BEAT THE EXPERT

Our resident North-East football expert has cast his opinion on the games around the region this weekend.

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Sunderland v Bolton
Premier League (Saturday, 3pm)
A season which started badly, showed some mid-term promise but has fallen by the wayside of late, fans of the Black Cats could be forgiven for wanting the campaign to end now, rather than endure the final few weeks of 2012. Injuries and suspensions have ravaged Martin O’Neill’s drafts of late and with news that Seb Larsson and Kieran Richardson will both now miss the final stretches, the Northern Irishman is down to the slim pickings. Failure to score in their last four games, a winless run of six and the threat of a scrapping Bolton coming to town doesn’t bode well for Sunderland, and we think they’ll come a cropper once more today. Bolton went to Aston Villa on Tuesday and won 2-1 – Sunderland drew there three days earlier – and with their rivals around them failing to kick on of late, Owen Coyle’s men know they can get out of the relegation scrap they have been in for most of the campaign especially with their physical presence up front in Kevin Davies and David N’Gog,
Sunderland to finally score, but Bolton to win 3-1.

Wigan Athletic v Newcastle
Premier League (Saturday, 3pm)
Pard’s passport party gets louder and louder and with it not being crystal clear where Newcastle will finish the campaign, or which European trophy they’ll contest next term, the Toon Army have just one remit – win, win and keep on winning. Games against Manchester City and Chelsea loom, so Pardew’s men know they need to maximise their points elsewhere as any slip-ups could prove crucial, and with that in mind we’re certain they’ll do what Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal have failed in recent weeks, and that’s beat Roberto Martinez’s Wigan.
Newcastle to see this one out 2-0.

Watford v Middlesbrough
Championship (Saturday, 3pm)
Middlesbrough managed to keep the coffin lid off last week as they stunned the bookmakers and Southampton in beating Nigel Adkins’ men 2-1 at the Riverside despite going a goal down inside 43 seconds. Two points adrift of the play-offs, and hoping results elsewhere are kind, Boro also have one remit tomorrow. They’ve been better away from home than they have on Teesside, and with Marvin Emnes back, they’ll be stronger than they were last week, and with Watford looking forward to their summer holidays, we fancy Boro to do their bit and get the three points on the board. Unfortunately, for them, and Newtonian goalkeeper Jason Steele, we think Cardiff will also serve their remit of winning, and hold of the Boro challenge, consigning them to another campaign of Championship football.
Boro to win handsomely, 3-0.