Wednesday 30 January 2013

Pools tips for weekend of February 2-3

Ten draws: Newcastle v Chelsea, West Brom v Tottenham, Ipswich v Middlesbrough, Leeds v Cardiff, Portsmouth v Colchester, Yeovil v Brentford, Fleetwood v Bradford City, Rotherham v Northampton, Forest Green v Wrexham, Newport v Kidderminster.

Best draws: Ipswich v Middlesbrough, Leeds v Cardiff, Portsmouth v Colchester, Fleetwood v Bradford City, Newport v Kidderminster.

Five aways: Manchester United, Swansea, Brighton, Swindon, Notts County.

Nine homes: Arsenal, Wigan, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Watford, MK Dons, Stevenage, Tranmere, Port Vale.


Pick of the draws: Promotion-seeking Middlesbrough have lost their last four on the road and may have to settle for a point at Ipswich, who are battling hard to avoid relegation from the Championship. That FA Cup fourth-round victory over Tottenham has put Leeds in good heart but they face formidable opposition in Cardiff, who are 10 points clear at the top of the table. In League One, struggling Portsmouth keep losing at home while their lowly opponents, Colchester, keep losing away. A draw is the likeliest result. Bradford City's stunning achievement in reaching the League Cup final should help their League Two campaign and I believe they will come away with something from their visit to Fleetwood. Kidderminster are the most improved side in the Blue Square Premier and a draw at third-placed Newport is within their grasp.

Away days: It is impossible to ignore the claims of Premier League leaders Manchester United at Fulham, who provided feeble resistance when they crashed 4-1 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup last weekend. League Cup finalists Swansea are a match for anyone these days and are well worth a punt at West Ham. Brighton showed their quality when giving Arsenal an uncomfortable ride in the FA Cup and Gus Poyet's team can enhance their promotion prospects by defeating Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Swindon have looked the League One side to beat since Christmas and I'm taking them to gain maximum points at Crawley.  Notts County are red-hot away and must be fancied to prevail at bottom club Hartlepool.

Homes sweet homes: Wigan, who held Stoke to a well-merited midweek draw, can make Southampton pay for their unjustified sacking of manager Nigel Adkins. Although they are third in the Championship, Hull have gone right off the boil and Millwall are the kind of team to take advantage, especially at the New Den. The ease with which League One MK Dons beat Queens Park Rangers was one of the FA Cup upsets last weekend and I've a hunch they will carry on the good work against Bournemouth. Stevenage are due a good result at home and I believe they will get it against Leyton Orient, who are just one place below them. 

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Pools tips for weekend of January 26-27

Ten draws: Aberdeen v Hibernian, Dundee United v Ross, Dunfermline v Livingston, Arbroath v Forfar, Annan v Peterhead, Levante v Valladolid, Sevilla v Granada, Bologna v Roma, Parma v Napoli, Hannover v Wolfsburg.

Best draws: Aberdeen v Hibernian, Dundee United v Ross, Dunfermline v Livingston, Annan v Peterhead, Parma v Napoli.

Five aways: Walsall, Celtic, Ayr, Clyde, Malaga.

Nine homes: Portsmouth, Exeter, Inverness, Dumbarton, Alloa, Elgin, Rangers, Barcelona, Real Madrid.


Pick of the draws: Aberdeen and Hibernian are consistently inconsistent in the Scottish Premier League, making a draw the likeliest result on Sunday. Dundee United may find their 4-0 thrashing at Celtic hard to shake off, so don't be surprised if lowly Ross come away with a point from Tannadice. Ross, it must be noted, had a morale-boosting 4-1 victory at St Mirren last Saturday. Dunfermline's home record is not that impressive for a team chasing promotion from the Scottish first division and visitors Livingston can take advantage. Annan and Peterhead are two well-matched teams in the Scottish third division and I cannot separate them. In the Italian League I'm backing middle-of-the-table Parma to halt the progress of second-placed Napoli.

Away days: Walsall's rise in League One (they are only two points off a play-off place) has been one of the stories of the season, whereas Colchester's ignominious slide continues. At the risk of being made to look foolish, this is surely an away banker. Celtic, 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League, are in great heart for their Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at St Mirren on Sunday. Out-of-sorts Ayr could spring a surprise by beating erratic East Fife in the Scottish second division and I'm taking Clyde to win the battle of the third division strugglers at East Stirling. In the Spanish League, upwardly mobile Malaga are confidently expected to do the business at relegation-troubled Mallorca.

Homes sweet homes: Portsmouth will never have a better opportunity to gain a long overdue home win when they host hapless Hartlepool at Fratton Park in League One. Both sides are favourites for the drop but Hartlepool are well adrift of the rest.  Although bottom of the Scottish first division, Dumbarton have won two matches in a row. They are capable of making it three against Hamilton. Elgin have had a blip recently but it is not beyond them to upset second-placed Queen's Park in the Scottish third division.

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Pools tips for weekend of January 19-20

Ten draws: Newcastle v Reading, West Ham v Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn v Charlton, Ipswich v Barnsley, Peterborough v Hull, Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves, Brentford v Tranmere, Northampton v Burton, Oxford v Rotherham, Raith v Hamilton.

Best draws: Newcastle v Reading, Ipswich v Barnsley, Peterborough v Hull, Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves, Northampton v Burton.

Five aways: Brighton, Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon, Exeter, Chesterfield.

Nine homes: Liverpool, Leeds, Watford, Crewe, Hartlepool, Swindon, Walsall, Barnet, Southend.


Pick of the draws: Reading are making a spirited attempt to climb out of the Premier League's relegation zone and look well worth a point at Newcastle, who are in turmoil. Relegation favourites Barnsley, under new manager Dave Flitcroft, gained a morale-boosting victory over Leeds in the Championship last weekend and can follow that up with a point at Portman Road, where Ipswich have struggled. Promotion-seeking Hull were taken to extra time by League One Leyton Orient in an FA Cup third-round replay and may feel the effects of that when they travel to lowly Peterborough. Wolves seem a better proposition under new manager Dean Saunders and should at least share the spoils at Sheffield Wednesday, another team who are in trouble. Burton are making strong claims for promotion from League Two and can stop Northampton's run of home wins.

Away days: In-form Brighton are recommended at Birmingham, who are hovering just above the Championship relegation zone. The away record of Stevenage has kept them in the top half of League One and should serve them well against relegation-threatened Bury. Considering their low position in League Two, AFC Wimbledon have done well on their travels and I'm taking them to prevail at Accrington, who are sliding down the table. Third-placed Exeter have already won nine times on the road. They must be fancied to make it 10 when they visit bottom club Bristol Rovers. Chesterfield have a good opportunity to shake off their away blues against off-form Torquay.

Homes sweet homes: Crewe, adapting well to League One after last season's promotion, are worth a punt against MK Dons, although the latter showed their capabilities by knocking Sheffield Wednesday out of the FA Cup. Bottom club Hartlepool are also worth supporting against the free-falling Colchester, even though the hosts have won only two league games this season. Few sides are playing better than Walsall and I believe they will halt Bournemouth's surge up the table. In League Two, Barnet are making rapid strides under new manager Edgar Davids and can upset the Football League newcomers Fleetwood, who are much better placed.                                      

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Pools tips for weekend of January 12-13

Ten draws: Arsenal v Manchester City, Fulham v Wigan, Burnley v Crystal Palace, Huddersfield v Birmingham, Bournemouth v Swindon, Colchester v Scunthorpe, Leyton Orient v Crewe, Stevenage v Doncaster, Chesterfield v Northampton, Exeter v Southend.

Best draws: Arsenal v Manchester City, Fulham v Wigan, Bournemouth v Swindon, Colchester v Scunthorpe, Leyton Orient v Crewe.

Five aways: Chelsea, Leeds, Leicester, Notts County, Walsall.

Nine homes: Sunderland, Bolton, Cardiff, Hull, Nottingham Forest, MK Dons, Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Pick of the draws: The absence of Yaya Toure (away at Africa Cup of Nations) and Sergio Aguero (injured) may restrict Manchester City to a draw at Arsenal, although a point apiece won't do either team any favours. You never know which Arsenal is going to turn up but on their day they are a match for City. Wigan's 3-0 victory at Aston Villa on December 29 will encourage them to believe they can get something from their visit to Fulham, who could be sucked into the relegation battle. Bournemouth and Swindon, two of the in-form sides in League One, play each other on Saturday and neither will be vanquished easily. Relegation-haunted Scunthorpe have been improving under new manager Brian Laws, whereas their hosts, Colchester, are in freefall. Leyton Orient have not drawn at home all season but that could change when Crewe visit Brisbane Road. These are two evenly matched teams.

Away days: A revitalised Chelsea have had two big away wins recently - against Leeds in the League Cup and Southampton in the FA Cup. These should serve them well at Stoke, who have yet to lose at home. However, there is a first time for everything. In the Championship, I fancy Leeds to take advantage of Barnsley's plight at the bottom of the table while promotion-seeking Leicester look a good bet to take maximum points at lowly Bristol City. League One middle-of-the-table Notts County have not lost on their travels this season. That record will surely continue when they visit Portsmouth, who look doomed for the drop. Walsall have made rapid strides recently and I'm backing them to carry on the good work against disappointing Preston.

Homes sweet homes: Martin O'Neill's Sunderland are perking up and will probably relish the visit of injury-troubled West Ham. Bolton's position in the bottom half of the Championship does not do them justice, so don't be surprised if they beat seventh-placed Millwall. AFC Wimbledon have climbed out of the League Two relegation zone thanks to away wins at Torquay and Rochdale. They will be looking for another maximum haul when they host Wycombe. Dagenham & Redbridge continue to punch above their weight and are worth a punt against inconsistent Rochdale, who are two places above them.

Wednesday 2 January 2013

Pools tips for weekend of January 5-6

Ten draws: Hamilton v Falkirk, Brechin v Alloa, Stenhousemuir v Forfar, Peterhead v Montrose, Stirling v Queen's Park, Catania v Torino, Genoa v Bologna, Maritimo vBeira Mar, Girona v Almeria, Numancia v Las Palmas.

Best draws: Brechin v Alloa, Peterhead v Montrose, Stirling v Queen's Park, Genoa v Bologna, Numancia v Las Palmas.

Five aways: Morton, Dunfermline, Partick, Getafe, Roma.

Nine homes: Stranraer, Clyde, Rangers, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chievo, Juventus, Parma, Academica.