Wednesday 28 September 2011

Pools tips for this weekend October 1-2



 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.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Pools tips for this weekend September 24-25



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. 

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Pools tips for this weekend September 17-18



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.   

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Pools tips for this weekend September 10-11



Treble chance: Everton v Aston Villa, Wolves v Tottenham, Coventry v Derby, Peterborough v Hull, Bury v Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday v MK Dons, Morecambe v Crawley, Swindon v Southend, Inverness v Hearts, Livingston v Falkirk.


Best draws: Wolves v Tottenham, Coventry v Derby, Peterborough v Hull, Sheffield Wednesday v MK Dons, Morecambe v Crawley.


Aways: Liverpool, Leicester, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United, Brentford.


Homes: Arsenal, Manchester City, Blackpool, Burnley, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Charlton, Bradford, Cheltenham.


Pick of the draws: Bottom-of-the-table Tottenham will be anxious to put some points on the board after their poor start to the season. They drew at Wolves last season and can do so again, despite the improvement shown by the hosts in the Premier League. Derby have maximum points from two away matches in the Championship but I'm taking struggling Coventry to hold them, especially after their well-earned point at Middlesbrough two weeks ago. Hull are showing signs of recovery after their stuttering start and can get something at Peterborough. Sheffield Wednesday, who did well to draw 1-1 at Charlton on Monday, have enough in their locker to check the progress of MK Dons, who are joint top of League One, while two in-form sides, Morecambe and Crawley, play each other in League Two.


Away days: Liverpool are a force to be reckoned with these days and equipped to prevail at Stoke, even with the hosts' transfer-deadline day signings. Leicester seem to be getting back on track in the Championship and will be confident of winning at Barnsley. Crystal Palace have made rapid strides under manager Dougie Freedman, particularly in defence, and can surprise Leeds, who are brittle and erratic. League One joint leaders Sheffield United must be fancied at Scunthorpe and Brentford, who are thriving under Uwe Rosler, will rate their chances at Wycombe.


Homes sweet homes: Blackpool will be expected to punish an Ipswich team who have already conceded 14 goals in the Championship this season. Burnley fully merited their away victory at Derby and I believe they will build on that against Middlesbrough at Turf Moor. In League One, lowly Bournemouth are worth backing against Chesterfield, who are doing even worse. Bradford City, encouraged by their last-minute equaliser at pace-setting Morecambe last Saturday, should be in the mood against Bristol Rovers in League Two while Cheltenham look too strong for Macclesfield, whose bubble burst against Torquay at the weekend.