Going down, going down, going down... Going down

APOLOGY

I would like to unreservedly apologise to Mr Michael Warren of DWS Investments for giving the impression in previous articles in this newspaper that he is a Chelsea supporter.

Mr Warren would like to make it clear he has supported Manchester United all his life, although he does have a soft spot for Kilmarnock as well.

I am happy to correct the inaccuracy made in previous columns. The confusion was caused by Mr Warren's regular attendance at Chelsea matches in recent seasons, which is purely for business reasons, he assures me.

His attendance in Barcelona for Chelsea's Champions League game last week, while Manchester United were playing AC Milan in the same tournament, was purely a coincidence.

In the relegation zone

The race for the top of the Premiership seems to have been decided, although we are writing these pieces on the back of a growing injury list for Chelsea, but the Blues are not in Premier League action until next week.

Our 'experts' all seem agreed that the Premiership title will be Chelsea's, with the battle being for second, third and fourth place. So just to mix things up a little bit we asked our pundits for their predictions on which clubs will 'drop' into the Coca Cola Championship.

Interestingly all of them seem agreed on West Brom, while sentiment seems to be taking over with a few wanting Palace to stay up to reflect the refreshing approach of their manager Iain Dowie.

Others want the same for Norwich, because of their manager Nigel Worthington, but feel the Canaries are not really good enough.

Is it a mission too far for Harry and Jim at Southampton? There are mixed views, what do you think?

Andy Clark: West Brom, Crystal Palace, Norwich

Lawrence Gosling: West Brom, Southampton, Norwich

Michael Warren: West Brom, Norwich, Southampton

Tom Rich: West Brom, Norwich. Southampton.

This week's predictions

We asked out experts to comment on the results of the games on the weekend games prior to the midweek Champions League games, plus the relegation battle between West Brom and Southampton, so if their attempts at guessing results are a little off beat, be gentle with them.

To date our regular experts of Andy Clark of DWS and Investment Week's former editorial director Lawrence Gosling, now editor of Football First, are doing a very good impression of Spurs on the prediction front. Lots of flair, no consistency and heading for mid-table mediocrity, while Michael Warren, in between attending Chelsea matches, has been doing quite well - more of a kind of Liverpool - without actually setting the prediction world alight.

We have invited a guest 'predictor' for this issue, Tom Rich, an Aston Villa supporting IFA at Christows, which is based in Bournemouth.

In the next issue we will look at out how everyone got on and draw up our own little league table to make it really interesting.

Aston Villa v Everton

Overview: On paper not the most exciting game of the weekend. Villa have struggled to score goals all season, as have Everton, albeit Everton have managed to win a lot of games 1-0 - in fact 12 of their 13 wins this season have been by that score. It has the look of a tight game with not many goals between them, particularly as Everton were without Beattie again due to suspension. Tom, predictably, goes for a Villa win.

AC: AWAY

MW: DRAW

LG: HOME

TR: HOME

Palace v Birmingham

Overview: Again, this is a tight game to call. Birmingham have not set the league on fire this season mainly due to a series of big injuries to key players, notably Mikkel Forsell, who was on loan from Chelsea until his knee injury early in the season. Palace have had to rely on Andy Johnson - England's new right winger! - for goals. The recent game against Bolton, which they dominated but still lost because of their failure to score, shows how much they rely on him. Maybe Palace's greater desire for the three points will turn it in their favour.

AC: DRAW

MW: HOME

LG: HOME

TR: DRAW

Man Utd v Portsmouth

Overview: All the pundits agree on this one. United are in very strong form at the moment and with Chelsea playing in the Carling Cup final they will see a home game like this as a good chance to cut the Blue's lead at the top. Andy Clark goes so far as to see this one as a 'thrashing' for Portsmouth, who don't travel well, and are stuttering since Redknapp left.

AC: HOME

MW: HOME

LG: HOME

TR: HOME

Southampton v Arsenal

Overview: The best Andy 'The Gloomer' Clark can muster for this one on his beloved Arsenal is a draw, while general sentiment on this game for the Gooners seems to be negative. A hard game to call because Arsenal have done well in recent seasons after European action, but Southampton are starting to score goals and their unlikely pairing up front of Crouch and Camara could cause some problems.

AC: DRAW

MW: DRAW

LG: HOME

TR: AWAY

Tottenham v Fulham

Overview: Derby matches are always hard to predict, particularly London derbies. After a good patch under Martin Jol, Spurs have reverted to early season patchy form and with a Cup replay against Forest to follow this game, Spurs may have their mind on other things. Fulham are now out of the cup and safe in mid-table so the pressure is really off. It's a question of which Spurs and Fulham sides will turn up. On their days both play good open football, which would produce a good game. The rest of their time they are totally unpredictable. Home advantage may just shade it for Spurs.

AC: HOME

MW: HOME

LG: DRAW

TR: HOME

Middlesbrough v Charlton

Overview: Two very up and down sides, who no doubt harbour dreams of qualifying for Europe through league qualification. Boro have already tasted European competition this season, following their Carling Cup win last season. In recent weeks, Charlton have recorded some good away victories, while Boro's season has been decimated by injuries, and a lot will depend on their frame of mind after their exertions in the Uefa Cup on Thursday night.

AC: HOME

MW: DRAW

LG: AWAY

TR: HOME

Newcastle v Bolton

Overview: Newcastle have had a good run winning the first leg game in the Uefa Cup and then beating Chelsea in the FA Cup. Bolton seem well over their mid-season stumble, which saw them fail to win in 10 league games. They have also progressed into the next round of the FA Cup, even though manager Sam Allardyce says he's not interested in the competition. Form says a Newcastle win, by the odd goal.

AC: HOME

MW: HOME

LG: HOME

TR: DRAW

Norwich v Man City

Overview: Manchester City have not been that successful on their travels this season, with the notable exception of taking a point off Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago.

Norwich are fighting hard against relegation and every game is a dog fight for them. In recent weeks they have found the art of scoring goals, while conceding quite a few. It should be an open game with goals, which means it'll probably be 0-0.

AC: DRAW

MW: HOME

LG: HOME

TR: AWAY

Carling Cup Final: Chelsea v Liverpool

Overview: A tight game, with both sides recovering from the exertions of midweek Champions League matches. From this perspective Liverpool may have the slight advantage having played on the Tuesday night at Anfield and their main man, Stevie G (Steven Gerrard), will have been fresh and rested after being banned from the European game. Chelsea will be nursing injuries and will have had a day less to recover after their game against Barcelona on Wednesday night.

AC: LIVERPOOL - on penalties

MW: LIVERPOOL - a winner from Fernando Morientes.

LG: CHELSEA - I've got to back my side, even against Liverpool, who my wife supports. Win, lose or draw there will be murder in my household!

TR: CHELSEA - Chelsea have too much strength in depth, and injuries or not, will be too good for the Reds.

DWS IFA Roadshow Competition

Many of you attended one of the DWS IFA roadshows around the UK and took the trouble to enter the competition to win a football shirt. The question wasn't too difficult. Who is Aston Villa's captain this season? The answer is Olaf Mellberg. The first name out of the hat was Piers Jenkins at PJ Financial Services, who has asked for a Swansea City football shirt, or failing that a Fulham one - it must be something about the white shirts that makes him think of Real Madrid.

DWS will sort out his shirt for him shortly. Thanks to all of you who entered.