English Premiership Correct Score Predictions: Week 15 – 12/12/09

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Saturday, 12 December 2009

Birmingham v West Ham - Birmingham consolidated their mid-table position, and extended their unbeaten run to six successive games, as they came from behind to beat Wigan. The 3-2 victory means that Birmingham now sit ninth in the league, just six points out of the Champions league spots, and are the highest placed of all last years promoted clubs. West Ham continue to struggle, and only avoided dropping into the relegation zone due to favourable results in other matches. A 4-0 defeat at home to an injury-hit Manchester United consigned the Hammers to their seventh defeat of the season. Verdict 1-1.

Bolton v Man City – Bolton missed the chance to move out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 defeat away to Wolverhampton, a result which allowed Wolves to leapfrog them in the table. The result means five Premier League matches without a win for the Trotters, and just twelve points from their opening fourteen games. Man City made a case for their top four aspirations with a 2-1 win over leaders Chelsea at Eastlands. Carlos Tevez’s winner took City into sixth, two points behind Spurs and the Champions League spots. Verdict 0-2.

Burnley v Fulham – Burnley slipped to thirteenth with defeat at bottom of the table Portsmouth. The 2-0 reverse means no wins in four for Owen Coyle’s men, and a seventh away defeat this season. Fulham climbed to eighth with a slender 1-0 win over Sunderland, courtesy of Bobby Zamora’s early goal. Verdict 1-1.

Chelsea v Everton – Chelsea suffered their third defeat of the season away at Manchester City, allowing fellow Manchester side United to close the gap at the top of the table. The Blues will be looking to bounce back against Everton, and have a formidable record at Stamford Bridge with seven straight wins and only one goal conceded. Verdict 2-0.

Hull v Blackburn – Hull suffered a double whammy at the weekend, with a 3-0 defeat away at Villa, coupled with a painful looking injury to play-maker Jimmy Bullard. Bullard has been credited with Hull’s recent improved performances, and will be sorely missed if he is forced to spend a further spell on the sidelines. Blackburn managed a dogged 0-0 draw at home to Liverpool, with every point edging Big Sam’s men closer to Premiership survival. Verdict 1-2.

Man Utd v Aston Villa – United kept up the pressure on leaders Chelsea with a 4-0 win at Upton Park. Despite missing a host of first team regulars, Ferguson’s men demolished the Hammers in the second half, moving to within two points of Chelsea. Aston Villa continued their quest for a top four finish, with a 3-0 win over Hull. Villa now sit in fifth spot after the end of a pleasing week which also saw them progress in the Carling Cup. Verdict 1-0.

Stoke v Wigan – Stoke sit in mid-table after their 2-0 loss at the Emirates. The defeat extends a poor run of form which has seen them not only slip down the league, but also be eliminated from the Carling Cup at the hands of Portsmouth. A home match against Wigan will give Stoke chance to turn around that sequence, with the Latics having lost two of their last three following defeat to Birmingham. Verdict 1-0.

Sunderland v Portsmouth – Sunderland suffered their second straight 1-0 defeat, with the game at Fulham leaving the Black Cats in tenth spot. Manager Steve Bruce has his concerns about his sides away form, and will hope to get their season back on track with a home fixture against the Premierships bottom club. Portsmouth registered their third win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Burnley, the three points helping close the gap on fellow strugglers Wolves and Bolton. Verdict 0-0.

Tottenham v Wolverhampton – Spurs threw away a chance to go third, after losing a 2-0 lead at Everton. The game finished 2-2, with Tottenham also missing an injury time penalty. Wolves came out top in last weekend’s relegation six-pointer, taking all three points against fellow strugglers Bolton with a 2-1 win. Verdict 3-1.

Sunday, 13 December 2009

Liverpool v Arsenal – Liverpool’s season is in tatters after a disappointing 0-0 draw at Blackburn. The Reds looked toothless in attack, and slipped to seventh, a massive twelve points off the pace. The return of Fernando Torres should provide some spark, but defeat for Benitez would heap more pressure on the beleaguered manager. Arsenal remain third after a 2-0 win at Stoke, although their injury worries continue to mount after Tomas Rosicky was added to the growing list of absentees. Verdict 2-1.