Wednesday, 6 January 2021

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

Ten draws: Blackburn v Doncaster, Cheltenham v Mansfield, Huddersfield v Plymouth, Luton v Reading, Norwich v Coventry, Stoke v Leicester, Port Vale v Grimsby, Scunthorpe v Bradford City, Kilmarnock v Hamilton, Altrincham v Sutton.

Best draws: Blackburn v Doncaster, Luton v Reading, Norwich v Coventry, Stoke v Leicester, Port Vale v Grimsby.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth, Swansea.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Everton, Manchester City, Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Wycombe, Gillingham, Ipswich, Cambridge, Southend.

Pick of the draws: It's FA Cup third-round weekend and Doncaster, fourth in League One, are in better form than Blackburn, 11th in the Championship. It won't surprise me if this is all square after 90 minutes. Reading are contesting promotion from the Championship but although Luton are in the bottom half of the table, they are no mugs at home. Leaders Norwich appear to be firm favourites in their tie against Coventry but despite the visitors being goal-shy, they don't give much away. Leicester's remarkable success on the road is the main reason they are third in the Premier League but Championship battlers Stoke may present a tricky hurdle. The League Two fixture between Port Vale and Grimsby is a clash between two woefully out-of-form sides and a point apiece is the most likely outcome.

Away days: There's a chance for West Bromwich Albion to forget their Premier League woes and advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup by beating League One Blackpool. In-form Portsmouth, third in League One, could easily cause an upset at Bristol City, who are slipping down the Championship. Sheffield United can't win a match to save their lives in the Premier League but they have a good opportunity to progress in the FA Cup when they visit Bristol Rovers in League One. Sheffield Wednesday have climbed out of the Championship drop zone since the departure of manager Tony Pulis and I think they'll extend that winning habit against Exeter, of League Two. Bournemouth, who are looking for a quick return to the Premier League, are recommended at Oldham and Swansea, one place higher than Bournemouth in the Championship, should go through at Stevenage, who are third from last in League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Championship strugglers Queens Park Rangers are worth a wager against Premier League neighbours and rivals Fulham, whose plans have been severely disrupted by Covid. Although bottom of the Championship, Wycombe must have a fighting chance of FA Cup progress against mid-table Preston, who are maddeningly inconsistent. Southend prop up League Two but they have improved recently and I believe they'll beat Barrow, who are three places above them.

Pools info: Southampton v Shrewsbury (No.26 on coupon) and Wigan v Hull (33) have been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Betting info: I scored four out of five aways last weekend (Wigan's match at Swindon was postponed). My four were Leicester, Arsenal, Lincoln and Oxford. 




 

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