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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 7.... Round 6.... Round 5.... Round 4.... Round 3.... Rounds 1 & 2

Pompey Chimes and Rafa Whines

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Portsmouth at Molineux.  Wolves 5-2 defeat at Sunderland last Sunday saw them slide to 16^th position in the table and Mick McCarthy’s side will be looking for a win against bottom club Portsmouth who still haven’t got a point to their name. Wolves won their first home league game of the season a fortnight ago and a win would open a 10 point gap on today’s visitors.

Paul Hart’s side were unlucky not to pick up at least a point against Everton last Saturday. They had the better chances in the game but when you’re down sometimes the luck isn’t with you.  Portsmouth players still looked to have plenty of confidence but they need to start picking up points in October otherwise they will have a mountain to climb.

Magic predicts: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - Portsmouth 2  

 

Burnley vs. Birmingham City at Turf Moor.  Burnley have a 100% home record this season in the Premier League and just as well as their away form has been nothing short of disastrous with 4 defeats, no goals scored and  14 goals conceded. Owen Coyle won’t mind one little bit if Burnley are able to retain their current placing in the league standings come next May.  Last week Burnley were thrashed at Tottenham but will be confident of making it 4 wins out of 4 at home against a struggling Birmingham side.

Last weekend’s home defeat at home to Bolton was  David Sullivan’s last in charge as co-owner of the club as Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung completes his takeover.  2 years ago the then failed buy-out undoubtedly contributed to Birmingham’s relegation. Blues supporters will be hoping that it won’t be a case of déjà vu.  The worry for Birmingham continues to be goals with only bottom of the table Portsmouth having a worse games played/ goals for ratio.

Magic predicts: Burnley 1 - Birmingham 1

 

Hull City vs. Wigan Athletic at the Kingston Communications Stadium. Hull have slumped to 19^th place in the table following last weekend’s 6-1 hammering at the hands of Liverpool.  Hull have just 1 win in 7 games and the worst defensive record in the Premier League. Phil Brown’s men look short on confidence and need a result from somewhere.

Wigan Athletic beat Chelsea last Saturday to record an unlikely but deserved victory, their first against one of the Premier League’s top 4 since Wigan were promoted. Roberto Martinez’s side will look to build on that victory and take full advantage of an out of-form Hull side.

Magic predicts: Hull City 0 - Wigan Athletic 1

 

Bolton Wanderers vs. Tottenham Hotspur at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton play their 4^th game of the season at home and still looking for their first league victory  and despite some good recent away results and a strong Carling Cup showing they will have their work cut-out to beat an in form Spurs side that went on the rampage last Saturday in defeating Burnley with Robbie Keane bagging 4 goals. Bolton though do have a good Premier League home record against Spurs with 3 victories and a draw in the last 4 seasons.

Harry Redknapp’s side returned to winning ways following back-to-back defeats over league leaders Manchester United and Chelsea.  Aside from those defeats, Spurs have a perfect record and will be looking to beat their Reebok hoodoo.

Magic predicts: Bolton Wanderers 2 - Tottenham Hotspur 1

 

Manchester United vs. Sunderland at Old Trafford.  Manchester United took over the leadership of the Premier League and will be looking to consolidate their position at the top. Last week Ryan Giggs inspired United to a 2 goal victory as he set up both goals. 

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce was one of Ryan Giggs’ team-mates in the Red Devils first Premier League Championship winning side. The Sunderland squad also contains United old boys, Kieran Richardson, Phil Bardsley and Fraizer Campbell. These players and manager alike will return to the club where they made their name with a point to prove. Sunderland have started the season well and will go into the game with hope of coming away with a result.

Magic predicts: Manchester United 1 - Sunderland 0 

 

The Sunday games open up with Arsenal vs. Blackburn Rovers at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal kept up their challenge with a battling 1-0 victory over Fulham last Saturday and will need to keep winning to keep pace with league leaders Manchester United and Chelsea.  A defence splitting pass from Cesc Fabregas and a cool finish from Robin Van Persie was enough to secure all 3 points but with Arsenal averaging 3 goals a game so far Blackburn might be in for a tough time.

Sam Allardyce’s side came back from behind to secure an important victory for the Lancashire club which gave themselves some breathing space from the relegation places.  Blackburn though have lost their only 2 away games of the season so far and their away record to Arsenal in the last 4 seasons is 4 defeats with 2 goals scored and 15 conceded. 

Magic predicts: Arsenal 2 - Blackburn Rovers 0 Banker

 

Everton vs. Stoke City at Goodison Park. With 2 consecutive victories Everton have moved to 9^th place in the Premier League table. It was a hard fought victory at Portsmouth last Saturday and came at a cost of losing Steven Pienaar to injury.  Louis Saha is starting to recapture the form he showed in his early days at Old Trafford and now has 5 goals to his name this term. His finish against Portsmouth was of the highest quality.

Stoke slipped to defeat against Manchester United last Saturday and Tony Pulis’ side picked up just 1 point in September. Stoke though can make life very difficult for the opposition with their direct style of play and with Everton also favouring a 4-5-1 formation this season, this has all the hallmarks of being a very close game.

Magic predicts: Everton 1 - Stoke City 0  

 

West Ham United vs. Fulham at Upton Park. A London derby, and with both sides struggling at the wrong end of the table in the early part of the season, the points will be keenly contested. West Ham go into the game looking for their first home win and with just 1 victory on the opening day of the season at Wolves , West Ham supporters will be anxious for their side to register their second victory.

Fulham slid to a 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal and are just 2 points ahead of West Ham. A defeat would see West Ham jump ahead of Fulham and leave the Cottagers occupying one of the relegation places. Goals have been a problem so far this season and Fulham have the second worse scoring record in the league aside from bottom club Portsmouth, scoring just 4 goals in 6 matches. So far Roy Hodgson has largely kept faith with the Andy Johnson /Bobby Zamora strike partnership and it will be interesting to see how much time he gives this pairing to flourish as he has Diomansy Kamara and Erik Nevland eagerly waiting in the wings.

Magic predicts: West Ham United 1 - Fulham 1

 

The big game of the weekend, the meeting of Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s 100% league record was ended surprisingly at Wigan last Saturday and Chelsea will be without Petr Cech as a result of his sending off in that game. Liverpool completed a league double over Chelsea last season with Chelsea beating Liverpool over 2 legs in last season’s Champions League quarter final. Liverpool thrashed Hull 6-1 in the league last Saturday but had a disappointing result in mid-week against Fiorentina.

Both sides will be looking to bounce back after these defeats and maintain pressure on Manchester United. This will be Carlo Ancelotti’s first league game against a big 4 club and will be looking to make home advantage count.

Magic predicts: Chelsea 2 - Liverpool 1

 

Round 8 is completed with the Monday night game between Aston Villa and Manchester City at Villa Park. Martin O’ Neill’s side had a disappointing result at Blackburn going down 2-1 after leading in that game and will be aiming to bounce back with a result against a Manchester City side that are 3points ahead of Villa  in the table with just 1 defeat so far this season. Gabriel Agbonlahor maintained his scoring run against Blackburn, that’s a goal in each of the last 4 league games and will be looking to extend that sequence.  Richard Dunne will play against his former club and will be out to prove a point to Mark Hughes after he was discarded by the City boss, following the signing of Joleon Lescott.

Manchester City  returned to winning ways after their first defeat of the season at Old Trafford with a comfortable 3-1 victory against West Ham last Monday  and will looking for 3 more points to maintain the pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson’s men.  Gareth Barry will face his former club for the first time and can expect a hostile reception from the Villa supporters.

Magic predicts Aston Villa 0 - Manchester City 2