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The Race For Europe #1

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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.

The seventh spot is now available, as Manchester United will be playing Chelsea in the F.A cup final (both already qualified for Europe).

Current Standing

5th Everton 54 (16)
6th Bolton 54 (-1)
7th Portsmouth 49 (5)
8th Tottenham 49 (-1) One Game In Hand
9th Reading 48 (4)

Remaining Fixtures

Everton

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

58

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

Bolton

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

61

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

Portsmouth

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

54

Portsmouth are lucky not to be in a relegation battle this year because our remaining fixtures are really tough. 54 points would mean drawing with Liverpool and BEATING Arsenal. Although neither have much to play for! Our two away games won`t be easy, a point maybe the best we can wish for.

Tottenham

Arsenal- Home (2-2)
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

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

51

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 (61)
6th Everton (58)
7th Tottenham (55)
?????????
8th Portsmouth (54)
9th Reading (51)

I know I`m supposed to back Portsmouth but I think we`ll just miss out. I hope you enjoyed the article and I will keep you updated.

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