Premiership predictions: Stoke to shock Chelsea

Saturday, September 27 2008

Barclays Premier League

Arsenal
v
Hull City

(Home win)

League leaders should have far too much for Hull City despite a decent start from the newly promoted side. Hull threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with Everton and will pay in blood if they defend against the Gunners in the same way.

Aston Villa
v
Sunderland

(Home win)

Sunderland have got off to an erratic start. I watched them beat Boro 2-0 at home, which was none too clever. Martin O’Neil’s side will be challenging for a top six slot and have too much for Roy Keane’s mob.

Everton
v
Liverpool

(Draw)

I can’t believe that Liverpool will be as blunt as they were up front two weeks running. David Moyes’ blues’ clawed back a draw after being 0-2 at Hull. I’m going for a draw in the Merseyside derby.

Fulham
v
West Ham

(Away win)

This is going to be an intense London derby with Gianfranco Zola coming off an erratic week. A 4-1 win in the Premiership followed by an exit in the third round of the Carling Cup. I still take them to win at Craven Cottage with players trying to impress their new coach.

Man Utd
v
Bolton

(Home win)

Somebody is going to walk into a hiding against United as they try to kick-start their season. I’m afraid that’s going to be Bolton.

Middlesbrough
v
West Brom

Watched Boro go down at Sunderland and while they don’t offer much, they are a class above a pedestrian WBA.

Newcastle
v
Blackburn

(Draw)

Newcastle’s problems continue after exiting the Carling Cup at home to Spurs followed by Terry Venables rejecting their offer to become caretaker manager.

Stoke City
v
Chelsea

(Home win)

Could provide the shock of the weekend. Stoke on a high after grinding out a point at Anfield may well produce the unlikely again. Don’t bet one cent on it. In the real world Chelsea beat them nine out of 10 but this may be that one time.

Sunday

Portsmouth
v
Tottenham

(Draw)

Scratching my head on this one. Pompey got mauled at Eastlands last weekend. Spurs pulled off a Carling Cup 2-1 win at Newcastle. They desperately need to get going. For all those reasons I’m calling a draw because ordinarily I would have gone for a home win.

Wigan Athletic
v
Man City

(Away win)

Doesn’t sound like it but could be the tie of the weekend. Wigan (incredibly) play beautiful football while Man City are possessed of stars wherever you look. Not that it helped them at Brighton where they suffered a shock exit in the Cup. Still going for City but certainly a game to watch.

Let’s see how close I come and if you’ve got the stuff, your predictions.

Ask Thopela (Jigga) Molantoa how deadly I was in predicting the last World Cup on SAsoccer365.

In and no messing about.