Premier League Predictions- Week Eleven

Credit; here

Each week, I will now post my predictions for the weekend, and see if i can get more right than BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson.

This week, for the 26/27 February, the predictions below stand.

		This week's predictions Score Lawro Edward Aston Villa v Blackburn 4-1 2-0 4-1 Everton v Sunderland 2-0 2-1 2-0 Man City v Fulham 1-1 2-0 3-0 Newcastle v Bolton 1-1 2-1 2-1 Stoke v West Brom x-x 1-0 2-0 West Ham v Liverpool 3-1 1-1 1-2 Wigan v Man Utd 0-4 0-2 0-3 Wolves v Blackpool 4-0 3-1 1-1

I expect the big winners this weekend to be Manchester United. An away tie with Wigan after their goal-less draw with Marseille midweek could be good preparation for Tuesday's tie with Chelsea.

United's form against Wigan has been excellent, with United beating the Latics 2-0 earlier in the season and scoring 5 in both games against the side last season.

In fact, United have won their last twelve against Wigan, who have only hit four goals in those games.

It will be crucial that they take any chances that they might create on the re-laid DW pitch, something which was necessary after the game against Blackburn.



James McCarthy scored twice as Wigan beat Blackburn in their last home game, but the Champions could go four points clear with a win.

Credit; here

The key men for Unites, as usual, will be the forwards, with Dimitar Berbatov looking to score his first goal for a month for the side.

Berbatov was influential in helping United secure a victory at Blackpool one month yesterday, but his lack of goals have paved the way for Nani and Wayne Rooney to start hitting the target; something they both did as United won the Manchester derby 2-1.

Rooney and Nani have clicked into gear at the right time as Sir Alex Ferguson looks to seal a record breaking 19th league title.

Credit; here

The other big winners this weekend could be Aston Villa.

It's not often I select Aston Villa as the team to watch but games against Blackburn are usually entertaining affairs.

Villa have knocked Rovers out of both the FA Cup and the League Cup for two successive seasons, but the North West outfit have won the last three in the league, conceding only one goal.

Rovers away form has hit a sticky patch with the 4-3 loss to Wigan last weekend and they will be hoping to come away from the Midlands with something, but you wonder when Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young will ifnally click up front and put someone to the sword.








Agbonlahor scored the last time Villa beat Rovers in the league.




Credit; here




Young scored twice in the Carling Cup against Blackburn and Villa's home record against Blackburn is generally good, having won four of their last six meetings ahead of today's tie, which could see Houllier's side rise above Blackburn in the table, and away from the relegation zone, something they are currently three points clear of.



Blackburn have ambitions of their own and Roque Santa Cruz (left) will be looking to score his first goal for the side since he re-joined them on loan from City.





Credit; here

Quite possibly the biggest game of the weekend comes between Wolves, bottom of the league, and Blackpool, buoyed by their morale boosting win over Tottenham.

Wolves are in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom and a win today wouldn't guarantee them a place out of the relegation zone.

Since the turn of the year, they have only beaten Chelsea and Manchester United in the league and games against those around you count double come May.



Maybe Jamie O'Hara, who scored last weekend against West Brom, can change their fortunes as he nearly managed with Portsmouth last season, but the team will have to pull through together.

Credit; here

Their hopes will be boosted by the fact Charlie Adam starts a two game ban for ten yellow cards, but the last time he missed a game through suspension, Blackpool beat Sunderland 2-0 away.

Despite this, the Tangerines have just beaten Spurs and that is no mean feat, and possibly two more top flight wins might be enough to secure what was an unlikely top flight survival.



The key man today could again be DJ Campbell, who netted midweek, and now has nine league goals for Blackpool this term, but any points would certainly help Blackpool's cause as we head into the business part of the season.

Credit; here

It'll be a good battle between two of the games more entertaining managers.

Good luck to everyone's teams this weekend.

Can Crawley Do It?

Credit: here



The FA Cup 5th Round has again brought together two teams from opposite spectrums of English football.

Saturday evening sees Crawley Town, of the Blue Square Premier, take on Manchester United, currently sitting four points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

It only happens in the FA Cup, yet, while Leyton Orient also face Arsenal in another potential giant-killing, the magic of the FA Cup could be about to strike again.











Credit; here






It's the fairytale behind the non league side Crawley that takes priority for the TV fixtures, with the last non league side to reach the Fifth Round being Kidderminster Harriers.

For Manchester United, it is another one of those potentially tricky games which they are going to have to negotiate as they look to add to their 11 FA Cups to date.

United's recent record against the so called minnows has been good, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side beating Southampton 2-1 in the last round despite going behind.

The game against Crawley could have been a lot trickier for the current league leaders, had it been away, although the minnows' away record has been good of late, keeping a clean sheet in their last six games and winning three.



Crawley beat Torquay away in the last round, thanks to a first half goal from top scorer Matthew Tubbs.


Credit; here

In fact, they've only lost two away games this season, against AFC Wimbledon and Dartford but Old Trafford is, on every scale, a whole different challenge.

Compare that to the fact that United haven't lost at home yet, and have only lost once in the league all season, and the nature of the task looks far beyond them.

However, the FA Cup is magic and they simply have to believe that they have a chance, especially if the big guns are rested heading into next weekend's double header against Wigan and Chelsea.

The conference side currently sit second in the league, three points behind AFC Wimbledon, but having played four games fewer, and are looking good for promotion, but can they do the unthinkable and beat United at their own home?

I highly doubt that they will although it would be good for football if a European giant could be knocked out of a cup competition by a lower league team, with less reputation than Coventry, Leeds and Portsmouth, the latter having knocked United out of the FA Cup over the last two seasons and all three defeats being inflicted at the Theatre of Dreams.



Leeds United beat the Red Devils in last season's FA Cup, the second consecutive year they've lost 1-0 at Old Trafford to exit the competition.

Credit; here


The Crawley players have come in for some criticism for taking a tour of Old Trafford yesterday, but it's not than possibly a once in a lifetime trip for their players, so I don't blame them one bit.

It's sure to be a game where the neutrals are supporting the under-dog but there are some big guns left in the competition and I don't think that Manchester United are about to come undone this weekend as they search for another prestigious treble.

Can Crawley beat United? Who will win the FA Cup? Please discuss below.

Premier League Predictions- Week Ten

Credit; here

Each week, I will now post my predictions for the weekend, and see if i can get more right than BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson.

This week, for the 12-14 February, the predictions below stand.

This week's predictions	Score	Lawro	Edward
Man Utd v Man City	2-1	1-1	2-0
Arsenal v Wolves	2-0	2-0	5-0
Birmingham v Stoke	1-0	1-1	2-1
Blackburn v Newcastle	0-0	1-2	2-1
Blackpool v Aston Villa	1-1	1-2	1-1
Liverpool v Wigan	1-1	2-0	2-0
West Brom v West Ham	3-3	2-1	1-3
Sunderland v Tottenham	1-2	0-2	1-2
Bolton v Everton	2-0	1-1	2-1
Fulham v Chelsea	0-0	1-1	1-4

I expect the big winners this weekend to be Arsenal. A home tie against Wolves has come at a great time for the Gunners. who closed the gap on leaders Man Utd by a point last weekend, despite a stunning 4-4 draw at Newcastle. Now only four points behind, Arsene Wenger's side could have one eye on the home Champions League tie with Arsenal on Wednesday but a morale boosting result wouldn't go amiss four days previous.

Marouane Chamakh scored both goals as Arsenal won 2-0 against Wolves in November, but has gone off the boil since.

Credit; here

Robin van Persie is in particularly good form, having scored eight goals in his last six games, whilst Theo Walcott has been in impressive form alongside Cesc Fabregas.

The only concern for Arsenal is that they are missing the suspended Abou Diaby, so Denilson may come in, but Arsenal will have enough quality to win on Saturday and win comfortably.

Wolves are not to be underestimated having beaten Man Utd last weekend, but an away day at the Emirates could be another kettle of fish, given they lost against the three other teams who currently occupy the top four places.

With games against West Brom and Blackpool on the horizon, maybe Mick McCarthy might find it sensible to priorities his games in order to keep the Midlanders from going down.

Wolves were the first team this season to beat Manchester United, when they defeated the Red Devils 2-1 last weekend.


Credit; here

The other big winners this weekend could be West Ham, who travel to West Brom, who won't be under the guidance of Roy Hodgson.

West Brom's home form has generally been OK, winning three of their last six, but their yo-yo Premier League form seems to be again playing on their minds after an incredible slip from their fourth placed position in early November.

When Odemwingie has scored this season, West Brom have never lost.

Credit; here

I've said before that their main problem is that they concede too many goals and fail to score enough, something which showed in their 3-0 loss to Manchester City last weekend.

It's obvious that they need to pick up points from games like this but West Ham have something to play for too.

The Hammers will, no doubt, be spurred on by the fact they have been given the chance to play at the Olympic Stadium and that alone could be the necessary boost that the players and the club needs to ignite their season.

Add to that the fact that Avram Grant's side could jump out of the bottom three with three points at the Hawthorns and the script is written for an away win.

Each of the strikers, Obinna, Piquionne, Keane, Cole and Sears have all been on fire of late and Grant has good selection problems, something West Brom are struggling for up front, with only Peter Odemwingie having scored more than four goals this season.

Victor Obinna has scored five goals in his last three appearances.

Credit; here

The big game of the weekend seems to obviously be the Manchester derby at Saturday lunchtime.

Manchester United v Manchester City always gives that added spark and with Carlos Tevez back in the goals last weekend, Manchester United, without Rio Ferdinand, might have a huge task on their hands.

That said, United lost against against Wolves last night and they can't afford another slip up, with Arsenal only four points behind.

United have, indeed, won three of their last four City derbies at Old Trafford and I expect them to do the same once more, if they can keep City out.

Michael Owen scored a controversial injury time winner as United beat City 4-3 in the league at Old Trafford last season.

Credit; here

Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are in great form up front and Ryan Giggs seems to play well whenever he is picked, and their experience might see them through on Saturday.

City have got used to playing their 4-5-1 system away from home because they don't concede many goals but they might have to keep their neighbours out if they are to take anything from the weekend.

It will give us a good preview of how City might do this season and if they can manage to scrap three points, they will definitely be on for a Champions League trip next season, with Spurs slowly catching up, and Harry Redknapp's side having a game in hand, away at Blackpool, inbetween their Champions League ties against AC Milan.

Good luck to everyone's teams this weekend.

Want to play along? Please discuss your predictions below.