KEEP LIFE SIMPLE

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Yet another round of predictions! Bettar luck this time, next time, and next time. (I make no cence)

FIXTURES AND PREDICTIONS
MANCHESTER CITY 1 ARSENAL 1 @ CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM
Manchester City remain unbeaten on home turf in the league this season, but 3 straight draws have blunted their once-perfect record. Yet, they could be fancied to take a draw off the Gunners. Their unbeaten home record will be under threat, yet they should survive it in the end.

BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 DERBY COUNTY 1 @ ST ANDREWS
Birmingham are slipping into the dreaded dropzone despite some decent results, including a shock 1-1 draw at Arsenal. Derby remain rooted to the bottom of the table languishing far away from safety, but they managed a morale-boosting 1-1 draw against high-flying Manchester City. Still, their away form has been terrible and that will swing this match towards Birmingham's favour.

BLACKBURN ROVERS 1 EVERTON 1 @ EWOOD PARK
Everton are perched in a Champions League following a good run of form, but their hosts today in the form of Blackburn Rovers are no pushovers. Blackburn are a tough, physical team and are hard to deal with at home. Their strikers are hungry for goals following a dip in form, and they could well manage a draw here and halt Everton's run temporarily.

PORTSMOUTH 1 CHELSEA 1 @ FRATTON PARK
Pompey are a different team without their African players who are at the African Cup of Nations, but Chelsea are also a struggling side, despite a run of 9 straight wins in all competitions. Their attacking resolve has been very poor, and it has only been an excellent defence that has kept them from dropping points, as they scrape one-goal victories week in, week out. Their defensive tactics however could well backfire at Pompey, as the hosts will be content to settle for a point, making this a potentially dull game.

READING 1 BOLTON WANDERERS 0 @ MADEJSKI STADIUM
Both sides are struggling at the wrong end of the league table. Reading's run of five matches without victory have pummeled them towards the relegation zone, while Bolton's shocking away form has not helped ease their relegation fears. Reading are a decent side at home and will no doubt take advantage of the Trotter's away woes to grab three important points and steer themselves towards midtable safety.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 3 @ WHITE HART LANE
These two sides meet again for the second time in a week. This match promises to be a brilliant match of football, with both sides preferring attacking-minded gameplay. The last home match Spurs played in saw them score 5 goals in a 5-1 win over hated rivals Arsenal. The last match which United play at White Hart Lane (last season's correspending fixture) ended in a resounding 4-0 victory for the Red Devils. Goals are expected to flow freely, but United's on-form strikeforce may prove too much to handle for the Spurs backline.

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1 WEST HAM UNITED 0 @ JJB STADIUM
Relegation-threatened Wigan host erratic West Ham United at the JJB Stadium. Wigan have had some decent results since Steve Bruce took over as Wigan boss, but they still lack the consistency needed to climb out of the dropzone. West Ham similiarly are inconsistent, winning matches that they were not expected to, while losing straight forward ones. Wigan may find that extra inspiration today to beat West Ham and move out of the dropzone.

LIVERPOOL 2 SUNDERLAND 1 @ ANFIELD
Liverpool are on a shocking run of 5 matches without victory in the league, which has seen them pummel to 7th place in the league, outside even an UEFA Cup slot, let alone a Champions League spot. Sunderland have won 3 of their last 5 matches, but have found points hard to come by away from the Stadium of Light. Liverpool will look to end their sorry run and move back towards that coveted UCL spot, currently held by hated city rivals Everton.

NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 1 @ ST JAMES PARK
The "Keegan Effect" has not exactly taken place at St James Park. With 3 matches in charge, Keegan's side has amassed a grand total of 0 wins and 0 goals. He badly needs some goals and wins as soon as possible, before the impatient Magpies faithful turn against him. There is no better way to do that in today's "Tyne-Tee Derby", between the Tynesiders (Newcastle) and the Teesiders (Middlesbrough). Boro are inconsistent away from home (actually at home too) but Newcastle will be inspired to go for victory and give their long-suffering fans something to cheer about.

FULHAM 1 ASTON VILLA 3 @ VILLA PARK @ CRAVEN COTTAGE
Premier League strugglers Fulham play host to Villa in a match of contrasting qualities. Fulham lack players with real quality needed for the pace of the Premiership, but Villa have several exciting attacking players who could play a part in England's national squad. Fulham have managed an abysmal 2 wins in 24 league matches, while Villa have only lost once away from home. Expect Fulham's wretched run to continue as Villa will probably wreck havoc at Craven Cottage.

Lalala.

Joel at 2/02/2008 07:20:00 PM :: link