Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 5-6

 Ten draws: Crewe v Lincoln, Forest Green v Leyton Orient, Ipswich v Bristol Rovers, Luton v Norwich, MK Dons v Coventry, Oldham v Carlisle, Scunthorpe v Port Vale, Walsall v Sheffield Wednesday, Azerbaijan v Luxembourg, Gibraltar v San Marino.

Best draws: Crewe v Lincoln, Luton v Norwich, MK Dons v Coventry, Scunthorpe v Port Vale, Gibraltar v San Marino.

Best bets: Six aways: Wigan, Swansea, Cardiff, Rotherham, Belgium, England.

Best bets: Ten homes: Brentford, Bristol City, Derby, Gillingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Rochdale, Swindon, Sunderland, Tranmere.

Pick of the draws: League One Lincoln's poor away record last season will be put to the test on Saturday in the League Cup first round when they visit Crewe, who have been promoted from League Two. It's my hunch that Lincoln will at least take the tie to a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes. The way that relegated Norwich folded in last season's latter stages was worrying and Luton, who staged a remarkable late rally to stay in the Championship, will be encouraged by that. Although Coventry gained promotion to the Championship, they won't find it easy at MK Dons, who were capable of better than their 18th placing in League One last term. Port Vale, who missed the League Two play-offs by a whisker, travel to Scunthorpe, who are hoping to improve on last season's 19th position. Gibraltar v San Marino is a clash of football minnows in the first batch of Nations League matches at the weekend and neither will feel confident of seizing the day.

Away days: Wigan were desperately unlucky to drop into League One, having gone into administration, and they will be aiming to take their frustration out on Joey Barton's Fleetwood. Swansea, who reached the Championship play-offs, shouldn't be inconvenienced by Newport, of League Two, while Cardiff, who were also in the Championship play-offs, will surely see off promoted Northampton. I expect Rotherham, up from League One, to confirm their superiority over Salford. It would take a brave man to bet against Belgium these days and I can't see Denmark upsetting them in the Nations League. Iceland aren't half the side they were when they beat England in the 2016 Euros and Gareth Southgate's men are seeking revenge.

Homes sweet homes: If there's a surprise in this weekend's League Cup it may come at Rochdale, who host Huddersfield. Thanks mainly to the Cowley brothers, Huddersfield avoided relegation from the Championship and then promptly sacked them. That decision may come to haunt them this season and could work in favour of League One Rochdale, who often relish being the underdogs. Swindon, promoted into League One as champions, meet cash-strapped Charlton, who dropped out of the Championship. The momentum is with the hosts and the same can be said for Sunderland, who play relegated Hull.

Pools info: Burton v Accrington (No 6 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore  void.    


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