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‘Expert’ UK footy tips

Cape Town – Each round of the 2013/14 English Premiership season, a panel of Sport24 staff and occasional guest tipsters have a crack at predicting the results – do the exercise yourself, if you like, and see how you compare afterwards.

Compiled by Rob Houwing (Newcastle-partial), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Dominic Valentine (Liverpool, and the defending champion), Herman Mostert (Chelsea) and newcomer Earl Haupt (another ‘Pool fan).
Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.

THE PRIME ATTRACTION

CHELSEA v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 19:30

 The three teams immediately below them – Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City – are not in league action this weekend, so the table-topping Blues have a wonderful opportunity to create further daylight. Mind you, the visit of fifth-placed Spurs for a London derby isn’t the easiest fixture in the world to be able to do that. But we’re all confident (Earl especially so) that the home team will win. Tottenham are still bidding for a Champions League berth, and will take some heart from the 1-1 outcome between the sides at White Hart Lane earlier in the season, plus last season’s stalemate at the “Bridge”. 

Rob: Chelsea 2 Tottenham 0  
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 3-0
Last season: 2-2 
            
THE GRUDGE MATCH

WEST BROM v MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday, 14:45

The Red Devils, still trying desperately to return to loftier real estate in the Premiership, will be feeling that a victory over the Baggies is a bit overdue: there was that amazing 5-5 ping-pong at The Hawthorns on the last day of the 2012/13 season, when they were already champions and Fergie’s festival-like last game hardly lacked goalmouth activitity! But a more urgent reason for Man Utd to go all out for victory here is that they lost 2-1 to these foes at home earlier this season, another of those results that did not exactly leave boss David Moyes as flavour of the month at Old Trafford. Only Earl sees a draw, with the rest of us sensing that it’s three points to the visitors.

Rob: West Brom 0 Manchester United 2
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 5-5       
       
THE DESPERATE DUEL

CARDIFF v FULHAM
Saturday, 17:00

Not much science had to go into calculating which fixture to place in this slot: 19th-placed Cardiff entertain the team immediately below them at the base of the ladder. It is unusual status for Fulham to have; more traditionally they have a habit of ending seasons in safe, often respectable terrain. It could be grim stuff and not surprisingly majority sentiment favours a cagey 1-1 scoreline. That said, the Welsh team successfully raided Craven Cottage for a 2-1 win earlier in the season, so they’re on a chase for a treasured double over these opponents.

Rob: Cardiff 1 Fulham 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-0
Last season: Not applicable         
 
THE OTHERS

CRYSTAL PALACE v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Crystal Palace 1 Southampton 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable       
  
NORWICH v STOKE
Saturday, 17:00

Rob: Norwich 2 Stoke 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-1
Last season: 1-0    

*LEADERBOARD

226 - Dominic (8 points in last round)
224 - Garrin (4)
210 - Rob (5)
201 - Herman (4)
184 - Earl (5)
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