Thursday 25 April 2013

Premier League Predictions - 27th-29th April 2013


Here we are with another round of Premier League fixtures meaning another round of predictions. Manchester United confirmed their 20th title on Monday night with a win against Aston Villa, but there are still key games left to decide European spots and in the battle for survival.

This weekend, there is Stoke vs Norwich, Reading vs QPR, Arsenal vs Manchester United and Aston Villa vs Sunderland. Here are my predictions for this weekend (with explanations too!).

Saturday
Man City 3-0 West Ham
Everton 2-1 Fulham
Southampton 1-1 West Brom
Stoke 1-1 Norwich
Wigan 1-3 Tottenham
Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool

Sunday
Reading 2-3 QPR
Chelsea 2-0 Swansea
Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd

Monday
Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland



Saturday

Man City 3-0 West Ham
– City’s home form has been impressive all season long and I don’t think this Saturday against West Ham will draw up any exceptions. West Ham has been on good form, unbeaten in their last five games, but I think this run will end against the former champions.

Everton 2-1 Fulham – A disappointing loss against Sunderland last week will be the fuel Everton will use to produce a win this weekend. Prior to last week, Everton hadn’t lost since February and I think they will recapture this form. Fulham need Berbatov to get on the score sheet if they are to have any chance of winning. They haven’t scored a goal themselves since they played QPR at the start of the month (own goal vs Aston Villa). Everton should win though as they are unbeaten at home in 2013.

Southampton 1-1 West Brom –
In recent games, Southampton have been good at home but only been able to produce wins against the bigger sides. A point this weekend will take them past the magic 40-point mark which will most likely grant them Premier League football next season. There isn’t a lot West Brom can still go for this season as they no longer can achieve a European spot, but they shouldn’t sit back as Southampton will be tough opposition.

Stoke 1-1 Norwich ­–
Both sides won last weekend so they’ll hope to repeat this form this weekend. With the threat of the drop still in sight, this game should be a good one. Both sides lack a frequent goal scorer though so it should be close. If Stoke still had the home form they had in 2012 this year, this result would be going Stoke’s way, but with only one win at home in all of 2013, a draw is a more likely result.

Wigan 1-3 Tottenham –
Wigan are usually impressive at this time of year against the bigger teams. With Tottenham though still looking to earn Champions League qualification, I think their push for survival will be halted this weekend. Tottenham will be high in confidence after picking up a win against Manchester City last weekend so I think another win is on the cards for them this weekend.

Newcastle 2-1 Liverpool –
The loss of Luis Suarez for Liverpool is a big one, as he has helped his side get out of a lot of trouble. This is therefore a great opportunity for Newcastle to pick up all three points this weekend. Having won five of their last eight league games, Newcastle could reach the magic 40-point mark this weekend with a win, increasing their chances of survival. They’ll be hoping Cisse will be able to find the net for them this weekend.

Sunday

Reading 2-3 QPR – This fixture will be one of the best games to watch this weekend, in a ‘Go hard or face the drop’ match up. If either one of these sides loses this weekend they’ll be the first side to be relegated from the Premier League this season. A draw wouldn't be enough to keep both sides up for another day (till the result of the Aston Villa game), but I think QPR will be able to find a win, meaning Reading will be the first side to be relegated.

Chelsea 2-0 Swansea –
Chelsea have been undefeated in the last six games at home in the Premier League and Swansea have failed to pick up an away win the Premier League in 2013. Chelsea still need to secure their Champions League spot too so a win this weekend will take them one step closer. Swansea has failed to win in their last five games but they have drawn their last two games, so progress is being made. However, I don’t think they will be able to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd –
Manchester United secured another Premier League title with a 3-0 win against Aston Villa last Monday. Unlucky for Arsenal fans then as they will have to give Robin van Persie and the rest of the Manchester United squad the guard of honour when they walk out onto the Emirates pitch this weekend. Manchester United has stated that they are aiming to break the Premier League points record so don’t doubt that they will hold anything back this weekend. Like Tottenham and Chelsea though, Arsenal are still looking to secure a Champions League spot for next season, so I think a draw will be a most likely result.

Monday

Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland – Both sides are still fighting for survival, so finding a win is vital. Aston Villa could send QPR and Reading down this weekend with a win and with Benteke finding the score sheet quite often in the last few games, this is looking likely. Sunderland will hope to continue their good start under new manager, Paulo Di Canio with another win but I think the likes of Weimann, Benteke and Agbonlahor will be too much for them to handle.














Twitter - @ConorJPorter

Thursday 18 April 2013

Premier League Predictions - 20th, 21st & 22nd April 2013


Another weekend is approaching so another weekend of Premier League action is on the horizon. Some of this weekend’s fixtures include Norwich vs Reading, QPR vs Stoke and Swansea vs Southampton on Saturday, and Tottenham vs Man City and Liverpool vs Chelsea on Sunday. Here are my predictions for this weekend’s action.

Saturday
Fulham 1-2 Arsenal
Norwich 1-1 Reading
QPR 1-0 Stoke
Sunderland 1-2 Everton
Swansea 3-2 Southampton
West Brom 2-1 Newcastle
West Ham 1-1 Wigan

Sunday
Tottenham 2-2 Man City
Liverpool 1-2 Chelsea

Monday
Man Utd 3-0 Aston Villa












Twitter - @ConorJPorter

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Premier League & FA Cup Predictions - 13th-17th April 2013


Another weekend of Premier League and FA Cup fixtures just around the corner means another round of ‘Porter’s Predictions’ for you guys to enjoy. This round will also include the midweek fixtures too. Aren’t you lucky people!! Anyways, this load of Premier League fixtures include Aston Villa vs Fulham, Newcastle vs Sunderland, Arsenal vs Everton and Fulham vs Chelsea.

The FA Cup is at the semi-final stage which means games are now being played at Wembley. This weekend, Wembley will play host to Millwall vs Wigan and Chelsea vs Manchester City. Here are my predictions.

Premier League

Saturday
Arsenal 3-0 Norwich
Aston Villa 1-1 Fulham
Everton 2-1 QPR
Reading 1-3 Liverpool

Southampton 2-1 West Ham

Sunday
Newcastle 3-1 Sunderland
Stoke 1-2 Man Utd

Tuesday
Arsenal 2-1 Everton

Wednesday
Man City 3-0 Wigan
West Ham 2-3 Man Utd
Fulham 2-2 Chelsea

FA Cup

Saturday
Millwall 1-2 Wigan

Sunday
Chelsea 1-2 Man City












Twitter - @ConorJPorter

Thursday 4 April 2013

Premier League Predictions - 6th, 7th & 8th April 2013


As I do every week, here are my predictions for this weekend’s Premier League fixtures. The likes of Aston Villa, Southampton and QPR put up good fights against their opponents last weekend. Hopefully those teams mentioned and the rest of the Premier League teams will do this again to provide us with some exciting football games to watch. Some of the key games to watch this weekend include Reading vs Southampton, West Brom vs Arsenal, Tottenham vs Everton, QPR vs Wigan and Manchester United vs Manchester City. Here are my predictions.

Saturday
Reading 0-2 Southampton
Norwich1-2 Swansea
Stoke 2-2 Aston Villa
West Brom 2-3 Arsenal

Sunday
Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
Tottenham 2-1 Everton
Chelsea 4-0 Sunderland
Newcastle 2-2 Fulham
QPR 1-2 Wigan

Monday
Man Utd 3-1 Man City












Twitter - @ConorJPorter

Monday 1 April 2013

Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United - FA Cup quarter-final replay

Stefan Wermu - Reuters 

Chelsea’s Demba Ba produced the only goal in the FA Cup quarter-final replay win against Manchester United, setting them up with a semi-final tie at Wembley against Manchester City.

The game lacked life during the first 20 minutes of the game, as both sides were unable to find any rhythm in their game and were producing sloppy passing.

This may have been down to the fact a lot of players may have been tired from playing internationals during the last week and league fixtures during the weekend.

After Ashley Cole was subbed off the field and replaced by Ryan Bertrand due to a hamstring problem, the game started to earn a bit of life.

Javier Hernandez tried to take a shot inside Chelsea’s penalty area, but he took one turn too many and lost the ball to Ramires, who cleared.

Chelsea had a chance of their own not long later when Eden Hazard went on a good run, wrong footing Chris Smalling along the way, and then rolling the ball to Demba Ba.

Ba then had a shot from the right side of the penalty area but this shot was saved by David De Gea which caused the ball to go out for a throw in.

Moments later, Chelsea was given a free kick thanks to a Nani handball. David Luiz took the free kick, which went over the cross bar convincingly.

After this, Nani tried to redeem himself with a long shot in Chelsea’s half, but the ball went wide of Petr Cech’s right hand post.

Hazard then formed a nice one-two partnership with Oscar inside Manchester United’s penalty area, but his shot went harmlessly over De Gea’s crossbar.

Hernandez was the next Manchester United player to have a shot from range on Cech’s goal. His shot was on target, and was only saved by the feet of Cech as the ball swerved in the air.

Just before half time, John Obi Mikel had a shot on the edge of the area for Chelsea but the ball hit Smalling and went for a corner.

Nothing came from this corner for Chelsea, so the half time score was 0-0.
Manchester United started off with the first chance of the second half as Luiz fouled Phil Jones on the edge of the area, giving them a free kick.

Nani took the free kick but his shot hit the wall and his following cross was plucked out of the air by Cech.

Two minutes later, Chelsea broke the deadlock.

Ba outstretched his leg to make contact with a Juan Mata ball and he put enough power on the ball to guide it past De Gea to the left side of the net, giving Chelsea a 1-0 lead.

Manchester United replied not too long after this with an opportunity to get on the score sheet.

A cross by Danny Welbeck gave Hernandez a close range header and a chance to score, but his header pulled out a fantastic save by Cech.

Mata responded for Chelsea after picking up a nice through ball by Hazard in the left side of Manchester United’s area, but his shot hit the side netting.

Michael Carrick then had a chance for Manchester United, but he should have passed the ball instead of taking the shot as he had better options around him. His shot from the edge of the area went wide.

Carrick made another error moments later as his lose pass was picked up by Hazard. Hazard then dribbled the ball to the penalty area but his shot went wide of the right hand post.

After this chance, Chelsea looked more likely to score as Oscar’s shot five minutes before the 90 minute mark went wide of the left hand post.

Robin Van Persie had the best chance in the last few minutes for Manchester United as he was able to volley a Patrice Evra cross, but his volley went over the bar.

This was an unusual site from Van Persie, who has been scoring goals for fun this season.

No more real opportunities occurred for either side, which meant the score finished Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United.

This win for Chelsea sets them up with a trip to Wembley to play Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on the 14th April.

Line-ups

Chelsea
01 Cech
02 Ivanovic
03 Cole (Bertrand - 21’ (Booked))
04 David Luiz
28 Azpilicueta (Booked)
07 Ramires
10 Mata (Booked)
11 Oscar (Booked) (Moses 90’)
12 Mikel
17 Hazard
29 Ba (Torres 90’)

Substitutes
22 Turnbull
26 Terry
34 Bertrand
08 Lampard
13 Moses
30 Benayoun
09 Torres

Manchester United
01 De Gea
03 Evra
04 Jones
05 Ferdinand
12 Smalling
07 Valencia
16 Carrick
17 Nani (Giggs 65’)
23 Cleverley (Booked) (Van Persie 61’)
14 Hernandez
19 Welbeck (Young 80’)

Substitutes
13 Lindegaard
36 Vermijl
11 Giggs
18 Young
25 Powell
26 Kagawa
20 Van Persie

Man of the Match: Demba Ba

Ref:
Dowd











Twitter - @ConorJPorter