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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 26.... Round 25.... Round 24.... Round 23.... FA Cup 4th Round

A Tale of 2 City's

 

Chelsea vs. Cardiff City at Stamford Bridge. The holders take on 2008 beaten finalists and with the absence of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool and Everton, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will be confident that they can retain the trophy they won last May against Everton. With the return of their African contingent from the Nations Cup, Chelsea are going to be strong challengers in the 3 competitions they remain. They have come through the 3^rd and 4^th rounds comfortably against Championship opposition and now have a third game against another Championship side. With home advantage Chelsea should cruise to the quarter-finals.

Cardiff have, similarly to Chelsea, come through to the 5^th round by beating Championship opposition. In the 3^rd round they beat Bristol City after a replay and in the 4^th round a late flurry took them past Leicester. Only 4 players who played in the final 2 years ago are likely to be in the squad against Chelsea and it’s hard to see the Bluebirds making it to the next round.

Magic predicts: Chelsea 3 - Cardiff City 0 Banker

 

A south coast battle, to whet the appetite of the supporters of both clubs, sees Southampton vs. Portsmouth at St Mary’s Stadium. Neither set of supporters have had much to cheer about this season with both clubs experiencing financial difficulties. Southampton went into administration earlier this season and have battled back from a 10 point deduction in League 1 and look to be safe.

Victories over Bristol Rovers and Northampton away and Luton and Ipswich have taken Southampton to the 5^th round.

Portsmouth are still battling against administration and the almost certain relegation that would bring, although with their league position their stay in the Premier League looks destined to end come May. The FA Cup has proved to be a welcome distraction. After battling through the 3^rd round with an away win at Coventry in a replay. Pompey defeated Sunderland in the 4^th round. They also earned a morale boosting draw against Sunderland with a late equalizer on Tuesday night in the Premier League.

Magic predicts: Southampton 2 - Portsmouth 1  

 

Derby County vs. Birmingham City at Pride Park. A chance for Nigel Clough’s side to test themselves against Premier League opposition. The Rams are languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship and have some work to do to ensure their survival in the division. Derby came through on penalties in a 3rd round replay against Millwall and narrowly defeated Doncaster in the 4th. They have been in good form in the Championship in recent weeks and go into the game having beaten league leaders Newcastle convincingly and with home advantage will  be determined to give Birmingham a tough game.

After losing their long unbeaten run at Chelsea 2 weeks ago, Birmingham bounced back with a draw against Spurs and a hard-fought victory over Wolves. They did however lose in mid-week to West Ham. With Premier League safety all but guaranteed, Alex McLeish’s side will chasing FA Cup glory. Birmingham reached the 5^th round with a tremendous result at last year’s beaten finalists Everton, and if they play anywhere near that level again they should have too much quality for the Rams.

Magic predicts: Derby County 0 - Birmingham City 2

 

The first of two all Premiership clashes sees Manchester City vs Stoke City at the City of Manchester  Stadium. Manchester City have players in their squad that should be able to withstand any physical challenge. Patrick Vieira made his debut in mid-week and he could make his first FA Cup start for his new club. Vincent Kompany would be likely to play alongside Vieira in a holding role and that combination would give Roberto Mancini’s creative players more freedom.

Tony Pulis will be looking for a similar performance from Stoke as meted out to Arsenal in the 4^th round. Stoke’s game is all about effort and commitment and their playing style is intended to ruffle a few feathers.

This looks to be the game of the round and it promises to be a blood and thunder affair.

Magic predicts:  Manchester City 0 - Stoke City 1

 

The second all Premier league tie in the 5^th round is Bolton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur at The Reebok Stadium. When I was a kid in 1978 I remember Bolton meeting Spurs in a 3^rd round replay at the old Burnden Park when a John Ritson blockbuster helped Bolton seal a 2-1 extra-time victory. If this game is half as exciting then we’re in for a cracker. The news for Bolton though is not good. They went down to Manchester City in the mid-week Premier League clash and with teams at the bottom winning, the Trotters find themselves back in the relegation zone. News that their best player and prospective England hopeful, Gary Cahill, could be out until the end of the season was a further blow to Owen Coyle and he will have to re-shuffle the deck and find a formula that can keep Tottenham’s strike force of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe in check.

Harry Redknapp will be eyeing another possibility of the FA Cup glory he enjoyed 2 years ago as Portsmouth’s manager. Just as 2 years ago the Premier League heavyweights have began to fall by the wayside and Redknapp will feel his side have a great opportunity to lift the trophy for the first time since 1991.

Magic predicts: Bolton Wanderers 2 - Tottenham Hotspur 2

 

Fulham vs. Notts County at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers seem to have put their recent poor form behind them as they have now taken 7 points from their last 3 Premier League games. Fulham look to have the best draw of all the remaining Premier league teams with home advantage against a division 2 side. Roy Hodgson will instill in his players not to take victory for granted, he will be wary that Notts County put paid to Wigan in the last round. County, managed by Sven Goran Eriksson, will be well prepared for the game and the chance for more glory and a place in the last eight. The Magpies are also targeting promotion to League 1 this term as a priority and already have a backlog of matches to make up on their rivals. On Saturday however, all minds will be focused on the Cup.

Magic predicts: Fulham 1 - Notts County 0

 

Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace are struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship but they threw the form book out of the window when they comfortably earned a replay victory over Wolves at Molineux. With home advantage against Aston Villa, Neil Warnock’s side will be out to cause an upset but they will have to do so without the services of Victor Moses who was snapped up by Wigan in the transfer window.

Aston Villa have had a comfortable passage to the 5^th round with home advantage to overcome Blackburn and Brighton in the previous rounds. They will have what could prove to be their toughest test with an away game against a Palace side that will be looking for FA Cup glory. Villa are still involved in 3 competitions and after tough mid-week match against Manchester United, Martin O’Neill may rotate his squad to ensure fresh legs.

Magic predicts: Crystal Palace 1 - Aston Villa 1

 

The final game of the 5^th round sees the all Championship clash, Reading vs. West Bromwich Albion at the Madejski Stadium. Reading have taken 2 Premier League scalps in Liverpool and Burnley in previous rounds and now face Championship leaders West Brom.  Reading are struggling at the bottom of the table and still have a lot of work to do to guarantee they will be playing Championship football next season. The Cup has been a welcome distraction and Brian McDermott, recently appointed as the Royals manager on a permanent basis, will be hoping that Reading’s cup form can rub off on their performances in the Championship.

The Baggies took over the top spot in midweek from Newcastle, the side they beat in the 4^th round. West Brom have retained most of their squad that were relegated from the Premier League last season and under Roberto Di Matteo are looking for an instant return to the big time. Di Matteo will have fond memories of the FA Cup, he scored a goal inside 2 minutes of the 1997 FA Cup final, which led to a winners medal. He will be aiming to join the rare club of people that have lifted the cup as both a player and manager.  

Magic predicts: Reading 2 - West Bromwich Albion 1