skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Ten draws: Newcastle v Liverpool, Stoke v Norwich, Ipswich v Birmingham, Middlesbrough v Charlton, Millwall v Nottingham Forest, Stevenage v MK Dons, Tranmere v Bournemouth, Accrington v Oxford, Torquay v Bristol Rovers, Wycombe v Port Vale.
Best draws: Newcastle v Liverpool, Middlesbrough v Charlton, Stevenage v MK Dons, Tranmere v Bournemouth, Torquay v Bristol Rovers.
Five aways: Tottenham, Derby, Huddersfield, Yeovil, Portsmouth.
Nine homes: Chelsea, Manchester City, Reading, Wolves, Brentford, Carlisle, Crawley, Leyton Orient, Notts County.
Pick of the draws: Newcastle's home form will probably keep them in the Premier League and they will not have to face the suspended Luis Suarez, who is normally worth about three players to Liverpool. Middlesbrough are ending their Championship season with a whimper and will struggle to beat a revitalised Charlton. The League One play-off hopes of MK Dons have gone and I believe they will settle for a draw at Stevenage, who are also finishing the season on a downer. I've a hunch that Tranmere will end their alarming slump in League One by holding Bournemouth, who won promotion last weekend. Torquay need a point to be safe from relegation from League Two and I fancy they'll get it against Bristol Rovers, who are becalmed in mid-table.
Away days: Victory over Manchester City last Sunday was a huge boost for Tottenham's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League and they will be in the mood to punish Wigan, who again find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone. You never know what Derby are going to do from one week to the next but they are worth a punt at Blackpool, who are reeling from the 6-1 battering they received at Brighton last Saturday. Huddersfield will almost guarantee Championship safety by beating Bristol City, who are already relegated. Yeovil, still punching above their weight in League One, must be backed at demoted Bury. Now that Portsmouth's future is assured (at last!) they are likely to play without fear at Shrewsbury.
Homes sweet homes: Reading are my tip to win the battle of the Premier League basement boys. They have shown a bit more spirit than their opponents, Queens Park Rangers, recently, although both teams have resigned themselves to relegation. These are desperate times for Wolves, who are in the bottom three of the Championship and in danger of consecutive relegations. I think they'll lift some of the gloom at Molineux on Saturday with a priceless three points against Burnley, who are not completely safe themselves. Brentford (3rd) v Doncaster (2nd) is the match of the day in League One. Brentford have the best home record in the division; Doncaster are peerless away. Brentford will gain promotion at Doncaster's expense if they win and my money is on a home victory.
Ten draws: West Ham v Wigan, Birmingham v Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, Colchester v Shrewsbury, Coventry v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Crawley, Oxford v Rochdale, York v Southend, Dunfermline v Cowdenbeath, Hamilton v Raith.
Best draws: West Ham v Wigan, Coventry v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Crawley, York v Southend, Dunfermline v Cowdenbeath.
Five aways: Leicester, Brentford, Sheffield United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Wycombe.
Nine homes: Liverpool, Sunderland, Watford, Bournemouth, MK Dons, Preston, Walsall, Yeovil, Bristol Rovers.
Pick of the draws: Will Wigan make their annual great escape from relegation? I believe they will and reaching their first FA Cup final will only have boosted morale. A point at West Ham is within their grasp. Leyton Orient will probably just miss out on the League One play-offs but they are playing well enough to get something at Coventry. At the other end of the table Oldham have almost certainly avoided relegation and a point against mid-table Crawley will confirm their escape. York need victory on Saturday to ease their worries about going out of the League but I think they will have to settle for a draw against Southend, who have won 10 matches on the road. Dunfermline's 10-point deduction in the Scottish first division has put them in relegation danger. Visitors Cowdenbeath are also not safe and this pairing looks one of the best draws on the coupon.
Away days: Leicester ended a long, barren run in the Championship by beating fellow promotion contenders Bolton. They are worth a punt at Crystal Palace, who have gone to pieces and may even miss out on the play-offs. Brentford, third in League One and bang in form, look an away banker at relegated Hartlepool and managerless Sheffield United seem another sound bet at Portsmouth, who are also doomed. I fancy Dagenham & Redbridge will condemn bottom club Aldershot to relegation from League Two and I'm taking Wycombe (nine away wins this season) to keep Barnet in the drop zone.
Homes sweet homes: It's about time Liverpool took some of the many chances they've been creating in the Premier League. The visit of a jaded Chelsea on Sunday gives them a perfect opportunity to do so. Paolo Di Canio's impact on Sunderland has been instant, shown by their remarkable 3-0 victory in the Tyne-Wear derby last Sunday. I've a hunch they will move further away from the relegation zone by defeating Everton, who find wins hard to come by on their travels. Preston have made impressive progress in League One under new manager Simon Grayson and should be backed against Tranmere, who are ending the season with a whimper.
Ten draws: Newcastle v Sunderland, Peterborough v Watford, Crawley v Coventry, Shrewsbury v Bournemouth, Dagenham & Redbridge v Oxford, Torquay v Barnet, Brechin v Arbroath, Elgin v Montrose, Stirling v Peterhead, Lincoln v Tamworth.
Best draws: Newcastle v Sunderland, Peterborough v Watford, Torquay v Barnet, Brechin v Arbroath, Stirling v Peterhead.
Five aways: Bolton, Hull, Walsall, Port Vale, Partick.
Nine homes: Aston Villa, Southampton, Blackpool, Notts County, Tranmere, Northampton, Wycombe, Morton, Raith.
Pick of the draws: Relegation-threatened Sunderland showed enough improvement in their Premier League defeat by Chelsea to suggest that they can take a point from their fierce rivals, Newcastle, who eased their own worries with a crucial, late victory over Fulham last Sunday. If lowly Peterborough can beat Championship leaders Cardiff twice, then they are capable of denying third-placed Watford. Despite still being in the bottom three, Peterborough's form is encouraging. Torquay and Barnet are in dire straits near the foot of League Two. Neither can afford to lose when they meet on Saturday and I don't think either will. Brechin have not drawn at home in the Scottish second division this season but I believe that will change against Arbroath, who are only five points behind them. Stirling's rise from the bottom of the Scottish third division has been remarkable and I'm tipping them to hold free-scoring Peterhead.
Away days: Surprisingly, Bolton have won only three times on the road in the Championship this season but I expect them to add to that tally when they visit Bristol City, whose hopes of avoiding relegation are fast fading. High-flying Hull should be backed at Ipswich, who have averaged less than a goal a game. Walsall's attempts to reach the League One play-offs shouldn't be derailed at struggling Scunthorpe and I'm taking League Two promotion contenders Port Vale to collect maximum points at Rochdale, who are vulnerable at home. Partick, who lead the Scottish first division, will surely prove too strong for basement club Airdrie.
Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa have found new belief and purpose as they try to stay in the Premier League and should relish taking on Fulham, who have little to play for except pride. Southampton's ascent has been one of the features of the Premier League season. Reading and Chelsea have been their most recent victims and I don't expect West Ham to interfere with their progress. In the Championship, Blackpool were unlucky to go down to 10 men against in-form Nottingham Forest and even then were only denied three points by a late penalty. Have a punt on them improving their indifferent home record against Burnley, who stand seven places above them.
Ten draws: Newcastle v Fulham, Stoke v Aston Villa, Bolton v Wolves, Crystal Palace v Barnsley, Watford v Cardiff, Oldham v Carlisle, Fleetwood v Rochdale, Oxford v Wycombe, Plymouth v Cheltenham, Dumbarton v Livingston.
Best draws: Stoke v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Barnsley, Watford v Cardiff, Fleetwood v Rochdale, Plymouth v Cheltenham.
Five aways: Swansea, Southampton, Arsenal, Peterborough, Rotherham.
Nine homes: Liverpool, Burnley, Charlton, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Hartlepool, Portsmouth, Yeovil, Barnet.
Pick of the draws: Stoke can't score and Aston Villa can't win - as good a recommendation as any for a Premier League stalemate. In the Championship, high-flying Crystal Palace had a terrible Easter with no points from their two matches. If they repeat this sort of form they will struggle against Barnsley, who continue to play well under manager Dave Flitcroft. Watford and Cardiff are the likeliest sides to gain promotion from this division and they meet at Vicarage Road. Rochdale's best results in League Two have come away from home and they are capable of earning a point at eighth-placed Fleetwood. I also think Plymouth's desperation to avoid relegation from the Football League will enable them to draw with Cheltenham, who are challenging for promotion.
Away days: Norwich seem to have run out of steam in the Premier League and visitors Swansea are well equipped to take advantage. Although Reading manager Nigel Adkins will be eager to beat Southampton, the club that sacked him, it's the Saints who are in better shape and another three points will almost ensure their safety. Arsenal look set to end their disappointing season with a flourish and will expect maximum points at West Bromwich Albion, who are becalmed in mid-table. The battle at the bottom of the Championship is fascinating. Peterborough are in much better form than hosts Huddersfield, who have one point more, and are worth a punt. In League Two, Rotherham have strong claims for victory at Morecambe.
Homes sweet homes: Charlton will be happy with their four-point Championship haul from Easter and should be backed against Leeds, who have fallen away badly and are now without a manager after Neil Warnock's departure. Hartlepool, bottom of League One, are long overdue a victory and will probably get it against Bury, who are only one point and one place better off. Portsmouth have rallied recently and are a fair bet to carry on the good work against Stevenage. The importance of Barnet's Easter Monday win at AFC Wimbledon in League Two cannot be overestimated and I'm taking them to dish out similar punishment to Chesterfield.
