Wednesday 30 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend April 2-3



Treble chance (home teams): Stoke, West Ham, Middlesbrough, Charlton, Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Bury, Hibernian, Raith.


Best draws: Stoke, West Ham, Charlton, Southampton, Raith.


Aways: Bolton, Liverpool, Tottenham, Colchester, Barnet.


Homes: Arsenal, Fulham, Manchester City, Bristol City, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Norwich, Swindon, Crewe.




Pick of the draws: Stoke, on a high after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, host Chelsea, who have rediscovered their form of last year. Manchester United visit West Ham, who thrashed them 4-0 in the Carling Cup quarter-finals and are making a spirited attempt to avoid relegation. I have a hunch that the Hammers will again prove a stumbling block to the Premier League leaders. Two teams who have hit the wall in League One - Charlton and Leyton Orient - play each other at The Valley and stalemate looks the likeliest outcome. Southampton are formidable at home, but MK Dons have improved out of all recognition and can get something from St Mary's. Promotion-seeking Raith are faltering in the Scottish First Division, so don't be surprised if they are held by Dundee, whose position is misleading on account of their 25-point deduction.


Away days: Bolton are a good bet to repeat their FA Cup victory over Birmingham, who have slipped into the relegation zone. Liverpool impressed when winning at Sunderland two weeks ago and must be confident of gaining another three points against West Bromwich Albion. Tottenham will be keen to avenge their early-season defeat by Wigan, who are bottom and favourites to drop into the Championship. Once proud Sheffield Wednesday are in a sorry state in League One and mid-table Colchester are equipped to take advantage. In League Two, take a chance on relegation-threatened Barnet, now under the new managership of Martin Allen, getting three points at Burton, who have games in hand on the other struggling teams, but are short of form.


Homes sweet homes: Fulham should be confident of defeating Blackpool, who are leaking too many goals as they try to stay in the Premier League. Bristol City keep climbing in the Championship and are on course to make it four consecutive home wins when Doncaster come visiting. If Crystal Palace escape relegation it will be because of their home record. Visitors Barnsley have little to play for, so Selhurst Park regulars should expect three points. Swindon are floundering in League Two, but I believe Paul Hart's side will come out on top against erratic Hartlepool. 

Wednesday 23 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 26-27



Treble chance (home teams): Wales, Dagenham & Redbridge, Aldershot, Bradford, Macclesfield, Port Vale, Falkirk, Airdrie, Queen's Park, Mansfield.


Best draws: Wales, Aldershot, Macclesfield, Falkirk, Mansfield.


Aways: Southampton, Chesterfield, Crewe, Southend, Morton.


Homes: Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Oxford, Dundee, Queen of South, Alloa, Clyde, Grimsby, Wrexham.


Pick of the draws: The European Championship qualifying match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday should really be a doddle for England, but I believe Wales can cause an upset. John Terry's reinstatement as captain - and especially the way it was handled by manager Fabio Capello - has not gone down well with the England squad and is hardly the best preparation for such an important game. Wales will enjoy good support and although Gareth Bale is injured, they have players in Craig Bellamy, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ledley who can make life uncomfortable for England. Two of the most improved sides in League Two, Aldershot and Accrington, meet at Aldershot, where the hosts look likely to register their seventh home draw of the season. Macclesfield are pulling away from the relegation zone and can virtually ensure their safety by taking a point off League newcomers Stevenage, who have moved into the play-off positions. Falkirk (3rd) v Raith (1st) stands out in the Scottish First Division while promotion contenders Kidderminster are tipped to record their 10th away draw when they visit middle-of-the-table Mansfield in the Blue Square Bet Premier. 


Away days: It is impossible to overlook the claims of Southampton at bottom League One club Plymouth, runaway League Two leaders Chesterfield at troubled Barnet and Southend at seemingly doomed Stockport. Crewe are a less obvious choice, having lost their last half a dozen away matches, but they have a chance of stopping the rot and avenging their opening-day defeat against Hereford, who have won only two matches on their own ground. In the Scottish First Division, Morton, who won at Cowdenbeath this week, look an even better bet to prevail at lowly Ross.


Homes sweet homes: Leyton Orient slipped up against Dagenham & Redbridge in League One this week, but I expect them to resume winning ways against Yeovil. Don't be surprised if Peterhead's travel sickness - they have not won away in the Scottish Second Division all season - continues at Alloa. Clyde are rooted to the foot of the Third Division, but it's probably worth backing them against third-from-last Montrose, who are pretty feeble themselves. In the Blue Square Bet Premier, Grimsby should make the most of ground advantage against Tamworth and fourth-placed Wrexham are tipped to strengthen their play-off claims by defeating Welsh rivals Newport. 

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 19-20



Treble chance (home teams): Blackburn, Everton, Sunderland, Hull, Swansea, Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge, Tranmere, Oxford, Shrewsbury.


Best draws: Blackburn, Everton, Hull, Swansea, Shrewsbury.


Aways:  Wolves, Reading, Watford, Leeds, Gillingham.


Homes: Tottenham, Wigan, Millwall, Preston, Exeter, Huddersfield, Southampton, Accrington, Aldershot.




Pick of the draws: Premier League action resumes this weekend as Blackburn host Blackpool. Both teams are just above the relegation zone and in decline, so it is difficult to pick a winner. You never know which Everton is going to turn up these days, but Fulham, their opponents, are models of consistency away from home, having drawn eight matches on their travels. Hull are making a late charge for the Championship play-offs and well capable of taking a point off second-placed Norwich. Swansea have stumbled in the last few weeks, which makes them vulnerable to a team like fellow promotion-seekers Nottingham Forest, who have already drawn seven games on the road. In League Two, it is hard to separate Shrewsbury (5th) from visitors Wycombe (3rd).


Away days: Although Wolves have been terrible away from Molineux, it's worth taking a chance on them to beat Aston Villa, who are being unsettled by player unrest and only two points off the relegation zone. Reading came out of their FA Cup sixth-round defeat at Manchester City with enormous credit and will be confident of taking maximum points from their Championship trip to Barnsley. Watford have come alive again after a dip in form and will go to Middlesbrough with no fears. Leeds should bolster their promotion challenge by defeating Sheffield United, where hope of avoiding relegation is fading fast. In League Two, I expect the rapidly improving Gillingham to prevail at troubled Burton.


Homes sweet homes: Bottom-of-the-table Wigan have a must-win match against fellow relegation strugglers Birmingham and I believe they will come through. Having beaten Queens Park Rangers (at home) and Burnley (away) in their past two games, Millwall will feel they can send faltering Cardiff home pointless from the New Den. Preston, the Championship's bottom club, won a crucial encounter at Scunthorpe this week and will approach their fixture against Coventry with much more confidence. Middle-of-the-table Accrington have won their last four home matches in League Two. Back them to make it five against promotion contenders Port Vale, who have gone off the boil.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 12-13

Treble chance (home teams): Swindon, Cheltenham, Lincoln, Port Vale, Rotherham, Tamworth, Farnborough, Clyde, Elgin, Queen's Park.

Best draws: Cheltenham, Port Vale, Rotherham, Tamworth, Clyde.


 Aways: MK Dons, Chesterfield, Barrow, Droylsden, Eastleigh. 


 Homes: Charlton, Peterborough, Rochdale, Gillingham, Morecambe, Northampton, Boston, Stalybridge, Chelmsford.


 Pick of the draws: I'm taking Aldershot to continue their improvement in League Two by gaining a point at Cheltenham, whose home record is undistinguished. Although Port Vale are in the play-off positions their form has not been wholly convincing, so visitors Oxford will probably share the spoils. Second-placed Bury are in great shape and well equipped to hold hosts and fellow promotion contenders Rotherham. In the Blue Square Premier, Tamworth's home record is indifferent. Lowly Hayes & Yeading will feel they can take advantage. In the Scottish third division, Clyde (bottom) v East Stirling (second from bottom) looks a nailed-on three-pointer on the coupon.


 Away days: League One promotion contenders MK Dons are on a roll and should be backed to win at Colchester. Relegation strugglers Barrow have not won away in the Blue Square Premier this season, but they could break their duck at Forest Green, who are just above them. In the Blue Square Bet North, I have a hunch that Droylsden, surprise packets in this season's FA Cup, will prevail at Workington. Eastleigh have travelled well in the Blue Square Bet South and must be fancied to beat Bishop's Stortford, who have already lost 10 home games this season. 


 Homes sweet homes: Charlton will be determined to stop the League One rot at The Valley against Brentford. Peterborough cannot stop scoring, or winning, and must be fancied to continue their unbeaten run against Carlisle. Gillingham will surely strengthen their League Two promotion challenge at the expense of Accrington, while Northampton, who host Macclesfield, are tipped to give new manager Gary Johnson his first victory. Blue Square Bet North high-flyers Boston should be too strong for Gloucester.

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 5-6



Treble chance (home teams): Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wolves, Coventry, Watford, Hartlepool, Hereford, Inverness, Partick.


Best draws: Birmingham, Liverpool, Wolves, Hereford, Partick.


Aways: Aston Villa, Swansea, MK Dons, Huddersfield, Chesterfield.


Homes: Arsenal, Fulham, West Ham, Derby, Portsmouth, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe.


Pick of the draws: The Premier League looks ripe for draws this weekend. Birmingham will be buoyed by their unexpected victory in the Carling Cup final, but West Bromwich Albion, with a 1-1 draw, had a good result themselves at Stoke on Monday and can gain a point at St Andrew's. Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea has blown the title race wide open, but they have enough character and resilience to get something from their trip to Liverpool, whose progress under Kenny Dalglish was halted by West Ham on Sunday. Wolves are playing well at Molineux and, after last Saturday's 4-0 rout of Blackpool, will be doubly determined to dent the Champions League hopes of Tottenham. Hereford (18th) and Bury (3rd), who play each other this weekend, are the in-form sides of League Two and I don't expect either to lose. In the Scottish First Division, I believe Dundee will halt Partick's run of consecutive home wins.


Away days: Aston Villa look transformed these days, so it's worth taking a chance on them at Bolton. Championship promotion candidates Swansea impressed everybody when they defeated Leeds 3-0 last weekend and should be backed to dish out similar treatment to relegation-threatened Scunthorpe. In League One, MK Dons have smartened up their act away from home and will boost their prospects of promotion by collecting maximum points at Rochdale. I'm taking third-placed Huddersfield, who visit lowly Yeovil, to register their second away win in five days. Chesterfield are running away with League Two and must be fancied to prevail at mid-table Cheltenham.


Homes sweet homes: Fulham deserved their point at Manchester City last Sunday and look good for the maximum against Blackburn, who are slipping nearer the relegation zone. West Ham were excellent in beating Liverpool 3-1 last Sunday and should have too much for Stoke, who are weak on the road, I've a hunch that Derby, who have lost five on the trot at home in the Championship, will stop the rot against Barnsley, who do not travel well. Conversely, Portsmouth, who have won five in a row, will probably continue their upward surge against struggling Sheffield United. In League One, underachieving Sheffield Wednesday have a great opportunity to improve their placing when they host bottom-of-the table Plymouth.