Aston Villa lost 2-1 on Wednesday night against West Ham after missing a penalty, having a man sent off late in the game & then conceding the game in the 95th minute. Not good & unlucky. This was Villa’s third defeat of the season & they will want to bounce back after four away games on the trot (3 League, 1 Cup). Bolton got thrashed 4-0 at home by Chelsea last Saturday in a game I predicted they would lose. Bolton will probably stay up this season as they have enough experience to do so but they struggle to get points against good sides & I really can’t see them getting a result at Villa but it will be a close game. A home win for the Villa.

Result Prediction: Aston Villa to win

Score Prediction: Aston villa 2 Bolton 0

Blackburn lost 2-0 at Manchester United last Saturday which was an improvement on the previous weekends 5-0 defeat at Chelsea. This is a close game to call as Portsmouth are beginning to get points after such a dreadful start. They thrashed Wigan 4-0 at home last Saturday which followed a 0-0 draw at Hull. They have been playing well the last few games now & have only lost 1 in the last four, that being a rather unlucky defeat at home to Spurs. Blackburn’s home form is what is keeping them above the drop zone but they are not unbeatable on their own pitch as was proved by a defeat to Manchester City & a 0-0 draw with West Ham (both earlier in the season). I think that Portsmouth’s run will continue but will it be a draw or a surprise victory? I am going to go for a Portsmouth Victory.

Result Prediction: Portsmouth to record a surprise victory

Score Prediction: Blackburn 1 Portsmouth 2

Manchester City drew at Birmingham last week which was helped by their Shay Given saving a penalty. This was their 4th draw in five games. The odd game out being their 5-1 victory over Scunthorpe in the League cup. City need to get back to winning ways as I pointed out in last weeks preview as they will fall even further behind the top four. In their favour is the fact that the clubs above them are dropping points as well. They surrendered a two goal lead against Fulham in their last home game which was a bad result not only for themselves but me as I had predicted them to win that game. Burnley as we all know are good at home & crap away. They still haven’t managed a point away from home but they did score their first goal(s) in their last away fixture losing 3-2 at Blackburn. Their unbeaten home record has gone with defeat to Wigan but they managed a good three points by beating Hull at home last Saturday. A result that could prove very important come the end of the season. A home win as Manchester City can’t keep on drawing.

Result Prediction: Manchester City to win

Score Prediction: Manchester city 2 Burnley 1

Spurs have now lost two on the bounce after they got beat 3-0 at Arsenal last Saturday. They did not play well & deservedly got what the score line suggests, i.e., nothing. This defeat had been preceded by defeat at home to Stoke & so they need to bounce back to get in contention for a top four place. I think there is a place up for grabs in the top four this season because of Liverpool’s decline & I think it is between Spurs, Aston Villa & Manchester city. Sunderland meanwhile drew at home with West Ham 2-2 in a game they came from two goals down. A good point for them then after they had lost at Birmingham the week before. A close game this & that is why I am going to go for a draw.

Result Prediction: A draw

Score Prediction: Spurs 2 Sunderland 2

Wolves got a really good point at Stoke last weekend in a 2-2 draw. This was even more impressive when you consider that they were 2-0 down at half time. They have now drawn their last three & are just above the relegation places. I’m afraid that they might get a football lesson off Arsenal on Saturday in a result that might put them into the bottom three. Arsenal as we all know are playing some really good football at present. They won 4-1 in Europe on Wednesday night to more or less qualify for the next round. They are now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions. I feel Arsenal are playing the best football out of the Top sides at present & they will be looking to continue that form on Saturday against Wolves. As long as the decisions don’t go against them then they have a chance of the title this season. An away win for Arsenal.

Result Prediction: Arsenal to win their third away win of the season

Score Prediction: Wolves 1 Arsenal 3

Chelsea are back on form. After their two surprise away defeats against Wigan & Aston Villa they have bounced back with successive victories against Blackburn & Bolton (For 9, Against 0). They are also unbeaten in Europe as well. Manchester United are not playing that well so far this season & if it wasn’t for the decisions in their favour (Arsenal & Manchester City games) they would be even further behind Chelsea. They lost at Liverpool in their last away game & that is why I think they will lose at Chelsea. This year I think the title will go to Chelsea & victory in this game will cement my opinion.

Result Prediction: Chelsea to win

Score Prediction: Chelsea 2 Manchester United 0

Despite letting go a 2-0 lead against Wolves to draw last Saturday, Stoke are having a good season, better than their opening season in the Premiership. Hull are doing the complete opposite & I am surprised that their manager Phil Brown has not been sacked so far as they are in serious trouble. They lost at Burnley last week & are now 2nd from bottom in the table. West ham’s win against Aston Villa on Wednesday night has not helped their position either. In this Fixture last season Stoke won easier than the 2-1 result implied but on Sunday I can see a similar score line, especially as Stoke have improved & Hull declined since the previous meeting last season. An away win for stoke.

Result Prediction: Stoke to win

Score Prediction: Hull 0 - Stoke 2

West Ham won for the 1st time since the opening day of the season on Wednesday, a result that took them out of the bottom three. Everton are on a bad run after having a good run. They haven’t won in four during a run that has seen them go out of the league cup (2-0 at Spurs), lose 5-0 to Benfica in Europe (their worst ever result in Europe) & lose at Bolton in the League. They stopped the rot a little with a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa but they won’t be pleased that they surrendered a 1-0 lead. I think this game has all the makings of a good game with West Ham just shading it.

Result Prediction: West Ham to win a good game

Score Prediction: West Ham 2 Everton 1

At last I got a Wigan result correct. I correctly predicted that they would lose at Portsmouth. I didn’t think they would get hammered 4-0 thou. Fulham had a really good result against Liverpool winning 3-1 which came hot on the heels of a great 2-2 draw at Manchester City after they had been 2-0 down early in the second half. In theory this should be a good game as both sides like to play passing football so on that note I am going to go for a score draw.

Result Prediction: A score draw

Score Prediction: Wigan 1 Fulham 1

Liverpool are in massive decline. They are virtually out of Europe after conceding a late goal to Lyon on Wednesday to draw 1-1 (I predicted they wouldn’t win). They are out of the League cup as well having lost 2-1 at Arsenal & their League form is crap. They lost 3-1 at Fulham last Saturday which was their 5th league defeat of the season already . They should however win this game as Birmingham are not a good side away & will be involved in the relegation battle, in fact they already are. Birmingham got a good point against Manchester City last Sunday in a 0-0 draw but their missed penalty sums up their season in their lack of goals. A home win as Liverpool are good at beating the lower sides in the table at home.

Result Prediction: Liverpool to win

Score Prediction: Liverpool 3 Birmingham City 0

Well, that’s it for this week. Be good & don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Douglas Martin 5th November 2009

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