Spurs to strengthen grip near top!

Cape Town - Tottenham already look pretty solidly rooted at lofty second in the English Premiership, as the season climax nears ... and will only entrench that status in their London derby against Watford on Saturday.

That is the unanimous view of our tipsters for the White Hart Lane tussle, despite the visiting, mid-table Hornets being in reasonably decent touch - they enter the game on the back of successive wins over Sunderland and West Brom.

Each round of the 2016/17 Premiership campaign, a group of our staff has 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; he swears the Championship is more competitive), the others are Garrin Lambley (Everton), Lloyd Burnard, Tashreeq Vardien, Maano Nekhavhambe and Lynn Butler (all Man Utd) plus Craig Taylor (Liverpool).

Three points are awarded for an entirely correct scoreline, and one for right result.

OUR FORECASTS:

TOTTENHAM v WATFORD
Saturday, 13:30

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 2-0
Tashreeq: 2-1
Maano: 2-0
Craig: 2-0
Lynn: 3-1
Lloyd: 2-0

Last season: 1-0                    

MANCHESTER CITY v HULL
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 2-0
Garrin: 3-0
Tashreeq: 3-1
Maano: 3-0
Craig: 3-0
Lynn: 2-1
Lloyd: 3-1

Last season: Not applicable                                     

MIDDLESBROUGH v BURNLEY
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 2-4
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 1-1
Lloyd: 1-0

Last season: Not applicable                                             

STOKE v LIVERPOOL
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 1-2
Craig: 1-2
Lynn: 1-3
Lloyd: 1-3

Last season: 0-1                                                

WEST BROM v SOUTHAMPTON
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-1
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 1-2
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 1-0
Lloyd: 2-1

Last season: 0-0                                                     

WEST HAM v SWANSEA
Saturday, 16:00

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 2-1
Tashreeq: 0-0
Maano: 1-1
Craig: 0-1
Lynn: 0-0
Lloyd: 1-0

Last season: 1-4                

BOURNEMOUTH v CHELSEA
Saturday, 18:30

Rob: 0-2
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 0-1
Maano: 0-2
Craig: 0-2
Lynn: 1-3
Lloyd: 1-3

Last season: 1-4                                                              

SUNDERLAND v MANCHESTER UNITED
Sunday, 14:30

Rob: 0-1
Garrin: 0-2
Tashreeq: 1-4
Maano: 0-1
Craig: 0-2
Lynn: 0-2
Lloyd: 1-2

Last season: 2-1                                                      

EVERTON v LEICESTER
Sunday, 17:00

Rob: 1-0
Garrin: 1-1
Tashreeq: 2-2
Maano: 1-0
Craig: 1-1
Lynn: 2-1
Lloyd: 2-0

Last season: 2-3                                                     

CRYSTAL PALACE v ARSENAL
Monday, 21:00

Rob: 0-2
Garrin: 1-2
Tashreeq: 1-1
Maano: 0-1
Craig: 0-1
Lynn: 1-2
Lloyd: 1-2

Last season: 1-2                                                    

*LEADERBOARD:

239 Garrin (11 points in last, double round)
231 Lynn (15)
225 Rob (16)
221 Lloyd (28)
217 Tashreeq (15)
212 Craig (13)
182 Maano (2)