Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Pools tips and best bets for the weekend of May 6-8

 Ten draws: Newcastle v Arsenal, Swansea v West Bromwich, Wigan v Rotherham, Bristol Rovers v Bolton, Burton v MK Dons, Cheltenham v Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday v Derby, Colchester v Mansfield, Tranmere v Northampton, Edinburgh v Airdrie.

Best draws: Newcastle v Arsenal, Swansea v West Bromwich, Burton v MK Dons, Sheffield Wednesday v Derby, Tranmere v Northampton. 

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Aston Villa (Saturday), Sheffield United (Monday), Sunderland (Monday), Ipswich (Sunday), Carlisle (Monday), Falkirk (Saturday).

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Brighton (Saturday), Nottingham Forest (Monday), Burnley (Monday), Huddersfield (Monday), Cambridge (Sunday), Oxford (Sunday), Harrogate (Monday), Salford (Monday), Stockport (Monday), Inverness (Friday).

Pick of the draws: Arsenal probably need maximum points from their remaining four matches to stay in the title race but Newcastle, one place below the Gunners, have lost only once at home in the Premier League this season, which suggests that they can take at least a point. West Bromwich's last-ditch attempt to qualify for the Championship play-offs may fall short at Swansea, who have been in such impressive form. I'll be surprised if MK Dons, fighting relegation from League One, get more than a draw at Burton, who are safe. Sheffield Wednesday, by coming third in League One, are guaranteed a play-off place. They may be tempted to lose focus on Sunday, which should help Derby, who can still be pipped for that final play-off spot. Northampton missed automatic promotion from League Two in the most agonising circumstances last season. I believe they'll suffer a repeat next Monday after they have played Tranmere.

Away days: Aston Villa's winning Premier League run was ended by Manchester United last Sunday but I'm tipping them to bounce straight back at Wolves, who were hammered 6-0 at Brighton the day before. Sheffield United, promoted to the top tier after an outstanding season, have an excellent chance of gaining their 12th away win at Birmingham, who languish in the bottom half of the Championship. Sunderland need a victory to scrape into the Championship play-offs and I think they'll get it at Preston, who seem to have switched off. I'm confident that Ipswich, promoted from League One, will end their campaign in style by beating Fleetwood and reaching 100 points. Carlisle only need a draw to be in the League Two play-offs but I believe they'll go one better by defeating Sutton, who are out of sorts. Falkirk, second in Scottish League One, look an away banker at relegated Peterhead.

Homes sweet homes: Nottingham Forest, third last in the Premier League, haven't beaten many teams recently, so they should grasp this opportunity against bottom side Southampton, who have a mountain to climb if they are to stay up. Huddersfield, revived by veteran manager Neil Warnock, have avoided relegation to League One and are in the mood to celebrate against Reading, who have gone down instead. Congratulations to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, mid-table in the Scottish Championship, who have reached the Scottish Cup final, where they face Celtic, the Scottish Premiership champions. I reckon they'll prepare for the occasion by beating Ayr on Friday.

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