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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 -

Round 22A.... Round 22.... Round 21.... FA Cup 3rd Round.... Round 20.... Round 19

Spurs Shut that 5th Round Door on Grayson's Leeds

 

Preston North End vs. Chelsea at Deepdale.  Proud Preston take on the Pensioners for a place in the last 16. Preston’s last appearance in an FA Cup Final was 46 years ago when Howard Kendall became the then youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final. Preston are in the Lower echelons of the Championship but in the last round they managed to score 7 goals without reply with Jon parkin netting a hat-trick.

Chelsea also put 7 goals past Sunderland last Saturday as Chelsea displayed the kind of form that has deserted them in recent weeks. Chelsea cruised into this round by crushing Championship side Watford. This time though they concede home advantage but Carlo Ancelotti will still be supremely confident his side can get through to the 5^th round as they try to retain their trophy.

Magic predicts: Preston North End 0 - Chelsea 2 

 

Reading vs. Burnley at the Madejski Stadium. Reading caused one of the major upsets of the 3 rd round when they sank Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool Shane Long struck an extra time replay winner for the Royals to leave Liverpool’s season in tatters. Reading will fancy their chances against a struggling Burnley side.

Burnley put up a decent fight against Manchester United last Saturday but went down 3-0 to The Champions. They have a new manager at the helm in Brian Laws and will b looking to make it through to the 5^th round. In the last round Burnley overcame a difficult visit to Paul Ince;s MK Dons

Magic predicts: Reading 0 - Burnley 1

 

Accrington Stanley vs. Fulham at the Fraser Eagle Stadium . Accrington overcame Gillingham in mid-week to set up a dream tie for them against Premier League opposition. It will be a cup final for Accrington and with Fulham having  injuries to Clint Dempsey, Bobby Zamora and Brede Hangerland they won’t have a better chance and even though they are a division 2 side with home advantage they will make life difficult. Fulham though should still have too much quality for Accrington.

Magic predicts: Accrington Stanley 0 - Fulham 1

 

Aston Villa vs. Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park. Aston Villa’s Carling Cup exploits in the semi-final first leg seemed to cause Villa to look slightly jaded 3 days later when they met West Ham. Villa looked short on ideas and only managed a draw. Luckily for them none of their main rivals for the 4^th Champions League spot won either but Martin O’Neill must be worried that his side may run out of steam like they did towards the end of last season. It should be an easy win for Villa today against a Brighton side struggling at the wrong end of League. Brighton did manage an away win in the 1^st and 2^nd rounds of the competition and will go into the game with a nothing to lose.

Magic predicts: Aston Villa 2 - Brighton and Hove Albion 0

 

Bolton Wanderers vs. Sheffield United at the Reebok Stadium. A welcome day off from the Premier League as Owen Coyle’s side can take a temporary break from their survival battle and try to restore some confidence after 2 straight defeats to Arsenal. Securing a place in the 5^th round would give Owen Coyle his first win as Bolton manager in a competition in which he enjoyed a famous cup run as a player with Bolton in the early nineties.

Sheffield United needed a replay to dispose of Queens Park Rangers and face a much sterner test against Premier League opposition. Darrius Henderson is the Blades leading goalscorer this season and has Premier League experience with Watford. Sheffield United did cause an upset at the Reebok Stadium only 2 years ago with a 1-0 3^rd round victory.

Magic predicts: Bolton Wanderers 2 - Sheffield United 1

 

Everton vs. Birmingham City at Goodison Park. An all Premier League clash and with both teams in form it promises to be a fierce contest. Everton’s best chance of European qualification is through success in the FA Cup competition. The Toffees have been plagued with injuries all season but most of their players are now back to fitness. Last week Everton upset Manchester City and this week they will be looking to progress to the FA Cup 5^th round.

Birmingham overcame Nottingham Forest after a replay in the last round. Alex McLeish’s side have built their season on a tight defence but have found goals hard to come by. Birmingham’s long unbeaten run will be put the test against a hungry Everton side.

Magic predicts: Everton 2 - Birmingham City 0    

 

Notts County vs. Wigan Athletic at Meadow Lane. Sven Goran Erikkson’s Division 2 side come up against Premier League opposition and a chance for a giant-killing act and a decent cup run would again put Sven in the spotlight. Notts County overcame non-league Forest Green in the 3^rd round, a relief, as for the last 2 years they had gone out of the competition to teams of similar standing.

Wigan will be hoping for a good cup run to bring some money into the coffers at the DW Stadium. Wigan demolished Hull, after conceding an early goal in the last round and should have too much talent in their squad for 2^nd division opposition.  However; the FA Cup can always spring a surprise and with the Sven factor , could this be a fairytale in the making.

Magic predicts:  Notts County 0 - Wigan Athletic 2

 

Portsmouth vs. Sunderland at Fratton Park.. The FA Cup offers some welcome respite for Avram Grant’s side and some much needed revenue can only help Pompey’s financial position. Portsmouth needed a replay against Coventry to make it to the 4^th round and will face the Black Cats who had an easier path to today’s game with victory against non-league Barrow. Sunderland’s league form has been very disappointing of late and last week they were totally outclassed by a rampant Chelsea side. The Cup also provides an escape from their current league woes and it could make for an interesting encounter. In the league Portsmouth snatched a late equalizer when the 2 teams last met at the Stadium of Light.

Magic predicts: Portsmouth 2 - Sunderland 3

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Crystal Palace at Molineux. Mick McCarthy’s side could probably do without the distraction of the FA Cup as their main focus for the season is to remain in the Premier League. Wolves came through a tricky tie against Tranmere in the last round and face a stiffer test in this round but this time with home advantage.

Palace themselves won away in the last round and they are also still one of the many Championship teams that have designs on the play-offs. A good cup run would bring in much needed revenue for Palace but it’s unlikely this Palace side will be able to match the team of 1990 that were losing finalists to Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.

Magic predicts: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - Crystal Palace 1

 

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Leeds United at White Hart Lane. Spurs have had 2 flat league performances that have seen them lose vital ground in the race for a Champions League spot. They will face Simon Grayson’s Leeds side that cannot be underestimated following their victory in the last round at Old Trafford. Whether Leeds are able to repeat that level of performance remains to be seen, but if they can, then Spurs are going to be in for a testing time, particularly if they fail to improve on their last 2 league outings.

Magic predicts: Tottenham Hotspur 2 - Leeds United 1

 

The third all Premier League tie Stoke City vs Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke defeated Conference side York in the 3^rd round but face the Premier League form team Arsenal. The Gunners looked well out of the race for the Premier League title when they lost 3-0 at home in November to Chelsea but this week, after 2 wins against Bolton, the Gunners took over at the top of the league from Chelsea. Arsene Wenger’s side are firmly in the running for a cup and league double, which they last achieved 8 years ago.  Stoke have a physical approach to the game and will try to upset Arsenal’s passing game. It could be a classic cup tie.

Magic predicts: Stoke City 1 - Arsenal 3

 

Scunthorpe United vs. Manchester City at Glanford Park.  A dream tie for the Championship strugglers against the Premier League’s money men. The tie should prove to be a good money-spinner for Scunthorpe but their main focus is survival in the Championship.

Roberto Mancini still has designs on winning all 3 domestic competitions this season although the Premiership title would look to be an outside bet at this stage of the season. City though are in a good position to make it through to their first Wembley final since 1981 in the Carling Cup if they can hold onto their 1 goal advantage over Manchester United and a victory over Scunthorpe would see them into the last 16 of the FA Cup.

Magic predicts: Scunthorpe United 0 - Manchester City 2