Gameweek 6: A 4-1 surprise gives the crowd a reality check
Coventry City FC beat Newcastle United FC 4-1, and only 14% of the crowd had backed the winning result. That is quite a way to upset the group chat. It was the biggest surprise in the Gameweek 6 pack, setting the tone for a Premier League round that gave confident callers plenty to chew over.
Results called right
40%
Down 1 points on the season (41%)
Exact scores nailed
8%
Level with the season (8%)
The draws did their share of damage
Beyond that standout surprise, the draws also caught the crowd out. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur FC finished 1-1, with 24% backing the draw. Aston Villa and Brentford ended 2-2, a result backed by 25%.
Those percentages are for the match outcome, not the exact score. Even without needing to nail the goals, these were awkward fixtures for the crowd. Coventry City FC supplied the headline surprise, but the shared points made their own contribution to a tricky week.
Crowd vs reality
Arsenal FC 2-1 Leeds United
85% of the crowd called this result
Chelsea FC 5-1 AFC Bournemouth
73% of the crowd called this result
Sunderland 0-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
66% of the crowd called this result
Coventry City FC 4-1 Newcastle United FC
14% of the crowd called this result
Manchester United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur FC
24% of the crowd called this result
Aston Villa 2-2 Brentford
25% of the crowd called this result
Divided opinions, a clear result
Crystal Palace against Nottingham Forest was the most divided fixture. The split was Crystal Palace 30%, draw 36%, Nottingham Forest 34%. There was barely room for a confident declaration in that discussion.
Crystal Palace then won 3-1, delivering the outcome with the lowest backing of the available choices. The draw had the largest share, but this was hardly a crowd speaking with one voice. A proper test of which way to lean.
Some confidence was well placed
It was not all torn-up confidence. Arsenal FC delivered a 2-1 win over Leeds United, rewarding the 85% who backed them to win. That was the strongest backing among this week's best calls.
Chelsea FC also justified the crowd's support, beating AFC Bournemouth 5-1 after receiving 73% backing. Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion won 0-2 at Sunderland, with 66% on the winning outcome.
Those were the brighter spots: strong support followed by the right result. Getting the winner right and getting the score right are different challenges, though.
The wider picture
Across 10 finished games, with all 10 called, crowd result accuracy came in at 40%. That sits below the season figure of 41%. Exact-score accuracy was 8%, matching the season's 8%.
These figures include every player, so this is the whole crowd's report card. There were well-supported winners to celebrate, but the overall return leaves plenty of room for a better round. Keep the bragging rights modest for now, perhaps.
Gameweek 7 brings another confidence test
Manchester City FC lead the next round's backing at 86% for Manchester City FC v Ipswich Town FC.
Tottenham Hotspur FC follow at 85% for Tottenham Hotspur FC v Coventry City FC. After this week's biggest surprise, that is an intriguing show of confidence. Chelsea FC complete the most-backed list at 79% for Everton v Chelsea FC.
Will you follow the crowd or see something different? Get your mates involved and make your calls.