Gerry Mandering - Football Correspondent: previews and match reports, Saturday 7 November 2026

Arsenal v Hull City

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: Arsenal to win, Hull to lose again

Hull have won none of their last 4 matches against Arsenal. That is a statistic I can actually believe without checking my watch. The computer gives Hull a mere 10% chance to win here. A tenth? Even a confused pigeon landing on the console would not produce such nonsense. Saka has no goal in the last 4 gameweeks, yet his price is still £6.3m. Who are these people buying him for? McBurnie has 2 goals in the last 4 gameweeks and costs £13.8m. If he scores once today, you will all be writing letters by tea time.

Three o'clock kick-off. Typical. We used to start later when we had some sense about us.

Arsenal 2-1 Hull City. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Arsenal 2–1 Hull City

Fulham v Newcastle

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: A stalemate seems likely

Three o’clock kick-off. Who schedules football then? It interferes with my biscuit break. Fulham sit 15th on 9 points but have won 3 of the last 5 meetings against Newcastle. That is history, not form. Newcastle are 13th on 11, having lost 3 of their last 4 matches while conceding 6 goals. Their back line currently operates like an open net for anything with legs and ambition. The computer gives them a mere 10% chance here. Even a blind squirrel in autumn finds better nuts than that algorithm suggests. I am expecting a tight affair where nobody wants to risk a slip.

Fulham 1-1 Newcastle. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Fulham 1–1 Newcastle

Bristol City v Norwich

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: Two teams on eighteen points.

Both clubs sit on 18 points. One is 12th, one is 15th. The gap is three places, which feels like a lot until you realize they are practically sharing a locker room. This match of the day is mostly two sets of managers wondering if their pies will be warm.

Look at the recent history. Bristol have won 3 of the last 5 meetings against Norwich. That is a habit I would rather break before it breaks me. It suggests an old grudge that has no business surviving into modern football. History is just a list of times someone else made a mistake.

Form is interesting, or at least confusing. Over the last 4 gameweeks, Bristol have lost 3 matches and scored 5. Norwich have won 3 but also lost 3, scoring 11 while conceding 7. They leak goals faster than a cheap umbrella in a downpour. Bristol’s home record over those same 4 games? Lost 3. At home. Do the math.

The computer gives Bristol City only a 10% chance to win here. A tenth? Even my television set offers better hope when I ask it about the weather forecast for Tuesday. It rates both sides with a 45% chance, which basically means nobody knows what is happening out there either. The model is as lost as the fans.

Twine has 3 goals in his last 4 starts, yet no one owns him because he costs £15m. Brooks hasn’t scored, sits at £4.1m, and is equally ignored. Ownership stats are usually meaningless, but seeing everyone ignore these players feels like collective self-harm. I prefer my misery private. Bristol City 2-1 Norwich. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Bristol City 2–1 Norwich

Portsmouth v Stoke City

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: Two strikers asleep, game to follow

Both sides are unbeaten over their last 4 matches in these specific venues. Portsmouth have won 3 of their last 5 meetings against Stoke. Yet both leading forwards sit on £4.7m with zero ownership because they have not scored in 4 weeks. They are paid to wait for inspiration while everyone else watches their prices drop by £0.5m.

The computer gives the draw a 45% chance. Nearly half the match spent staring at a static board. It sees Portsmouth winning just 10%. I pick darts blindfolded better than that model does. The boots will do what the stats ignore. Portsmouth 2-1 Stoke City. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Portsmouth 2–1 Stoke City

Wrexham v Wolves

Gerry’s preview: Wolves to edge out Wrexham comfortably

It is twelve thirty on a Saturday. The pies will be cold before we even think about tactics. Wolves are third on 27 points, while Wrexham sit sixteenth on 17. The gap suggests a professional team versus a pub league side.

The computer gives Wrexham a 10% chance to win here. Ten percent? A broken calculator would perform better than that model. Both sides have scored in recent weeks, yet no manager owns the key players. Rathbone and Moore both have 2 goals, but their ownership sits at 0%. Armstrong has matched them too. It seems everyone is saving for retirement instead of buying footballers. Wolves 2-1 Wrexham. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Wrexham 1–2 Wolves

Birmingham v Swansea

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: Stagnation by another name

Both clubs sit on 26 points, which means they are effectively sharing a life support system. The computer gives Swansea a 0% chance to win here. Zero? Even a pigeon landing on the console would calculate better than that model.

Stansfield’s price jumped £6.2m despite having just 1 goal in the last 4 gameweeks, yet nobody owns him. Vipotnik is up £5.7m for the same output. It is an expensive way to stand still. Three o’clock kick-offs are designed to make people sleepy and miss the actual football. I predict Birmingham will do nothing at all. Birmingham 1-1 Swansea. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Birmingham 1–1 Swansea

Blackburn v West Ham

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: West Ham to grind it out again

West Ham have won just 3 of their last 8 gameweeks but scored 14. That is inefficiency dressed up in a tracksuit suit. Guðjohnsen has 6 goals in his last 4 matches, yet only 9% own him. He is priced at £24m, which suggests he is either expensive or overrated. I suspect both. The computer gives West Ham a 45% chance to win. Forty-five percent? Even a broken clock would be more confident on two hours each day.

The pies will still be warm enough if you pick them fast. West Ham 2-0 Blackburn. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Blackburn 0–2 West Ham

Cardiff v Burnley

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: Burnley to limp clear again

Burnley sit bottom on 10 points but have won 3 of their last 5 meetings here. They treat Cardiff like a donation box. Moylan has 6 goals in the last 4 gameweeks, yet his price is £21m and owned by 0%. Nobody trusts him, which suits me fine. The computer gives Burnley a mere 10% chance to win. Ten percent? A confused pigeon would calculate better than that algorithm.

Half past two on a Saturday. I missed my bingo break for this rubbish. Two teams arguing over possession instead of scoring. History suggests another away win for the relegation zone residents. Misery loves company. Cardiff 1-2 Burnley. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Cardiff 1–2 Burnley

Charlton v Sheffield Utd

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: Sheff Utd to expose more chaos

Three o'clock kick-off. Who schedules football then? It interferes with my biscuit break.

Charlton have not won in their last 4 gameweeks, conceding 12 while scoring just 4. That is less of a team and more of an open invite for anyone with legs. They sit 21st on 14 points. Sheffield United arrive in form, winning 3 of their last 5 meetings against them. Bamford has scored 3 times recently, yet his price dropped £3.7m. Managers panic easily. The computer gives Charlton a 10% chance to win. Ten percent? A calculator left on its side would do slightly better. Sheffield United 2-0 Charlton. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Charlton 0–2 Sheffield Utd

Preston v Southampton

Gerry’s preview: Preston serve as a target practice

Southampton lead on 28 points, unbeaten in four. Preston are bottom on 5, having conceded 15 in their last six. They treat home games like open trials for opposing strikers. The computer assigns Preston a 0% chance to win. That level of confidence usually requires a crystal ball or a broken calculator. Kenny’s price drops to £4.7m despite zero goals recently. He is expensive for nothing.

The kick-off time suits my biscuit break perfectly. Preston 0-2 Southampton. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: Preston 0–2 Southampton

QPR v Lincoln

Gerry’s preview: Kone shines while Lincoln leak everywhere

R. Kone has 4 goals in his last 4 gameweeks, yet owns by 0%. His price hit £13.8m. A player of that calibre goes unowned. Madness. Meanwhile, Lincoln conceded 16 in their last 4 matches. That is not defense; it is an open invitation for anyone with legs to stroll past. They sit 19th on 15 points, trailing QPR who hold 21 and rank 11th.

The computer assigns Lincoln a 0% chance to win here. Zero? My cat calculates better than that software when she knocks cups off tables. QPR are unbeaten in their last 4 home games. Solid enough. I suspect the pies will be cold given the mid-afternoon slot.

QPR 2-1 Lincoln. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: QPR 2–1 Lincoln

West Brom v Millwall

Gerry’s preview: Gerry: A draw by default

Forty-five percent chance to win? The model suggests half the time they just stand still and sigh. It gives them forty-five percent to lose too. I Price hit 3 goals in 4 weeks, his price jumped £4.8m to £15.8m. Zero ownership. You miss out on brilliance fearing full prices. Lisbie also scored 3, up £6.8m to £9.8m. Same zero ownership. We wait for someone else to make sense of this market.

The last five meetings produced four draws. This football tells us to buy better televisions. Kick-offs are an excuse to do nothing while watching teams that score little. Three o’clock suits my nap. West Brom 2-2 Millwall. Write it down.

Gerry’s call: West Brom 2–2 Millwall