Soccer

Irish Eye on the weekend action

February 4th, 2012 by Mark McCadden

Here’s a look at the Irish involvement in the Premier League this weekend, with plenty of tips for some happy punting.

Norwich v Bolton (Saturday, 3pm)
IRISH EYE ON: Wes Hoolahan, Anthony Pilkington (both Norwich)
Injured: Marc Tierney (Norwich)
Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington have both made two starts in the last three games, with Pilkington replacing Hoolahan during the second-half of the Canaries’ defeat to Sunderland last Wednesday.
Norwich are searching for their first win in three games against a Bolton side with a win and a draw in their last two games against Liverpool and Arsenal respectively.
TIP: Draw (23/10)

QPR v Wolves (Saturday, 3pm)
IRISH EYE ON: Paddy Kenny (QPR); Kevin Foley, Stephen Ward, Stephen Hunt, Anthony Forde, Kevin Doyle (Wolves)
Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt are both struggling to get into the first-XI at Wolves, who are without a win in their last nine league games.
The pressure is on their ex-Ireland manager Mick McCarthy to pick up a positive result against Mark Hughes’ QPR, who have been buoyed by a couple of big transfer deadline day arrivals.
TIP: QPR (10/11)

Stoke v Sunderland (Saturday, 3pm)
IRISH EYE ON: Marc Wilson, Glenn Whelan, Jonathan Walters (Stoke); John O’Shea, James McClean, Keiren Westwood, David Meyler (Sunderland)
With Giovanni Trapattoni set to name his squad next Friday for the end-of-month friendly with the Czech Republic, all eyes will be on Black Cats ace James McClean.
And with Kevin Doyle struggling at Wolves, it’s time for Jonathan Walters to step up to the mark with a few goals at Stoke.
TIP: Sunderland (11/5)

MATCH: West Brom v Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)
IRISH EYE ON: Simon Cox, Shane Long, Keith Andrews (West Brom)
Shane Long is returning to fitness after a stomach problem and could feature against the impressive Swans, while Keith Andrews could start after his deadline day move.
TIP: Draw (23/10)

Wigan v Everton (Saturday, 3pm)
IRISH EYE ON: James McCarthy, Conor Sammon (Wigan); Shane Duffy, Darron Gibson (Everton)
Darron Gibson scored his first goal for the Toffees in their sensational 1-0 win over Manchester City last Tuesday, while young centre-half Shane Duffy sat out that game.
TIP: Everton (11/10)

Manchester City v Fulham (Saturday, 5.30pm)
IRISH EYE ON: Stephen Kelly, Damien Duff (Fulham)
TIP: City (1/4)

Newcastle v Aston Villa (Sunday, 1.30pm)
IRISH EYE ON: Leon Best (Newcastle); Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Ciaran Clark, Stephen Ireland, Robbie Keane (Aston Villa)
TIP: Draw (23/10)

MY BANKER – City to bounce back from their Everton shocker by winning at home to Fulham (1/4)
MY BLUFFER – Robbie Keane to score two or more goals against Newcastle (17/1)
MY DREAMER – 7-game accumulator… wins for QPR, Sunderland, Everton and Man City, and draws between Newcastle-Villa, WBA-Swansea and Norwich-Bolton (576/1)

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