Wednesday 28 August 2013

Pools tips for weekend of August 31-September 1

Ten draws: Liverpool v Man Utd, West Brom v Swansea, Blackburn v Bolton, Birmingham v Ipswich, Leeds v QPR, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Shrewsbury v Coventry, Scunthorpe v Newport, Wycombe v Southend, Dundee Utd v Celtic.

Best draws: Liverpool v Man Utd, West Brom v Swansea, Blackburn v Bolton, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Dundee Utd v Celtic.

Five aways: Southampton, Leicester, Bristol City, Wolves, Bradford City.

Nine homes: Man City, West Ham, Brighton, Derby, Doncaster, Brentford, Sheff Utd, AFC Wimbledon, Bury.

Pick of the draws: Liverpool have begun the season well with maximum points from two matches but Manchester United have a good record at Anfield and can share the spoils. Swansea find themselves bottom after two games but have enough quality to force a draw at West Brom, who are also looking for their first Premier League victory. In the Championship, Bolton are playing better than their position suggests and can get something at Blackburn, who were flattered by the margin of their victory against Barnsley. Leyton Orient, top of League One, face their toughest test of the season so far at Colchester while in Scotland, Dundee United are capable of depriving Celtic of an away win.

Away days: Southampton are looking a good bet to finish in the top half of the Premier League and I fancy them to prevail at Norwich. Championship side Leicester have also started like they mean business and are well worth a punt at out-of-sorts Charlton. In League One, Bristol City, League Cup conquerors of Crystal Palace, must be fancied at Gillingham and the same can be said for Kenny Jackett's Wolves at promoted Port Vale. Bradford City are adjusting well to life in a higher division and are recommended at strugglers Stevenage.

Homes sweet homes: Doncaster are still smarting from having last weekend's match abandoned at Charlton when they were leading 3-1. I have a hunch they will take their anger out on Bournemouth. Sheffield United are capable of better than they have so far shown in League One and are worth backing against MK Dons. I'm taking the spirit of AFC Wimbledon to triumph over the more fancied Fleetwood in League Two and believe improving Bury will take maximum points off Cheltenham. 

Pools Info: Accrington v Burton (match No 35 on the coupon), which was originally scheduled for Friday, has been switched to Saturday and is therefore no longer void.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Pools tips for weekend of August 24-25

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Liverpool, Hull v Norwich, Blackburn v Barnsley, Blackpool v Reading, Watford v Nottingham Forest, Rotherham v Shrewsbury, Accrington v Cheltenham, Mansfield v Portsmouth, Morecambe v Exeter, Dundee United v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Liverpool, Blackburn v Barnsley, Blackpool v Reading, Accrington v Cheltenham, Morecambe v Exeter.

Five aways: Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Derby, Gillingham, Peterborough.

Nine homes: Fulham, Stoke, Leicester, Wigan, Coventry, Leyton Orient, Notts County, Burton, Chesterfield.


Pick of the draws: Aston Villa's merited victory over Arsenal last Saturday will have given them confidence and taking Liverpool's encouraging start into consideration, this fixture looks one of the best  three-pointers on the coupon. In the Championship, Blackburn have done nothing to allay their supporters' fears and may be hard-pressed to take more than a point off Barnsley, who have also begun poorly. Blackpool have made early progress under Paul Ince but will probably find relegated Reading a tough nut to crack. Hosts Accrington and visitors Cheltenham have been slow out of the blocks in League Two and a stalemate is on the cards. There could be a similar outcome at Morecambe, where Exeter are the visitors.

Away days: Manchester City looked terrific in beating Newcastle 4-0 on Monday and must be fancied to carry on the good work at promoted Cardiff, who gave West Ham few problems in their 2-0 defeat last weekend. Queens Park Rangers have hit the ground running in the Championship and I'm taking them to beat Bolton, who have started the season sluggishly. There are early signs that Derby are a stronger side this season and must be a good bet to prevail at Yeovil. In League One, Gillingham have played better than their results suggest and a worth a wager at Swindon, who fail to convince. With maximum points from their opening three matches, Peterborough seem set for a quick return to the Championship and should gain their fourth consecutive win - at troubled Tranmere.

Homes sweet homes: It's a good time to play Arsenal, who are in turmoil. Fulham face them at Craven Cottage on Saturday and will be confident of three more points, following their victory at Sunderland last weekend. Things have not gone according to plan for relegated Wigan so far. Owen Coyle's team are capable of better and should send Middlesbrough home pointless. A 10-point points deduction has inspired rather than deflated Coventry at the foot of League One, so they are certainly worth a punt against mid-table Preston. In the top-of-the-table League Two clash, I believe Chesterfield will come out on top against Southend.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Pools tips for weekend of August 17-18

Ten draws: Norwich v Everton, Swansea v Man Utd, West Brom v Southampton, Middlesbrough v Blackpool, Reading v Watford, Crawley v Rotherham, Preston v MK Dons, Exeter v AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale v Chesterfield, Scunthorpe v Dagenham & Redbridge.

Best draws: Norwich v Everton, Swansea v Man Utd, Reading v Watford, Crawley v Rotherham, Exeter v AFC Wimbledon.

Five aways: Tottenham, Wolves, Coventry, Brentford, Bradford City.

Nine homes: Chelsea, Sunderland, West Ham, Burnley, QPR, Crewe, Sheffield Utd, Walsall, Newport.

Pick of the draws: Everton, under new manager Roberto Martinez, have a tricky opening Premier League fixture at Norwich and will do well to come away with more than a point. Swansea, bolstered by some shrewd summer signings, have had an encouraging pre-season and, just as they did last season, can hold the champions Manchester United at the Liberty Stadium. Watford have got off to a flyer in the Championship but Reading's promotion credentials are also sound and this match-up is probably the likeliest draw on the coupon. Rotherham, promoted to League One last season, have shown they have no need to fear anybody in this division and will be confident of getting something at Crawley. In League Two, it's hard to separate Exeter and AFC Wimbledon.

Away days: I expect Tottenham's boldness in this summer's transfer window to reap immediate dividends at Crystal Palace, who are favourites to go straight back down. There are signs that new manager Kenny Jackett has stopped the rot at relegated Wolves and I'm taking them to win their League One fixture at Bristol City, who shipped five goals last weekend. Despite being deducted 10 points for going into administration, there is a lot of life left in Coventry and I'm tipping them to prevail at Carlisle, who have already suffered two heavy defeats. Brentford's quality should be enough for three points against promoted Gillingham while in League Two, a revitalised Bradford City look a good bet at Port Vale.

Homes sweet homes: A much-changed Sunderland are worth a punt against Fulham, who may struggle to stay in the Premier League this season. League One side Crewe have no wins from three matches but I believe they will break their duck against Tranmere, who finished last season on a downer. Colchester are among the division's front-runners but don't be surprised if they are defeated by Sheffield United, who are capable of beating the best at Bramall Lane. Newport, promoted to League Two after prevailing in the play-offs, are relishing the challenge and can see off injury-hit Bristol Rovers.

Info: Man City v Newcastle (No 5 on the coupon) is being played on Monday and the result will be decided by the pools panel.

Doncaster v Blackburn (No 16 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Pools tips for weekend of August 10-11

Ten draws: Bolton v Reading, Ipswich v Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday v Burnley, Rotherham v Preston, Tranmere v Crawley, AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe, Mansfield v Exeter, Dundee United v Inverness, Hearts v Hibernian, Dumbarton v Falkirk.

Best draws: Bolton v Reading, Ipswich v Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday v Burnley, Tranmere v Crawley, AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe.

Five aways: Queens Park Rangers, Bristol City, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Fleetwood.

Nine homes: Manchester United, Charlton, Leicester, Watford, Bradford City, Brentford, Leyton Orient, Wolves, Oxford.


Pick of the draws: I expect Bolton and Reading to be involved in the promotion race to the Premier League this season. Both had good results at the weekend, which makes a stalemate likely on Saturday.  That League Cup loss to Stevenage will have shaken Ipswich's confidence, so don't be surprised if Millwall snatch a point at Portman Road. Sheffield Wednesday's record reads two away games played, two defeats. However, they are a tougher proposition at home and I believe they will share the spoils with Burnley. League One team Tranmere have been on a downer since the end of last season and will find it difficult against free-scoring Crawley. Wycombe seem to be on the up in League Two and I'm backing them to hold AFC Wimbledon.

Away days: There's a spring in the step of Queens Park Rangers and they can gain their third victory in eight days at Huddersfield. With Coventry having to play their home matches 30 miles away at Northampton this season, you've got to fancy their opponents. This weekend it's Bristol City, who are eager to make an immediate return to the Championship. Relegated Peterborough have got off to a flyer  with wins over Swindon and Colchester (League Cup) and should be backed at Notts County. Portsmouth's home defeat by Oxford in League Two was probably the upset of last weekend, but I'm tipping them to bounce straight back at Accrington. Fleetwood, who travel to Plymouth, are another confident selection.

Homes sweet homes: Leicester, two wins out of two so far, can confirm their Championship promotion credentials by beating Leeds on Sunday. Promoted Bradford City did well to come away with a draw from Bristol City last Saturday and will probably make life awkward for Carlisle, who suffered a heavy home defeat on the first day of the season. Also in League One, it's worth having a punt on Brentford, who just missed out on promotion last season. They host Sheffield United, who were knocked out of the League Cup by League Two Burton. Relegated Wolves have yet to score after two matches but they will surely break their duck against promoted Gillingham at Molineux on Saturday.