SATURDAY

NORWICH 0-2 MAN CITY 2.45pm

Manchester City are 10 points behind leaders Leicester with 10 games to play. They believe they can still overturn that deficit as they did in 2012 and 2014 but with Leicester showing no sign of strain, City will have to rely on their own now. They must tuck home games like this at Norwich. They have been good against the bottom team sides and this should present an easy win as well so City can shore up their top four place for now. With Arsenal not in action until next week, Manchester City will leap frog them to third place with this lunchtime win.

STOKE 2-2 SAINTS 5pm

Southampton remain a very inconsistent side via results and they are a hard one to predict. Games you would expect them to have an easy walk on turn sour while tough fixtures hand them a softer landing. For Stoke, they continue to be the hard-fighting side and their spirit at Stamford Bridge last week was enough evidence that they are the type that fight to the very last whistle just for a result. I see them causing Saints all sorts of trouble. Home win or draw. I go for a draw.

B’mouth 2-1 Swansea 5pm

Swansea’s battle for survival continues, so do host Bournemouth. The Cherries play with ease at home, and they are like a team that believe in themselves at all times. Although Swansea have been sketching results when they most need them to survive, there is no guarantee that with some breathing space between them and the bottom three they will put up another show. This should be a home win.

SUNDAYVILLA 2-4 SPURS 6pm

Aston Villa are virtually just honouring fixtures now as they prepare for life in Championship next season. Their relegation status could be confirmed at home if they fail to beat title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur. But any chance that Villa can shock Spurs must only be in dreams even if soccer is soccer.

Leicester 3-1 NEWCASTLE 7pm

In Rafael Benitez, the Maggies see not a ‘chef’ but a pathologist to carry out a post-mortem on their season.

Newcastle are planning to replace Steve McClaren with the former Liverpool, Inter, Chelsea, Napoli and Real Madrid manager but their current manager is ready to hold out at the dugout for the Monday night fixture against the league leaders. But Leicester, despite struggling for form lately, should be good enough for finish this game with smiles.

ENGLISH FA CUP FIXTURES

READING 1-1 PALACEEVERTON 1-1 CHELSEAARSENAL 3-1 WATFORDMAN UTD 1-2 WEST HAM

OTHER FIXTURES

BAYERN 6-1 BREMENCELTA VIGO 3-2 SOCIEDADATLETICO 4-0 DEPORTIVOBARCELONA 5-1 GETAFEINTER 2-1 BOLOGNA

jacobs.seaman@newtimes.co.rw