Tuesday 31 August 2010

Pools tips for this weekend 4-5 September

Pick of the draws:  Rochdale are adapting well following their promotion to League One and will fancy their chances of getting something at Southampton, who may be in some disarray after their manager Alan Pardew was surprisingly sacked this week. Bradford City have made a faltering start to their campaign in League Two but can regain some pride by holding Port Vale at home. A draw is also the most likely result when second-placed Shrewsbury host third-placed Rotherham. Neither have lost in the league this season and I expect it to stay that way. Don't be surprised if the League Two leaders Torquay drop their first points of the season at Southend, who have shown a marked improvement in the past week, taking Wolves to extra time in the Carling Cup at Molineux and beating Bradford City away.


Away days: Charlton lost at Huddersfield last Saturday but are tipped to bounce straight back by winning at Exeter, who look to be in for a long, hard winter. It's high time Gillingham ended their barren run on their travels. They have not won away for more than a year but can put that right at Bury, who are erratic at home. In the Blue Square Premier, Kidderminster are a good bet to worsen the plight of bottom club Altrincham, for whom nothing goes right.


Homes sweet homes: Notts County recovered from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Bournemouth last Saturday  and are fancied to go one better against Yeovil. In League Two, Macclesfield should make home advantage count against fellow strugglers Stockport, while in the Blue Square Premier, Cambridge United, who sent Eastbourne home pointless on Monday, can do the same to Gateshead. Hayes & Yeading, who gained a creditable point at promotion favourites Luton on Monday, should see off struggling Histon.


Treble chance (home teams):  Dagenham & Redbridge, Southampton, Bradford, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Southend, Newport, York, Corby, Worcester.


Best draws: Southampton, Bradford, Shrewsbury, Southend, York.


Aways: Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Cheltenham, Gillingham, Kidderminster.


Homes: Huddersfield, Notts County, Oldham, Walsall, Aldershot, Macclesfield, Cambridge, Hayes & Yeading, Mansfield.



Tuesday 24 August 2010

Pools tips for this weekend 28-29 August

Pick of the draws: Two well-matched teams, Bolton and Birmingham, have made encouraging starts to the season in the Premier League and I expect them to cancel each other out at the Reebok stadium on Sunday. Derby have suffered three consecutive defeats since their opening-day victory at Leeds, yet Nigel Clough's side are no soft touch at home and capable of holding top-of-the-table Queens Park Rangers. Burnley appear to have no hangover from last season's relegation and can collect a point at Swansea, who tend to blow hot and cold. Sheffield Wednesday (at Hartlepool) and Football League newcomers Stevenage (at Aldershot) are also tipped to share the spoils.


Away days: Free-scoring Arsenal are in the mood and well equipped to avenge last season's defeat at Blackburn. Newcastle, fresh from their six-goal hammering of Aston Villa, are worth a flutter at Wolves, while Cardiff, boosted by the loan signing of Craig Bellamy, should be too strong for struggling Portsmouth. Rotherham, who scored seven against Cheltenham last Saturday, won't need nearly as many goals to defeat Hereford.


Homes sweet homes: Expect lowly Sheffield United, under new manager Gary Speed, to gain their first win of the season against Preston in the Championship. In League One, get on Brentford, buoyed by their Carling Cup victory over Hull, to conquer Rochdale. Gus Poyet's Brighton seem in better shape now and are backed to confirm their improvement against Walsall. Leyton Orient earned a creditable point at Southampton last Saturday, which should give them the confidence to beat Exeter.


Treble chance (home teams) : Bolton, Barnsley, Derby, Swansea, Watford, Bristol Rovers, Hartlepool, MK Dons, Aldershot, St Mirren.


Best draws: Bolton, Derby, Swansea, Hartlepool, Aldershot.


Aways: Arsenal, Newcastle, Cardiff, Peterborough, Rotherham.


Homes: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Tottenham, Ipswich, Sheffield United, Brentford, Brighton, Leyton Orient.

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Pools tips for this weekend 21-22 August

Pick of the draws: West Ham were heavily beaten at Aston Villa last Saturday but they are a different proposition at home and tipped to share the spoils with Bolton. Promoted Millwall have got off to a real flyer in the Championship - top of the table, two wins out of two, seven goals scored and none conceded - but Leeds, who were also promoted, can check their progress at Elland Road.


In League One, Oldham have won their opening two matches under their new manager Paul Dickov, which should give them the confidence to get something at Charlton, who have also started with a couple of victories. By contrast, Notts County are struggling - two defeats, no goals scored and six conceded - but they can stop the rot at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.


Away days: Tottenham deserved better than a goalless draw against Manchester City last Saturday when only England keeper Joe Hart stood between them and a handsome victory. And despite Tottenham's sloppy display against Young Boys of Berne in the Champions League, I suspect that they will have too much for Stoke, who were disappointing in defeat at Wolves. Bristol Rovers are fancied to win at Exeter, who are reeling from the tragic death from bowel cancer of their striker Adam Stansfield. Also in League One, Bournemouth, who put five past Peterborough last Saturday, should keep up the good work at Tranmere.


Homes sweet homes: Have a flutter on Bristol City, making light of Steve Coppell's sudden departure as manager, to beat Barnsley. Norwich returned to winning ways with a last-minute goal against Scunthorpe last Saturday and can collect another three points against Swansea, who are often meek on their travels. Play-off losers Nottingham Forest have made a stuttering start to the season and Reading look a good bet to add to their problems. Brian McDermott's side expect to be promotion contenders.


Treble chance (home teams): West Bromwich, West Ham, Leeds, Preston, Charlton, Notts County, Yeovil, Bury, St Johnstone, Morton.


Best draws: West Ham, Leeds, Preston, Charlton, Notts County.


Aways: Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Bristol Rovers, Bournemouth.


Homes: Arsenal, Everton, Bristol City, Norwich, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Southampton, Accrington, Chesterfield.



Tuesday 10 August 2010

Pools tips for this weekend 14-15 August

Pick of the draws:  The start of the Premier League season has given us a mouth-watering fixture in Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool have been boosted by the arrival of a new manager, Roy Hodgson, and the signing of Joe Cole as well as Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres deciding to stay at the club. Arsenal, however, have also enjoyed a good pre-season and can share the points.


Promoted Millwall had the best result of last weekend by winning 3-0 at Bristol City but may find Hull, who also won, sterner opposition at the New Den. Staying in the Championship, Watford and Coventry recorded opening-day victories and there will be little separating them at Vicarage Road. Barnet's drawn matches at Underhill last season went into double figures and another stalemate is on the cards when they host Burton.


Away days: Everton finished last season strongly and can carry on the good work by winning at Blackburn. Crystal Palace, buoyed by their narrow escape from relegation, are a fair bet to take maximum points at Barnsley while Norwich can recover from their opening-day defeat with victory over Scunthorpe. Queens Park Rangers (at Sheffield United) and Peterborough (at Bournemouth) are also worth a flutter.


Homes sweet homes: Sunderland look to have too much for Birmingham and the same can be said for Derby, who face cash-strapped Cardiff. Nottingham Forest are tipped to leave Leeds pointless for the second weekend in a row. It is hard to see Carlisle getting anything from their long journey to Plymouth, who were victorious at Southampton last Saturday. Ditto Stevenage, who travel to Bradford, conquerors of Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup.


Treble chance (home teams): Bolton, Liverpool, Wolves, Ipswich, Millwall, Watford, Barnet, Cheltenham, Aberdeen, Motherwell.


Best draws: Bolton, Liverpool, Millwall, Watford, Barnet.


Aways: Everton, Crystal Palace, Norwich, Queens Park Rangers, Peterborough.


Homes: Chelsea, Sunderland, Derby, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Oldham, Plymouth, Aldershot, Bradford City.



Tuesday 3 August 2010

Pools tips for this weekend 7-8 August

Pick of the draws: Hull, relegated from the Premier League and now with a new manager, Nigel Pearson, could have had easier visitors than Swansea for their opening game back in the Championship, so don't be surprised if they drop two points. Middlesbrough, the bookmakers' favourites for promotion, may not have things all their own way against Ipswich, who, like their manager Roy Keane, have much to prove after a mediocre season. Notts County, last season's League Two champions, will surely find life more difficult against Huddersfield in League One, while two relegated clubs, Southend and Stockport, face each other in League Two.


Away days: Brentford acquitted themselves well in League One last season and have a winnable match at Carlisle. Aldershot, who reached the play-offs, are fancied to start on a winning note at Accrington and Bradford City, who finished the last campaign with a flourish, can beat Shrewsbury.


Homes sweet homes: David James, Bristol City's new goalkeeper, should be on the winning side against promoted Millwall. Another promoted team, Leeds, will probably be too strong for Derby. Crewe, who play Hereford, are due a change of fortune at home after some terrible results at Gresty Road last season, and Stevenage can celebrate their first match in the League with victory over Macclesfield.


Treble chance (home teams): Hull, Middlesbrough, Notts County, Swindon, Walsall, Bury, Southend, Torquay, Livingston, Annan.


Best draws: Hull, Middlesbrough, Notts County, Swindon, Southend.


Aways: Brentford, Oldham, Aldershot, Bradford City, Ross.


Homes: Bristol City, Crystal Palace, Leeds, Charlton, Peterborough, Southampton, Burton, Crewe, Stevenage.