Premiership Predictions

There will be nine games in the Premier League this weekend because of Chelsea's involvement in the Super Cup last night. Liverpool v Manchester United and Arsenal v Spurs appear to be the standout fixtures. Last week's guest contributor Seamus Walsh scored 4 points. It is 3 points for the correct score and 1 point for the right result.

Saturday

Manchester City v Hull (2-1)

Cardiff v Everton (1-1)

Newcastle United v Fulham (0-0)

Norwich v Southampton (1-2)

West Ham United v Stoke City (1-0)

Crystal Palace v Sunderland (2-1)

Sunday

Liverpool v Manchester United (1-1)

West Brom v Swansea (2-2)

Arsenal v Spurs (1-3)

© Seamus Egan 2013

Premiership Predictions

Once again there is a full programme of Premiership fixtures this weekend, although the weekend does extend to Monday night, when there is a live game on television. On Monday David Moyes will take charge of his first home game for Manchester United in the headline fixture of the weekend against Chelsea. At the moment it looks like Wayne Rooney will not be a Chelsea player by the time of this fixture.
After an impressive performance in Istanbul on Wednesday, Arsenal will be hoping to gain their first league win of the season against Fulham. Cardiff City will play their first top flight home game for 51 years against Manchester City.
Seamus Walsh, who is a Liverpool fan from Tipperary, will also be giving his predictions for the 10 games this week. Seamus's scores are on the left and mine are on the right.



Fulham v Arsenal Seamus Walsh  (1-2) Seamus Egan (1-1)

Everton v West Brom Seamus Walsh  (2-0) Seamus Egan (2-1)

Hull v Norwich Seamus Walsh (1-1) Seamus Egan (0-1)

Newcastle v West Ham Seamus Walsh (1-0) Seamus Egan (1-1)

Southampton v Sunderland Seamus Walsh (2-0)  Seamus Egan (2-1)

Stoke City v Crystal Palace Seamus Walsh (2-0) Seamus Egan (1-0)

Aston Villa v Liverpool Seamus Walsh (1-3)    Seamus Egan (1-2)

Sunday

Cardiff City v Manchester City Seamus Walsh (0-4)  Seamus Egan (1-2)

Spurs v Swansea Seamus Walsh (2-2) Seamus Egan (2-1)

Monday

Manchester United v Chelsea Seamus Walsh (1-1) Seamus Egan (1-1)

© Seamus Egan 2013

Saint Patricks Athletic 1-0 Shelbourne

Saint Patricks Athletic retained their one point lead at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division table thanks to Stephen Maher's first half winner against Shelbourne at Inchicore on Friday night.

In a first half that was played in bright sunshine, the home side had claims for a penalty in the 11^th minute. Killian Brennan went down in the area after a challenge from Stephen Hurley. However referee Paul McLaughlin didn't give anything.

Shelbourne looked comfortable for most of the first half and they had a couple of chances of their own. In the 22^nd minute Sean Brennan took a corner from the left. Brendan Clarke punched clear. It reached Glenn Cronin outside the area. The Shels captain took a shot which wasn't far wide.

On the half hour mark the visitors will feel that they should have taken the lead. After fine build up play involving Lee Murtagh, Stephen Hurley crossed from the left. He found Dean Kelly free in the 6 yard box. Kelly looked certain to score but somehow Brendan Clarke blocked his shot with his body.

Shels were made to pay for that miss 10 minutes later. Greg Bolger played a fantastic crossfield ball from left to right to Conan Byrne who got inside Derek Doyle. Niall Burdon came off his line before Doyle made the tackle. The ball broke to Stephen Maher who put it into the empty net from about 20 yards out to give Pats the lead.

They nearly added a second just before half time. Anthony Flood advanced towards the edge of the area and chipped it over Burdon but the ball just went over the crossbar.

In the 57^th minute Pats had another chance. Chris Forrester showed terrific skill on the right edge of the area before playing it back to Stephen Maher. Maher scuffed his first shot but got a second bite of the cherry. He eventually shot wide from 8 yards out.

Around the midway point of the second half the home side had a couple of chances in the space of a minute. First off Chris Forrester hit the ball across the face of goal and moments later substitute Christy Fagan fired wide from the edge of the area. 

However the visitors continued to be a threat from set pieces. In the 70^th minute the home side failed to properly clear a corner. Graham Gartland headed the ball back into the danger area and Derek Doyle was in space. He tried to turn and volley it towards goal but missed his kick.

Then in the 75h minute left back Ian Bermingham played a nice little ball in from the edge of the area. Conan Byrne, playing against his former club, dived in low to get his head to it but the ball just ended up on the wrong side of the net.

Shels came close again from a corner 7 minutes from time. Sean Brennan picked outR obert Cornwall who was free in the area and the defender tried his luck with a volley but it was too high.

Right back Ger O'Brien then found himself in space and got his shot away but Niall Burdon came out to block his shot. Just a minute later Burdon dived low to his right to deny Killian Brennan from a free kick.

Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away in a frantic final few minutes. Shelbourne threw Gartland forward but couldn't create a chance. Liam Buckley's side held on for the win which keeps them a point clear of Dundalk at the top of the table. Shelbourne look like they are going to be involved in a relegation battle the end of the season.

Saint Patricks Athletic: Brendan Clarke: Ger O'Brien, Kenny Browne, Conor Kenna (c), Ian Bermingham: Conan Byrne, Greg Bolger, Stephen Maher (Sean Gannon 85), Killian Brennan, Chris Forrester (Jake Kelly 82): Anthony Flood (Christy Fagan 61).

Subs not used: Rene Gilmartin, Aidan Price,  Lorcan Fitzgerald, Daryl Kavanagh.

Booked: Greg Bolger (8)

Shelbourne: Niall Burdon: Robert Cornwall, Graham Gartland, Ian Ryan, Derek Doyle: Adam Hanlon Glenn Cronin (c),  Stephen Hurley (Gareth O'Connor 72), Sean Brennan: Lee Murtagh (Jamie NcGlynn 58), Dean Kelly (Darren Tinnelly 79)

Subs not used: Charlie Treacy, Brian Gannon, Paul Andrews, Carl Walsh.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 1,846

© Seamus Egan 2013

Premiership Predictions

I am writing this while listening to side one of The White Album by The Beatles. Life returns to normal this weekend because The Barclays Premier League returns. Three players have dominated the transfer talk this summer. However as I write this Luiz Suarez, Gareth Bale and Wayne Rooney are still at the clubs that they played for last season.

There have been some notable managerial changes. Alex Ferguson has been replaced by David Moyes at Man.United. Mourinho is back at Chelsea. Manuel Pellegrini, who like David Moyes does not have a history of winning trophies recently, will take over from Mancini, a man who did deliver trophies at Manchester City.
I will start off by predicting the scores of this this weeknd's opening fixtures. It will be 3 points for the correct score and 1 point for the right result. Fixtures are on the left and prediction scores are on the right.

Saturday

Liverpool v Stoke City - (1-0)

Arsenal v Aston Villa - (2-1)

Norwich v Everton - (1-1)

Sunderland v Fulham - (1-1)

West Brom v Southampton - (2-1)

West Ham v Cardiff - (1-0)

Swansea v Man.United - (1-2)

Sunday

Crystal Palace v Spurs - (0-1)

Chelsea v Hull - (3-1)

Monday

Manchester City v Newcastle -  (2-0)

© Seamus Egan 2013



 

Liverpool 0-1 Celtic

Celtic beat Liverpool 1-0 in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday. Amido Balde's first half goal proved to be the difference between the sides in a game which was played on a pleasant evening amid a friendly atmosphere.

Celtic had a couple of set pieces early on but didn't really threaten with them and it was Liverpool who created the first half chance in the 8^th minute. Joe Allen, who has been playing in a more advanced role in preseason, and new signing Iago Aspas played a nice one two in the box before Allen crossed from the left. The ball went over Celtic goalkeeper Luakasz Zaluska but there was nobody there to take advantage.

Celtic took the lead in the 12^th minute. Stuart Downing, who has been strongly linked with a move to West Ham, played the ball into the path of Amido Balde. Balde then got around Andre Wisdom. His shot took a slight deflection off Simon Mignolet before the ball eventually found its' way into the net.

Liverpool nearly got back on level terms in the 15^th minute. Glen Johnson played it into the area and found Philip Couthino. Couthino got his shot away but the busy Zaluska came out quickly, spread himself very well and made the save.

The game was billed as the ‘Dublin Decider’, although what it was supposed to decide, I don’t know. However, most if not all Liverpool fans have decided that Philip Couthino has been a very good signing for the club, and the Brazilian was involved again in the 18^th minute. He cut inside Adam Matthews on the left hand side. His effort on goal was just wide though.

Liverpool had their best chance of the half in the 21^st minute. Stuart Downing played a fine ball in behind the Celtic defence. Johnson found himself one on one with Zaluska but once again the Celtic goalkeeper made the safe.

Celtic came close to getting a second in the 38^th minute. Liverpool, who struggled to defend setpieces throughout, failed to properly clear a freekick. Balde played it back to Adam Matthews whose goalbound shot was blocked by Kolo Toure.

In injury time at the end of the first half Neil Lennon’s team had another chance. Emilio Izaguire crossed from the left. Anthony Stokes got his head to it about 8 yards out. It was on target but Mignolet dived to his right to make the save.

The game, which was precedded by an emotional rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, demonstrated the remarkable support which both of these teams have in Ireland. The prematch buzz was evident in Dublin City and around the Landsdowne Road area long before kickoff.

Back on the pitch,  Stuart Downing, who was inconsistent throughout, broke down the right and pulled it back for Couthino who was free in space 8 yards out, but Liverpool’s number 10 somehow managed to miskick.

Just three minutes later Couthino was involved again. He played it to his left to half time substitute Daniel Sturridge who tried his luck from a narrow angle but Fraser Forster made a smart save.

Brendan Rodger’s side continued to dominate the second half against an inexperienced Celtic team. Jose Enrique's flick set up Jordan Henderson. Henderson made his way into the area but shot tamely at Forster.

Couthino played the pass of the match five minutes from the end of normal time.  From inside his own half, he played the ball in behind the Celtic defence. Sturridge, who impressed during his first 45 minutes of action since he got injured, playing against Ireland in May, got onto it and chipped it over Forster but the ball just ended up on the wrong side of the post.

Liverpool had a number of corners late on but Celtic held on with half time substitute Darnell Fisher making a number of important clearances. Celtic will resume their league campaign next Saturday against Aberdeen. Liverpool will begin their Premier League season at home to Stoke City next Saturday.

Liverpool: Simon Mignolet: Glen Johnson, Andre Wisdom, Kolo Toure, Jose Enrique: Stuart Downing (Jordan Ibe 72), Lucas, Steven Gerrard, Joe Allen (Jordan Henderson 58), Philip Couthino: Iago Aspas (Daniel Sturridge 46).

Subs not used: Brad Jones, Luis Alberto, Oussama Assaidi, Sebastian Coates, Fabio Boirini, Raheem Sterling, Martin Kelly, Jon Flanagan.

Celtic: Luakasz Zaluska (Fraser Forster 46) : Adam Matthews, Mikael Lustig (Darnell Fisher 46), Steven Mouyokolo, Emilio Izaguire (Stuart Findley 65):  Beram Kayal (Paul George 85), Jackson Irvine, Dylan McGeouch, Tony Watt (Liam Henderson 84): Amido Balde (Bahurdin Atajic 70), Anthony Stokes. 

Subs not used: John Herron.

Booked: Anthony Stokes (44)

Referee: Alan Kelly.

 © Seamus Egan 2013

Shamrock Rovers 0-4 Saint Patricks Athletic

Four goals from Conan Byrne gave Saint Patricks Athletic an emphatic 4-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday night. In a dramatic game both Derek Foran and Sean O'Connor were sent off for the home team.

The visitors started much better than their opponents and they took their first chance in the 5^th minute. Derek Foran let the ball bounce and Conan Byrne took advantage. He gathered possession, raced towards goal and shot low into the corner of the net from about 12 yards out.

Shamrock Rovers did have a couple of opportunities in the space of 60 seconds soon after.  First of all Ronan Finn volleyed over from about 10 yards out and shortly after Karl Sheppard hit a decent effort from outside the area which was just too high.

Rovers should have equalized in the 21^st minute. New signing Richie Ryan played it to his left to Danny Ledwith. Ledwith put in a fine cross to the back post. Sean Connor rose highest but headed over.

It was a very eventful first half. Two minutes later at the other end Anthony Flood played it in behind the Rovers defence. Man of the match Conan Byrne was one on one with Richard Brush but the former Shelbourne player hit it wide.

The Hoops had another chance in the 32^nd minute. Danny Ledwith played it to his left to Gary McCabe. McCabe's right foot cross was met byS heppard but the Rovers striker’s headed effort ended up on the wrong side of the post.

That miss was to prove very costly just a minute later. Anthony Flood got the ball off Derek Foran and raced towards goal. Foran appeared to push Flood who still managed to get his shot away. Richard Brush made the save but referee Anthony Buttimer gave a penalty to Saint Pats and then sent off Foran. Conan Byrne sent Brush the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-0.

Things went from bad to worse for Trevor Crolly's team in the 53^rd minute. Chris Forrester raced towards goal. Sean O'Connor tracked him back. Forrester, who was still outside the area, went down under a challenge from his former teammate and referee Buttimer gave a freekick and sent off O'Connor as there was no covering defender.

The Saints took advantage against the nine men and went 3-0 up soon after. Conan Byrne took a quick free kick to Chris Forrester.  Forrester found himself in space in the area. Ronan Finn fouled him and Byrne stepped up to put the penalty into the corner of the net past substitute goalkeeper Barry Murphy for his hatrick.

In the 63^rd minute the visitors got their fourth and final goal of the match. Stephen Maher crossed from the right. Anto Flood headed goalwards. Barry Murphy made the save low to his left but Byrne followed up to put it into the empty net.

Both Flood and Ian Bermingham were denied by fine saves from Murphy in the final quarter as Pats cruised to victory to maintain their one point lead over Dundalk at the top of the table.

Saint Patricks Athletic manager Liam Buckley looked particularly pleased at the end of the 90 minutes as he raised his hand triumphantly to the Pats supporters. Will he be pleased at the end of the season as his side continue their title challenge?

Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush (Barry Murphy 46): Conor McCormack, Derek Foran, Pat Sullivan, Conor McCormack: Sean O'Connor, Ronan Finn, Richie Ryan, Shane Robinson, Gary McCabe (David Elebert 36): Karl Sheppard (Billy Dennehy 77).

Booked: Shane Robinson (29), Pat Sullivan (35), Ronan Finn (55).

Sent-off: Derek Foran (34), Sean O’Connor (53).

Subs not used:  Conor Powell, Eamon Zayed, Nathan Browne,  Mark Sandford.

Saint Patricks Athletic: Brendan Clarke: Ger O'Brien, Conor Kenna (c), Kenny Browne, Ian Bermingham: Conan Byrne, Greg Bolger, Stephen Maher (Sean Gannon 67), John Russell, Chris Forrester (Daryl Kavanagh 78): Anthony Flood (Christy Fagan 67).

Subs not used: Rene Gilmartin, Aidan Price, Lorcan Fitzgerald,  Jake Kelly.

Booked: Conor Kenna (30), Kenny Browne (93).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Man of the match: Conan Byrne (Saint Patricks Athletic).

© Seamus Egan 2013