Wednesday 27 August 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 30-31

Ten draws: Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland, Tottenham v Liverpool, Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest, Fleetwood v Leyton Orient, Notts County v Bristol City, Preston v Sheffield United, Swindon v Coventry, Tranmere v Morecambe, York v Wycombe, Aberdeen v Partick.

Best draws: Tottenham v Liverpool, Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest, Notts County v Bristol City, Preston v Sheffield United, Swindon v Coventry.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Cardiff, Bolton, Peterborough, Barnsley, Stirling.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Brighton, Derby, Millwall, Watford, Doncaster, Gillingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Hamilton.

Pick of the draws: Premier League leaders Tottenham have got off to a flyer but Liverpool will want to recover quickly from their defeat at Manchester City on Monday. New signing Mario Balotelli, the Italian striker, is expected to make his debut and will also be eager to make a good first impression. Two of the League's most in-form sides, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, meet in the Championship at Hillsborough. Neither has lost a game so far and I believe that will still be the case after Saturday. Notts County had a marvellous 2-0 win at Port Vale in League One last weekend and are expected to make life tough for promotion contenders Bristol City. Nigel Clough's Sheffield United are steadily climbing the table after a false start and their confidence got a further boost when they knocked West Ham out of the League Cup. I'm taking them to come away from Preston with a point. The feel-good factor has returned to Coventry with the news that they are going back to their old ground. That should put a spring in their step for the trip to Swindon. 

Away days: Chelsea have looked formidably good in their opening two Premier League matches and they can make it a hat-trick of victories at Everton, who are in the habit of conceding late goals. Cardiff are expected to challenge strongly for promotion from League One and should account for Fulham, who are pointless. Bolton have been struggling in the Championship but so have Saturday's opponents Leeds, where the club seems in turmoil. The Lancashire side are worth a punt at Elland Road. High-riding Peterborough had a fine win at Bradford City in League One and must be fancied at lowly Colchester. Relegated Barnsley are starting to find their feet and ought to be too strong for Yeovil. Stirling scored five at Stenhousemuir in the Scottish League One last weekend but they probably won't need as many goals to defeat bottom club Airdrieonians. 

Homes sweet homes: Brighton will be feeling much better after two consecutive victories and I believe they will beat the higher-placed Charlton, even though the Londoners have started their Championship campaign in great style. Oxford are the only team in League Two without a point but they were unlucky against Portsmouth last Saturday and against West Bromwich Albion in the League Cup when they were only eliminated after a penalty shoot-out. I'm backing them to get off the mark against Dagenham & Redbridge. Mid-table Plymouth are also worth supporting against promotion contenders Southend, who are prone to the occasional lapse. 

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 23-24

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Newcastle, Crystal Palace v West Ham, Blackburn v Bournemouth, Ipswich v Norwich, Wolves v Cardiff, Bradford City v Peterborough, Accrington v Luton, Carlisle v Southend, Northampton v Shrewsbury, Stevenage v Wycombe.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v West Ham, Blackburn v Bournemouth, Ipswich v Norwich, Wolves v Cardiff, Northampton v Shrewsbury.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster, York, Burton, Portsmouth.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Southampton, Swansea, Derby, Wigan, Barnsley, Preston, Sheffield United, Swindon, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: West Ham were a little unlucky to lose to Tottenham last Saturday and can gain a point at Crystal Palace, who are having to adjust to the sudden departure of manager Tony Pulis. Championship sides Blackburn and Bournemouth won on Saturday but lost in midweek. They seem to be two evenly matched teams and a draw is the likeliest result. Norwich have made a statement of intent with two consecutive home victories and I expect them to hold fierce rivals Ipswich at Portman Road. Relegated Cardiff are among the early front-runners in the Championship. They should improve their promotion prospects by denying Wolves three points at Molineux. Shrewsbury have made an encouraging start to their League Two campaign, which they can continue at Northampton.

Away days: Manchester United's home defeat by Swansea was one of the biggest surprises of the opening weekend. It's hard to see them playing so poorly again and I'm taking them to bounce back with victory at Sunderland on Sunday. Sheffield Wednesday have started well in the Championship and are worth a punt at Middlesbrough, who tend to blow hot and cold. In League One, Doncaster should be backed at Colchester, who will probably be fighting relegation. League Two looks good for away wins. York are recommended at off-form Exeter and it is difficult to ignore the chances of second-placed Burton at struggling Newport. Finally, Portsmouth are thriving under manager Andy Awford and are fancied to keep Oxford pointless.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton, despite being weakened by numerous sales in the close season,  were impressive and unlucky in defeat at Liverpool last Sunday and will approach their Premier League fixture against West Bromwich Albion with confidence. League One Barnsley have picked up after a shaky start to the season and I'm taking them to get off the mark at home by overcoming Gillingham. A midweek away win at Wycombe was just the boost relegated Tranmere needed and I believe they'll follow that up when they host Cheltenham. 

Pools info: Manchester City v Liverpool (match No 6 on the coupon) is being played on Monday and is subject to a panel verdict. 

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 16-17

Ten draws: West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland, Birmingham v Brighton, Rotherham v Wolves, Crawley v Swindon, Oldham v Leyton Orient, Peterborough v MK Dons, Walsall v Bradford City, Plymouth v Exeter, Southend v Stevenage, Celtic v Dundee United.

Best draws: Birmingham v Brighton, Rotherham v Wolves, Oldham v Leyton Orient, Southend v Stevenage, Celtic v Dundee United.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Blackburn, Wigan, Derby, Bury, Raith.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Bristol City, Doncaster, Burton, Luton, Wycombe.

Pick of the draws: Birmingham and Brighton recovered from weekend setbacks by winning their first round League Cup ties. I expect Brighton to be among the Championship promotion contenders this season and they should be capable of sharing the spoils at St Andrew's. Two promoted teams from League One, Rotherham and Wolves, meet at the Yorkshire club's ground. Both are strong enough to adapt to a higher division and this fixture looks one of the best draws on the coupon. Leyton Orient suffered an opening-day defeat at home against Chesterfield but I suspect that it was merely an off day and I fancy them for a point at Oldham. Relegated Stevenage will surely be more at home in League Two and I'm backing them to hold Southend to a draw at Roots Hall. In the Scottish Premiership, there are signs that Celtic are not the force they were. Their weekend opponents, Dundee United, had a terrific 3-0 win at Aberdeen on the opening day of the season, so don't be surprised if they deny the Scottish champions victory.

Away days: The vibes at West Ham during the close season have not been encouraging and Tottenham can open their Premier League account with an away win. Spurs will also be eager to put one over their opponents, having lost twice to them last season. In the Championship, Blackpool are in such disarray that it is impossible to overlook Blackburn for maximum points at Bloomfield Road. Wigan have begun the season sluggishly but they are formidable on their day and I believe their day may come at Charlton on Saturday. Derby are one of the favourites for promotion, having fallen, unluckily, at the final hurdle last season. They have won their first two games and I think they will make it three at Sheffield Wednesday.  League Two Bury gave Bolton a scare before bowing out of the League Cup. That sort of performance should be enough to overcome Hartlepool, who shipped six goals at Port Vale. Raith began their Scottish Championship season by beating Dumbarton and I expect them to do the same to Alloa.

Homes sweet homes: Promoted Queens Park Rangers are my fancy to get off to a Premier League flyer against Hull, who were close to the drop last season. Reading will be keen to make up for last season's disappointing conclusion to their promotion hopes in the Championship and can bank three home points against inconsistent Ipswich. Another promoted club, Luton, will probably be the best supported side in League Two. They had a morale-boosting victory at Carlisle last weekend and can follow it up by defeating AFC Wimbledon. Wycombe already seem a different proposition to the team who struggled to stay in the Football League last season and are well worth a punt against Carlisle, who are on a downer.


Pools info: Burnley v Chelsea (match No 2 on the coupon) is being played on Monday, so is subject to a pools panel verdict. 

Wednesday 6 August 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 9-10

Ten draws: Brentford v Charlton, Ipswich v Fulham, Fleetwood v Crewe, Preston v Notts County, AFC Wimbledon v Shrewsbury, Cambridge v Plymouth, Northampton v Mansfield, Oxford v Burton, Hamilton v Inverness, Ross v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Ipswich v Fulham, Preston v Notts County, Cambridge v Plymouth, Oxford v Burton, Hamilton v Inverness.

Best weekend away bets: Leeds, Bolton, Southend, Portsmouth, Falkirk, East Fife.

Best weekend home bets: Brighton, Derby, Wolves, Barnsley, Port Vale, Swindon, Bury, Stevenage, Dundee, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Fulham are much-changed from the team that got relegated from the Premier League last season. They should be good enough to gain a share of the spoils at Ipswich, who will be hoping for more consistency in the Championship this season. Although Notts County were one place away from relegation to League Two, they ended last season with a flourish. They have a tough League One opener at Preston but don't be surprised if they come away with a point. Cambridge United's home form won them promotion to the Football League last season and it should stand them in good stead against Plymouth, who finished League Two in mid-table. Burton are ready to go again after just missing promotion and are a fair bet to get something at Oxford. Hamilton are back in the Scottish Premiership after gaining promotion through the play-offs. I fancy them to take a point off Inverness.

Away days: Leeds, under new ownership and managership, will be disappointed not to open their Championship campaign with victory at Millwall, who look destined to struggle again this season. Bolton are worth a punt at Norwich. The end of last season came too soon for Bolton, who were just getting into their stride. The opposite applied to Watford, who found themselves sliding down the table and only just managed to finish above Saturday's opponents. Southend, with eight wins on their travels in League Two last season, ought to be too strong for Accrington. Portsmouth are looking to improve on last season's mid-table placing and I'm taking them to triumph at Exeter. Falkirk will be favourites to gain maximum points at Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Championship and relegated East Fife will surely have too much for lowly Elgin in Scottish League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Promoted Wolves take on relegated Norwich at Molineux in the Championship on Sunday. The momentum is with Wolves, who won League One with 103 points last season and are aiming to gain two consecutive promotions. By way of contrast, Norwich may take a while to recover after being relegated from the Premier League. I'm taking Dundee to win their first match back in the Scottish Premiership against Kilmarnock, who escaped relegation to the Championship by the skin of their teeth. Rangers, the unbeaten runaway champions of League One, host relegated Hearts in Sunday's Championship fixture and I believe they will get off to a flyer.