Wednesday, 2 February 2022

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

Ten draws: Southampton v Coventry, Tottenham v Brighton, Burnley v Watford, Hull v Preston, Burton v Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury v Fleetwood, Crawley v Stevenage, Leyton Orient v Colchester, Scunthorpe v Oldham, Livingston v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Tottenham v Brighton, Burnley v Watford, Burton v Sheffield Wednesday, Crawley v Stevenage, Scunthorpe v Oldham.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn, Bolton, Tranmere, Celtic, Clyde.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Cambridge, Everton, Stoke, Wolves, Ipswich, Milton Keynes Dons, Sunderland, Salford, Inverness, Stockport.

Pick of the draws: Brighton have lost only once away in the Premier League this season, a statistic that gives them a fighting chance of holding Tottenham on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round. Although results under new manager Antonio Conte have been good, Spurs have not looked totally convincing. The bottom-of-the-table clash between Burnley and Watford is the only Premier League fixture of the weekend and I can't see either of them coming out on top. Consecutive home wins have enhanced Sheffield Wednesday's League One promotion prospects and I believe they'll take something from their trip to Burton. Stevenage have climbed well clear of the League Two drop zone in recent weeks and it won't surprise me if they deny Crawley maximum points. Scunthorpe and Oldham are being cast adrift at the foot of League Two. A point is not much use to either of them but that's what I think they'll get when they play each other on Saturday.

Away days: I expect Queens Park Rangers to take their impressive Championship form into their FA Cup fourth-round tie at struggling Peterborough. Blackburn, well placed for automatic promotion to the Premier League, will be anticipating three points at Swansea, who have underperformed this season. Bolton have suddenly found a second wind in League One and they can follow their 6-0 thrashing of Sunderland at the weekend by winning at Morecambe. After losing 4-0 at home to League Two leaders Forest Green last Saturday, Tranmere's powers of recovery will be tested at Barrow but I think they'll come through. Celtic, who went to the top of the Scottish Premiership by beating Rangers 3-0 at home in midweek, will fancy their chances at Motherwell while Clyde, mid-table in Scottish League One, look a good bet at East Fife, who are rooted to the bottom.

Homes sweet homes: If there's a surprise in the FA Cup this weekend I think it will come at Cambridge, who have acquitted themselves so well in the higher division of League One. Although they face Luton, who have done well in the Championship, I sense an upset. The appointment of Frank Lampard as manager will probably give Everton an immediate and much-needed boost and I'm tipping them to knock out Brentford on Saturday. Salford are rapidly climbing League Two and closing in on the play-off places. They are worth backing against Port Vale, who seem to be heading in the opposite direction.  







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