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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 34 and FA Cup Semi-Finals.... Round 33.... Round 32.... Round 31.... Round 30.... Round 29

Blue Heaven

The big game of the week Manchester City vs. Manchester United at the City of Manchester Stadium. City with home advantage will be looking to close in on the 4^th place Champions League qualifying spot. In action last Sunday, City crushed Birmingham 5 -1 to move 4 points ahead of Spurs and the race for 4^th now looks to be between those two. A win for City could all but end United’s Premier League title hopes.

United were held at Blackburn last Sunday to remain a point behind leaders Chelsea having played a game more. With just 4 remaining games United have to win and will be hoping to have Wayne Rooney back in the side after his ankle injury. The loss of Rooney has cost the Red Devils dearly as in his absence they have exited the Champions League and their Premier League title challenge is now hanging by a thread.

Magic predicts: Manchester City 2 - Manchester United 1 

 

Birmingham City vs Hull City at St Andrews Stadium. Birmingham were well beaten at Manchester City last Sunday and are now without a win in their last 6 games. They will want to get back to winning ways against lowly Hull and have a good finale to what has been a tremendous first season’s return to the Premier League.

A disastrous result for Hull at home to Burnley leaves them with a mountain to climb to avoid relegation. 4 points adrift of safety and an inferior goal difference, the Tigers need to get back on track with a win. Ian Dowie hasn’t been able to change things around since he took over from Phil Brown. Dowie is facing a second Premier League relegation in succession after he assisted with Alan Shearer in Newcastle’s demise last season.

Magic predicts: Birmingham City 2 - Hull City 0 Banker

 

Blackburn Rovers vs. Everton at Ewood Park.  Blackburn have enjoyed an end of season flourish that has seen them take points from both Chelsea and Manchester United and move up to mid- table in the Premier League. Unbeaten in their last 5 games, Rovers will be looking to extend their run and finish in the top half of the table.

Everton’s pursuit of 7^th place looks to be over after they were only able to draw at Villa Park in mid-week and now have a 4 point gap to make-up with just 4 games remaining. David Moyes’ side has enjoyed a good second half to the season and he must be reflecting on what might have been if injuries had not impacted the club so severely at the start.

Magic predicts: Blackburn Rovers 0 - Everton 0

 

Fulham vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage. Roy Hodgson took over at Fulham just over 2 years ago and has presided over arguably the best period in the club’s history. Fulham have reached the semi-final stages of the Europa Cup where they will meet Hamburg and exited the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage. The cup runs have detracted from Fulham’s league form but they are still poised for a top half finish with a good run in their remaining games.

Mick McCarthy’s Wolves are edging closer to safety. A goal-less draw against Stoke last Saturday moved Wolves up to 32 points 5 points clear of 18^th placed Burnley. Survival in the first year back in the Premier League will be considered success and Mick McCarthy can start to turn his attentions to next season and try to establish Wolves as Premier League outfit.

Magic predicts: Fulham 0 - Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 

 

Stoke City vs. Bolton Wanderers at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke’s football style may not endear them to the football purists but there is no doubt that under Tony Pulis’s leadership they are competitive and after a second season and second mid-table finish that the Potters can now be considered an established Premier League side. Stoke’s opponents today, Bolton, under Sam Allardyce’s leadership may have been the blueprint for Stoke’s success. The Trotters however, have struggled to reach the same standards since Big Sam left the club and have had 3 managers in 3 years. Now under Owen Coyle, the Trotters are trying to transform their playing style but with points still needed to avoid the drop, Coyle will most likely maintain Bolton’s regular format until safety is secured. Bolton battled hard at Chelsea in mid-week and with the same effort against the Potters, will be hoping for a result.

Magic predicts: Stoke City 1 - Bolton Wanderers 0

 

Sunderland vs. Burnley at the Stadium of Light. Darren Bent will look at this as another opportunity to press his claims for a place in the England squad for the World Cup in 2 months time. Burnley have the worst defensive record in the Premier League and Bent will be looking to exploit that and to continue his fine run of form. Sunderland lost last weekend at West Ham and Steve Bruce will be expecting a better performance from his side with home advantage.

The Clarets recorded their first away victory of the season to keep their Premier League survival chances alive. With only 4 games to play Brian Laws’ side need another win. The last 4 games for Burnley are all cup finals and they will need to win at least 3 of these games. If they can show the same form as last Saturday at Hull, the Clarets are capable of springing another surprise.

Magic predicts: Sunderland 2 - Burnley 0

 

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Chelsea at White Hart Lane. It could have been a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final but Spurs lost out to Portsmouth in extra time in the FA Cup semi-final last Sunday and now have only to focus on overhauling Manchester City for 4^th place. Chelsea meanwhile came through their FA Cup semi final comfortably against Aston Villa and a perfect weekend ended for Carlo Ancelotti as he saw Manchester United held at Blackburn to leave Chelsea on course for the double. Chelsea have 4 games remaining and 4 points clear. Irrespective of the result in the lunchtime kick-off in the Manchester derby both Chelsea and Spurs will be going all out for a win. It promises to be an exciting contest.

Magic predicts: Tottenham Hotspur 0 - Chelsea 3

 

Wigan Athletic vs. Arsenal at the DW Stadium.  Wigan still aren’t safe as they were held to a goal-less draw by Portsmouth in mid-week and now are 5 points clear of Burnley and Hull. They will face a tougher game against an Arsenal side whose title hopes look to have all but disappeared with a defeat to Spurs on Wednesday. The Gunners will need both Chelsea and Manchester United to slip up in their last 4 matches if they are to lift the title for the first time in 6 years.   

Wigan have upset both Chelsea and Liverpool at home this season so the Gunners will need to be wary. Hugo Rodallega will be the main threat for The Latics.

Magic predicts: Wigan Athletic 0 - Arsenal 2

 

Portsmouth vs. Aston Villa at Fratton Park. Portsmouth are on countdown to their departure from the Premier League after relegation was mathematically confirmed last weekend after West Ham defeated Sunderland. 24 hours later Pompey booked their place in the FA Cup final for the 2^nd time in 3 years and the club look set to get a reprieve from UEFA so they can take part in next season’s Europa Cup competition. It remains to be seen if anyone in the squad will play for Portsmouth next season but morale still appears good in the camp.

Villa experienced the disappointment of an FA Cup semi -final exit to Chelsea as they seemed to run-out of steam in the last quarter of the game. After a season that once promised to generate some silverware, all that is left for Martin O’Neill’s side is to push for 4^th place finish. To achieve that Villa will most likely need to win all their remaining games and hope that both Spurs and Manchester City lose at least twice in their last 4 matches.

Magic predicts: Portsmouth 0 - Aston Villa 2  

 

Liverpool vs. West Ham United at Anfield. A disappointing goal-less draw last Sunday all but ended Liverpool’s chances of making it to the Champions League qualifiers in what has been Rafa Benitez’s worse season in charge since taking over the reins from Gerard Houllier. Liverpool badly missed the scoring touch of Fernando Torres against a resolute Fulham side but should find a struggling Hammers an easier proposition. Liverpool now need to start planning for next season and a squad re-evaluation and overhaul looks necessary if the Reds are to challenge for honours next term.

West Ham had a great win last week and saw the result of the relegation clash between Hull and Burnley go in their favour to leave the Hammers the favourites to be able to claw themselves to safety. They will have their work cut out to get a result at Liverpool but they do now have the benefit 4 point cushion on 18^th placed Burnley.

Magic predicts: Liverpool 2 - West Ham United 0

 

Hull City vs. Aston Villa at the Kingston Communications Stadium. This is a must-win game   with a draw not suiting either side. Hull’s stay in the Premier looks to be coming to an end. On the final day of last season it was Aston Villa’s defeat of Newcastle that relegated the Magpies and saved the Tigers but fast forward a year and defeat at the hands of Aston Villa would almost certainly condemn Hull to Championship football next season. Hull were short on ideas against Burnley last Saturday and without Kamil Zayatte or Anthony Gardner at the heart of their defence, they look vulnerable. With a Villa attack containing the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young, Hull will struggle to contain Martin O’Neill’s men.

Magic predicts: Hull City 0 - Aston Villa 3