FA Cup and Premier League Predictions – Part 2
We continue with our predictions here in part 2.
Stoke City v Brighton (FA Cup 5th round)
Brighton are doing extremely well in League One. In fact they should be very much used to the playing style of Stoke City. Most teams in league one hoof the ball forward and try and wrestle their way into the box. So Stoke might not be a big surprise for
them.
However, they themselves are capable of surprising the Potters. Brighton like to play their football on the ground with neat passing and movement. But the question here is will Stoke allow them to do so? It will be really difficult though.
Stoke, like Birmingham are in a pretty decent situation. A win against a team two divisions below will take them in the quarter finals. They have shown some indifferent form in the league off late and this is a good chance for them to get some form back.
The pressure will be on Tony Pulis’s men as they are the firm favourites and at home too, so any result other than a win will be deemed unacceptable.
However, Stoke should have enough firepower to outmuscle the team looking to win promotion into championship this season.
Prediction: 2-0
Manchester United v Crawley (FA Cup 5th Round)
Crawley’s progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup is nothing less than a fairytale. There will be 9,000 travelling fans with them at Old Trafford, who will look to make it a memorable day. Crawley are guaranteed £750,000 from their FA Cup run and that
amount will be enough to cover up the money they spent on new signings.
No matter what team United send out against the non-league opposition. It should be a comfortable 90 minutes for the Old Trafford outfit. Alex Ferguson is expected to ring the changes and rest most of their key players as they have a champions League match
in mid-week.
Regardless of the result on Saturday, it will be day to remember for the players of Crawley, who will walk out on the famous pitch of Old Trafford and look to play against high quality players. However, it is highly unlikely that they will enjoy the result
at the end of the game.
Prediction: 3-0
SUNDAY 20TH February 2011
West Brom v Wolves (Premier League)
This is going to be Roy Hodgson’s first game in charge at home and it’s a relegation six pointer. Hodgson would have been coaching his players to be disciplined all week and we expect a defensive minded and a stubborn West Brom side on Sunday. Baggies would
have been disappointed by the way they allowed West Ham to come from 3 goals down to level it up at 3-3 before the final whistle. However, with Roy now in charge, such calamitous defending might not be seen again, but likewise such exciting games might not
be seen either.
Wolves were well and truly beaten by Arsenal at the Emirates in their last match. In fact they did well to keep the score line at just 2-0. They are bottom of the table and are there for a reason. They have lost far too many games – 16 in their last 23.
Wolves have often beaten the big boys, which includes Manchester’s United and City, Chelsea and Liverpool. However, they now need to beat their relegation rivals if they want to have a chance of survival.
Prediction: 1-1
Continued in part 3