Didnt Boro screw up our Euro hopes a couple of yrs back when Fowler missed a late pen? I don't quite see City as a roll over but I'll come to that later.
Well last weekend in the Prem for another season and still some interesting matches to be played with something at stake in 8 of the final 10 games from what i can see.
Birmingham v Blackburn
Must win game for Birmingham who who have gone from relative safety to relegation favourites in the matter of a few weeks.
Blackburn have nothing to play for but have been playing well in recent games and i don't see them just turning up for the fun of it here, even on paper Blackburn look far the better side and Birmingham are going to struggle to outplay them footballing wise, they may have the effort but its going to take a lot more than that against class players of the likes of Friedel, Pederson, Bentley ,Cruz and .....co
I know Birmingham need the result but i just don't see them beating Blackburn.
Lay Birmingham
Derby v Reading
Can't really back against Reading in such an important match against very poor opposition in Derby.
Won't be a walk over mind but it will be a pretty tense and tight affair with few goals i should imagine, which could be the way to go here as it would take a mug to back them @ odds on away from home.
Reading win -2.5 goals.
Boro v Man City
I can't see City handling this game with kid gloves allthough a
UEFA cup place could depend on it, there not a very physical side anyhow and the booking they do normally collect are for silly challenges and impetulance usually, all Sven will tell them is just play ure usual game and cut out the silly stuff.
Boro are not the most consistant side either and if both teams play to their full potential i see no reason City cannot win this as there performance in the reverse fixture was one of Citys best all season and they'll remember that.
I can actually see City winning this or at least bagging a draw as they will want to see Sven bow out on a high if he is really going out the door after this .
Lay Middlesbrough
Portsmouth v Fulham
Well if recent form is anything to go by as Pompey gear up for the FA Cup then Fulham have every chance of getting the points here to gurantee their safety for another season at least.
Shit or bust for Fulham and with a fully fit squad they should keep their recent run of form going and grab the spoils, Portsmouth won't be looking to be going in where it hurts with such an important match for them coming up next week and once again as been the case in recent weeks will probably be the difference here.
Fulham win
Spurs v Liverpool
Nothing at stake for either side and should be a case of just getting this one out of the way b4 boarding the plane for sunnier climates, well it will be for the Brit players anyhow.
Both teams look pretty strong and on recent form I would probably give Liverpool the nod but with so little to play for I'll give this one a miss but I would expect to see a few goals in what could turn out to be an exhibition match.
Lay Spurs +2.5 goals.
Wigan v Man U
No need to go into detail about the importance of this one , Just a pity Wigan are now safe as it would have been a cracking spectacle had Wigan gone into this match needing something from it.
As it is Man U will no doubt seal up the Prem with a win here allthough expect a few twists and turns on the way as all week I've had a sneaky feeling wigan will nab a point but thats probably just wishful thinking.
Man U win
Chelsea v Bolton
Similar type of game as the one above only difference being Chelsea have home advantage which makes this a shoe in basically.
Tidgey odds no doubt for Chelsea but i wouldent be surprised to see very few goals in this as it could prove a nervy affair as Bolton arent the sort of side to lay down and die, plus they won't want to give anything away unncessarily whilst mathematically not guaranteed safety allthough it would take something really freaky to see them relegated.
Chelsea win
Everton v Newcastle
Only a point needed for Everton to Gurantee a
UEFA cup place next season but i can see them getting all three to round off a great season for them in front of their home fans.
Newcastle have been on a bit of a high lately but that has been against the more mediocre teams and Chelsea shown them last weekend how far behind they are still lagging.
everton are no Chelsea and have been struggling a bit lately but i think a final push here will see them win this by the odd goal and see them into Europe next yr.
Everton win
Sunderland v Arsenal
Those odds don't look so bad for Arsenal tell the truth as Sunderland seemed to have ended there season a month ago.
Keane keeps cracking the whip with threats here and there but nobody seems to be listening and they look to be going out like a damp squib.
Arsenal like they shown last week against Everton are still full of football and running, and man for man should really piss this allthough i remember thinking the same thing against Boro but saying that it was cold and damp then, the current conditions should suit arsenal to a tee.
Arsenal win
last and not least for the season....
West Ham V Villa
Villa are still probably shell shocked after last weeks home defeat to wigan and no doubt O'neill will have read the riot act to them this week.
Villa need the win if they are to stand any chance of qualifying for Europe next season and with the kick up the arse they would have had this week i can see them getting them.
West Ham have once again suffered more than most with Injuries throughout the course of the season and will be wanting to put this term to bed.
They will make a game of it no doubt in their last home game of the season but as they havent hardly broke sweat for most of their games this season i don't expect them to do so here either.
Villa win