 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 0-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-1
Last season: 1-1
MANCHESTER UNITED v ARSENAL
Saturday, 13:45
The Gunners have been lousy of late, what with their meek Euro surrender and then 1-4 debacle at home to Chelsea. Does that make them a dangerous foe at Old Trafford, or simply ripe for another stuffing? We’ll see. But the rather significant matter of clinching the title (even with a draw) is the prize for United, and I see them doing it with some style – further rubbing it in against old enemies.
Rob: Manchester United 3 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 2-1
MIDDLESBROUGH v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00
Last-chance saloon to give themselves a sniff at staying up for Boro – they must win. But they could have done with a slightly easier task than this one, even if Villa come off a roasting at Fulham. Good Flutter tipsters’ support for the away victory (and bolstered by last season’s one-sided result), but something makes me share Garrin’s 1-1 sentiment …
Rob: Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 0-1
David: 1-3
George: 1-3
Last season: 0-3
NEWCASTLE v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00
I’ve got to be very careful not to get carried away by the lifeline Toon win against Boro in a cracking derby on Monday night. It doesn’t mean champagne days are back. But there’s mini-momentum in the fight to stay up, so I’ll bravely go with the home three-pointer and virtually certain survival. Dave, your tip is inspiring! But Ray may well have gone a shrewd route on this one …
Rob: Newcastle 2 Fulham 1
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 4-1
George: 2-0
Last season: 2-0
STOKE v WIGAN
Saturday, 16:00
The Potters’ Tony Pulis is being touted as a bit of a managerial wonder-worker this season, considering the relative ease with which he has steered unfancied Stoke to safety. I see them winning this battle of two teams on 42 points: Wigan’s fire may be out after they fought so spiritedly – but in vain – against the Red Devils on Wednesday night.
Rob: Stoke 2 Wigan 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-0
George: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
TOTTENHAM v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 16:00
One point separates these mid-tablers so there’s that little incentive to play for, position-wise. There’s strong support for a Spurs win – as ever from Ray, of course – but George and I see this being an end-of-season stalemate.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 3-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 3-0
George: 2-2
Last season: 2-1
CHELSEA v BLACKBURN
Sunday, 17:00
Last season Blackburn snatched a point at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea still have a chance at leapfrogging Liverpool into second-placed finish, so that motivation ought to power them to a comfortable win: the panel are unanimous about this, even if Ray and Dave leave room for a possible consolation Benni strike!
Rob: Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 3-1
David: 4-1
George: 3-0
Last season: 0-0
WEST BROM v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 14:30
Interesting game, this: will the visiting Reds be up for it if the title has already been sealed by Manchester United? I reckon they’ll be professional enough to come out revved-up, with the runner-up spot still at stake. But the Baggies are fighting for what’s left of their lives (not an unusual phenomenon) and will make it as difficult as they can. Still, superior class will prevail – Dave reckons by a riot!
Rob: West Brom 0 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 1-3
David: 0-5
George: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable
PORTSMOUTH v SUNDERLAND
Monday, 21:00
The Black Cats have been able to just about skirt real trouble in recent weeks, despite some poor results. But they could still be dramatically plunged into it if Hull and Newcastle get great results this weekend. Pompey are not quite clear of peril themselves, and home advantage will see them over the 40-point mark from their current 38, I feel.
Rob: Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 3-2
George: 2-0
Last season: 1-0
*LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 36 (three points for a fully correct scoreline, one point for correct result)
259 Garrin (5 points for last round)
256 Rob (7)
234 George (9)
233 Ray (6)
207 David (8)
Verdict: It looks as if the Flutter title is going to go more intriguingly to the wire than the Premiership itself, unless Arsenal upset Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend. Garrin is one wholly correct scoreline – or make that three correct results, if you prefer – to the good of yours truly. Who’s got the BMT? We’ll know by next Sunday night. There’s movement elsewhere on the table for the first time in ages, with George inching ahead of Ray into third for the moment. Dave is tipping pretty decently for an “already relegated outfit”!
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!
BOLTON v HULL
Saturday, 16:00
The Trotters are safe and with little to play for. So despite their hapless limitations in recent weeks (make that months?), I see desperation taking hold for Hull and their grimly grabbing a point – which may or may not assist their stay-up cause. Stalemate is the majority tip, I see.
Rob: Bolton 0 Hull 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 3-1
David: 1-1
George: 2-2
Last season: Not applicable
EVERTON v WEST HAM
Saturday, 16:00
Not a vast amount on the line here, although these are sides who don’t just flop down on their backs. Hammers would have been miffed to go down 3-0 at home to Liverpool last week – they’re a steadier side than that – but Everton also don’t hand out favours and I see them edging it at Goodison, if only based on superior table position.
Rob: Everton 1 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 0-0
David: 2-0
George: 2-1
Last season: 1-1
MANCHESTER UNITED v ARSENAL
Saturday, 13:45
The Gunners have been lousy of late, what with their meek Euro surrender and then 1-4 debacle at home to Chelsea. Does that make them a dangerous foe at Old Trafford, or simply ripe for another stuffing? We’ll see. But the rather significant matter of clinching the title (even with a draw) is the prize for United, and I see them doing it with some style – further rubbing it in against old enemies.
Rob: Manchester United 3 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 2-0
George: 2-0
Last season: 2-1
MIDDLESBROUGH v ASTON VILLA
Saturday, 16:00
Last-chance saloon to give themselves a sniff at staying up for Boro – they must win. But they could have done with a slightly easier task than this one, even if Villa come off a roasting at Fulham. Good Flutter tipsters’ support for the away victory (and bolstered by last season’s one-sided result), but something makes me share Garrin’s 1-1 sentiment …
Rob: Middlesbrough 1 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 0-1
David: 1-3
George: 1-3
Last season: 0-3
NEWCASTLE v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00
I’ve got to be very careful not to get carried away by the lifeline Toon win against Boro in a cracking derby on Monday night. It doesn’t mean champagne days are back. But there’s mini-momentum in the fight to stay up, so I’ll bravely go with the home three-pointer and virtually certain survival. Dave, your tip is inspiring! But Ray may well have gone a shrewd route on this one …
Rob: Newcastle 2 Fulham 1
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 4-1
George: 2-0
Last season: 2-0
STOKE v WIGAN
Saturday, 16:00
The Potters’ Tony Pulis is being touted as a bit of a managerial wonder-worker this season, considering the relative ease with which he has steered unfancied Stoke to safety. I see them winning this battle of two teams on 42 points: Wigan’s fire may be out after they fought so spiritedly – but in vain – against the Red Devils on Wednesday night.
Rob: Stoke 2 Wigan 0
Garrin: 2-1
Raymond: 1-1
David: 1-0
George: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
TOTTENHAM v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 16:00
One point separates these mid-tablers so there’s that little incentive to play for, position-wise. There’s strong support for a Spurs win – as ever from Ray, of course – but George and I see this being an end-of-season stalemate.
Rob: Tottenham 1 Manchester City 1
Garrin: 3-1
Raymond: 2-1
David: 3-0
George: 2-2
Last season: 2-1
CHELSEA v BLACKBURN
Sunday, 17:00
Last season Blackburn snatched a point at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea still have a chance at leapfrogging Liverpool into second-placed finish, so that motivation ought to power them to a comfortable win: the panel are unanimous about this, even if Ray and Dave leave room for a possible consolation Benni strike!
Rob: Chelsea 2 Blackburn 0
Garrin: 2-0
Raymond: 3-1
David: 4-1
George: 3-0
Last season: 0-0
WEST BROM v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 14:30
Interesting game, this: will the visiting Reds be up for it if the title has already been sealed by Manchester United? I reckon they’ll be professional enough to come out revved-up, with the runner-up spot still at stake. But the Baggies are fighting for what’s left of their lives (not an unusual phenomenon) and will make it as difficult as they can. Still, superior class will prevail – Dave reckons by a riot!
Rob: West Brom 0 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 0-2
Raymond: 1-3
David: 0-5
George: 0-2
Last season: Not applicable
PORTSMOUTH v SUNDERLAND
Monday, 21:00
The Black Cats have been able to just about skirt real trouble in recent weeks, despite some poor results. But they could still be dramatically plunged into it if Hull and Newcastle get great results this weekend. Pompey are not quite clear of peril themselves, and home advantage will see them over the 40-point mark from their current 38, I feel.
Rob: Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 0
Garrin: 1-1
Raymond: 2-2
David: 3-2
George: 2-0
Last season: 1-0
*LEADERBOARD AFTER ROUND 36 (three points for a fully correct scoreline, one point for correct result)
259 Garrin (5 points for last round)
256 Rob (7)
234 George (9)
233 Ray (6)
207 David (8)
Verdict: It looks as if the Flutter title is going to go more intriguingly to the wire than the Premiership itself, unless Arsenal upset Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend. Garrin is one wholly correct scoreline – or make that three correct results, if you prefer – to the good of yours truly. Who’s got the BMT? We’ll know by next Sunday night. There’s movement elsewhere on the table for the first time in ages, with George inching ahead of Ray into third for the moment. Dave is tipping pretty decently for an “already relegated outfit”!
