skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Ten draws: Manchester United v Arsenal, Southampton v Aston Villa, Swansea v Manchester City, Tottenham v Hull, Villarreal v Malaga, Verona v Empoli, Hertha Berlin v Eintracht Frankfurt, VfB Stuttgart v Hamburg, Lille v Marseille, Nantes v Lorient.
Best draws: Manchester United v Arsenal, Swansea v Manchester City, Tottenham v Hull, Verona v Empoli, Nantes v Lorient.
Best weekend away bets: Stoke, Newcastle, Leicester, Hamilton, Motherwell, St Etienne.
Best weekend home bets: Liverpool, West Ham, Norwich, Dundee, Partick, Stenhousemuir, Bristol Rovers, Rangers, Real Sociedad, Roma.
Pick of the draws: Arsenal will want to bounce back quickly from their unexpected home defeat by Swansea on Monday. A draw against Manchester United will put them in pole position to finish third in the Premier League and I believe that's what they'll get at Old Trafford. Arsenal's FA Cup sixth-round victory at United this season has removed some of the fear factor while United are still not wholly convincing. What Swansea did to Arsenal, they are capable of doing to second-placed Manchester City, although City have regained some of their swagger recently, beating Tottenham away and thrashing relegated Queens Park Rangers 6-0 at home. However, the Swans look good for at least a point. Hull, who have slipped into the relegation zone, are desperate for a good result at Tottenham. Luckily for them, Spurs seem to have switched off completely after failing to reach the Champions League places, so it wouldn't surprise me if they stumble against Hull.
Away days: Stoke are on course to end the season in the top half of the Premier League and must rate their chances at already-relegated Burnley. Newcastle, just one place away from the drop zone, have a heaven-sent opportunity to record a rare victory. They travel to bottom club Queens Park Rangers, whose relegation was confirmed when they lost 6-0 at Manchester City last weekend. Leicester, with six wins from their past seven matches, are poised to complete a remarkable escape from relegation. They will travel to Sunderland's Stadium of Light full of optimism and boosted by the fact that Sunderland have won only four matches at home all season - the joint lowest number in the Premier League. In the Scottish Premiership, Hamilton will be confident of taking all three points from lowly Ross and I expect Motherwell to have too much for relegated St Mirren.
Homes sweet homes: West Ham have found it hard going since Christmas but they will want to end their home programme on a high. I believe they will do so against Everton, who have taken one step forward and two back this season. I expect Norwich to reach the Championship play-off final by overcoming their fierce rivals Ipswich in the semi-final second leg at Carrow Road on Saturday. In the Scottish Premiership, Dundee, who were unlucky to lose to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last weekend, are worth a punt against runners-up Aberdeen, as are Partick against Kilmarnock. Bristol Rovers play Grimsby in the Conference play-off final at Wembley on Sunday. My money's on Rovers.
Pools info: West Bromwich v Chelsea (No 9 on coupon), Fiorentina v Parma (23) and Napoli v Cesena (25) will be judged by the pools panel.
Betting info: I scored eight out of 10 with my home selections last weekend. Aston Villa, Manchester City, Stoke, Queen's Park, Brora, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Bordeaux all obliged.
Ten draws: Leicester v Southampton, Celta Vigo v Sevilla, AC Milan v Roma, Genoa v Torino, Lazio v Inter Milan, Udinese v Sampdoria, Eintracht Frankfurt v Hoffenheim, Cologne v Schalke, Marseille v Monaco, Toulouse v Lille.
Best draws: Leicester v Southampton, Genoa v Torino, Lazio v Inter Milan, Marseille v Monaco, Toulouse v Lille.
Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, West Bromwich, Norwich, Partick, Rangers, Celtic.
Best weekend home bets: Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City, Stoke, Alloa, Queen's Park, Brora, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Bordeaux.
Pools info: Arsenal v Swansea (No 1 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be a pools panel judgment. Einar v Espanyol (15), Hamburg v Freiburg (36) and PSG v Guingamp (46) are being played on Friday and are therefore void.
Ten draws: Sunderland v Southampton, Tottenham v Manchester City, Blackburn v Ipswich, Crawley v Coventry, Oldham v Peterborough, Exeter v Dagenham & Redbridge, Morecambe v Southend, Northampton v Wycombe, Alloa v Cowdenbeath, Dumbarton v Raith.
Best draws: Sunderland v Southampton, Blackburn v Ipswich, Crawley v Coventry, Northampton v Wycombe, Alloa v Cowdenbeath.
Best weekend away bets: Birmingham, Bournemouth, Preston, Hartlepool, Bury, Hibernian.
Best weekend home bets: Aston Villa, Derby, Middlesbrough, Norwich, MK Dons, Port Vale, Wimbledon, Accrington, Luton, Partick.
Pick of the draws: It's hard to see relegation-troubled Sunderland obtaining more than a point from Southampton, who have a really good opportunity to finish in the top six of the Premier League. Ipswich need only a point to qualify for the Championship play-offs and I'm sure they will achieve that at Blackburn, who have nothing to play for except pride. Two late goals by Peterborough last weekend left Crawley in the League One relegation zone. A point against Coventry in their final match of the season may be enough to keep them up. Recent poor results mean Wycombe have probably lost out on automatic promotion to League One. They visit Northampton, who are strong at home and well equipped to share the spoils. Alloa, bottom of the Scottish Championship, play Cowdenbeath, who are third bottom. Neither team inspire confidence and stalemate is the likeliest outcome.
Away days: Birmingham are ending the Championship season much better than their hosts, Bolton, who last Monday were beaten more convincingly by Bournemouth than the 3-0 score suggested. Birmingham will want to finish in the top half of the table after their early-season slump and victory on Saturday will make that certain. Promoted Bournemouth will be eager to round off their remarkable season in style and I'm confident they will defeat Charlton. With MK Dons breathing down their neck in League One, Preston will probably have to win at third-from-bottom Colchester to claim the second automatic promotion spot. It will be a major surprise if they fail to do so. Hartlepool's astonishing escape from going out of the Football League may inspire them to gain maximum points at Carlisle, who are only two places above them in League Two. Promotion-seeking Bury look an away banker at Tranmere, who were relegated last Saturday, and Hibernian, contesting a runners-up place in the Scottish Championship, are worth a wager at Falkirk.
Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa were unlucky to lose at Manchester City last weekend. They have markedly improved under Tim Sherwood but still need wins to avoid relegation from the Premier League. I'm backing them to get three points against Everton, despite Everton's fine victory over Manchester United last Sunday. Now that League One Port Vale have finally seen off the threat of relegation, they may be able to relax, which could spell trouble for visitors Fleetwood on Sunday. Luton will be kicking themselves for losing form at just the wrong time in League Two as it has cost them possible promotion. However, in their last match of the season they can partly redeem themselves by beating local rivals Stevenage, who are assured of their play-off place.
Pools info: Hull v Arsenal (match No 3 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and is subject to a pools panel judgment.
Betting info: I scored five out of six with my away selections last week. Swansea, Watford, Wolves, MK Dons and Shrewsbury all obliged.
Ten draws: Arsenal v Chelsea, Burnley v Leicester, West Bromwich v Liverpool, Birmingham v Charlton, Reading v Brentford, Coventry v Crewe, Yeovil v Port Vale, Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington, Oxford v Cambridge, Southend v Luton.
Best draws: Arsenal v Chelsea, Burnley v Leicester, Birmingham v Charlton, Yeovil v Port Vale, Oxford v Cambridge.
Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Watford, Derby, Wolves, MK Dons, Shrewsbury.
Best weekend home bets: Queens Park Rangers, Stoke, Cardiff, Sheffield Wednesday, Chesterfield, Fleetwood, Plymouth, Wycombe, York, Raith.
Pick of the draws: Chelsea, the Premier League champions elect, will be happy with a draw at the Emirates on Sunday and that's what I believe they will settle for. No team is better than Chelsea at grinding out results and I can see them frustrating second-placed Arsenal, who will be trying for a 10th consecutive victory. Leicester can suddenly see an escape route from relegation thanks to three wins on the trot but I think they will be denied a fourth at Burnley, who, as the bottom club, are as desperate for points themselves. Charlton are the Championship draw specialists with 18 stalemates this season. Don't be surprised if they make it 19 at Birmingham, who are also used to drawing, having shared the spoils on 15 occasions. Although Yeovil have been relegated from League One, they have won their past two games, against Sheffield United (home) and Swindon (away). I'm taking them to avoid defeat against Port Vale, who are just above the drop zone. In League Two, there is little to separate Oxford and Cambridge and a draw is the likeliest outcome.
Away days: I cannot ignore Swansea's claims at crisis club Newcastle, who are going from bad to worse and must be relieved to have picked up so many Premier League points earlier in the season. Watford are in the Championship driving seat as they are now leading the table. They will surely be too strong for Brighton, who have badly tailed off. When Derby are on song there are few better teams in this division. Victory at third from bottom Millwall will guarantee them a play-off place and I'm confident they will get it. It looks as though Wolves will fall short in their quest for the play-offs but they should still be too good for Wigan, whose wretched home record will probably result in relegation. MK Dons are breathing down Preston's neck in the race for automatic promotion from League One. With nine goals from their past two matches, they seem a good bet at Rochdale. Maximum points at relegation-haunted Cheltenham will confirm Shrewsbury's promotion from League Two and I'll be surprised if there is an upset in this one.
Homes sweet homes: Relegation-troubled Queens Park Rangers are well worth a punt in the London derby against West Ham, who look as though they cannot wait for the season to end. Recent results have given QPR a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League and I believe they will gain a valuable three points. Bristol City, the runaway League One champions, may be tempted to take their foot off the pedal when they visit Chesterfield, for whom a win will confirm their place in the play-offs. York are ending the League Two season with a flourish under manager Russell Wilcox. They were unlucky to lose at Shrewsbury last weekend and are recommended against Newport, whose play-off hopes have faded.
Pools info: Bournemouth v Bolton (match No 12 on coupon) has been switched to Monday and the outcome will be decided by the pools panel.
Ten draws: Newcastle v Tottenham, Stoke v Southampton, Charlton v Leeds, Colchester v Scunthorpe, Gillingham v Rochdale, Accrington v Stevenage, Morecambe v Burton, Portsmouth v Bury, Aldershot v Chester FC, Dover v Bristol Rovers.
Best draws: Newcastle v Tottenham, Stoke v Southampton, Gillingham v Rochdale, Portsmouth v Bury, Aldershot v Chester.
Best weekend away bets: Fulham, Derby, Chesterfield, Southend, East Fife, Woking.
Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Leicester, Manchester City, Brentford, Watford, Doncaster, MK Dons, Swindon, Tranmere, Wrexham.
Pick of the draws: If Newcastle thought they were safe from relegation they could be in for a nasty shock. But although they are in free-fall, they could obtain a point from the visit of Tottenham, who appear to be running out of steam as the season enters its final furlong. Stoke seem set to finish in the top half of the Premier League and will give Southampton something to think about. The Saints, however, give very little away these days and have the best defensive record in the division. This looks one of the best draws on the coupon. League One Gillingham are ending the season on a high but their opponents, Rochdale, have won eight away matches and are capable of nicking a point. Bury are making a late charge for automatic promotion from League Two but Portsmouth at Fratton Park are usually a tricky proposition, even when they are without a manager, and I'm expecting a stalemate. In the Conference, Aldershot's indifferent home form will encourage Chester to come away with something.
Away days: Fulham should banish any lingering relegation fears with victory at rock bottom Blackpool, who will be playing League One football next season. Promotion-seeking Derby look as if they have stopped their alarming slide in the nick of time and I fancy them to gain three Championship points at Huddersfield. League One Chesterfield are bang in form. They scored six without reply against Colchester in midweek and I believe they will follow that up by beating Oldham. High-riding Southend have won their last four games in League Two and I'm taking them to make it five against Exeter, whose hopes of a play-off place are fading. East Fife beat the Scottish League Two leaders Albion last weekend. If they play as well at Annan, they ought to come away with maximum points. Woking will probably have to win both their remaining games to reach the Conference play-offs. They will surely have too much for Nuneaton, who are already doomed to relegation.
Homes sweet homes: Leicester, with two consecutive Premier League wins behind them, can at last see an escape route from relegation and they will fancy their chances of a third victory in a row when they host Swansea. Doncaster, of League One, are one of the least predictable teams in the top four divisions but on their day they are a match for anybody. Although their home record may discourage you, they are well worth a punt against Fleetwood, whose play-off hopes have almost disappeared. These are desperate times for Tranmere, who are bottom of League Two and worryingly out of form. However, they can do themselves a power of good by defeating mediocre Oxford.
Pools info: Norwich v Middlesbrough (match No 12 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Five of my forecast 10 draws were correct last weekend - the matches at West Ham, Derby, Barnsley, Doncaster and Cambridge.
