Lawro's Prediction for Aston Villa v Man City (1730 GMT)
Villa surely cannot be as bad as they were in the opening half-hour against Manchester City at Eastlands in December, when they went 3-0 down. They were hopeless, and that first half performance was probably the worst I have seen by any team all season.
They have to be better, and I expect them to put in a much-improved display. You are never too good to go down but I think Villa have too many match-winners to be relegated.
With Darren Bent on board, they have some goals in their team now and, when you look at Gerard Houllier's squad and see people like Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton, there are a few players capable of turning a game.
Also, the pressure is off Houllier now because, if he was on the brink of being sacked, Villa owner Randy Lerner would not have backed him so much in this transfer window.
City's defence should pose some problems for Bent in his first game because Kolo Toure and Vincent Kompany are forming a solid partnership at the back.
Roberto Mancini's side don't struggle to score goals either, but they might have to settle for a single point at Villa Park.
Prediction: 1-1
Here are all of Lawro's 2010-11 Premier League predictions, together with how the League Table would look like if he was correct...
http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Mark_Lawrensons_Predictions_2010-11.html
Villa surely cannot be as bad as they were in the opening half-hour against Manchester City at Eastlands in December, when they went 3-0 down. They were hopeless, and that first half performance was probably the worst I have seen by any team all season.
They have to be better, and I expect them to put in a much-improved display. You are never too good to go down but I think Villa have too many match-winners to be relegated.
With Darren Bent on board, they have some goals in their team now and, when you look at Gerard Houllier's squad and see people like Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton, there are a few players capable of turning a game.
Also, the pressure is off Houllier now because, if he was on the brink of being sacked, Villa owner Randy Lerner would not have backed him so much in this transfer window.
City's defence should pose some problems for Bent in his first game because Kolo Toure and Vincent Kompany are forming a solid partnership at the back.
Roberto Mancini's side don't struggle to score goals either, but they might have to settle for a single point at Villa Park.
Prediction: 1-1
Here are all of Lawro's 2010-11 Premier League predictions, together with how the League Table would look like if he was correct...
http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Mark_Lawrensons_Predictions_2010-11.html