Lawro's predictions | |||||||||||||||
 HOW DID LAWRO DO LAST TIME?
Lawro got FIVE results right, with ONE perfect score. PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS (All kick-offs are 1500 GMT unless specified) SATURDAY Everton v West Brom (1245 GMT)
Everton have a growing injury list but I think they will still be too strong for the Baggies. West Brom didn't look too hot against Fulham last week - they were outplayed and had no fight about them. This lot are in a scrap for survival. Verdict: 2-0 Arsenal v Fulham
Arsenal are quietly beavering away this season. They've got the Champions League first leg win under their belt and they're in the next round of the FA Cup. Best of all they have a few players coming back from injury. Fulham are virtually safe from relegation and they've done brilliantly this term, but I can't see them winning at the Emirates Stadium. Verdict: 2-0 Chelsea v Wigan
Chelsea haven't done too badly under new boss Guus Hiddink, have they - played two and won two. Don't say this too loudly, but Guus has even managed to get striker Didier Drogba to play well again. Wigan have forgotten how to win and I don't see them remembering how to do it at Stamford Bridge. Verdict: 2-1 Middlesbrough v Liverpool
Surprise, surprise - Middlesbrough won a game in midweek. The FA Cup win over West Ham will have boosted their confidence but I did think their poor run had to end soon. Liverpool, though, are still difficult to beat. Despite their exertions in Madrid this week I still think they'll get something out of this game. Verdict: 1-1 SUNDAY Hull v Blackburn (1230 GMT)
I would find it strange if Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce didn't make a few changes to the team he put out in the FA Cup replay against Coventry. His priority is Blackburn's survival and this is a huge match for them so it will be a stronger starting XI. Hull got to 27 points and stopped winning. This is a big match for them too because they could be pulled into a relegation battle if they don't start picking up points again. Verdict: 1-1 West Ham v Man City (1230 GMT)
The Hammers have been on a good run but have had a couple of slip-ups of late. They are also suffering from injuries and Mark Noble is suspended. I was impressed by City against Liverpool, especially Nigel de Jong and Vincent Kompany - I thought the two midfielders performed brilliantly in front of the defence. Verdict: 0-1 Bolton v Newcastle (1300 GMT)
Of all the teams in the bottom half, I think Bolton are the best scrappers. Hats off to manager Gary Megson for what he's achieved so far at the Reebok Stadium. Newcastle are not particularly impressive on the road and they lack battlers in midfield, especially with Kevin Nolan suspended. I can't see anything but a Bolton win here. Verdict: 2-0 Aston Villa v Stoke
Villa have a small squad and I'm not sure how all these games in a short space of time will impact on them, but we'll soon find out. Stoke are poor away from home. Tony Pulis's men will be relying on their home form in order to avoid the drop. Verdict: 2-1 CARLING CUP FINAL Man Utd v Tottenham
I'm really not sure what sort of Manchester United team Sir Alex Ferguson will put out. If I was a betting man I'd say the spine of his side will have experience with the youngsters playing around them - and he'll definitely have strength on the bench. Whatever team Sir Alex puts out, I just think it'll be too strong for Tottenham. It's Wembley deja-vu for the cup holders and their boss Harry Redknapp, who led Portsmouth to victory in last year's FA Cup final. They play attractive football but will find it hard to win the ball from United on Sunday. Verdict: 1-0 Mark Lawrenson was talking to BBC Sport's Saj Chowdhury | |||||||||||||||
2009년 2월 27일 금요일
[EPL27R]Lawro's predictions
2009년 2월 19일 목요일
[EPL26R] Lawro's predictions
Lawro's predictions | ||||||||||||||||
HOW DID LAWRO DO LAST TIME?
PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS (All kick-offs are 1500 GMT unless specified) SATURDAY Aston Villa v Chelsea (1245 GMT)
I'm sure Guus Hiddink in his first official game at Chelsea will get the necessary reaction and hard-working, professional performance. Verdict: 1-1 Arsenal v Sunderland
Arsenal have players coming back and the confidence is growing, plus with Villa slipping up a little bit they'll still be hoping to get that fourth place. Sunderland have improved under Ricky Sbragia and they'll be absolutely fine, but on the road they're not too convincing. Verdict: 2-0 Bolton v West Ham
Bolton will have identified this as a winnable game, and they have people prepared to scrap it out so they'll be OK. West Ham have been on a super run under Gianfranco Zola and have come a long way in a short time but this can be a difficult fixture. Verdict: 2-1 Middlesbrough v Wigan
I'm going to go Boro on the basis that eventually luck starts to run your way. We know how well Wigan have done under Steve Bruce and, like Bolton, they have hard-working players. Verdict: 2-0 Stoke v Portsmouth
With Stoke I think it's a problem of confidence but they'll be pinning their hopes on their remaining home fixtures, which don't look as difficult as at the start of the season. For Portsmouth, you change your manager and change your luck it seems, but they have got some good players, big and strong, to cope with Stoke's physical presence. Verdict: 1-1 Man Utd v Blackburn (1730 GMT)
Sir Alex Ferguson is able to change the team without upsetting the balance and that's the difference between them and any other team in the Premier League. Blackburn have improved, especially defensively, but they have just started to leak a few goals and I don't see a clean sheet for them at Old Trafford. Verdict: 2-0 SUNDAY Fulham v West Brom (1330 GMT)
Fulham put teams under pressure and are confident at home, it's a tight pitch, they make you make mistakes and have good players in the right areas. West Brom play good football but the slightest mistake seems to be capitalised on, and they are not particularly resolute away. Verdict: 2-1 Liverpool v Man City
Liverpool have one or two shortcomings as everyone knows, they haven't really got any match-winners apart from Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, and they can't keep relying on them. They have a massive week coming up soon against Madrid, and then Man Utd away, which they have to win to have any chance, so they have to keep going. City have no physical presence up front which puts them on the back foot away from home, and makes them fragile and easy to beat. Verdict: 3-0 Newcastle v Everton (1600 GMT)
Newcastle are of course without Joe Kinnear at the moment and everyone wishes him a speedy recovery, but they had a good win at West Brom and at home they give everyone a game. David Moyes has spent money so wisely at Everton and has a tight-knit squad with good attitudes. Verdict: 1-1 MONDAY Hull v Tottenham (2000 GMT)
Hull got to 27 points and perhaps subconsciously thought they'd be fine, maybe they just lost the edge, desire and hunger, but it's all about fractions and ultimately they will be fine, they have players prepared to fight. Harry Redknapp will ultimately get it right at Spurs, they've been a little bit unlucky losing away games in the last minute but are more than capable of winning their home games. Verdict: 1-1 Mark Lawrenson was talking to BBC Sport's Jamie Lillywhite | ||||||||||||||||
