English Premier League: Predictions - Week 11 (Part 2)
We continue to make our predictions for the weekend games in the Premier League. Here are the next three matches to be played on Saturday:
Fulham vs. Aston Villa:
Fulham finally won a game of football, thanks to two goals from Clint Dempsey. Fulham have been playing good football for most of the season but have failed to convert draws into wins.
Aston Villa will pose another challenge for Mark Hughes’ men, who are at home and would like to take all three points. This is not a bad time to meet the Villains as they have failed to win in their last 4 games. 2 draws and 2 defeats have put Villa in the
bottom half of the table.
Emile Heskey is out injured and so are John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor. So, Villa are left with Delfouneso as their only recognized striker.
Fulham welcomed back Andy Johnson last week after a long lay-off. Bobby Zamora is still a long way off from fitness and Damien Duff is also struggling at the moment. Fulham will be looking to get all three points but Aston Villa have got quality players
like Ashley Young and Stewart Downing who have the ability to hurt Fulham. It will be a tightly contested encounter.
Prediction: 1-1
Manchester United vs. Wolves:
Since the end of Rooney saga, Manchester United and Xavier Hernandez have been on a role. They have played some lovely football and won their last 2 Premier League matches.
In-form Luis Nani is set to miss the match and it could be a huge loss for United as he has been in terrific form in this campaign.
Wolves buoyed by their surprise 2-1 win over Manchester City will be looking to take something of this game. However, Old Trafford is never an easy place to go, no matter what team the home team puts out.
Last season, Mick McCarthy sent out reserves Wolves team who were comprehensively beaten. It might not be the case again but there could be a surprise result from this fixture.
Ryan Giggs will make his come back to the team, but is expected to start the match from the bench which would mean that Gabriel Obertan will retain his position in the starting line-up.
Wolves have nothing to lose and will go into the match full of confidence. There is a slight feeling that it could turn out to be a shock but the chances of that happening are bleak, so we will stick with the more predictable option of a Manchester United
win.
Prediction: 1-0
Sunderland vs. Stoke City:
This is a funny one. Sunderland were hammered by local rivals Newcastle United 5-1 and Stoke have managed 3 defeats in their last 3 games.
It all depends on which team responds better. Sunderland players need to pick themselves up and Steve Bruce would have given them a real lesson in the training ground during the past week.
He has hinted that he may start with summer signing Asamoah Gyan. This would mean a change in system. Steve Bruce was stunned by his own team's display in the derby last weekend. Sunderland were unbeaten in their last 5 games prior to the derby.
Stoke showed good form at the start of the season and in particular during September, however they seem to have lost their way. Stoke still possess the unusual threat from throw-ins and striker Jones will make a return to the stadium of light for the first
time since his summer move to Stoke City.
Sunderland’s derby humiliation could well prove to be the catalyst for an energetic display by the home side, to retain the lost pride and give something to the fans to cheer about.
Prediction: 2-1
(To be continued in Part 3)
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