Wednesday, 3 March 2021

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

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Wolves, West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle, Coventry v Derby, Preston v Bournemouth, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Wigan v MK Dons, Bradford City v Bolton, Colchester v Newport, Ross v Kilmarnock, Arbroath v Queen of the South.

Best draws: West Brom v Newcastle, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Bradford City v Bolton, Colchester v Newport, Ross v Kilmarnock.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Fleetwood, Forest Green, Celtic.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Brighton, Manchester City, Tottenham, Reading, Stoke, Sunderland, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Salford, St Johnstone.

Pick of the draws: Lady Luck was with struggling West Brom last Saturday when Brighton, their opponents in distress, missed two penalties and had a goal disallowed. On Sunday West Brom host Newcastle, another side fighting for their Premier League life. Newcastle are the team most likely to get sucked into the relegation zone but I can see them pinching a point in what will probably be a low-scoring affair. Swansea's hopes of promotion from the Championship suffered a setback last weekend when they lost 3-1 at home to Bristol City. Middlesbrough, whose sights are on the play-offs, won at Coventry in midweek and can come away with a point. Bradford City and Bolton are on the rise in League Two and neither will want their momentum to be checked. Colchester won for the first time in 15 games when they beat Carlisle at home in midweek, which will encourage them against Newport, who have been goal-shy. Ross and Kilmarnock, who meet on Saturday, are near the foot of the Scottish Premiership and neither is playing well enough to be confident of three points.

Away days: Arsenal have had a week off since winning convincingly at Leicester last Sunday and I believe they'll use that to their advantage in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Burnley. Although League One leaders Peterborough were held to a goalless draw at Oxford in midweek, they should have enough to see off Burton. Portsmouth, also eyeing promotion, will want to make amends for their midweek defeat at Doncaster and I doubt whether lowly Northampton will stop them. Fleetwood, who had an excellent away victory over high-flying Lincoln, can make it two in a row by prevailing at Shrewsbury. Forest Green, third in League Two, had a rare off night when losing 3-0 at Stevenage in midweek but they are tipped to  recover against bottom club Grimsby. Celtic's hopes of catching Rangers in the Scottish Premiership have vanished but they are a better side than their hosts, Dundee United.

Homes sweet homes: Brighton played well against Crystal Palace (home) and West Brom (away) but on both occasions came away with nothing. They are better than their low Premier League placing suggests and I've a hunch they will upset Leicester, who have been weakened by injuries. Manchester City are running away with the title, having won their past 21 matches. They've already beaten Manchester United in the League Cup semi-finals this season and I think they'll again be too strong for their neighbours on Sunday. St Johnstone, who won the Scottish League Cup final against Livingston last Sunday, are worth a punt against the higher-placed Hibernian.

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