Thursday 27 November 2014

Pools forecast and best bets for weekend of Nov 29-30

Ten draws: Southampton v Manchester City, Tottenham v Everton, West Ham v Newcastle, Birmingham v Nottingham Forest, Leeds v Derby, Middlesbrough v Blackburn, Crawley v Chesterfield, Rochdale v Oldham, Shrewsbury v Burton, Barnet v Macclesfield.

Best draws: Southampton v Manchester City, Tottenham v Everton, Leeds v Derby, Crawley v Chesterfield, Shrewsbury v Burton.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Fulham, Doncaster, Preston, Oxford, Portsmouth.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Manchester United, Swansea, Bolton, Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Bury, Southend, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Manchester City will have been heartened by their win over Bayern Munich, despite being outplayed for most of the match, and I believe they will halt Southampton's surge. Tottenham's away form is keeping them in the top half of the Premier League. However, at home they are struggling and Everton will be difficult opponents on Sunday. Leaders Derby look a class apart in the Championship but Leeds have improved and were unlucky to lose at Blackburn last weekend. This may be the kind of test they will relish. Crawley have drawn more League One games than they have won this season and I can see that trend continuing when they host mid-table Chesterfield. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first two matches as Burton's manager have brought two victories in League Two. They've got momentum and I'm taking them to spoil Shrewsbury's excellent home record by coming away with a point.

Away days: Chelsea, the unbeaten Premier League leaders, are so dominant right now that it's hard to see anybody stopping them. It will be a major surprise if Sunderland, their opponents on Saturday, are the first to do it. Fulham gave a good account of themselves, despite losing narrowly at Brentford last Friday. A repeat of that form should be good enough to overcome Brighton, who just cannot get going in the Championship. No side has won more away matches than Doncaster in League One and they look a banker at bottom-of-the-table Crewe, who find goals so hard to come by. Promotion contenders Preston will be confident of defeating Yeovil, having beaten the higher-placed Oldham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek. In League Two, Oxford are worth a punt at Cheltenham, who have sacked their manager Mark Yates, and Portsmouth must fancy their chances at Tranmere, who are in danger of being cast adrift from the rest.

Homes sweet homes: Burnley's hopes of Premier League survival rose when they won at Stoke last Saturday and they will be looking forward to playing out-of-form Aston Villa. Bolton have upped their game since appointing Neil Lennon as manager, so don't be surprised if they see off Huddersfield in the Championship. Lowly Coventry's win at Colchester in League One last weekend came in the nick of time and will have boosted their confidence. It should put them in the right frame of mind to beat Walsall at the Ricoh Arena. It may not rate as a Scottish Cup fourth-round shock but I'm tipping Rangers, of the Championship, to knock out Kilmarnock, of the Premiership, when they meet on Sunday.

Pools info: Peterborough v Bristol City (match No 29 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. A void match is worth two points.

Wednesday 19 November 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 22-23

Ten draws: Hull v Tottenham, Leicester v Sunderland, Bournemouth v Ipswich, Rotherham v Birmingham, Peterborough v Swindon, Accrington v Cambridge, Burton v Luton, Northampton v Stevenage, Partick v Aberdeen, Alloa v Falkirk.

Best draws: Leicester v Sunderland, Bournemouth v Ipswich, Rotherham v Birmingham, Burton v Luton, Northampton v Stevenage.

Best weekend away bets: Bolton, Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Wycombe, Carlisle, Plymouth.

Best weekend home bets: Stoke, Blackburn, Norwich, Crawley, Fleetwood, Hartlepool, Oxford, Hamilton, Cowdenbeath, East Fife.


Pick of the draws: Out-of form Leicester have fallen into the Premier League relegation zone. They are in worse shape than their opponents Sunderland, who seem to have recovered from their 8-0 hiding at Southampton. Leicester have won only once at home this season and I don't think they will be adding to that tally on Saturday. Bournemouth's climb into second place in the Championship is one of the success stories of the season but I fancy fast-improving Ipswich to take a point off them. New manager Gary Rowett looks as if he is turning things around at Birmingham and there is a good chance they will come away from Rotherham with something. League Two promotion contenders Burton appointed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager last week and were immediately rewarded with a fine 3-1 victory at high-riding Wycombe. But they will have to do something special to beat leaders Luton, who have struck a rich vein of form. Northampton's slide down the table continues but they should check their descent by holding Stevenage.

Away days: Neil Lennon's Bolton look one of the best bets of the weekend. They travel to Blackpool, who even at this early stage seem doomed to relegation from the Championship. Blackpool are nine points behind Birmingham, the next-to-bottom club. With Derby having to go to Watford, Middlesbrough could be the division's new leaders at the weekend. All they have to do is defeat troubled Wigan, who are without a manager after Uwe Rosler's sacking. Barnsley are heading the right way in League One, whereas their opponents and hosts, Chesterfield, are going in the opposite direction. Barnsley have been strong on their travels and I'm taking them to register their fourth away win. Wycombe's League Two promotion hopes were damaged by their 3-1 home defeat to Burton last Monday but I believe they will recover quickly and that their hosts, Cheltenham, will feel the backlash. Struggling Carlisle are worth a punt at Dagenham & Redbridge, who are fading fast and were knocked out of the FA Cup by non-League Southport. Plymouth have earned their place in the play-offs and should be backed at Mansfield.

Homes sweet homes: Hartlepool may be bottom of League Two but my guess is that they are in better spirits than 21st-placed York, who cannot buy a win at the moment. My money will be on a home victory. Oxford have pulled seven points clear of the relegation zone and are beginning to look forward rather than behind them. Another three points on Saturday will put them in touch with League Two's mid-table sides and I reckon they will get them against AFC Wimbledon, who are nothing to write home about this season. Cowdenbeath are bottom of the Scottish Championship with only one home win to their name but they entertain Livingston, who are one point and one place above them and have failed to win away. Ground advantage gets my vote here.

Wednesday 12 November 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 15-16

Ten draws: Gillingham v Leyton Orient, Port Vale v Rochdale, Carlisle v Accrington, Stevenage v Cheltenham, Airdrieonians v Morton, Ayr v Peterhead, Albion v Arbroath, Altrincham v Grimsby, Chester v Gateshead, Torquay v Forest Green.

Best draws: Carlisle v Accrington, Stevenage v Cheltenham, Albion v Arbroath, Chester v Gateshead, Torquay v Forest Green.

Best weekend away bets: Notts County, Chesterfield, Bury, Hearts, Stranraer, Queen's Park.

Best weekend home bets: Oldham, Preston, Swindon, Walsall, Yeovil, Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, Raith, Clyde, England.


Pick of the draws: League Two strugglers Carlisle put up a terrific fight before going out of the FA Cup to a last-minute goal at League One Peterborough last Saturday. They are playing better than their league position suggests but their opponents, Accrington, have forced an FA Cup replay against high-riding Notts County and are also doing well. Stevenage have not drawn at home this season but there is a good chance of them doing that against Cheltenham, who have only one more point and are only three places higher than them. Arbroath's seemingly smooth progress to the Scottish League Two title was halted when they lost at home to Queen's Park. Expect a positive reaction when they visit third-placed Albion. Albion are strong at home but Arbroath have won all their away matches. Conference side Chester caused one of last weekend's FA Cup upsets by beating Southend away. They host promotion contenders Gateshead, who have lost only once on their travels. Also in the Conference, Forest Green continue to punch above their weight. They have drawn four times away from home and I can see them making it five at Torquay, who are steadily climbing the table.

Away days: The return to the Ricoh Stadium has not helped Coventry as much as they thought and they will be feeling especially low this week after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Worcester, of the Conference North, last Sunday. Coventry's opponents on Saturday are Notts County, who are unbeaten away and sixth in League One. It will be a surprise if they slip up here. Chesterfield emerged from their poor run of form with a 6-0 victory at Braintree in the FA Cup first round. They must be fancied to prevail at bottom club Crewe, who have averaged less than a goal a game from their 16 league fixtures. Bury are heavily involved in the League Two promotion shake-up and I believe they will defeat Morecambe, who have stumbled lately. Hearts, clear leaders in the Scottish Championship, must be fancied at mid-table Falkirk and Stranraer, fourth in Scottish League One, will be confident of beating bottom team Stirling. In Scottish League Two, I go for second-placed Queen's Park to inflict more misery on lowly Elgin. 

Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that League One leaders Bristol City will lose their unbeaten record at Swindon, who can beat anybody on their day. Although Swindon lost 
5-0 at League Two Cheltenham in the FA Cup last weekend, they played with 10 men for most of the match and will be eager to make amends on Saturday. Peterborough have slipped out of the League One play-off places after being beaten by sides below them. Inconsistent Walsall come into this category and are worth a punt on Saturday. Yeovil, second bottom in League One, badly need maximum points and I think they will get them against Fleetwood, who have already lost six away league matches and bowed out of the FA Cup when they lost at League Two Cambridge last weekend. 

Pools info: The results of Scunthorpe v MK Dons (No 7 on coupon) and Wycombe v Burton (18) will be decided by the pools panel.


Wednesday 5 November 2014

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 8-9

Ten draws: Queens Park Rangers v Manchester City, Swansea v Arsenal, Birmingham v Cardiff, Fulham v Huddersfield, Millwall v Brentford, Nottingham Forest v Norwich, Inverness v Hamilton, Morton v Forfar, East Fife v Albion, Espanyol v Villarreal.

Best draws: Swansea v Arsenal, Birmingham v Cardiff, Fulham v Huddersfield, Nottingham Forest v Norwich, Inverness v Hamilton.

Best weekend away bets: Newcastle, Blackburn, Partick, Hibernian, Annan, Bristol Rovers.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Manchester United, Southampton, West Ham, Ipswich, Reading, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Barnsley, Port Vale.


Pick of the draws: Arsenal's soft centre was exposed when relinquishing a 3-0 lead against Anderlecht in the Champions League. Swansea are as good as, if not better than, Anderlecht and you have to fancy their chances of holding the Gunners. Lowly Birmingham have been given an instant lift by new manager Gary Rowett, drawing away at Wolves and beating Watford at St Andrew's. Although they are notoriously poor at home, they can get something from the visit of Cardiff. Fulham and Huddersfield are two of the Championship's most improved teams. They meet at the Cottage and there is little to separate them. By way of contrast, Nottingham Forest and Norwich are on a downer, so don't be surprised if neither gain maximum points. Hamilton lost the leadership of the Scottish Premiership after being held to a home draw by Partick last Saturday. They are more successful away and I believe they will maintain that record against Inverness.

Away days: Newcastle, with four successive wins behind them, are on a roll and will overtake West Bromwich in the Premier League if they win at the Hawthorns on Sunday. Blackburn have a good opportunity to move into the Championship play-off positions with a victory over struggling Brighton. They showed what they could do on their travels when they won 3-1 at Nottingham Forest two weeks ago. Partick, who have not won away in the Scottish Premiership, visit St Mirren, who have not won at home. However, Partick are in better form, as was seen in their 3-3 draw at title contenders Hamilton last weekend. Hibernian are getting up a head of steam after a terrible start to the season in the Scottish Championship and should be backed at bottom club Cowdenbeath. In Scottish League Two, the claims of promotion-seeking Annan cannot be ignored at Elgin while in the FA Cup first round, relegated Bristol Rovers, who are steadily climbing the Vanarama Conference, are well worth a punt at League Two strugglers Tranmere, who have won only once at home this season.

Homes sweet homes: Bottom club Burnley are overdue a win in the Premier League and I think they will get it against Hull, whose progress is being hampered by injuries. Ipswich have regained their confidence after a brief stumble and are fancied against Watford, who have been toppled from the top of the Championship. Reading have underachieved so far but they remain a tough nut to crack at home and I expect them to see off the better-placed Charlton. There are bound to be the usual surprises on the weekend of the FA Cup first round. I've a feeling that much-improved Port Vale knocking out the highly regarded MK Dons will be one of them. 

Pools info: Motherwell v Dundee United (No 23 on the coupon) and Cordoba v Deportivo La Coruna (42) are void.