Monday 26 April 2010

Pools tips for this weekend May 1-2

Draws: Aston Villa, with three consecutive victories behind them, can not only dent Manchester City's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League by holding them at Eastlands but improve their own chances. A stalemate is also predicted in League One at Brunton Park where Carlisle and Oldham, both mid-table, play each other. In League Two, in-form Torquay may hinder Bury's play-off hopes while Shrewsbury v Morecambe has bags of draw appeal as they are both play-off contenders


Aways: Everton are tipped to take maximum points at Stoke, who are reeling from their 7-0 thrashing by Chelsea. Southampton are well equipped to increase Gillingham's relegation worries and Brighton are likely to triumph at MK Dons, who have completely lost their way.


Homes: Relegated Portsmouth will be eager to end a fraught league season on a bright note when they entertain Wolves. In League One, Charlton can deal a serious blow to Leeds' chances of automatic promotion. Southend can slightly ease the pain of relegation by defeating rock-bottom Stockport while in the Scottish first division Morton are fancied to win their relegation battle against Ayr.


Treble chance (home teams):  Manchester City, Carlisle, Yeovil, Bury, Dagenham & Redbridge, Shrewsbury, Partick, Brechin, Clyde, Forfar.


Best draws: Manchester City, Carlisle, Bury, Shrewsbury, Clyde.


Aways: Everton, Southampton, Brighton, Chesterfield, Dunfermline.


Homes: Birmingham, Portsmouth, Charlton, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Southend, Aldershot, Rotherham,  Morton.



Monday 19 April 2010

Pools Tips for this weekend 24-25 April

Draws: Manchester City, battling for a Champions League place, can hold Arsenal, who have been shaken by two consecutive defeats, at the Emirates Stadium. League Two has plenty of draw appeal. Rotherham are fancied to share the spoils at Barnet while it is difficult to separate Crewe, who have been dismal at home, and Accrington, who are sliding down the table. The same can be said for the bottom two clubs, Darlington and Grimsby, who play each other.


Aways: In the Championship take a chance on Queens Park Rangers winning at ailing Barnsley and Scunthorpe beating Doncaster, who have nothing to play for except pride. One more win will see Bournemouth promoted to League One and they will probably get it at Burton, whose home form is nothing to write home about.


Homes: West Ham can take a big step to Premier League safety by defeating erratic Wigan. Relegation-threatened Crystal Palace can surprise West Brom, who are already promoted, and fast-improving Wycombe have the spirit and incentive to upset promotion-chasing Swindon.


Treble chance (home teams): Arsenal, Wolves, Preston, Sheffield United, Walsall, Barnet, Crewe, Darlington, Lincoln, Port Vale.


Best draws: Arsenal, Preston, Barnet, Crewe, Darlington.


Aways: Liverpool, Queens Park Rangers, Scunthorpe, Bournemouth, Aldershot.


Homes: Aston Villa, Everton, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Oldham, Wycombe.

Monday 12 April 2010

Pools Tips for this weekend 17-18 April

Draws: Relegated Portsmouth, given a huge lift by their victory over Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, are capable of denying Aston Villa three points at Fratton Park this weekend. Burnley have a Premier League lifeline after their handsome win at Hull and can share the points at Sunderland. In the Championship, Nottingham Forest, who are now assured of a play-off place, will be more confident of getting something from their trip to Blackpool while Bristol Rovers v Brentford and Grimsby v Torquay also make draw appeal.


Aways: Have a punt on Preston to pile on the misery for Coventry, who are sliding down the Championship. In League One, Leeds are perking up again after a dodgy few months and will probably increase Gillingham's relegation worries. Brighton, who are doing better away than at home, are a good bet to leave Southend pointless.


Homes: Fulham, so impressive at Craven Cottage, will surely have too much for Wolves. Manchester City, 14 goals from their past three matches, can end Manchester United's title challenge, avenge their defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the season and improve their own chances of qualifying for the Champions League. Relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday may have too much hunger for their bitter rivals, Sheffield United, at Hillsborough and Swansea can enhance their play-off hopes by beating Barnsley.


Treble chance (home teams): Blackburn, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Blackpool, Derby, Queens Park Rangers, Bristol Rovers, Hartlepool, Grimsby, Macclesfield.


Best draws: Portsmouth, Sunderland, Blackpool, Bristol Rovers, Grimsby.


Aways: Chelsea, Preston, Bristol City, Leeds, Brighton.


Homes: Birmingham, Fulham, Manchester City, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Swansea, Leyton Orient, Aldershot, Bradford City.

Monday 5 April 2010

Pools Tips for this weekend 10-11 April

Draws: Plymouth, under the managership of Paul Mariner, are making a spirited attempt to avoid relegation to League One and can follow up last week's win at Doncaster by gaining a point at Watford, who are also in danger of going down. In League One, Oldham, who find it tough at home, host Bristol Rovers, who are poor away. Stalemate looks the most likely outcome here. A draw also looks on the cards at Cheltenham, where Bury are the visitors in League Two. Not so long ago this would have been an away banker but promotion-seeking Bury have stumbled lately. In the Blue Square Premier, promotion-seeking Oxford United have lost their way and can be held at Altrincham. Gateshead, battling to stay up, are tipped to share the spoils with Kidderminster.


Aways: Huddersfield can strengthen their promotion claims at Brentford by recording their ninth away victory of the season. It may be worth taking a chance on Tranmere beating Walsall, who have nothing to play for. In League Two, Bournemouth must be fancied to beat Lincoln and in the Blue Square Premier York and AFC Wimbledon look good bets against Eastbourne and Mansfield respectively.


Homes: Relegation-threatened West Ham can follow their merited draw at Everton on Sunday by beating Sunderland. They are overdue a home victory. In League Two, Darlington are doomed but, under new managership, have come to life recently and they can gain more momentum with victory over Accrington. Hayes & Yeading, who accounted for high-riding Oxford United on Good Friday, can do the same to Barrow.


Treble chance (home teams): Middlesbrough, Watford, Colchester, Oldham, Cheltenham, Morecambe, Altrincham, Gateshead, Peterhead, Berwick.


Best draws: Watford, Oldham, Cheltenham, Altrincham, Gateshead.


Aways: Huddersfield, Tranmere, Bournemouth, York, AFC Wimbledon.


Homes: West Ham, Newcastle, Preston, Millwall, Norwich, Barnet, Darlington, Hayes & Yeading, Rushden & Diamonds.