Wednesday 27 February 2013

Pools tips for weekend of March 2-3

Ten draws: Chelsea v West Brom, Barnsley v Bolton, Coventry v Swindon, Oldham v Sheffield United, Yeovil v Tranmere, Bristol Rovers v Burton, Exeter v Northampton, Oxford v Port Vale, Barrow v Tamworth, Stockport v Luton.

Best draws: Chelsea v West Brom, Barnsley v Bolton, Oldham v Sheffield United, Yeovil v Tranmere, Stockport v Luton.

Five aways: Liverpool, Bristol City, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Gillingham.

Nine homes: Manchester United, Southampton, Sunderland, Swansea, Hull, Bury, Notts County, Stevenage, Accrington.

Pick of the draws: All is not well on and off the pitch at Chelsea and they may have trouble overcoming West Bromwich Albion, who have regained some form recently, beating Liverpool at Anfield and Sunderland at home. Barnsley have made great strides under new manager Dave Flitcroft but Bolton are also thriving under Dougie Freedman and this Championship fixture looks one of the best draws on the coupon. Oldham's FA Cup dream was dashed by Everton this week but they are in good spirits in their battle to avoid relegation to League Two and I believe they will take a point off promotion-chasing Sheffield United. Yeovil and Tranmere are also in the League One promotion mix and the latter have the credentials to end Yeovil's run of home successes. Luton have lost momentum in the Blue Square Premier after going out of the FA Cup and mid-table Stockport can frustrate them further.

Away days: Wigan are more effective away than at home in the Premier League and visitors Liverpool,   seriously good on their day, are worth backing here. In the Championship, relegation-troubled Bristol City are showing signs of recovery under Sean O'Driscoll and are recommended at Blackpool, who have struggled since the departure of manager Ian Holloway. Leicester seem to be over their recent promotion jitters and are a confident selection at lowly Ipswich. Billy Davies's Nottingham Forest could be on a roll after defeating Huddersfield and Charlton and are fancied to prevail at Sheffield Wednesday. League Two leaders Gillingham are almost invincible on their travels and should oblige their backers at Aldershot, who have already lost nine times at home.

Homes sweet homes: Sunderland should ease the lingering threat of relegation from the Premier League by beating Fulham, who are nothing to shout about on the road. Bury's terrific midweek away victory over League One pace-setters Swindon should serve them well against mid-table Crawley. I've a hunch that Stevenage will halt their wretched slump when lowly Colchester come visiting on Saturday. In League Two, relegation-threatened Accrington, surprise 3-0 winners at Rochdale in midweek, ought to have the confidence to beat Torquay, who are slipping further and further down the table.   

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Pools tips for weekend of February 23-24

Ten draws: Newcastle v Southampton, Reading v Wigan, Bolton v Hull, Middlesbrough v Millwall, Bournemouth v Sheffield United, Oldham v Portsmouth, Aldershot v Fleetwood, Burton v Exeter, Dumbarton v Falkirk, Ayr v Forfar.

Best draws: Newcastle v Southampton, Reading v Wigan, Middlesbrough v Millwall, Bournemouth v Sheffield United, Aldershot v Fleetwood.

Five aways: Everton, Barnsley, Ipswich, Cheltenham, Port Vale.

Nine homes: West Bromwich, Charlton, Peterborough, Watford, Carlisle, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Barnet, Northampton.

Pick of the draws: Southampton are moving clear of the Premier League relegation zone under their new manager and are well capable of holding Newcastle. Reading have already drawn six matches at home this season. I can see them making it seven against fellow relegation candidates Wigan, who won convincingly at Huddersfield in the FA Cup fifth round. I believe Millwall's heavy home defeat by the lowly Championship club, Peterborough, last night (Tuesday) was a one-off and they can get something at Middlesbrough, whose promotion hopes are fading. Back-to-form Sheffield United have climbed into the automatic promotion places in League One and are a fair bet to gain a point at leaders Bournemouth. Aldershot are fighting hard to avoid relegation from League Two and can surprise high flyers Fleetwood.

Away days: Everton, who have lost only three games on their Premier League travels, are fancied to prevail at Norwich, who have lost their mid-season sparkle. Nobody is playing better in the Championship at the moment than struggling Barnsley, who moved out of the relegation zone last night (Tuesday) by beating Wolves. That should give them the confidence to defeat bottom club Bristol City. Relegation-threatened Ipswich are worth following at Huddersfield, who have conceded 10 goals in their past two matches. I expect Cheltenham to confirm their superiority over Accrington, who have slipped into League Two's bottom two, while promotion-seeking Port Vale look one of the best bets on the coupon to prevail at ailing Torquay.

Homes sweet homes: Peterborough can follow up their terrific 5-1 win at Millwall with victory over Birmingham. MK Dons have faltered badly in League One over the past month as well as going out of the FA Cup, and Carlisle are well equipped to pile on more misery. Although Yeovil have won their last eight league games, I'm taking fellow promotion contenders Doncaster to end that run. I've a hunch that improving Barnet will upset the better-placed Rochdale in League Two. 

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Pools tips for weekend of February 16-17

Ten draws: Portsmouth v Carlisle, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Rotherham v Chesterfield, Southend v Northampton, Ross v St Johnstone, St Mirren v Hibernian, Airdrie v Hamilton, Stenhousemuir v East Fife, Montrose v Elgin, Fiorentina v Inter Milan.

Best draws: Portsmouth v Carlisle, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Rotherham v Chesterfield, Ross v St Johnstone, Montrose v Elgin.

Five aways: Coventry, Bournemouth, Bradford City, Barnet, Alloa.

Nine homes: Sheffield United, Yeovil, Cheltenham, Gillingham, Plymouth, Rochdale, Celtic, Morton, Arbroath.


Pick of the draws: Portsmouth ended their disastrous losing run in League One with a goalless draw at Hartlepool on Tuesday and that may spur them on against visitors Carlisle. Bristol Rovers and Wycombe, the two in-form sides in League Two, meet at Bristol and I cannot see either losing. Erratic Rotherham have yet to draw at home in the league this season but I've a hunch that sequence could be broken when they play equally inconsistent Chesterfield. St Johnstone have been punching above their weight in the Scottish Premier League but promoted Ross County are also no mugs and a stalemate is likely. In the Scottish third division, Montrose, who have drawn five at home, host Elgin, who have drawn seven away. As they are next to each other in the table as well, the temptation to predict a draw is overwhelming.

Away days: Although Coventry have lost their past two matches they have been unlucky on both occasions. I expect them to return to winning ways in League One against relegation-threatened Bury. New leaders Bournemouth are the success story of this division and I expect them to continue their remarkable winning run at Preston, who can't buy a result at the moment. Bradford City stopped the rot in League Two with a terrific win at Wycombe on Tuesday and they will surely gain three more points at the expense of bottom club AFC Wimbledon. Lowly Barnet have been playing better than recent results suggest and are worth a punt at York, who are wobbling and none too impressive at home. In the Scottish second division, second-placed Alloa are a confident selection to defeat Forfar.

Homes sweet homes: Struggling Plymouth received a much-needed boost with an away victory against Aldershot in League Two last Saturday and can gain another three points by beating Oxford. Rochdale are better than the league table suggests and I believe they will click against Torquay, who, if they are not careful, will be sucked into the relegation zone. I'm taking Scottish first division leaders Morton to make the most of ground advantage against their nearest challengers Partick and Arbroath to come out on top in their second division tussle with Brechin. 

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Pools tips for weekend of February 9-10

Ten draws: Tottenham v Newcastle, Blackburn v Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday v Derby, Wolves v Leeds, Coventry v Yeovil, Leyton Orient v Tranmere, Oldham v MK Dons, Bradford City v Gillingham, Morecambe v Exeter, Oxford v Bristol Rovers.

Best draws: Tottenham v Newcastle, Blackburn v Ipswich, Wolves v Leeds, Leyton Orient v Tranmere, Oxford v Bristol Rovers.

Five aways: Arsenal, Millwall, Cardiff, Crewe, Southend.

Nine homes: Aston Villa, Swansea, Bristol City, Bournemouth, Brentford, Carlisle, Colchester, Doncaster, Swindon.


Pick of the draws: Tottenham were unconvincing in beating 10-man West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle have an extra spring in their step after defeating Chelsea last weekend. Ipswich are thriving under the managership of Mick McCarthy. Four-nil winners over Middlesbrough last Saturday, they can gain a Championship point at Blackburn. Wolves have slid alarmingly close to the relegation zone and may have to settle for a point against mid-table Leeds. League One leaders Tranmere face a tricky assignment at Leyton Orient, who have impressed lately. In League Two, I'm taking improving Bristol Rovers to come away from Oxford with a share of the spoils.

Away days: Arsenal, gaining momentum in their quest for Champions League qualification next season, will be eager to repeat last season's Premier League victory at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. In the Championship, Millwall have the credentials to win at managerless Blackpool while runaway leaders Cardiff look a sure thing at Huddersfield. League One Crewe are worth a punt at ailing Notts County, who have parted company with their manager Keith Curle. Southend are fancied to strengthen their League Two promotion challenge at fast-falling Accrington.

Homes sweet homes: Relegation-troubled Aston Villa showed signs of Premier League recovery in their battling 3-3 draw at Everton last Saturday and can put a further dent in West Ham's poor away record. In the Championship, second-from-bottom Bristol City are worth backing against Nottingham Forest, who are in disarray on and off the pitch. Beating League One leaders Tranmere away last weekend was the just the tonic Carlisle needed and I fancy they will continue the good work against Stevenage. Although Colchester are struggling in League One, their visitors, Preston, are in free-fall, so don't be surprised to see a home win.