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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 25.... Round 24.... Round 23.... FA Cup 4th Round.... Round 22A.... Round 22

Hammers beat the Blues

 

Manchester City vs. Bolton Wanderers at the City of Manchester Stadium. A North West derby with both teams anxious to pick up points. City are well placed to challenge for a 4^th placed Premier League finish , Bolton meanwhile need points as they battle the drop. When the 2 teams met earlier this season the game ended 3-3 in what was a pulsating game. Bolton’s Croatian international, Ivan Klasnic scored 2 in that game as Bolton could count themselves unlucky not to defeat the money-men from Manchester. It will be a different game this time around, City with home advantage, will be a another proposition.

Magic predicts: Manchester City 2 - Bolton Wanderers 2

 

Portsmouth vs. Sunderland at Fratton Park. Portsmouth are still looking for a new buyer to inject much needed funds into the club. With just 2 draws in their last 7 league games, Avram Grant’s side badly need a win as an unhealthy gap is now starting to open up between Portsmouth in 20^th and 19^th place. Portsmouth did dispose of Sunderland in the FA Cup recently and snatched a point at the Stadium of Light with a Younes Kaboul late equalizer. Kaboul, though, was sold back to Tottenham in the January transfer window and his presence will be sorely missed.

Sunderland were without a league win in 11 and Steve Bruce’s side will be looking for revenge for their Cup exit to Portsmouth as well as a morale boosting victory at the Premier League’s bottom club. Benjani Mwaruwari was signed by Steve Bruce and could make an appearance against the side that first brought him to the Premier League.

Magic predicts: Portsmouth 1 - Sunderland 2

 

Wigan Athletic vs. Stoke City at the DW Stadium. Roberto Martinez will be anxious that his side can pick up enough points to secure safety as he re-engineers the squad he inherited from Steve Bruce. Wigan have this and another re-arranged home game against fellow strugglers Bolton next and Martinez will be targeting at least 4 points from these fixtures as his team battles the drop. Wigan unexpectedly crashed out of the FA Cup last week so they can now focus 100% on the Premier League.

Stoke City are a difficult side to beat under Tony Pulis. Stoke have a Saturday FA Cup 5^th round tie with Manchester City to look forward to and with the draw opening up with the exits of Manchester United , Liverpool, and Arsenal, who Stoke put out in the last round, Stoke may be distracted, as they eye a money-spinning cup run.

Magic predicts: Wigan Athletic 0 - Stoke City 0

 

Fulham vs. Burnley at Craven Cottage. Roy Hodgson faced another injury blow with the news that Andy Johnson will be out for the rest of the season. That blow was softened with the loan signings of Stefano Okaka from Roma and Nicky Shorey from Aston Villa as well as the return of Bobby Zamora from injury. The Cottagers are still involved in 3 competitions this term and the wily Hodgson knows he needs strength and depth in his squad for the run-in.

Testing times for Brian Laws as his Burnley side needs to follow up on the good result against West Ham that gave Laws his first victory as manager. With just 1 point earned away all season Burnley’s form will need to improve on the road to survive.

Magic predicts: Fulham 1 - Burnley 0

 

Arsenal vs. Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium. 3 games ago it was determined that Arsenal’s season would  be made or broken with the results in their next 3 games. With disappointing defeats in the first 2 of those games, to Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal are now in a similar position they faced in November following the home defeat to Chelsea. On that occasion they travelled to Anfield and won    2-1.  Chelsea and Manchester United have opened up a 9 and 7 point lead respectively over Arsene Wenger’s side, a lead that may prove to be too much to assail. In December and January Arsenal were able to claw back points on their main rivals and get back into title contention. The start of that good run had its roots in the away win at Anfield and the Gunners will need to win again re-assert their title challenge.

Rafa Benitez’s side is locked in a 4-way race for the fourth and final Champions League spot. Liverpool keep battling on and have done well in recent weeks and they will be looking to get a result from the visit to the Emirates to maintain their challenge.

Magic predicts: Arsenal 1 - Liverpool 1  

 

Aston Villa vs. Manchester United at Villa Park. Aston Villa earned a hard fought victory over United at Old Trafford in the first meeting in December. That victory was the first of 4 straight victories that lifted Villa to 3^rd in the table. Martin O’Neill will be looking for an unlikely Premier League double over Sir Alex Ferguson and a boost of confidence for their Carling Cup final meeting at the end of this month.

Manchester United come looking to avenge a goal defeat at the hands of Aston Villa in December. This is the time of year that Manchester United usually find a fifth gear as the season starts to wind down. With the Red Devils still being 2 points adrift of leaders Chelsea, every point is vital. Wayne Rooney has been in excellent form for United of late and will be looking to extend his run. Rio Ferdinand also made a recent return following a back injury to bolster United’s defensive ranks.

Magic predicts: Aston Villa 0 - Manchester United 1 

 

West Ham United vs. Birmingham City at Upton Park. It will be very odd for Mssrs. Sullivan and Gold to be supporting West Ham today after many years as the owners of Birmingham City. Their takeover of the club has allowed Gianfranco Zola to bring in much needed fire-power in the transfer window in the form of loan signings Hossam Mido from Middlesboro, Aruajo Ilan and the permanent signing of Benni McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers. With Birmingham’s long run without defeat ending recently, the Hammers will fancy their chances of a victory.

Birmingham added only Craig Gardner to their ranks in the January transfer window as Alex McLeish has the unexpected luxury of being virtually safe from the relegation dogfight and able to plan towards next season. The Blues have an FA Cup 5^th round tie at Pride park to look forward to on Saturday and that may prove to be a distraction.

Magic predicts: West Ham United 1 - Birmingham City 0 

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux. Wolves enjoyed a much needed and unlikely victory over Spurs at White Hart Lane in December and Mick McCarthy’s men, lying in 19^th place in the table are badly in need of a similar result today. Wolves crashed out of the FA Cup to Championship side Crystal Palace and now all that remains for Wolves is a survival battle.

Harry Redknapp will be looking for his side to make up for a poor performance against Wolves in December and keep up the pressure for a Champions League place ,ahead of their Saturday visit to Bolton for a 5^th round FA Cup tie. Jermain Defoe has been in sparkling form this season with already 3 hat-tricks under his belt. His partnership with Peter Crouch has blossomed which has allowed Harry Redknapp to sanction club skipper Robbie Keane’s move to Celtic in the transfer window. Redknapp has re-signed Younes Kaboul from Portsmouth as well as the former Bolton and Chelsea Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen to bolster his squad for the run-in.

Magic predicts: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - Tottenham Hotspur 1 

 

Blackburn Rovers vs. Hull City at Ewood Park. Blackburn will be looking to rebound after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away at Stoke. Sam Allardyce’s side had moved to a mid-table position but a few defeats, especially against teams below them could Rovers sucked back into the relegation battle.

A fantastic result for Hull at the weekend saw them beat Manchester City and move out of the relegation zone. The win lifted them 4 places to 14^th. Hull also held Chelsea to a draw in the previous week. The 4 points the Tigers have earned in the last 2 games is more than manager, Phil Brown, can have expected his side to take. Brown comes up against his friend and former mentor, Sam Allardyce but there won’t be any favours.

Magic predicts: Blackburn Rovers 2 - Hull City 1   Banker

 

Everton vs. Chelsea at Goodison Park. Everton disappointingly lost the Merseyside derby on Saturday after playing almost an hour against a 10 man Liverpool. The Toffees face another difficult game but will take encouragement from the fact that they held Chelsea to a draw at Stamford Bridge. David Moyes will be looking for a response from his players after such a poor display on Saturday.

Chelsea completed a league double over Arsenal on Sunday with Didier Drogba scoring a brace to mark his return from competing in the African Nations Cup. The win took Chelsea back to the top of the table but with only 2 points separating Chelsea from Manchester United, the title race is all set to go down to the wire. 

Magic predicts: Everton 0 - Chelsea 1

 

Round 26 includes the re-arranged games to be played on the 16^th and 17^th February. The first of these games is Stoke City vs. Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium. The 2 sides will meet on Saturday in the FA Cuo and the league game 4 days later. Tony Pulis’s side has been in good form of late and will fancy their chances of causing an upset.

Manchester City are still pushing for a 4^th place Premier League finish. The defeat to Hull has meant that Roberto Mancini’s men will have to take full advantage of their games in hand to re-claim the 4^th spot and he will be looking for a response from his players following the defeat at Hull.

Magic predicts: Stoke City 1 - Manchester City 1

 

Wigan Athletic vs. Bolton Wanderers at the DW Stadium. A 6 pointer with Premier League survival for both clubs the priority. A win for either side will give some breathing space but with only 4 points separating 13^th to 19^th place in the Premier League, the relegation outcome looks set to go down to the wire this season and both team will have expectations to take at least as point from the game.

Magic predicts: Wigan Athletic 1 - Bolton Wanderers 1