Lawro's predictions

HOW DID LAWRO DO LAST WEEKEND?

Last week, Lawro got FIVE results right, but ZERO perfect scores.

THIS WEEK'S PREDICTIONS

(Kick-offs 1500 unless stated)

SATURDAY

Man Utd v Wigan (1245 BST)

United are still not playing well but they just keep on winning, which is a good disease to have.

Wigan, on the other hand, have been playing quite well but not picking up the points.

They were unfortunate in losing at home to Liverpool last weekend when they created chances, but one place where your luck is unlikely to turn is at Old Trafford.

Prediction: 2-0

Aston Villa v West Ham

A battle between claret and blue against blue and claret and it should be quite a close game.

Villa seem inconsistent and manager Martin O'Neill must have been apoplectic after seeing them throw away a 4-1 lead against Spurs on Monday.

Their home form has been good but they have often lacked that cutting edge.

The Hammers are a more physical side than in recent years, but they seem like they are missing one or two key players and I fancy Villa to just edge it.

Prediction: 2-1

SUNDAY

Arsenal v Sunderland (1200 BST)

Arsenal are playing excellent football and are getting goals from all over the pitch, which takes the pressure off the front two.

They are full of confidence and got a good win at West Ham last week.

Sunderland have picked up points recently but manager Roy Keane will know as well as anyone that picking up points at the likes of Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates is a tall order.

Prediction: 3-0

Reading v Derby (1400 BST)

Derby picked up a useful point last week against Bolton at Pride Park but on the road is a different matter - they are not great.

I just cannot bring myself to tip them to win away from home.

Reading will be disappointed and a bit shell-shocked after their 7-4 defeat at Pompey, but I do not expect manager Steve Coppell to compromise on the way they play.

This season will be a bit of a struggle but their home form should see them all right.

Prediction: 2-0

Blackburn v Birmingham

Blackburn are a tough side to face at Ewood Park and their form has been good in recent weeks.

They seem to have plenty of options in a number of areas and are really consistent.

Even on a bad day they just seem to come away with results and last week's win at Sunderland was a good example of Mark Hughes's formula.

Birmingham did well against Manchester United last week but in this league all it takes is a bit of quality from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and the game is gone.

Prediction: 2-0

Bolton v Chelsea

Didier Drogba is suspended which is a big blow to new manager Avram Grant.

The Blues looked good with a front three of Drogba, Joe Cole and Florent Malouda against Valencia in midweek.

But they face a Bolton side who are looking like a side down amongst the dead men.

Just as you think they are over the slump they hit another stumbling block.

Prediction: 0-2

Liverpool v Tottenham

I think Spurs will get the backlash of another disappointing Liverpool display in Europe.

It should be a really open game, which is the only way Tottenham seem to know how to play these days.

They had a fantastic comeback to draw 4-4 with Villa, but they are just not there at the moment and everyone knows what is going to happen with Martin Jol.

He is like a dead man walking and it is a really strange situation - in my opinion the Spurs board are way out of line and have made his position untenable.

Prediction: 2-1

Man City v Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough on the road are such a wishy-washy team. They had chances at Everton last week but they looked utterly unconvincing again.

City have really come to the fore and with Martin Petrov and Elano they have two players who are hard to stop.

Defensively they do not give you much of a chance either. A lot has been said about Richard Dunne and Micah Richards, but the full-backs Vedran Corluka and Javier Garrido have played a very understated role.

Prediction: 2-0

Newcastle v Everton

It is just not happening for Newcastle as quickly as they thought and I think it might be a while before Sam Allardyce has the club sorted as he would want it.

The problem for him is being granted the patience to achieve that, but the fans have to realise that the number of managerial changes in recent years has got them nowhere.

Everton look a different side with Mikel Arteta back in the team - he is such a good player for them.

Prediction: 1-1

Fulham v Portsmouth (1600 BST)

This should be an interesting one in the light of Pompey's 7-4 victory over Reading last weekend.

Portsmouth have plenty of striking power, are sorted at the back and in Harry Redknapp they have a very good Premier League manager.

Fulham got a great point at Chelsea but this season they have not had the rub of the green or got a decision in their favour.

I reckon they will just nick this one though.

Prediction: 2-1

Mark Lawrenson was talking to Andrew McKenzie

Source: BBC Sport