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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
MANCHESTER UNITED v SWANSEA
Sunday, 17:00
There hasn’t been too much in the way of vintage football from the Red Devils since they clinched the title so early, and perhaps understandably so given the old “dead-rubber” syndrome in sport. But you have to suspect United will do everything they can to get a charm offensive going for what has suddenly become a highly emotional fixture: Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell to the Old Trafford faithful after so many stellar years at the Theatre of Dreams. Mind you, mid-table Swansea are pretty credible opponents for the Fergie swansong at the venue, and come off a midweek win at seemingly doomed Wigan, plus gritty recent home draw with the other Manchester outfit. Perhaps there won’t be a hatful ... I’m taking the Steady Eddie route of 2-0 to the home side and a strong enough party vibe as a result.
Rob: Manchester United 2 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-0
Last season: 2-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
ASTON VILLA v CHELSEA
Saturday, 13:45
This was a “must” for grudge status, given that the first-round meeting this season produced one of the most hapless routs of the campaign, with Villa the victims. Chelsea ran riot 8-0 at Stamford Bridge just before Christmas. Substitute Ramires got two goals, and there were six other individual names on the Blues’ unusually productive score-sheet. There’s much at stake for both sides in the rematch: recently-improved hosts Villa are still trying to make absolutely sure they stave off the drop, whilst Chelsea won’t wish to drop their guard in the slightest in the key race for Champions League status next season. Not without some huff and puff this time, all of us see an away win for the Londoners here ...
Rob: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 2-4
THE DESPERATE DUEL
ARSENAL v WIGAN
Tuesday, 20:45
My dastardly plan for the next few days, as an embattled Newcastle supporter, is this: the Toon scrap out a point at QPR; severely endangered Wigan get beaten at the Emirates on Tuesday by an Arsenal side who won’t be idling because of Champions League aspirations. Voila ... the black-and-whites are guaranteed survival even with one more round to go! If only things were so straightforward in football. A quick glance at last season’s outcome in north London isn’t the most assuring news for me: Wigan came, saw and unexpectedly conquered. So hopefully lightning won’t strike twice, and that theory is borne out by our predictions. The Gunners also won the away clash this season 1-0, albeit via an Arteta penalty.
Rob: Arsenal 3 Wigan 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 1-2
THE OTHERS
STOKE v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Stoke 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 0-1
Last season: 2-1
EVERTON v WEST HAM
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Everton 2 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
FULHAM v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Fulham 1 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-0
NORWICH v WEST BROM
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Norwich 0 West Brom 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 0-1
QPR v NEWCASTLE
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: QPR 1 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 0-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 0-0
SUNDERLAND v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 0 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
READING v MANCHESTER CITY
Tuesday, 21:00
Rob: Reading 0 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 0-3
Herman: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable
*LEADERBOARD
272 - Garrin (5 points in last round)
270 - Dominic (3)
266 - Herman (9)
256 - Rob (7)
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
MANCHESTER UNITED v SWANSEA
Sunday, 17:00
There hasn’t been too much in the way of vintage football from the Red Devils since they clinched the title so early, and perhaps understandably so given the old “dead-rubber” syndrome in sport. But you have to suspect United will do everything they can to get a charm offensive going for what has suddenly become a highly emotional fixture: Sir Alex Ferguson’s farewell to the Old Trafford faithful after so many stellar years at the Theatre of Dreams. Mind you, mid-table Swansea are pretty credible opponents for the Fergie swansong at the venue, and come off a midweek win at seemingly doomed Wigan, plus gritty recent home draw with the other Manchester outfit. Perhaps there won’t be a hatful ... I’m taking the Steady Eddie route of 2-0 to the home side and a strong enough party vibe as a result.
Rob: Manchester United 2 Swansea 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-0
Last season: 2-0
THE GRUDGE MATCH
ASTON VILLA v CHELSEA
Saturday, 13:45
This was a “must” for grudge status, given that the first-round meeting this season produced one of the most hapless routs of the campaign, with Villa the victims. Chelsea ran riot 8-0 at Stamford Bridge just before Christmas. Substitute Ramires got two goals, and there were six other individual names on the Blues’ unusually productive score-sheet. There’s much at stake for both sides in the rematch: recently-improved hosts Villa are still trying to make absolutely sure they stave off the drop, whilst Chelsea won’t wish to drop their guard in the slightest in the key race for Champions League status next season. Not without some huff and puff this time, all of us see an away win for the Londoners here ...
Rob: Aston Villa 0 Chelsea 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 2-4
THE DESPERATE DUEL
ARSENAL v WIGAN
Tuesday, 20:45
My dastardly plan for the next few days, as an embattled Newcastle supporter, is this: the Toon scrap out a point at QPR; severely endangered Wigan get beaten at the Emirates on Tuesday by an Arsenal side who won’t be idling because of Champions League aspirations. Voila ... the black-and-whites are guaranteed survival even with one more round to go! If only things were so straightforward in football. A quick glance at last season’s outcome in north London isn’t the most assuring news for me: Wigan came, saw and unexpectedly conquered. So hopefully lightning won’t strike twice, and that theory is borne out by our predictions. The Gunners also won the away clash this season 1-0, albeit via an Arteta penalty.
Rob: Arsenal 3 Wigan 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-0
Last season: 1-2
THE OTHERS
STOKE v TOTTENHAM
Sunday, 14:30
Rob: Stoke 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 0-1
Last season: 2-1
EVERTON v WEST HAM
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Everton 2 West Ham 0
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable
FULHAM v LIVERPOOL
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Fulham 1 Liverpool 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 1-0
NORWICH v WEST BROM
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Norwich 0 West Brom 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Last season: 0-1
QPR v NEWCASTLE
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: QPR 1 Newcastle 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 0-1
Herman: 1-2
Last season: 0-0
SUNDERLAND v SOUTHAMPTON
Sunday, 16:00
Rob: Sunderland 0 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Last season: Not applicable
READING v MANCHESTER CITY
Tuesday, 21:00
Rob: Reading 0 Manchester City 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 0-3
Herman: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable
*LEADERBOARD
272 - Garrin (5 points in last round)
270 - Dominic (3)
266 - Herman (9)
256 - Rob (7)
