skip to main |
skip to sidebar
The void matches this weekend are Southampton v Reading (No 10 on coupon), Barnet v Hereford (24) and Fleetwood v Lincoln (35). Replacing Fleetwood in my home selections is Wrexham.
Ten draws: Watford v Hull, Bury v Bournemouth, Carlisle v Charlton, Rochdale v Exeter, Wycombe v Oldham, Bristol Rovers v Burton, Morecambe v Port Vale, Oxford v Gillingham, Torquay v Southend, Elgin v Annan.
Best draws: Bury v Bournemouth, Bristol Rovers v Burton, Morecambe v Port Vale, Torquay v Southend, Elgin v Annan.
Five aways: Cardiff, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe, Luton.
Nine homes: Burnley, Derby, Leeds, Brentford, Preston, Swindon, Kidderminster, Wrexham, York.
Pick of the draws: Although Bury are struggling in League One, they have won their last two home games, form which should be good enough to see them gain a point against Bournemouth. Burton have at last halted their slide down League Two and I expect them to share the spoils at Bristol Rovers. Morecambe's poor home results have held them back this season and I believe Port Vale will be the latest team to deny them. Nobody in League Two has a better away record than Southend, who can hold their promotion rivals Torquay. Elgin's home form has dipped in the Scottish third division and Annan can take advantage.
Away days: The season can't end quickly enough for Barnsley and Championship play-off hopefuls Cardiff should be too strong for them. Crystal Palace are in a similar slump and this is a good opportunity for Ipswich to continue climbing the table. Sheffield Wednesday are in a battle royal with Sheffield United for automatic promotion to the Championship and are a confident selection at mid-table Colchester. Crewe are a good bet to extend their long unbeaten run in League Two at Macclesfield, who occupy one of the two relegation slots. Luton will be anxious to make up lost ground in the Blue Square Premier promotion race and are fancied against Alfreton.
Homes sweet homes: Middlesbrough are higher than Derby in the Championship but Derby are playing better and are worth backing. If Neil Warnock's Leeds can keep 11 players on the field - no easy task if recent games are anything to go by - they should see off Peterborough. In League One a revitalised Brentford could get the better of Notts County, who are two places above them. Preston have had their problems recently but they may be worth a flutter against Huddersfield, who appear to have resigned themselves to a play-off place - again.
Try to steer clear of the void matches this Easter weekend. The following matches are void: Swansea v Newcastle, Barnsley v West Ham, Reading v Leeds, Aldershot v Port Vale and Bristol Rovers v Gillingham.
Ten draws: Bolton v Fulham, Sunderland v Tottenham, West Brom v Blackburn, Derby v Ipswich, Millwall v Hull, Raith v Hamilton, Cowdenbeath v Arbroath, Forfar v East Fife, Stenhousemuir v Airdrie, Annan v Berwick.
Best draws: Sunderland v Tottenham, West Brom v Blackburn, Derby v Ipswich, Cowdenbeath v Arbroath, Annan v Berwick.
Five aways: Everton, Charlton, MK Dons, Hearts, Partick.
Nine homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Brentford, York, Dundee.
Pick of the draws: Tottenham's Premier League blip seems to be over but they may struggle to gain more than a point at Sunderland, who have been transformed since Martin O'Neill took over. Relegation-threatened Blackburn gave a good account of themselves despite losing against Manchester United on Monday and will fancy their chances of avoiding defeat at West Brom, who have little to play for. Derby v Ipswich looks one of the best draws on the coupon - two middle-of-the-table Championship teams who should have done better. I'm taking Arbroath, second in the Scottish second division, to put a dent in the fine home record of leaders Cowdenbeath while in the Scottish third division, away specialists Berwick can hold the side who are one place and four points above them - Annan.
Away days: On-form Everton can make it three away wins in a row when they visit Norwich, who have slightly tailed off. League One leaders Charlton are confidently predicted to take maximum points at Oldham and MK Dons are expected to take advantage of the turmoil and strife at Preston. Bottom club Dunfermline cannot buy a win at home in the Scottish Premier League and I cannot see Hearts giving them any encouragement. In the Scottish first division, Partick seem a decent bet to increase Ayr's relegation worries.
Homes sweet homes: Manchester City's title challenge continues to falter and Arsenal, eager to make up for last weekend's lapse against Queens Park Rangers, will be in no mood to let them off the hook. Coventry are out of the Championship relegation zone for the first time in months and I believe they will move nearer safety by beating inconsistent Peterborough. Although Blue Square Premier leaders Fleetwood have registered an incredible 17 away victories this season they may be worth opposing at York, who have climbed into the play-off places and defeated fellow contenders Luton last Friday. Dundee, second in the Scottish first division, have come on strong recently and should be backed against Falkirk, who lie just behind them.
Ten draws: Fulham v Norwich, Wolves v Bolton, Blackpool v Southampton, West Ham v Reading, Exeter v Colchester, MK Dons v Brentford, Accrington v AFC Wimbledon, Port Vale v Dagenham & Redbridge, St Mirren v Kilmarnock, Queen of the South v Ayr.
Best draws: Fulham v Norwich, West Ham v Reading, MK Dons v Brentford, Accrington v AFC Wimbledon, Port Vale v Dagenham & Redbridge.
Five aways: Chelsea, Arsenal, Leicester, Tranmere, Crawley.
Nine homes: Everton, Wigan, Ipswich, Portsmouth, Carlisle, Notts County, Crewe, Gillingham, Plymouth.
Pick of the draws: Fulham have lost their last three matches and may struggle to overcome Norwich, who have adapted so well to the Premier League. Reading are looking a more likely bet for automatic promotion from the Championship than West Ham. The two play each other on Saturday at Upton Park, where West Ham have dropped a lot of points. In League One, Brentford are on the march again after an indifferent spell and will feel confident of getting something from their trip to MK Dons. In League Two, I expect AFC Wimbledon to confirm their improvement by holding Accrington and Dagenham & Redbridge to gain a valuable point at Port Vale in their fight to avoid relegation.
Away days: Chelsea's Champions League win at Benfica will be a huge boost to their morale and ailing Aston Villa don't look capable of stopping them. Arsenal are determined to finish the season with a flourish and must be fancied to make it eight consecutive Premier League victories when they go to relegation-threatened QPR. Leicester are due a good away result and may get one at Peterborough, who are not completely safe from the Championship drop. The League One form team, Tranmere, are as good an away bet as any at Bury, who have declined alarmingly. Crawley are back on song in League Two and will surely defeat managerless Burton.
Homes sweet homes: Wigan must start winning at home if they are to escape relegation from the Premier League. I believe last Saturday's victory at Anfield will give them the confidence to prevail against Stoke. Portsmouth are making a spirited effort to stay in the Championship and should be backed against Burnley, who are dropping down the table. Carlisle strengthened their hold on the League One play-off positions with a fine win at MK Dons and are worth a punt against higher-placed Huddersfield. The same can be said for Plymouth, who lie 22nd in League Two but are showing much better form than the side they play on Saturday - Bradford City, who are 19th.
Ten draws: Chelsea v Tottenham, Stoke v Manchester City, Derby v Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest v Brighton, Wycombe v MK Dons, Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington, Morecambe v Shrewsbury, Northampton v Plymouth, St Johnstone v Hearts, Ayr v Morton.
Best draws: Derby v Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest v Brighton, Wycombe v MK Dons, Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington, Morecambe v Shrewsbury.
Five aways: Peterborough, Carlisle, Sheffield Wednesday, Gillingham, Crewe.
Nine homes: Arsenal, Norwich, Sunderland, Swansea, Leicester, Preston, Tranmere, Yeovil, AFC Wimbledon.
Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace give very little away in the Championship and Derby will struggle to penetrate their defence. Nottingham Forest will be up for it after a remarkable 7-3 victory at Leeds but they will probably find it tougher against Brighton, who have moved into the play-off places. Two consecutive away wins in League One should enable lowly Wycombe to share the spoils with MK Dons, who have enjoyed some good results themselves. Mid-table Accrington have drawn 11 away games in League Two. I recommend a punt on them making it 12 at Dagenham & Redbridge, who are battling against relegation. Morecambe have run into form and I'm taking them to deny promotion-seeking Shrewsbury a much-needed victory.
Away days: If Peterborough can beat red-hot Reading they must be fancied against Barnsley, who are woefully out of form in the Championship. In League One I'm taking Carlisle to prevail at Colchester, who failed to overcome 10-man Stevenage, and promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday to increase Leyton Orient's worries at the wrong end of the table. Bradford are only four points away from the League Two relegation zone and I think Gillingham will add to their anxiety. On-form Crewe can strengthen their play-off hopes with three points at struggling Hereford.
Homes sweet homes: Swansea's quality in the Premier League has impressed everybody and I doubt whether Everton can halt their progress. In the Championship, Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will be eager to get the better of his former club Hull, who are surprisingly higher in the table. Yeovil have moved well away from the League One relegation zone and will be confident of defeating Hartlepool. Burton are in freefall in League Two, so AFC Wimbledon are looking good for maximum points.
Ten draws: Portsmouth v Bristol City, Exeter v Preston, Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon, Burton v Torquay, Nuneaton v Hyde, Eastleigh v Dover, Sutton v Chelmsford, Woking v Welling, Airdrie v Forfar, Berwick v Queen's Park.
Best draws: Portsmouth v Bristol City, Bristol Rovers v AFC Wimbledon, Burton v Torquay, Sutton v Chelmsford, Woking v Welling.
Five aways: Reading, Carlisle, Southend, Bishop's Stortford, Dundee.
Nine homes: Ipswich, Colchester, Rochdale, Accrington, Aldershot, Barnet, Forest Green, Southport, FC Halifax.
Pick of the draws: Bottom club Portsmouth seem resigned to relegation from the Championship after their 10-point deduction, which should allow Bristol City, in danger of going down themselves, to escape from Fratton Park with a point. In League Two, AFC Wimbledon have acquitted themselves well on their travels and a visit to Bristol Rovers should hold no fears. Burton have been in freefall but I have a hunch they will stop the rot by holding Torquay. Sutton (4th) and Chelmsford (5th) are very evenly matched in the Blue Square Bet South and I cannot separate them. Woking are clear leaders in this division but if any team can hold them it's Welling, who are also in the promotion mix.
Away days: The claims of Reading, eight wins and a draw from their last nine games in the Championship, cannot be ignored at Barnsley, especially as the hosts have hit a rocky patch. League One play-off contenders Carlisle look a good thing at ailing Bournemouth and in League Two I expect Southend to return to winning ways at Hereford, who have already lost 11 times at home. Bishop's Stortford can confirm their improvement in the Blue Square Bet North by prevailing at Workington while in the Scottish first division Dundee's fine away record should stand them in good stead at Morton.
Homes sweet homes: Colchester won 2-0 at runaway leaders Charlton recently, so they are capable of upsetting Huddersfield, whose attempt at automatic promotion from League One is stalling. Bottom club Rochdale gained a deserved point in a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield last weekend and are worth a punt against inconsistent, mid-table Oldham. Aldershot, winners of their last four at home in League Two, have an excellent chance of making it five against Bradford City, who struggle to string good results together. Barnet are sliding dangerously close to the relegation zone, so they will be eager to avenge last season's home defeat by Morecambe.