Wednesday 23 February 2011

Pools tips for this weekend February 26-27



Treble chance (home teams): Newcastle, Bristol City, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Oldham, Walsall, Macclesfield, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Queen of South.


Best draws: Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Macclesfield, Aberdeen, Hibernian.


Aways: Norwich, Watford, Colchester, Lincoln, Rotherham.


Homes: Aston Villa, Everton, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Carlisle, Exeter, Southampton, Tranmere, Oxford.




Pick of the draws: Newcastle have enjoyed a couple of good results recently, including that astonishing comeback to 4-4 from 4-0 down against Arsenal, but so have their visitors to St James' Park, Bolton, who have beaten Everton in the league and Fulham in the FA Cup. It is difficult to separate them. Middlesbrough will have gained encouragement from a fine away win against Millwall and can share the spoils with Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers, who have a tendency to draw away (eight already this season). Macclesfield have moved nearer League Two safety with two consecutive victories and are tipped to dent Wycombe's promotion prospects. Aberdeen are on the upgrade under Craig Brown's managership and I expect them to gain a point at the expense of third-placed Hearts in the Scottish Premier League. Hibernian, who host mid-table Inverness Caledonian Thistle, are also improving after struggling in the first half of the season.


Away days: Norwich are a confident selection to boost their promotion hopes at Barnsley. Although Watford are remarkably inconsistent they will fancy their chances at injury-ravaged Doncaster, who are plummeting down the Championship table. In League One, Colchester are a good bet to prevail at  Plymouth, whose 10-point deduction for going into administration has sent them to the bottom. Barnet are in terrible trouble at the foot of League Two and must be dreading playing Lincoln, who have won four and drawn one of their past five away matches. Rotherham have their sights on promotion and are worth backing at Burton, who are only two points and two places better off than Barnet.


Homes sweet homes: Everton were given a terrific lift from knocking holders Chelsea out of the FA Cup and should carry on the feel-good factor by defeating Sunderland. Crystal Palace have become a more solid unit lately, especially at Selhurst Park, and I expect them to continue their climb to Championship safety against Reading. In League One, Carlisle have steadied themselves after a mini-slump and will feel confident against Sheffield Wednesday, where morale has suffered from a series of poor results. Exeter have surprised a few people this season - for example three points from their visit to Charlton last Saturday - and can account for Hartlepool.  

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Pools tips for this weekend February 19-20



Treble chance (home teams): Stoke, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Colchester, Hartlepool, Rochdale, Aberdeen, St Mirren, Morton, Peterhead.


Best draws: Stoke, Crystal Palace, Colchester, Rochdale, St Mirren.


Aways: Cardiff, Queens Park Rangers, Derby, St Johnstone, Raith.


Homes: Chelsea, Birmingham, Millwall, Portsmouth, Peterborough, Crewe, Gillingham, Hereford, Celtic.


Pick of the draws: Stoke, of the Premier League, host League One leaders Brighton in the FA Cup fifth round in what will be a fascinating clash of styles. I have a hunch that Brighton's fluency will be as effective as Stoke's muscle and I am taking Gus Poyet's seasiders to force a shock replay. Crystal Palace and Sheffield United are finding goals hard to come by at the wrong end of the Championship and I predict a stalemate at Selhurst Park. Walsall are battling hard to avoid relegation from League One and can come away from Colchester with a point. Rochdale continue to punch above their weight and are capable of holding Southampton. Struggling Hibernian have yet to draw away in the Scottish Premier but may end that sequence at St Mirren, who are just below them.


Away days: Take a gamble on promotion-chasing Cardiff to win at Nottingham Forest, who are unbeaten at home in the Championship. Nobody in this division has won more away matches than Cardiff, who showed what they were capable of by gaining maximum points at high flyers Swansea two weeks ago. Derby have a wonderful opportunity to end their wretched run at Scunthorpe, who have already lost nine home games. In the Scottish Premier, Inverness Caledonian Thistle are notoriously flaky at home and visitors St Johnstone are expected to take advantage of that. In the Scottish First Division, leaders Raith should be too strong for relegation-threatened Cowdenbeath.


Homes sweet homes: Millwall, doing so well in the Championship despite slender resources, ought to defeat lowly Middlesbrough at the New Den. Portsmouth arrested their slide by winning at Doncaster last Saturday and they should carry on the good work against Barnsley. In League Two, back Crewe, who are unbeaten at Gresty Road this year, to send Stevenage home pointless. Hereford have climbed four points clear of the relegation zone after a remarkable 3-0 victory at Cheltenham last week. They must be fancied to beat Burton, who have suffered from having so many fixtures postponed. Put your money on Scottish Premier leaders Celtic to make home advantage count in the Old Firm derby.   

Tuesday 8 February 2011

Pools tips for this weekend February 12-13



Treble chance (home teams): Birmingham, Fulham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Charlton, Walsall, Accrington, Queen of South.


Best draws: Fulham, Sunderland, Watford, Charlton, Walsall.


Aways: Everton, Ipswich, Leicester, Torquay, Wycombe.


Homes: Liverpool, West Brom, Cardiff, Hull, Dagenham & Redbridge, Leyton Orient, Notts County, Aldershot, Cheltenham.




Pick of the draws: Chelsea and their £50 million signing, Fernando Torres, were brought back to earth by Liverpool at the weekend. They will be hard-pushed to return to winning ways at Fulham, who have eased their relegation worries with some excellent results. Tottenham have won two consecutive matches to strengthen their Champions League claims, but Sunderland are a tough nut to crack at the Stadium of Light. Nothing separates Watford (ninth) and Burnley (10th) in the Championship and I predict there won't be anything separating them on Saturday. In League One, Charlton host fellow promotion contenders Peterborough, who have already netted an astonishing 60 goals. Put your money on a high-scoring draw. At the other end of the table Walsall have suddenly clicked into gear and can hold second-placed Bournemouth.


Away days: As is their custom, Everton are running into form in the second half of the season. They are worth backing at Bolton, who are slipping down the table after much early promise. Ipswich have made rapid strides in the Championship since Paul Jewell was appointed manager and can overtake Barnsley by winning at Oakwell. Sven Goran Eriksson's Leicester are in great shape and must be fancied to defeat out-of-sorts Derby. In League Two, Torquay are tipped to add to Barnet's woes while Wycombe are expected to thrive at Bradford City.


Homes sweet homes: West Brom may have lost their manager, Roberto Di Matteo, but they can win their relegation tussle against bottom club West Ham. League One strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge have not given up hope of avoiding relegation and beating Yeovil should not be beyond them. If you are looking for a home banker, I suggest in-form Leyton Orient against lowly and despairing Bristol Rovers. Notts County may have one eye on their FA Cup fourth-round replay at Manchester City next week but they will probably be too hot for Exeter, who are in decline. Improving Aldershot are worth backing against Macclesfield in League Two.  

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Pools tips for this weekend February 5-6



Treble chance (home teams): Stoke, Burnley, Portsmouth, Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday, Yeovil, Hereford, Morecambe, Stevenage, Altrincham.


Best draws: Portsmouth, Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday, Yeovil, Hereford.


Aways: Arsenal, Manchester United, Huddersfield, Rochdale, Bradford City.


Homes: Chelsea, Tottenham, Leeds, Leicester, Swansea, Preston, Carlisle, Bury, Gillingham.




Pick of the draws: The Championship match at Fratton Park on Saturday is between teams on a downward spiral - Portsmouth and Derby. I cannot see either gaining anything more than a point each. By contrast, Peterborough and Southampton are sides on the up in League One. Peterborough have scored more than 40 goals at home while fellow promotion contenders Southampton will be encouraged by their battling display against Manchester United in the FA Cup last Saturday. Deadlock is the likeliest outcome. Sheffield Wednesday have had some poor results and I expect MK Dons to hold them at Hillsborough. On-form Yeovil have moved out of the relegation zone and can deny Charlton victory. Although in the bottom half of League Two, Hereford and Lincoln are on long unbeaten runs. Expect that sequence to continue when they meet on Saturday.


Away days: Arsenal, unbeaten in the league since mid-December, look a good bet to prevail at Newcastle, who will probably suffer from the sale of their England striker Andy Carroll. Huddersfield gave the Gunners a scare in the FA Cup last Sunday and should boost their League One promotion challenge by winning at Exeter. Rochdale are coping well with life in a higher division and are worth a punt at Swindon, who have slipped into the bottom four. Bradford City are underachieving in League Two, but I am tipping them to halt their slide at Macclesfield. 


Homes sweet homes: Chelsea, with new £50 million signing Fernando Torres set to make his debut, must be fancied to beat his former club Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Fifth-placed Tottenham have an injury crisis, but they should still have too much in their locker for Bolton, who have gone off the boil since Christmas. In the Championship, I am backing Swansea to complete a league double over their fellow promotion contenders Cardiff and bottom club Preston to gain three much-needed points at the expense of Bristol City. Gillingham should continue their League Two ascent against Oxford.