The Race to Europe #2

Everton, Bolton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspurs, Reading and Portsmouth are all fighting over three spots. Over the remaining few weeks of the season I will be running a series of articles called; "The Race to Europe." This will be updated any time any of the five sides play.

Recap

My predictions from "The Race to Europe #1," where very mixed. I thought Everton would draw at West Ham but they lost. I was convinced Bolton would beat Reading but they lost. I predicted correctly that Portsmouth and Tottenham would draw(even got the 2-2 score line correct!)

Latest Standings

5th Everton 54 (15)
6th Bolton 54 (-3)
7th Reading 51 (6)
8th Portsmouth 50 (5)
9th Tottenham 50 (-1) One Game In Hand

Remaining Fixtures

Everton

Man United- Home (0-2)
Portsmouth- Home (2-1)
Chelsea- Away (1-3)

57

Everton have some really hard fixtures left: Man U and Chelsea are different class and I can`t see Everton getting much against them. Portsmouth could become a huge match!

Bolton

Chelsea- Away (2-0)
West Ham- Away (1-1)
Aston Villa- Home (1-0)

58

Bolton face title challengers, along with a relegation threatened team. There is no guarantee Bolton will pick up the required points over the next few weeks!

Portsmouth

Liverpool- Home (0-0)
Everton- Away (2-1)
Arsenal- Home (1-0)

54

54 points would mean drawing with Liverpool and BEATING Arsenal. Although neither have much to play for! With two home games remaining and an away game with Everton- it`s in our own hands!

Tottenham

Middlesborough- Away (1-1)
Charlton- Away (1-2)
Blackburn- Home (1-0)
Man City- Home (1-1)

55

Tottenham have three home games left of which I expect them to win at least two. Charlton away won`t be easy but I think they will get something at Middlesborough. They have good squad depth and are well equipped for Europe.

Reading

Newcastle- Home (0-2)
Watford- Home (1-0)
Blackburn- Away (0-2)

54/b>

What a superb season for Reading but I can`t see the remaining four games turning out well for them. I think they face two tuff away games, along with a couple of 50/50 home games. Although I think Europe is beyond Reading, it has been a great year for them.

Final Prediction

5th Bolton (58)
6th Everton (57)
7th Tottenham (55)
………………………
8th Portsmouth (54)
9th Reading (54)

Although I still think we will just miss out, you can see from this weekends results how tight it`s going to be.