Wednesday 24 September 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 27-28

Ten draws: Bolton v Derby, Charlton v Middlesbrough, Reading v Wolves, Bristol City v MK Dons, Coventry v Preston, Crawley v Yeovil, Accrington v Plymouth, Morecambe v Northampton, Stevenage v Mansfield, Ross v Dundee.

Best draws: Bolton v Derby, Charlton v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Preston, Crawley v Yeovil, Ross v Dundee.

Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Norwich, Leeds, Millwall, Swindon, Bury.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Southampton, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Oldham, Carlisle, Luton, Wycombe.

Pick of the draws: If Bolton play as well as they did against Wolves in the Championship at Molineux last weekend - despite losing 1-0 - they will get something from the visit of Derby. Another hard luck story was that of Middlesbrough, who were beaten in an epic midweek penalty shoot-out in the League Cup at Anfield. They are gaining confidence by the week and I believe they will hold Charlton at The Valley. Two successive away defeats have halted Coventry's surge up League One. They entertain Preston this weekend and I cannot see them taking more than a point. Yeovil's home victory over promotion contenders Peterborough last Saturday was a considerable boost and they can continue their upward curve by sharing the spoils at Crawley. Ross are the only side in the English and Scottish divisions to remain pointless but I've a hunch that will change on Saturday when they host Dundee in the Scottish Premiership. Dundee's heavy defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals and neighbours Dundee United last Sunday will have damaged their morale.

Away days: Impressive Swansea should get plenty of joy from their Premier League visit to Sunderland, who are without a league win this season and were knocked out of the League Cup by Stoke in midweek. Championship high flyers Norwich must be fancied to prevail at Blackpool, despite their League Cup defeat by League Two team Shrewsbury. Leeds look like a team who are going places and I believe they will confirm their improvement by beating Brentford. Millwall gave as good as they got when they held table-topping Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw last Saturday. A repeat of that performance should enable them to triumph at struggling Huddersfield. League One Swindon put five past highly regarded Sheffield United last weekend and are capable of returning from Barnsley with three points. Free-scoring Bury deservedly lead League Two and are worth backing at Exeter, who are struggling at home.

Homes sweet homes: Crewe, bottom of League One, were so bad when losing 6-1 to MK Dons last Saturday that manager Steve Davis will be demanding a positive reaction. That may be forthcoming against Colchester, who are second bottom. The team who loses this match will probably be facing a long hard winter. Leyton Orient have under-performed this season but there is enough quality in the side to be higher than they are. At their best they should have enough to defeat promoted Rochdale. Carlisle are in danger of being stranded at the foot of League Two. Despite their precarious position there were encouraging signs in their 3-2 defeat at Mansfield last weekend and I'm taking them to record their first win of the season against a disappointing Tranmere.


Pools info: I scored five out of 10 with my draw selections last week and three out of five (Man City v Chelsea, Rotherham v Charlton, Portsmouth v Wycombe) with my best draws.


Wednesday 17 September 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 20-21

Ten draws: Manchester City v Chelsea, Newcastle v Hull, Rotherham v Charlton, Colchester v Bradford City, Port Vale v Barnsley, Rochdale v Coventry, Scunthorpe v Leyton Orient, Swindon v Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe, Portsmouth v Wycombe.

Best draws: Manchester City v Chelsea, Rotherham v Charlton, Port Vale v Barnsley, AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe, Portsmouth v Wycombe.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Blackburn, Chesterfield, Bristol City, Southend, Rangers.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Everton, Tottenham, Norwich, Wolves, MK Dons, Bury, Mansfield, Oxford, Dundee.


Pick of the draws: Manchester City and Chelsea are the likeliest teams to be contesting the Premier League title. They meet at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and I believe Chelsea will drop their first league points of the season against a City side eager to make up for their shock home defeat by Stoke.  High-flying Charlton have drawn all three of their away matches in the Championship so far. Don't be surprised if they make it four at Rotherham, who have faded after a bright opening to the season. Port Vale have tumbled alarmingly in League One but they will be hoping to salvage something from the visit of Barnsley, who shipped five goals at home to MK Dons last Saturday. AFC Wimbledon surprised League Two leaders Burton 3-0 in midweek and that should enable them to take a point off promotion challengers Morecambe. Wycombe have forced their way into the automatic promotion positions and look good for a share of the spoils at Portsmouth, who returned to winning ways against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Away days: Manchester United could be up and running after their 4-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers last Sunday and I expect them to collect another three Premier League points at the expense of promoted Leicester, despite the Midlanders adjusting well to life in the top division. Blackburn recovered from a goal down to beat Wigan 3-1 last weekend and it is hard to see them slipping up at Fulham, who prop up the Championship. Chesterfield seem on course to gain two consecutive promotions. Judged on their League One form so far, they should be too good for Doncaster, who are in danger of going the other way. League One leaders Bristol City go from strength to strength and are worth backing at Fleetwood. Southend have come alive after a dodgy spell in League Two and ought to be backed at York, whose progress has been hindered by a glut of draws. Rangers, conquerors of Scottish Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish League Cup, will surely account for Alloa in the Scottish Championship.

Homes sweet homes: I'm taking promoted Burnley to gain their first Premier League victory of the season against an average Sunderland, who were fortunate to escape defeat when they played Tottenham at home last Saturday. Only a late, missed penalty prevented Burnley from getting off the mark at Crystal Palace last weekend. Bury have become the team to watch in League Two and I think they will topple leaders Burton, who suffered their first defeat of the season at AFC Wimbledon in midweek. Oxford took a step away from the League Two drop zone by beating Accrington in midweek. I believe they'll make it two home wins in a row when Stevenage come to visit. Dundee host Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. The former have been unfazed by life in a higher division and I tip them to come out on top against their fierce rivals. 

Pools info: Wigan v Ipswich (match No 19 on the coupon) will be judged by the pools panel while Partick v St Mirren (No 49) is void.




Wednesday 10 September 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 13-14

Ten draws: Sunderland v Tottenham, Blackpool v Wolves,  Charlton v Watford, Huddersfield v Middlesbrough, Bradford City v Swindon, Sheffield United v Rochdale, Accrington v AFC Wimbledon, Luton v Cheltenham, Dundee United v Hamilton.

Best draws: Blackpool v Wolves, Charlton v Watford, Huddersfield v Middlesbrough, Accrington v AFC Wimbledon, Luton v Cheltenham.

Best weekend away bets: Wigan, MK Dons, Fleetwood, Preston, Oxford, Hearts.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Stoke, Ipswich, Reading, Chesterfield, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Hartlepool, Kilmarnock.


Pick of the draws: Blackpool are one of only two Football League clubs yet to collect a point this season, yet recent performances in the Championship have given their fans a glimmer of hope. Provided the team refuse to be downhearted, they have every chance of salvaging something from their home encounter with high-flying Wolves. Charlton's rise has been one of the talking points of the season but their 100 per cent home record could be dented by Watford, who are doing even better. Huddersfield, who have a new manager in former Charlton boss Chris Powell, should be capable of taking a point from the visit of Middlesbrough. AFC Wimbledon's away record is keeping them in the top half of League Two but they won't have things all their own way at Accrington, who gained their first victory of the season last Saturday. Cheltenham are the surprise leaders of League Two, unbeaten in six games. They can extend that sequence at goal-shy Luton.

Away days: Wigan have recovered from a slow start in the Championship and are getting into their stride. They are worth backing at Blackburn, who tend to blow hot and cold. MK Dons, on their day, are a match for anybody, as they showed when thrashing Manchester United in the League Cup, and I expect them to continue their League One progress by beating Barnsley. Fleetwood suffered their first setback of the season when losing at Oldham last Saturday but I believe they will bounce straight back at Crawley, who lost heavily at home to promoted Rochdale. Preston are a confident selection at Walsall, who have yet to prevail this season. The two bottom clubs in League Two, Exeter and Oxford, meet. Oxford played well in holding Southend to a draw last weekend and I've a hunch they will come out on top. Relegated Hearts have maximum points from four matches in the Scottish Championship. It will be a major upset if they slip up against lowly Dumbarton.

Homes sweet homes: A creditable away draw against Derby suggests that Ipswich may be about to turn the corner after a poor start to their Championship season. I'm taking them to overcome Millwall, who are five points and 14 places better off. Unless Crewe, the League One's bottom club, begin picking up points they will be staring relegation in the face. They have a good chance of getting off the mark against their local rivals Port Vale, who have disappointed so far this season. Hartlepool upset the League Two form book by defeating well-placed Shrewsbury last Saturday. They can do the same to Tranmere, who are finding it difficult adapting to life in a lower division. 


Pools info: Hull v West Ham (match No 4 on the coupon) has been moved back to Monday and will therefore be judged by the pools panel. 

Pools info: I scored eight out of 10 with my home selections last weekend. 

Wednesday 3 September 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 6-7

Ten draws: Crawley v Rochdale, Oldham v Fleetwood, Stevenage v York, Wycombe v Bury, Braintree v Bristol Rovers, Kidderminster v Gateshead, Bradford PA v Boston, Colwyn Bay v Gainsborough, Greece v Romania, Georgia v Republic of Ireland.

Best draws: Crawley v Rochdale, Stevenage v York, Wycombe v Bury, Braintree v Bristol Rovers, Bradford PA v Boston.

Best weekend away bets: Northampton, Shrewsbury, Plymouth, Dartford, Finland, Poland.

Best weekend home bets: Bradford City, Bristol City, Peterborough, Accrington, Barnet, Chester, Eastleigh, Grimsby, AFC Telford, Germany.


Pick of the draws: Rochdale, 3-0 conquerors of Crewe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek, have not been overawed playing in the higher division of League One and there is no reason why they can't take a point from Crawley. York have drawn all five of their League Two matches. Don't be surprised if they make it six in a row against relegated Stevenage, who are struggling to adjust to life in a lower division. Wycombe and Bury, who face each other on Saturday, have started the season well and occupy the play-off positions. It's difficult to separate them. In the Vanarama Conference, Bristol Rovers gained a morale-boosting win over promotion contenders FC Halifax last weekend. That should give them the confidence to share the spoils with mid-table Braintree. Bradford PA have maximum points from their three home matches in Vanarama North but I'm taking third-placed Boston to halt their progress.

Away days: Northampton look as though they are going to be contesting promotion from League Two and victory at Dagenham & Redbridge will enhance those claims. Shrewsbury are among the early League Two front-runners, unbeaten in the league so far. They are well worth backing at lowly Hartlepool. Plymouth are due an away success and it may come at Luton, who have not begun the season as they would have liked. Dartford travel to Altrincham, who are in the bottom four of the Vanarama Conference. I reckon that Altrincham will stay there after Dartford have gone away with the points on Saturday. The European Championship qualifiers start at the weekend. Finland and Poland should confirm their superiority over Faroe Islands and Gibraltar respectively.

Homes sweet homes: Although Accrington are bottom of League Two they played well when narrowly beaten at Bury last Saturday and I fancy them to upset the form book against Tranmere. I forecast another surprise at Chester, who host better-placed Macclesfield in the Vanarama Conference. I've a hunch Chester will raise their game against their near and fierce rivals and record their first home victory of the season. In a battle of the Conference strugglers, I'm taking AFC Telford to make ground advantage count against Dover. 

Pools info: Barnsley v Doncaster (No 1 on coupon), Chesterfield v Swindon (4), Crewe v Notts County (7), Leyton Orient v Preston (8), Sheffield United v MK Dons (11) and Newport v Cambridge (21) will be decided by the pools panel. Coventry v Gillingham (5) is void as it is being played on Friday.