Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Pools tips for this weekend April 9-10



Treble chance (home teams): Tottenham, Wolves, Derby, Ipswich, Millwall, Swansea, Colchester, Bradford, Oxford, Aberdeen.


Best draws: Tottenham, Derby, Ipswich, Millwall, Oxford.


Aways: West Brom, Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough, Walsall, Shrewsbury.


Homes: Blackburn, Bolton, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bournemouth, Bristol Rovers, Dagenham & Redbridge, MK Dons, Barnet.




Pick of the draws: Tottenham will probably have a hangover from their heavy Champions League defeat  by Real Madrid and Stoke, who played well in drawing against Chelsea last week, are well equipped to take advantage. Coventry have arrested their slide in the Championship since the departure of manager Aidy Boothroyd and I fancy them to share the spoils at Derby. Improving Crystal Palace are due a good away result and could get it at higher-placed Ipswich, who have lost more league games than they have won at Portman Road. There is no love lost between Millwall (8th) and Leeds (5th) and I predict deadlock at the New Den. In League Two, Oxford and Wycombe are two other teams who are closely matched. 


Away days: West Bromwich Albion have made great strides under Roy Hodgson and will move further away from relegation by beating Sunderland, who are only six points off the drop zone and fading fast. Runaway Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers look nailed on to defeat bottom club Scunthorpe and Middlesbrough are likely to prevail at struggling Sheffield United, who are seven points away from safety. In League One, Walsall are worth a punt against Plymouth, who appear doomed, while in League Two, promotion-hunting Shrewsbury can gain their 10th win on the road by beating Aldershot. 


Homes sweet homes: Blackburn to follow up their well-earned draw against Arsenal last Saturday by beating fellow relegation strugglers Birmingham. Bristol Rovers are on a roll in League One and having already defeated Bournemouth this week, are expected to take a step nearer safety by overcoming Exeter. I'm tipping Dagenham & Redbridge (21st) to make life even more difficult for managerless Notts County (20th). Crewe may have scored eight against Cheltenham last Saturday but they have lost their last nine away matches in League Two. Next-to-bottom Barnet, inspired by new manager Martin Allen and 4-1 winners at Burton last weekend, could be in the mood to cash in.

Wednesday, 30 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend April 2-3



Treble chance (home teams): Stoke, West Ham, Middlesbrough, Charlton, Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Bury, Hibernian, Raith.


Best draws: Stoke, West Ham, Charlton, Southampton, Raith.


Aways: Bolton, Liverpool, Tottenham, Colchester, Barnet.


Homes: Arsenal, Fulham, Manchester City, Bristol City, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Norwich, Swindon, Crewe.




Pick of the draws: Stoke, on a high after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, host Chelsea, who have rediscovered their form of last year. Manchester United visit West Ham, who thrashed them 4-0 in the Carling Cup quarter-finals and are making a spirited attempt to avoid relegation. I have a hunch that the Hammers will again prove a stumbling block to the Premier League leaders. Two teams who have hit the wall in League One - Charlton and Leyton Orient - play each other at The Valley and stalemate looks the likeliest outcome. Southampton are formidable at home, but MK Dons have improved out of all recognition and can get something from St Mary's. Promotion-seeking Raith are faltering in the Scottish First Division, so don't be surprised if they are held by Dundee, whose position is misleading on account of their 25-point deduction.


Away days: Bolton are a good bet to repeat their FA Cup victory over Birmingham, who have slipped into the relegation zone. Liverpool impressed when winning at Sunderland two weeks ago and must be confident of gaining another three points against West Bromwich Albion. Tottenham will be keen to avenge their early-season defeat by Wigan, who are bottom and favourites to drop into the Championship. Once proud Sheffield Wednesday are in a sorry state in League One and mid-table Colchester are equipped to take advantage. In League Two, take a chance on relegation-threatened Barnet, now under the new managership of Martin Allen, getting three points at Burton, who have games in hand on the other struggling teams, but are short of form.


Homes sweet homes: Fulham should be confident of defeating Blackpool, who are leaking too many goals as they try to stay in the Premier League. Bristol City keep climbing in the Championship and are on course to make it four consecutive home wins when Doncaster come visiting. If Crystal Palace escape relegation it will be because of their home record. Visitors Barnsley have little to play for, so Selhurst Park regulars should expect three points. Swindon are floundering in League Two, but I believe Paul Hart's side will come out on top against erratic Hartlepool. 

Wednesday, 23 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 26-27



Treble chance (home teams): Wales, Dagenham & Redbridge, Aldershot, Bradford, Macclesfield, Port Vale, Falkirk, Airdrie, Queen's Park, Mansfield.


Best draws: Wales, Aldershot, Macclesfield, Falkirk, Mansfield.


Aways: Southampton, Chesterfield, Crewe, Southend, Morton.


Homes: Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Oxford, Dundee, Queen of South, Alloa, Clyde, Grimsby, Wrexham.


Pick of the draws: The European Championship qualifying match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday should really be a doddle for England, but I believe Wales can cause an upset. John Terry's reinstatement as captain - and especially the way it was handled by manager Fabio Capello - has not gone down well with the England squad and is hardly the best preparation for such an important game. Wales will enjoy good support and although Gareth Bale is injured, they have players in Craig Bellamy, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ledley who can make life uncomfortable for England. Two of the most improved sides in League Two, Aldershot and Accrington, meet at Aldershot, where the hosts look likely to register their seventh home draw of the season. Macclesfield are pulling away from the relegation zone and can virtually ensure their safety by taking a point off League newcomers Stevenage, who have moved into the play-off positions. Falkirk (3rd) v Raith (1st) stands out in the Scottish First Division while promotion contenders Kidderminster are tipped to record their 10th away draw when they visit middle-of-the-table Mansfield in the Blue Square Bet Premier. 


Away days: It is impossible to overlook the claims of Southampton at bottom League One club Plymouth, runaway League Two leaders Chesterfield at troubled Barnet and Southend at seemingly doomed Stockport. Crewe are a less obvious choice, having lost their last half a dozen away matches, but they have a chance of stopping the rot and avenging their opening-day defeat against Hereford, who have won only two matches on their own ground. In the Scottish First Division, Morton, who won at Cowdenbeath this week, look an even better bet to prevail at lowly Ross.


Homes sweet homes: Leyton Orient slipped up against Dagenham & Redbridge in League One this week, but I expect them to resume winning ways against Yeovil. Don't be surprised if Peterhead's travel sickness - they have not won away in the Scottish Second Division all season - continues at Alloa. Clyde are rooted to the foot of the Third Division, but it's probably worth backing them against third-from-last Montrose, who are pretty feeble themselves. In the Blue Square Bet Premier, Grimsby should make the most of ground advantage against Tamworth and fourth-placed Wrexham are tipped to strengthen their play-off claims by defeating Welsh rivals Newport. 

Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 19-20



Treble chance (home teams): Blackburn, Everton, Sunderland, Hull, Swansea, Brentford, Dagenham & Redbridge, Tranmere, Oxford, Shrewsbury.


Best draws: Blackburn, Everton, Hull, Swansea, Shrewsbury.


Aways:  Wolves, Reading, Watford, Leeds, Gillingham.


Homes: Tottenham, Wigan, Millwall, Preston, Exeter, Huddersfield, Southampton, Accrington, Aldershot.




Pick of the draws: Premier League action resumes this weekend as Blackburn host Blackpool. Both teams are just above the relegation zone and in decline, so it is difficult to pick a winner. You never know which Everton is going to turn up these days, but Fulham, their opponents, are models of consistency away from home, having drawn eight matches on their travels. Hull are making a late charge for the Championship play-offs and well capable of taking a point off second-placed Norwich. Swansea have stumbled in the last few weeks, which makes them vulnerable to a team like fellow promotion-seekers Nottingham Forest, who have already drawn seven games on the road. In League Two, it is hard to separate Shrewsbury (5th) from visitors Wycombe (3rd).


Away days: Although Wolves have been terrible away from Molineux, it's worth taking a chance on them to beat Aston Villa, who are being unsettled by player unrest and only two points off the relegation zone. Reading came out of their FA Cup sixth-round defeat at Manchester City with enormous credit and will be confident of taking maximum points from their Championship trip to Barnsley. Watford have come alive again after a dip in form and will go to Middlesbrough with no fears. Leeds should bolster their promotion challenge by defeating Sheffield United, where hope of avoiding relegation is fading fast. In League Two, I expect the rapidly improving Gillingham to prevail at troubled Burton.


Homes sweet homes: Bottom-of-the-table Wigan have a must-win match against fellow relegation strugglers Birmingham and I believe they will come through. Having beaten Queens Park Rangers (at home) and Burnley (away) in their past two games, Millwall will feel they can send faltering Cardiff home pointless from the New Den. Preston, the Championship's bottom club, won a crucial encounter at Scunthorpe this week and will approach their fixture against Coventry with much more confidence. Middle-of-the-table Accrington have won their last four home matches in League Two. Back them to make it five against promotion contenders Port Vale, who have gone off the boil.

Wednesday, 9 March 2011

Pools tips for this weekend March 12-13

Treble chance (home teams): Swindon, Cheltenham, Lincoln, Port Vale, Rotherham, Tamworth, Farnborough, Clyde, Elgin, Queen's Park.

Best draws: Cheltenham, Port Vale, Rotherham, Tamworth, Clyde.


 Aways: MK Dons, Chesterfield, Barrow, Droylsden, Eastleigh. 


 Homes: Charlton, Peterborough, Rochdale, Gillingham, Morecambe, Northampton, Boston, Stalybridge, Chelmsford.


 Pick of the draws: I'm taking Aldershot to continue their improvement in League Two by gaining a point at Cheltenham, whose home record is undistinguished. Although Port Vale are in the play-off positions their form has not been wholly convincing, so visitors Oxford will probably share the spoils. Second-placed Bury are in great shape and well equipped to hold hosts and fellow promotion contenders Rotherham. In the Blue Square Premier, Tamworth's home record is indifferent. Lowly Hayes & Yeading will feel they can take advantage. In the Scottish third division, Clyde (bottom) v East Stirling (second from bottom) looks a nailed-on three-pointer on the coupon.


 Away days: League One promotion contenders MK Dons are on a roll and should be backed to win at Colchester. Relegation strugglers Barrow have not won away in the Blue Square Premier this season, but they could break their duck at Forest Green, who are just above them. In the Blue Square Bet North, I have a hunch that Droylsden, surprise packets in this season's FA Cup, will prevail at Workington. Eastleigh have travelled well in the Blue Square Bet South and must be fancied to beat Bishop's Stortford, who have already lost 10 home games this season. 


 Homes sweet homes: Charlton will be determined to stop the League One rot at The Valley against Brentford. Peterborough cannot stop scoring, or winning, and must be fancied to continue their unbeaten run against Carlisle. Gillingham will surely strengthen their League Two promotion challenge at the expense of Accrington, while Northampton, who host Macclesfield, are tipped to give new manager Gary Johnson his first victory. Blue Square Bet North high-flyers Boston should be too strong for Gloucester.