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 (eternally 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
NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 17:00
Last season this was one of the games that best illustrated Newcastle’s resurrection under Alan Pardew’s management – they stunned the Red Devils, then the defending champions, 3-0. But in the latest campaign the Magpies have struggled to find their mojo and find themselves lurking in mid-table. They have also been beaten by these foes already, in the League Cup, although on that occasion it was virtually “second team” stuff mutually. The Red Devils, mind you, were rocked by a home loss to Spurs last weekend. Toon partiality aside, I fancy that Newcastle are capable of grinding out a point – but can’t find any support for that theory as all the others envisage a successful away raid.
Rob: Newcastle 1 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 3-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
MANCHESTER CITY v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 13:45
This fixture finds itself in this slot because City, the 2011/12 champions, found Sunderland a strangely hard nut to crack en route to that drought-breaking title success. The Eastlands match-up ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, whilst City’s trip to Wearside saw the Black Cats nick the spoils 1-0. But lightning won’t strike twice ... everyone in the panel believes City (lucky to salvage a late Champions League draw at home to Dortmund in midweek, mind you) will find the going easier against these foes this time.
Rob: Manchester City 2 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 3-1
Last season: 3-3
THE DESPERATE DUEL
WEST BROM v QPR
Saturday, 16:00
The Baggies find themselves a top-six side at present, so no complaints from their faithful! But they are not the desperate ones here: it’s Rangers who have slumped to bottom slot on the ladder, after Southampton occupied it for a few weeks. QPR lost at home to West Ham in a London derby last weekend, which seems a bit ominous for them. A full house says that West Brom will pile on the current misery.
Rob: West Brom 2 QPR 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
THE OTHERS
CHELSEA v NORWICH
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Chelsea 3 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 3-1
SWANSEA v READING
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 1 Reading 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
WIGAN v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Wigan 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 0-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-1
WEST HAM v ARSENAL
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: West Ham 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable
SOUTHAMPTON v FULHAM
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Southampton 0 Fulham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 0-0
Last season: Not applicable
LIVERPOOL v STOKE
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Liverpool 1 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 0-0
TOTTENHAM v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 3-1
Herman: 3-2
Last season: 2-0
*LEADERBOARD
50 Dominic (13 points in last round)
46 Garrin (11)
40 Herman (9)
38 Rob (12)
Compiled by Rob Houwing (eternally 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
NEWCASTLE v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 17:00
Last season this was one of the games that best illustrated Newcastle’s resurrection under Alan Pardew’s management – they stunned the Red Devils, then the defending champions, 3-0. But in the latest campaign the Magpies have struggled to find their mojo and find themselves lurking in mid-table. They have also been beaten by these foes already, in the League Cup, although on that occasion it was virtually “second team” stuff mutually. The Red Devils, mind you, were rocked by a home loss to Spurs last weekend. Toon partiality aside, I fancy that Newcastle are capable of grinding out a point – but can’t find any support for that theory as all the others envisage a successful away raid.
Rob: Newcastle 1 Manchester United 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 3-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
MANCHESTER CITY v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 13:45
This fixture finds itself in this slot because City, the 2011/12 champions, found Sunderland a strangely hard nut to crack en route to that drought-breaking title success. The Eastlands match-up ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, whilst City’s trip to Wearside saw the Black Cats nick the spoils 1-0. But lightning won’t strike twice ... everyone in the panel believes City (lucky to salvage a late Champions League draw at home to Dortmund in midweek, mind you) will find the going easier against these foes this time.
Rob: Manchester City 2 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 3-1
Last season: 3-3
THE DESPERATE DUEL
WEST BROM v QPR
Saturday, 16:00
The Baggies find themselves a top-six side at present, so no complaints from their faithful! But they are not the desperate ones here: it’s Rangers who have slumped to bottom slot on the ladder, after Southampton occupied it for a few weeks. QPR lost at home to West Ham in a London derby last weekend, which seems a bit ominous for them. A full house says that West Brom will pile on the current misery.
Rob: West Brom 2 QPR 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 1-0
THE OTHERS
CHELSEA v NORWICH
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Chelsea 3 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 3-1
SWANSEA v READING
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Swansea 1 Reading 1
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
WIGAN v EVERTON
Saturday, 16:00
Rob: Wigan 1 Everton 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 0-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-1
WEST HAM v ARSENAL
Saturday, 18:30
Rob: West Ham 1 Arsenal 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable
SOUTHAMPTON v FULHAM
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Southampton 0 Fulham 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 0-0
Last season: Not applicable
LIVERPOOL v STOKE
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Liverpool 1 Stoke 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 0-0
TOTTENHAM v ASTON VILLA
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Tottenham 2 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 3-1
Herman: 3-2
Last season: 2-0
*LEADERBOARD
50 Dominic (13 points in last round)
46 Garrin (11)
40 Herman (9)
38 Rob (12)