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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

EVERTON v MANCHESTER CITY
Saturday, 18:30

Well, it is supposedly “advantage City” now in the intriguing, three-horse title race ... even if games in hand don’t automatically equate to success, do they? This is possibly the game where Liverpool fans, mortified by the potentially so costly home defeat to Chelsea last weekend, have to pin their hopes most on City not winning – yes, they’ll be honorary Toffees just for 90 minutes or so! The good news for them is that two of our panel, leader Dominic and basement Earl, believe Everton will scrap out a draw here. But even staunch Evertonian Garrin joins yours truly and Herman in suggesting the Mancs will do the business. The Merseysiders did claim this fixture 2-0 last season, although City won 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium earlier in the current campaign and Everton have had a wobbly spell at a bad time in terms of Champions League hopes.

Rob: Everton 0 Manchester City 2 
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 2-2
Last season: 2-0                       

THE GRUDGE MATCH

WEST HAM v TOTTENHAM
Saturday, 13:45

It’s been another ho-hum season for these famous old London clubs, with Spurs likely to end right out of any European competition slots and the rather less ambitious Hammers petering out to a lower mid-table sort of finish. But derbies in the capital are always feisty affairs and even at this late stage of the season sparks should fly here. That is especially because Tottenham will be trying to avenge one of their worse home showings earlier this season – they were unceremoniously dumped 3-0 by these foes at White Hart Lane, Ravel Morrison being remembered for a sublime solo goal in the surprise romp. Not much backing for Hammers to repeat the trick, I see ...

Rob: West Ham 1 Tottenham 1
Garrin: 1-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-3
Last season: 2-3                       

THE DESPERATE DUEL

NEWCASTLE v CARDIFF
Saturday, 16:00

Last weekend the deep-in-trouble Welsh club made the long trek across country to the north-east and were clobbered 4-0 by in-form fellow drop candidates Sunderland. Now they visit the same terrain again as they take on nearby Newcastle before the disgruntled Toon faithful. There’s a fair bit at stake for both: Cardiff are rock bottom and nothing but a win, you’d think, offers the tiniest hope of a late, late escape act. But Newcastle are on a listless “roll” of six embarrassing defeats on the trot - even as they somehow cling to ninth on the table - and Alan Pardew may just get the managerial shove if they crash again to the minnows. Even I can’t get too enthusiastic about my beloved, but mentally switched-off black-and-whites: I see a drab draw.

Rob: Newcastle 1 Cardiff 1 
Garrin: 2-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 1-2
Last season: Not applicable                  

THE OTHERS

ASTON VILLA v HULL
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Aston Villa 1 Hull 0
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 0-0
Earl: 2-1
Last season: Not applicable                 

MANCHESTER UNITED v SUNDERLAND
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-1
Earl: 2-2
Last season: 3-1          

STOKE v FULHAM
Saturday, 16:00

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

SWANSEA v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: Swansea 1 Southampton 2
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-1
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 3-2
Last season: 0-0          

ARSENAL v WEST BROM
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: Arsenal 3 West Brom 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-1
Herman: 3-0
Earl: 4-0
Last season: 2-0                  

CHELSEA v NORWICH
Sunday, 17:00

Rob: Chelsea 2 Norwich 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-0
Last season: 4-1           

CRYSTAL PALACE v LIVERPOOL
Monday, 21:00

Rob: Crystal Palace 1 Liverpool 2
Garrin: 0-2
Dominic: 1-2
Herman: 1-2
Earl: 1-3
Last season: Not applicable          

MANCHESTER UNITED v HULL
Tuesday, 20:45

Rob: Manchester United 3 Hull 0
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 3-0
Last season: Not applicable                 

MANCHESTER CITY v ASTON VILLA
Wednesday, 20:45

Rob: Manchester City 3 Aston Villa 1
Garrin: 2-0
Dominic: 2-0
Herman: 2-0
Earl: 4-0
Last season: 5-0          

SUNDERLAND v WEST BROM
Wednesday, 20:45

Rob: Sunderland 1 West Brom 1
Garrin: 1-1
Dominic: 1-0
Herman: 1-1
Earl: 2-1
Last season: 2-4         

*LEADERBOARD

284 - Dominic (5 points in last round)
278 - Garrin (7)
266 - Rob (8)
255 - Herman (4)
240 - Earl (7)
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