FA Cup final & Premier League predictions: Lawro v 1Xtra DJ Ace
- Published
The 140th FA Cup final sees eight-time winners Chelsea face Leicester City in front of around 21,000 fans at Wembley on Saturday.
This is Chelsea's 15th final, while the Foxes are in their fifth - but will this be the first one they win?
BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson has pitted his wits against a different guest in every round of this season's FA Cup.
For the final, he is up against Radio 1Xtra DJ Ace, who supports FA Cup holders Arsenal.
You can listen to Ace every day from Monday to Friday on the mid-morning show from 10:00-12:45 BST on BBC Radio 1Xtra.
"David Rocastle and Kevin Campbell were my Arsenal heroes when I was growing up," Ace told BBC Sport. "Kevin came into my school when I was seven or eight and meeting him blew my mind."
Arsenal beat Chelsea in last year's final but their defence ended in January at the hands of Southampton in the fourth round.
The Gunners have been inconsistent in the Premier League in 2020-21 and lost to Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Europa League.
Ace told BBC Sport: "From an Arsenal point of view, I'm just glad the season is almost over! It hasn't been the best for us.
"There have been a few moments where it has looked like we have clicked, but then we've gone on runs where we have lost or dropped points, including in games we should have won - those have been the most annoying.
"But, as frustrating as it has been for Arsenal, I have still really enjoyed this season as a football fan - the joy of the Premier League is that you never know what is going to happen, and it's been amazing to see the likes of Leicester doing so well, including in the FA Cup. I think it's great for the sport."
Highlights: Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to win FA Cup
FA Cup final prediction | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | Ace | |
SATURDAY | |||
Chelsea v Leicester | 0-1 | 1-0 | 1-2 |
There is no replay in the FA Cup final. If the score is level after 90 minutes, it will be decided by extra time and penalties.
LAWRO'S FA CUP FINAL PREDICTION
SATURDAY
Chelsea 0-1 Leicester
Lawro's prediction: 1-0
Ace's prediction: 1-2
Lawro is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests - Ace has also looked at this weekend's league games.
Premier League predictions - week 36 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | Ace | |
FRIDAY | |||
Newcastle v Man City | 3-4 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
SATURDAY | |||
Burnley v Leeds | 0-4 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
Southampton v Fulham | 3-1 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
Brighton v West Ham | 1-1 | 1-1 | 0-1 |
SUNDAY | |||
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa | 3-2 | 2-1 | 0-0 |
Tottenham v Wolves | 2-0 | 2-0 | 1-0 |
West Brom v Liverpool | 1-2 | 0-2 | 0-3 |
Everton v Sheff Utd | 0-1 | 2-0 | 0-0 |
A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.
LAWRO'S PREMIER LEAGUE PREDICTIONS
FRIDAY
Newcastle 3-4 Man City
SATURDAY
Burnley 0-4 Leeds United
Southampton 3-1 Fulham
Brighton 1-1 West Ham
SUNDAY
Crystal Palace 3-2 Aston Villa
Tottenham 2-0 Wolves
West Brom 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-1 Sheff Utd
Lawro's prediction: 2-0
Ace's prediction: 0-0
Lawro and Ace were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.
How did Lawro do last time?
Last weekend, Lawro drew with The Sherlocks drummer Brandon Crook, after they both got five correct results from 10 matches, including two exact scores, for a total of 110 points apiece.
Lawro also picked up 10 points from the five midweek Premier League games, played from Tuesday to Thursday this week.
Midweek PL games | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Result | Lawro | Guest | |
TUESDAY | |||
Man Utd v Leicester | 1-2 | 1-1 | NA |
Southampton v Crystal Palace | 3-1 | 2-1 | NA |
WEDNESDAY | |||
Chelsea v Arsenal | 0-1 | 2-0 | NA |
THURSDAY | |||
Aston Villa v Everton | 0-0 | 0-2 | 2-0* |
Man Utd v Liverpool | 2-4 | 1-1 | 2-1** |
NA: No guest prediction
*Rearranged from week 19 vs You Me At Six drummer Dan Flint
** Rearranged from week 34 vs Royal Blood drummer Ben Thatcher.
+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO'S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEAM | P | W | D | L | PTS | +/- | |
1 | Man City | 35 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 97 | 0 |
=2 | Chelsea | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 84 | +2 |
=2 | Man Utd | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 84 | 0 |
4 | Tottenham | 35 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 80 | 3 |
5 | Liverpool | 35 | 22 | 12 | 1 | 78 | 0 |
6 | Leeds | 35 | 22 | 1 | 12 | 67 | +4 |
7 | Leicester | 36 | 19 | 6 | 11 | 63 | -4 |
8 | Arsenal | 36 | 17 | 5 | 14 | 56 | 0 |
9 | Wolves | 35 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 53 | +3 |
10 | Everton | 35 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 46 | -1 |
=11 | Brighton | 35 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 43 | +6 |
=11 | Burnley | 35 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 43 | +4 |
13 | West Ham | 35 | 11 | 6 | 18 | 39 | -7 |
=14 | Southampton | 35 | 10 | 5 | 20 | 35 | 0 |
=14 | Aston Villa | 35 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 35 | +3 |
16 | Newcastle | 35 | 9 | 4 | 22 | 31 | 0 |
17 | Crystal Palace | 35 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 28 | -4 |
18 | Sheff Utd | 35 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 21 | +2 |
19 | Fulham | 35 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 9 | -1 |
20 | West Brom | 35 | 0 | 5 | 30 | 5 | -1 |
GUEST LEADERBOARD 2020-21
Score | Guest |
|---|---|
110 | Sister Bliss, Brandon Crook, Amy Macdonald, Dot Major, Steve White |
100 | Tubes |
90 | Adam Devonshire, Becky Hill, Passenger, Chris Shiflett |
81 | Lawro (average after 35 weeks) |
80 | Celeste, Dan Flint, Frank Harper, Peter Hooton, Raye |
70 | Sam Carter, Lou Cotterill, Ben Thatcher |
60 | Majestic, Caroline Weir |
50 | David Gray, Declan McKenna, Billy Monger, Paul Smith, Alex Sprogis, DJ Target |
40 | Gavin 'Mo' Edgeley, Ben Howard |
30 | Rick Astley, Lewis Evans, Steve Guttenberg, Gethin Jones, Fraser T. Smith |
20 | Charlie Forbes, Dougie Payne |
10 | Theo Ellis |
0 | Rema |
Total scores after week 35 | |
|---|---|
Lawro | 2,860 |
Guests | 2,320 |
Lawro v Guests | |||
|---|---|---|---|
P35 | W19 | D2 | L14 |