Russell v Lawro : Week 3

Well the challenge continues with a better performance, would of been even better if Sunderland and Tottenham didn't score in injury time, from me last week predicting 4 results right and 1 correct score compared to Lawro's 4 results right and 2 correct scores.  Not beaten him yet but lets see if this weekends action from the Premiership can set a new trend of me beating Lawro. Here are last weeks results.

Lawro's predictions Stoke 2-0 West Ham Aston Villa 2-0 Bolton Blackburn 2-1 Fulham Everton 3-1 Newcastle Tottenham 2-0 Wolves West Brom 1-1 Birmingham Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal Man Utd 0-0 Liverpool Wigan 0-2 Man City Chelsea 3-0 Blackpool

Russell’s Predictions Stoke 3-1 West Ham Aston Villa 1-0 Bolton Blackburn 1-1 Fulham Everton 2-0 Newcastle Tottenham 2-1 Wolves West Brom 2-2 Birmingham Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal Man Utd 1-1 Liverpool Wigan 1-4 Man City Chelsea 6-0 Blackpool

Actual results Stoke 1-1 West Ham Aston Villa 1-1 Bolton Blackburn 1-1 Fulham Everton 0-1 Newcastle Tottenham 3-1 Wolves West Brom 3-1 Birmingham Sunderland 1-1 Arsenal Man Utd 3-2 Liverpool Wigan 0-2 Man City Chelsea 4-0 Blackpool

  Saturday

Man City v Chelsea 1245 BST ko

Wow what a way to start the weekend, both of these suffering humiliating defeats on Wednesday in the league but i would be very surprised more the 4 of the players starting those games start this match.  Chelsea picked up a couple of injuries but with the return of John Terry they will be hard to score against.  Chelsea are unstoppable in the league this year averaging 4.2 goals per game, they won't score that many but I still they will have too much for City, the young pretenders to Chelsea.  City will play the three holding midfielders so this will be a low scoring game.

Lawro's Prediction: 1-1    My Prediction: 0-2

Arsenal v West Brom 1500 BST ko

Arsenal required extra time to beat Tottenham so they could be a couple of tired legs on the pitch for Arsenal.  West Brom have been playing well with a good win last weekend against rivals Birmingham, they have good signing in Peter Odemwingie, they will score goals this year.  Arsenal's defense is still their week point but at the moment, despite some key injuries, they are scoring more than enough to win.  Arsenal will win this but West Brom will score.

  

Lawro's Prediction: 3-0    My Prediction: 2-1

Birmingham v Wigan 1500 BST ko

Wigan didn't play well against Man City last Sunday but a much needed win in the League Cup might give them a boost.  They have to stop conceding silly goals if they wan to stay a Premiership side.  Birmingham played well in the first half last week but they lost some discipline in the middle of the park and let West Brom take control.   Alex McLeish will have had a word to the squad and they should bounce back well enough against Wigan.

Lawro's Prediction: 2-1    My Prediction: 2-0

Blackpool v Blackburn 1500 BST ko

These two north west teams haven't meet in the top flight in a long time.  Blackpool looked poor against Chelsea and only didn't concede in the second half because Chelsea looked bored.  Manager Ian Holloway has declared that his side will not set out defensively again, so they are going to come at Blackburn in full force.  Blackburn played well last week against Fulham and I think they might be the first mid/low table side who will show Blackpool their place.  Blackburn are good defensively and with 'Big Sam' in charge they beat Blackpool in the physical game.

Lawro's Prediction: 2-1    My Prediction: 1-2

Fulham v Everton 1500 BST ko

It happens at some point of every season of his Everton career, there are calls for Moyles to leave.  These will pass just like they have done in the past, but they might not pass this weekend.  Mark Hughes Fulham are improving each week and the side are understanding what the manager wants more and more.  Fulham are missing key players upfront losing Dembele last weekend to add to the losses of Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson.  Fulham will take a defensive approach to this match and aim for a draw and I think they will get.

Lawro's Prediction: 1-2    My Prediction: 1-1

Liverpool v Sunderland 1500 BST ko

Liverpool have had a very poor start to the season and the last week hasn't helped them either.  A defeat to fierce rivals Manchester United and a humiliating defeat to Northampton in the League Cup is not the medicine Liverpool were looking for.  Sunderland have snuck results so far with goals very late on in matches but on the whole their defending and attacking has looked pretty good this season.  Liverpool need the win and need Gerrard and Torres to perform, if they do Liverpool might win this but I just don't see it happening.

Lawro's Prediction: 2-0    My Prediction: 1-1

West Ham v Tottenham 1500 BST ko

With their draw at Stoke followed by a win at Sunderland in the Carling Cup, West Ham have had a very good week.  West Ham looked poor at the back this season and I don't see that changing in the near future, Victor Obinna is starting to look good up front but he is lacking support from the rest of the team.  Tottenham fielded an experimental side against Arsenal on Tuesday but they have a Champions League match on Wednesday to think about.  This is West Ham's best chance to defeat London rivals Spurs but I think that Tottenham will have too class for the Hammers.   

Lawro's Prediction: 2-1    My Prediction: 1-3

  Sunday

Bolton v Man Utd 1200 BST ko

Under Owen Coyle, Bolton play a lot more football than they have done in recent years and they have a very open style too. United looked good going forward against Liverpool, Nani and Berbatov in particular, last Sunday and the reserves also looked good going forward in the League Cup.  Both United sides looked a bit shaky in the back but Ferguson will most likely start Vidic and Ferdinand together for the first time this season.  Now Bolton aren't so physical United will prove to much for them.

Lawro's Prediction: 0-2    My Prediction: 1-4

Wolves v Aston Villa 1405 BST ko

Villa had a good second half comeback against Blackburn on Wednesday.  Gerard Houllier put Ashley Young into the middle of the the park and he took Blackburn apart from then, assisting Emile Heskey and scoring the other two.   Wolves are getting some bad press at the moment, and I agree with Mick McCarthy that it is unfair. They, like myself, love a tackle, they are not a kicking team but and when they don't have the ball they try to win it back.  Another Midlands derby that will be very close both teams will want the win but I think Villa might scrape it.

Lawro's Prediction: 1-1    My Prediction: 1-2

Newcastle v Stoke 1610 BST ko

Newcastle are another team who have had a great week - they played really well against Everton and Chelsea and to beat both of those sides away from home is an excellent effort.  Stoke's new signings are just starting to make a proper impact at the club, Pennant and Gudjonsen should add a different attacking presence to stoke but with like Ricardo Fuller they can just go for route one if everything else fails.  This should be an entertaining match full of tackles, flair and some goals as well.

Lawro's Prediction: 2-2    My Prediction: 2-2