Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 17-18

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Brighton, Leicester v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Arsenal, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest, Luton v Stoke, Rotherham v Norwich, Charlton v Wigan, Fleetwood v Lincoln, Crawley v Morecambe, Livingston v Kilmarnock.

Best draws: Leicester v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Arsenal, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest, Luton v Stoke, Crawley v Morecambe.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Bristol City, Millwall, Gillingham, Hull, Sunderland, Cambridge.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Swansea, Bristol Rovers, Ipswich, Peterborough, Plymouth, Forest Green, Port Vale.

Pick of the draws: Aston Villa's 7-2 caning of champions Liverpool ensured that they have maximum points from three matches and will have done wonders for their morale. Leicester's tails were similarly up after winning 5-2 at Manchester City but they then lost 3-0 at home to West Ham. I wonder how that result has affected team spirit. Arsenal's recent record at leading Premier League clubs is appalling but they are more resolute these days, which gives them a fighting chance at Manchester City, who have been thrashed by Leicester and held by promoted Leeds. The appointment of Chris Hughton as manager should give struggling Nottingham Forest a badly needed lift in the Championship and I've a hunch they will surprise a few people at Blackburn. Luton are doing better than expected but Stoke have defeated Wolves and Aston Villa away on reaching the last eight of the League Cup and I can see them gaining a point. By leading League Two, Morecambe have turned last season's form upside down. I'll be very surprised if they stay there but they'll be confident of avoiding defeat at mid-table Crawley.

Away days: I expect Bristol City, the early Championship leaders, to continue their progress at the expense of lowly Barnsley. Although Millwall have stalled recently, they will still probably have too much for promoted Wycombe, who lie second from bottom. Gillingham are looking genuine promotion contenders in League One and will fancy their chances at Milton Keynes Dons, who prop up the table. I regard Hull's heavy defeat at Fleetwood last weekend as just a blip and believe they will make amends at Rochdale. Sunderland are recommended at Swindon, who have lost two in a row at home, while high-flying Cambridge, in League Two, will want to confirm their superiority over Scunthorpe.

Homes sweet homes: Everton, who have not beaten Liverpool in 10 years, will never have a better chance than this weekend. The blue half of Merseyside sit proudly at the top of the Premier League, having taken maximum points from four matches, while Liverpool's collapse at Aston Villa must have shaken their confidence. Neither Sheffield United nor Fulham, who meet at Bramall Lane on Sunday, have a point in the league this season and lie 19th and 20th respectively. I reckon that Sheffield United, with ground advantage, will get off the mark. Although Port Vale have lost their past two games in League Two, they are worth a gamble against Salford, who have sacked manager Graham Alexander, despite lying fourth and staying unbeaten this season. 

Pools info: West Brom v Burnley (No 9 on coupon) is being played on Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel. I correctly forecast five draws last weekend and three of my five best draws came up: Mansfield v Stevenage (0-0), Walsall v Colchester (1-1) and France v Portugal (0-0).



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