Wednesday 25 April 2012

Pools tips for this weekend April 28-29



Ten draws: Leeds v Leicester, Watford v Middlesbrough, Colchester v Tranmere, Scunthorpe v Bournemouth, Sheffield United v Stevenage, Walsall v Huddersfield, Aldershot v Rotherham, Oxford v Southend, Torquay v Crewe, Livingston v Morton.


Best draws: Watford v Middlesbrough, Colchester v Tranmere, Aldershot v Rotherham, Oxford v Southend, Livingston v Morton.


Five aways: Liverpool, Newcastle, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons.


Nine homes: Everton, Swansea, Tottenham, Birmingham, Crystal Palace, Southampton, West Ham, Bury, Carlisle.


Pick of the draws: Middlesbrough have to win to stand any chance of getting into the Championship play-offs but they will be hard-pushed to manage it at Watford, who have enjoyed some good results this season. Colchester are the League One draw specialists (20 this season) and must be fancied for another against Tranmere, who are one place below them. Rotherham have gained some momentum in League Two under new manager Steve Evans and I believe they will sustain it at Aldershot. Oxford have faltered in their attempt to gain a play-off place and will find high-flying Southend hard to overcome. Livingston's home record has let them down in the Scottish first division, which will encourage Morton, their opponents.


Away days: Liverpool are playing better than their form and Premier League position suggest and should be backed at Norwich. Newcastle are on a really hot streak and making a convincing push for a Champions League spot. They will be expecting maximum points from their trip to relegation-troubled Wigan. In the Championship, Brighton should see off Barnsley, who look as if they cannot wait for the season to finish. In League One, promotion-seeking Sheffield Wednesday and play-off certainties MK Dons are confident selections at Brentford and bottom club Rochdale respectively.


Homes sweet homes: After holding Manchester United to a thrilling 4-4 draw at Old Trafford last Sunday, Everton, ending the season strongly as usual, will be looking forward to the visit of Fulham. It's high time Tottenham reversed their slump in form and they have an excellent opportunity against Blackburn, who are favourites for relegation from the Premier League. Reading may take their foot off the pedal now that promotion to the Premier League and their status as champions have been assured. If so, then Chris Hughton's Birmingham are well equipped to take advantage. Crystal Palace will be eager to end a disappointing Championship season on a high note and are worth a punt against play-off contenders Cardiff. Palace will also be looking to avenge their Carling Cup semi-final defeat on penalties.

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Pools tips for this weekend April 21-22

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Sunderland, Fulham v Wigan, Brighton v Birmingham, Ipswich v Millwall, Peterborough v Watford, MK Dons v Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon v Torquay, Gillingham v Swindon, Plymouth v Oxford, Port Vale v Bristol Rovers.


Best draws: Fulham v Wigan, Ipswich v Millwall, MK Dons v Sheffield United, Gillingham v Swindon, Plymouth v Oxford.


Five aways: Norwich, Southampton, Preston, Shrewsbury, Crawley.


Nine homes: Manchester United, Newcastle, Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, Coventry, Portsmouth, Charlton, Notts County, Crewe.


Pick of the draws: I expect Wigan's astonishing revival to continue at Fulham, where they look good for at least a point. After beating Manchester United and Arsenal a trip to Craven Cottage should hold no fears. Millwall's away form has kept them in the Championship and I'm tipping them to hold underperforming Ipswich. Sheffield United's winning run in League One could be halted by MK Dons, who look assured of a play-off place. In League Two, promotion-bound Swindon may have their work cut out at Gillingham, who are a match for anybody on their day. At the other end of the table a draw will edge Plymouth nearer safety and I believe they will get it against play-off contenders Oxford. 


Away days: Wigan's unexpected win at Arsenal has made Blackburn odds-on to be relegated from the Premier League. Morale must be low and I'll be surprised if Norwich don't take advantage. Southampton will clinch promotion to the Premier with victory at Middlesbrough, whose own hopes of going up are fast fading. Preston beat Sheffield Wednesday in League One last weekend and are worth a punt at Oldham, who have lost more at home than they've won. Shrewsbury and Crawley, striving for promotion from League Two and playing well, look good for three points at Accrington and Dagenham & Redbridge respectively. 


Homes sweet homes: Queens Park Rangers, battling for Premier League survival, have won their last three home games and will fancy their chances against Tottenham, who are woefully off-form and struggling to stay in the top four. Coventry and Portsmouth must win to have any chance of avoiding relegation from the Championship. I think they'll manage it against respectively Doncaster, who are already down, and Derby, who have little to play for. Crewe have not lost since mid-February in League Two and are worth supporting against Cheltenham, who are also competing for a play-off place. 

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Pools tips for this weekend April 14-15

The void matches this weekend are Southampton v Reading (No 10 on coupon), Barnet v Hereford (24) and Fleetwood v Lincoln (35). Replacing Fleetwood in my home selections is Wrexham.


Ten draws: Watford v Hull, Bury v Bournemouth, Carlisle v Charlton, Rochdale v Exeter, Wycombe v Oldham, Bristol Rovers v Burton, Morecambe v Port Vale, Oxford v Gillingham, Torquay v Southend, Elgin v Annan.


Best draws: Bury v Bournemouth, Bristol Rovers v Burton, Morecambe v Port Vale, Torquay v Southend, Elgin v Annan.


Five aways: Cardiff, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe, Luton.


Nine homes: Burnley, Derby, Leeds, Brentford, Preston, Swindon, Kidderminster, Wrexham, York.


Pick of the draws: Although Bury are struggling in League One, they have won their last two home games, form which should be good enough to see them gain a point against Bournemouth. Burton have at last halted their slide down League Two and I expect them to share the spoils at Bristol Rovers. Morecambe's poor home results have held them back this season and I believe Port Vale will be the latest team to deny them. Nobody in League Two has a better away record than Southend, who can hold their promotion rivals Torquay. Elgin's home form has dipped in the Scottish third division and Annan can take advantage.


Away days: The season can't end quickly enough for Barnsley and Championship play-off hopefuls Cardiff should be too strong for them. Crystal Palace are in a similar slump and this is a good opportunity for Ipswich to continue climbing the table. Sheffield Wednesday are in a battle royal with Sheffield United for automatic promotion to the Championship and are a confident selection at mid-table Colchester. Crewe are a good bet to extend their long unbeaten run in League Two at Macclesfield, who occupy one of the two relegation slots. Luton will be anxious to make up lost ground in the Blue Square Premier promotion race and are fancied against Alfreton.


Homes sweet homes: Middlesbrough are higher than Derby in the Championship but Derby are playing better and are worth backing. If Neil Warnock's Leeds can keep 11 players on the field  - no easy task if recent games are anything to go by - they should see off Peterborough. In League One a revitalised Brentford could get the better of Notts County, who are two places above them. Preston have had their problems recently but they may be worth a flutter against Huddersfield, who appear to have resigned themselves to a play-off place - again.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Pools tips for this weekend April 7-8

Try to steer clear of the void matches this Easter weekend. The following matches are void: Swansea v Newcastle, Barnsley v West Ham, Reading v Leeds, Aldershot v Port Vale and Bristol Rovers v Gillingham.


Ten draws: Bolton v Fulham, Sunderland v Tottenham, West Brom v Blackburn, Derby v Ipswich, Millwall v Hull, Raith v Hamilton, Cowdenbeath v Arbroath, Forfar v East Fife, Stenhousemuir v Airdrie, Annan v Berwick.


Best draws: Sunderland v Tottenham, West Brom v Blackburn, Derby v Ipswich, Cowdenbeath v Arbroath, Annan v Berwick.


Five aways: Everton, Charlton, MK Dons, Hearts, Partick.


Nine homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Brentford, York, Dundee.


Pick of the draws: Tottenham's Premier League blip seems to be over but they may struggle to gain more than a point at Sunderland, who have been transformed since Martin O'Neill took over. Relegation-threatened Blackburn gave a good account of themselves despite losing against Manchester United on Monday and will fancy their chances of avoiding defeat at West Brom, who have little to play for. Derby v Ipswich looks one of the best draws on the coupon - two middle-of-the-table Championship teams who should have done better. I'm taking Arbroath, second in the Scottish second division, to put a dent in the fine home record of leaders Cowdenbeath while in the Scottish third division, away specialists Berwick can hold the side who are one place and four points above them - Annan.


Away days: On-form Everton can make it three away wins in a row when they visit Norwich, who have slightly tailed off. League One leaders Charlton are confidently predicted to take maximum points at Oldham and MK Dons are expected to take advantage of the turmoil and strife at Preston. Bottom club Dunfermline cannot buy a win at home in the Scottish Premier League and I cannot see Hearts giving them any encouragement. In the Scottish first division, Partick seem a decent bet to increase Ayr's relegation worries.


Homes sweet homes: Manchester City's title challenge continues to falter and Arsenal, eager to make up for last weekend's lapse against Queens Park Rangers, will be in no mood to let them off the hook. Coventry are out of the Championship relegation zone for the first time in months and I believe they will move nearer safety by beating inconsistent Peterborough. Although Blue Square Premier leaders Fleetwood have registered an incredible 17 away victories this season they may be worth opposing at York, who have climbed into the play-off places and defeated fellow contenders Luton last Friday. Dundee, second in the Scottish first division, have come on strong recently and should be backed against Falkirk, who lie just behind them.