High Fives From Magic Mike

Welcome to "High Fives" the personal column of our ace Director of Football "Magic Mike".

Magic Mike's football credentials are first class. Last season he handily beat the Beeb’s expert tipster “Lawro” who never got a look in after Magic took an early lead at the start of the 2008/09 season.

A good number of our players were rescued by Magic’s tips in our Five Lives scheme which automatically gives you his tips, up to five times during the season, should you forget to enter them yourself. Magic Mike's canny inside knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of players and teams, combined with a passion for getting it right, is what you need to make an impact in this game. It also means you're going to have to be at your best to outdo him.

The Management - Score Five

And now, once again, over to Magic Mike...

See what Mike had to say in the olden days - visit his 2008/09 season archives.

previous predictions -

Pompey.....Singing the Blues?

Chelsea vs. Stoke City at Stamford Bridge.  Carlo Ancelotti’s side approaches this game after 2 disappointing results. Chelsea lost the first leg of Champions League to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan and last Saturday after taking a 1-0 lead imploded against Manchester City, finishing with 9 men on the pitch as first Julliano Belletti and then Michael Ballack were sent off. These dismissals and resulting suspension as well as Chelsea’s current injury list will give Ancelotti food for thought. Chelsea will be aiming to steady the ship and reach the semi-final stage for the second successive year. Chelsea’s passage to the quarter-final has been plain sailing so far but they now face Premier League opposition for the first time.

Stoke City have caused upsets to make it to the quarter-final and will have to again raise the bar a third time to make it to their first FA Cup semi-final in 38 years. In the 4^th round, Stoke comfortably beat Arsenal and in the 5^th round after an away draw at Manchester City went through in extra time. An away date with Chelsea will be their sternest test so far but with Premiership football all but guaranteed for next season Tony Pulis’s side will be focusing all their efforts to spring another surprise. A keenly fought contest can be expected.

Magic predicts Chelsea 1 - Stoke City 1

Fulham vs. Tottenham at Craven Cottage. An all London quarter-final for a semi-final spot this, if the Cottagers were to win, would be their first semi-final appearance since 1975. Roy Hodgson’s side have enjoyed an excellent season so far as they have progressed to the knock-out stages of the Europa Cup and after a slow start in the Premier League have now almost certainly guaranteed Premier League football at Craven Cottage next season. Bobby Zamora recently returned from injury and will be the main goal threat against his former club. Fulham’s success this season has again been built on the solid central defensive partnership of Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland but they will be facing a difficult task of keeping Jermain Defoe in check.

Harry Redknapp’s side go into the game on the back of a 2-1 victory over Everton as Spurs maintain their challenge for a Champions League qualifying spot but their only chance of silverware this season is the FA Cup and Harry would love a repeat cup win this season to emulate what his then Portsmouth side achieved 2 years ago when they went on to lift the trophy.

Magic predicts: Fulham 1 - Tottenham Hotspur 2

Portsmouth vs. Birmingham City at Fratton Park.  Portsmouth have entered administration and the almost certain relegation that this brings but they are still shooting for glory and aiming to reach the semi-final stage for the 2^nd time in 3 years. Portsmouth go into the game on the back of their 2^nd away league win of the season at Burnley.  Avram Grant has managed to maintain the spirit at Fratton Park in very difficult circumstances and the cup is the only thing Pompey fans have to look forward to for the rest of the season

Alex McLeish’s Birmingham are aiming for a first FA Cup semi-final spot since 1975 when Birmingham narrowly lost out to Fulham. Birmingham have enjoyed away wins at Everton and Derby to reach the quarter-final stage and would be happy if they could make it a hat-trick of 2-1 away victories and a place in the semis.

Magic predicts: Portsmouth 0 - Birmingham City 1  Banker

Reading vs. Aston Villa at the Madejski Stadium. Reading are the only non-Premier League club left standing in the completion. They put both Liverpool and West Brom out of the competition with away replay victories in the 3^rd and 5^th round respectively and disposed of Burnley in round 4 with gritty performance. They have drawn their 3^rd Premier League club of their FA Cup campaign so far and this will arguably be their toughest test. They have been struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship for most of the season but recently their Cup form has started to breed some confidence in their league performances and they have started to pull away from the relegation zone.

Villa were disappointed last Sunday as Carling Cup glory eluded them when Wayne Rooney came off the bench to secure the trophy for the second successive year for Manchester United. Martin O’Neil will now be looking for his side to go all the way to Wembley in the FA Cup for the first time in a decade. Reaching the final would almost certainly guarantee Villa a place in next season’s Europa Cup but it is an elusive piece of silverware that will be the main attraction for manager Martin O’Neill. Villa have had a relatively easy passage, their toughest game being in the last round against Crystal Palace where they came through after a replay. 

Magic predicts: Reading 1 - Aston Villa 1