skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Treble chance: Norwich v Swansea, Stoke v Fulham, Coventry v Nottingham Forest, West Ham v Blackpool, Yeovil v Carlisle, Accrington v Swindon, Crawley v Shrewsbury, Macclesfield v Oxford, Raith v Partick, Albion v East Fife.
Best draws: Norwich v Swansea, Stoke v Fulham, West Ham v Blackpool, Accrington v Swindon, Macclesfield v Oxford.
Aways: Crystal Palace, Notts County, Charlton, Preston, Hearts.
Homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Hartlepool, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, AFC Wimbledon.
Pick of the draws: Mid-table Swansea have lost all three of their away games in the Premier League so far, but they can stop the rot at another promoted club, Norwich, who sit one place above them with the same number of points. Fulham were terrific in their 6-0 rout of Queens Park Rangers two weeks ago and will be confident of at least a point at Stoke. In the Championship, West Ham are not clicking at home and I fancy Ian Holloway's Blackpool to come away with a share of the spoils. In League Two, Swindon's away form has held them back but they should do better at Accrington, who have been inconsistent. The other recommended draw features two in-form sides, Macclesfield and Oxford. Both had praiseworthy victories last weekend.
Away days: Crystal Palace, impressive 3-1 winners at Brighton two weeks ago, are a good bet to inflict more misery on Watford in the Championship. Martin Allen's Notts County can strengthen their League One promotion challenge by winning at promoted Chesterfield, while leaders Charlton will be hot favourites to prevail at Stevenage, who are sliding down the table. In-form Preston are expected to get the better of Walsall. Hearts should record their first away success in the Scottish Premier League at the expense of lowly Dunfermline, who have yet to win at home.
Homes sweet homes: Manchester United, although still unbeaten, have not been as convincing lately and their fierce rivals, Liverpool, with Steven Gerrard poised to return, will relish springing a surprise at Anfield. Brighton are experiencing a blip after their heady start in the Championship, but I'm taking them to return to winning ways against Hull. Don't be surprised if Portsmouth arrest their slide when Barnsley come visiting, while in League One, Leyton Orient, despite being in the relegation zone, are aiming for their third consecutive win. They should get it against promoted Bury, who sit in mid-table.
Treble chance: Carlisle v Brentford, Wycombe v Walsall, Bradford v Torquay, Gillingham v Port Vale, Morecambe v AFC Wimbledon, Rotherham v Burton, Alfreton v Kettering, Staines v Dorchester, Truro v Basingstoke, Altrincham v Boston.
Best draws: Bradford v Torquay, Gillingham v Port Vale, Morecambe v AFC Wimbledon, Rotherham v Burton, Alfreton v Kettering.
Aways: Scotland, Southend, Darlington, Southport, Chelmsford.
Homes: Charlton, Huddersfield, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Aldershot, Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Swindon, York.
Pick of the draws: Bradford City have won only once in League Two and are struggling to stay out of the relegation zone. They cannot be confident of defeating middle-of-the-table Torquay. Inconsistent Gillingham (ninth) against inconsistent Port Vale (seventh) is one of the likeliest three-pointers on the coupon. AFC Wimbledon are thriving after their promotion to the Football League last season and good enough to take a point at Morecambe, who are one place and one point above them. Rotherham have faded lately, whereas their visitors, Burton, have prospered and are equipped to hold the hosts. Alfreton and Kettering occupy two of the four relegation slots in the Blue Square Premier and the smart money should go on a stalemate.
Away days: Scotland need three points to have any chance of qualifying for next year's European Championship finals. They will probably get them against minnows Liechtenstein. Southend went to the top of League Two after their impressive win over Shrewsbury last weekend, which should stand them in good stead for Saturday's visit to lowly Crewe. In the Blue Square Premier I'm taking Darlington to increase Bath City's misery at the foot of the table and for Southport to gain their fourth consecutive victory on the road at the expense of ailing Newport County. Chelmsford's away record in the Blue Square Bet South is keeping them in promotion contention and I expect them to come away with maximum points from Maidenhead.
Homes sweet homes: Preston's surprising setback at Leyton Orient last weekend may make them even more determined to see off fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United in League One. In League Two Aldershot host Macclesfield, who are not half as formidable on their travels. The former should be backed. I have a hunch that bottom club Plymouth will enhance their chances of survival when Accrington come visiting. York should continue their improvement in the Blue Square Premier by beating Braintree, who are three places and two points above them.
Treble chance: Fulham v Queens Park Rangers, Wolves v Newcastle, Ipswich v Brighton, Leicester v Derby, Nottingham Forest v Birmingham, Reading v Middlesbrough, Leyton Orient v Preston, Sheffield United v Charlton, Walsall v Carlisle, Kilmarnock v St Johnstone.
Best draws: Fulham v QPR, Ipswich v Brighton, Leyton Orient v Preston, Sheff Utd v Charlton, Walsall v Carlisle.
Aways: Manchester City, Burnley, Gillingham, Aldershot, Northampton.
Homes: Aston Villa, Barnsley, Blackpool, Hull, Peterborough, Southampton, Hartlepool, Bristol Rovers, Burton.
Pick of the draws: Fulham, just above the relegation zone, have drawn all three of their home games in the Premier League and I expect them to make it four against QPR, who are adapting well to life in a higher division and have already won twice away. Brighton have faltered recently in the Championship but I'm still backing them to get a point from their visit to Ipswich, who are climbing the table. Leyton Orient, bottom of League One, have lost all five home matches but they came back from 2-0 down to draw at Huddersfield last weekend and can surprise high-riding Preston. Leaders Charlton boast maximum points on their travels but I fancy their run will end against third-placed Sheffield United. Have a punt on Carlisle, impressive on the road, sharing the spoils at Walsall, who are brittle at home.
Away days: Manchester City experienced a setback against Bayern Munich in the Champions League but they will surely have too much in their locker for lowly Blackburn. After beating Nottingham Forest 5-1 in the Championship, Burnley will be confident of prevailing at Millwall, who have dropped into the relegation places. In League Two I'm taking Gillingham to improve their promotion prospects by winning at AFC Wimbledon. Mid-table Aldershot are doing better away than at home and will feel confident against erratic Accrington. Northampton will also fancy their chances at ailing Barnet.
Homes sweet homes: Barnsley can register their first home victory in the Championship by defeating struggling Coventry. Hull are in good nick at the moment and worth supporting against injury-troubled Cardiff. Unbeaten Hartlepool are surprising promotion contenders in League One and in the mood and form to prevail against Sheffield Wednesday, who have the same number of points. Bristol Rovers had a morale-boosting win at League Two leaders Morecambe last weekend and will be eager to continue the good work at home to Cheltenham.
Treble chance: West Bromwich v Fulham, Bristol City v Hull, Burnley v Southampton, Portsmouth v Blackpool, Colchester v Walsall, Aldershot v Crawley, Crewe v Port Vale, Northampton v Dagenham & Redbridge, Ayr v Queen of South, Morton v Falkirk.
Best draws: West Bromwich v Fulham, Burnley v Southampton, Aldershot v Crawley, Crewe v Port Vale, Morton v Falkirk.
Aways: Manchester United, Tottenham, Reading, Nottingham Forest, MK Dons.
Homes: Chelsea, Liverpool, Birmingham, Derby, Bournemouth, Oldham, Cheltenham, Gillingham, Oxford.
Pick of the draws: Fulham's recovery from 2-0 behind against Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend will encourage them to believe they can get something from their visit to bottom-of-the-table West Brom. Southampton's flying start in the Championship could be checked at Turf Moor by Burnley, who are better than their low position indicates. In League Two, Aldershot are on the upgrade after an indifferent start to the season and capable of holding promotion contenders Crawley. Crewe have not drawn so far but that statistic will probably change when they host Port Vale in what seems like an even contest. Morton top the Scottish first division but in-form Falkirk, who lie third, can prevent them from gaining a third home victory.
Away days: It is impossible to bet against all-conquering Manchester United at the moment and they should add Stoke to their list of victims. Tottenham were excellent when beating Liverpool 4-0 last Sunday and will surely have too much for Wigan, who look destined for another relegation struggle. In the Championship, Reading's blip appears to be over and they are worth backing at Coventry. Struggling Nottingham Forest showed signs of improvement in their 4-3 extra-time defeat by Newcastle in the Carling Cup and may fancy their chances at Watford. I'm taking MK Dons, fourth in League One, to gain maximum points at ailing Bury.
Homes sweet homes: Birmingham have won their last three home games. Don't be surprised if they make it four against Barnsley. Two consecutive away victories have helped Bournemouth climb away from the League One relegation zone and I believe they will end the unbeaten run of Hartlepool, who have moved into the play-off places. Paul Dickov's Oldham have found some form recently and I expect them to defeat Brentford. Gillingham arrested their slide in League Two with a thumping 6-0 win at Hereford last Saturday and visitors Burton will feel apprehensive. Although Oxford's home record has let them down so far, they should still be too strong for Accrington.
Treble chance: Bolton v Norwich, Sunderland v Stoke, Blackpool v Cardiff, Leicester v Brighton, Nottingham Forest v Derby, Exeter v Bournemouth, MK Dons v Huddersfield, Yeovil v Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington v Crewe, Torquay v Rotherham.
Best draws: Bolton v Norwich, Sunderland v Stoke, Blackpool v Cardiff, Leicester v Brighton, Yeovil v Sheffield Wednesday.
Aways: Manchester City, Watford, West Ham, Oxford, Gillingham.
Homes: Swansea, Hull, Leeds, Peterborough, Reading, Chesterfield, Sheffield United, Tranmere, Burton.
Pick of the draws: Bolton have gone off the boil spectacularly since the opening day of the season and promoted Norwich can escape with a point. Stoke are unbeaten in league combat so far and will have no fears about going to Sunderland, who have yet to register a win. Blackpool are one of the fancied sides in the Championship but may struggle to overcome Cardiff, who are proving resilient on their travels. Joint leaders Brighton have three wins out of three on the road but probably face their toughest test yet at Leicester. In League One I expect Sheffield Wednesday to recover from their surprising 5-1 thumping at Stevenage by sharing the spoils at Yeovil.
Away days: Free-scoring Manchester City look irresistible at the moment and will surely put Fulham to the sword. Watford will be buoyed by their 2-0 Championship victory at Reading last Saturday and look good enough for maximum points at Barnsley. I'm confident West Ham will make it four away wins out of four against faltering Millwall. In League Two, Oxford will be fancying their chances at Barnet and I take Gillingham to return to winning ways against ailing Hereford.
Homes sweet homes: Premier League newcomers Swansea were unlucky to lose at Arsenal last weekend and their opponents, West Brom, could suffer a backlash. Improving Hull seem good value against Portsmouth in the Championship while Reading, who have disappointed so far, should still have enough to see off bottom club Doncaster. Promoted Chesterfield have finally found their feet in League One and are worth a punt against Carlisle. Don't be surprised if underrated Burton halt Swindon's progress in League Two.
