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Except Champions league and UEFA Cup games, nothing special during midweek. Only few games in English divisions and regular round in Scottish Div 1.
So I pick few games to analyze…
Div 1
Gillingham v Norwich X
Both teams are in up trend. As you can see in Kimko topic regarding games in England for last weekend I was afraid that Gillingham can surprise leader. But it seems that Portsmouth is too strong for rest of league. This time Gilligham will play against Norwich. Gillingham is in series of 3 straight wins at home: Burnley, Leicester and Grimsby, but on round they are in series of 3 straight losses: Preston, Reading, Portsmouth, but you must admit that all three teams are in great form lately.
On another side, Norwich is in, after bad period, in up trend winning last game away against Sheffield United 1-0. That was first win after 6 games without win. But they were very unlucky losing great advantage before 2 round when they were in 2-0 lead against Sheffield Wednesday away but only managed to draw on end. I had opportunity to watch FA Cup game against Southampton, and I was impressed with Norwich performance for 60 minutes, but Saints used bad period of Norwich and won that game 2-0. So for me very unpredictable game, also tradition says same. Last two round at Gillis ground: 0-2 and 4-3.
I am still without team news, but my pick will be draw here…..Next weekend I will go for Norwich home win against Ipswich, who is definitely in downtrend.
Wolves v Watford 1
This is clear home win for me. Wolves are without home wins 4 games: two draws and losses, but lately they are in up trend winning two games away against Ipswich and Preston. Watford is in bad period losing to straight games against Rotheram at home 1:2 and last weekend against Walsall away 0:2. This is clash between teams who are battling for play-off place, so I think that Wolves will use current form and win. Tradition in last two seasons is 1:0 for Wolves, and 2:2
Div 2
Brentford v Huddersfield 1
Brentford in middle of table, against Huddersfield who is battling to avoid relegation. Both teams won away in last round. Brentford against Luton, and Huddersield against Barnsley. But here I give advantage to home team, who showed in last few games that they are capable to battle with much stronger opponents. (Example away draw against B City before few weeks), also they have very strong defense, receiving only 9 goals in 14 home games. Huddersfield only managed to score 7 times in 15 away games, so in my opinion they will try to find points somewhere else. Last season 3-0 for Brentford.
Port Vale v Cardiff 2,X
On first view, easy away win but looking in Cardiff form lately I am not impressed. Only one win in last 5 games is not enough for team who want promotion. In Friday, they only managed to draw at home against average Plymouth. Port Vale is very close to relegation zone, so every point is very important to them. But they are not in great form lately too. One win in last 6 games, and only one home win in last 6 home games in poor record. I expect great battle in this one, but I will support one more time Cardiff but covering with draw cause of big importance for home team. Last season 0-2 for Cardiff.
As I mentioned above, these predictions are without team’s news, so I am looking for addition opinion or news other guys, who are familiar with English leagues.
Regarding other games, my bets are Inverness, Valencia, Newcastle and Besiktas…
BBC Sports - Wolves v Watford
Wolves midfielder Colin Cameron is a doubt for the home game with fellow play-off chasers Watford after limping out of the 2-0 win at Preston. The Scotland international is having treatment on a foot injury and will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness before a decision is made.
Striker Nathan Blake needs more reserve games before he is ready to return following dislocated toes and foot ligament damage.
But Paul Butler (ribs) and Mark Kennedy (hamstring) came through the Preston match without any reaction.
Watford striker Tommy Smith will miss the trip to Wolves after being involved in a car crash. Smith, who hit the winner in the FA Cup tie at Sunderland from the penalty spot earlier this month, suffered minor injuries. He missed the 2-0 defeat at Walsall but club doctors say he could return by the weekend.
Captain Neil Cox should return to the starting line-up after serving a one-match suspension, but fellow defender Paul Robinson will serve the last of a two-match ban. Centre-half Sean Dyche missed the trip to Walsall because his wife went into labour, but he is back in contention.
Gillingham v Norwich
Gillingham could have Mark Saunders back from a hamstring injury for their home game with Norwich. The midfielder was hoping to make his comeback against Portsmouth on Saturday, but suffered a slight twinge which delayed his recovery.
Fellow midfielder Simon Osborn is not yet ready to return to the first team, however, and will play a full reserve game this week on his way back from long-term Achilles trouble. Striker Kevin James faces a six-week spell on the sidelines after discovering he requires surgery on a knee problem.
New loan signing Leigh Bromby will be available for Norwich as they look to complete the double over Gillingham this season. The central defender has signed on a one-month deal from Sheffield Wednesday and will ease the defensive worries for boss Nigel Worthington, whose side beat the Gills 1-0 at home in August.
Midfielder Phil Mulryne and striker David Nielsen are both rated 50-50 to figure. Darel Russell is definitely out after sustaining an ankle injury in training last week.
Brentford v Huddersfield
Brentford manager Wally Downes is set to stick with the side which beat Luton for the visit of Huddersfield. The Bees earned their first league win of the year at Kenilworth Road despite being depleted by injuries, and Downes will not alter a winning team.
Jamie Fullarton is the only doubt after limping off with a leg injury, and will undergo a late fitness test. Defender Ibrahima Sonko should be back in contention on his return from international duty with the Senegal Under-23 side, but is unlikely to start. Midfielder Martin Rowlands is available again after a one-match ban, but Stephen Evans remains doubtful with an Achilles injury. Defenders Leo Roget (ankle), and Scott Marshall (leg) remain sidelined.
Huddersfield Town manager Mick Wadsworth has reported a clean bill of health and could well name an unchanged side for the trip. But with Adie Moses back after suspension Wadsworth could bring him back for young Nathan Clarke. Clarke returned to first-team action at Barnsley at the weekend after three months out with a knee injury.
Cambridge v Bristol City
Cambridge boss John Taylor welcomes back striker Dave Kitson and defender Warren Goodhind from suspension for the LDV Vans Trophy tie with Bristol City. Kitson's return will be a major boost for the U's, who trail the visitors 4-2 heading into the second leg of the Southern Area final.
Daniel Chillingworth, who hobbled off in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Hull, is a doubt with a knee injury and will have a late fitness test before Taylor names his side. David Bridge is definitely ruled out with an ankle injury that has forced him onto crutches, while David Theobald is cup-tied.
Taylor hopes to sign an experienced defender in time for the game.
Bristol City will have Scott Murray available for the trip to Cambridge. City, who lead 4-2 from the first leg, estimate that a final at the Millennium Stadium against either Carlisle or Shrewsbury would be worth at least Ł250,000.
Danny Wilson will await fitness tests on Matthew Hill and Joe Burnell, who both took painful knocks in Saturday's 2-1 win at Northampton Town, before naming his side.
Port Vale v Cardiff
Port Vale boss Brian Horton will welcome back Marc Bridge-Wilkinson and Steve Rowland from suspension for the home game against Cardiff. Both men were banned for the 1-1 draw with Swindon after collecting five yellow cards this term.
Defender Peter Clarke, who made his debut on Saturday after joining on loan from Everton, seems certain to play along with Adrian Littlejohn, who agreed a short-term deal at Vale Park last week. Stephen McPhee comes into contention for a start having played 45 minutes against Swindon following a recent groin problem.
Mike Walsh is still sidelined through injury, but he could be back for the weekend's visit to Colchester.
Cardiff manager Lennie Lawrence will reshuffle his pack for the trip to Port Vale. Concerned at his side's failure to win more than one of their last five matches, Lawrence has vowed to change the side "in terms of personnel and shape". Alan Mahon comes back into consideration after recovering from a viral infection, although Lawrence admits he is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes.
Crewe v Wigan
Crewe will be without skipper David Brammer, Ben Rix, Stephen Foster and David Wright for the top-of-the-table showdown with Wigan.
Brammer is likely to remain out for another week as the midfielder has only been able to take part in light training after aggravating a groin strain against Notts County. Rix is expected to be sidelined for a further five weeks with an ankle injury sustained away to Brentford. Foster should be out for three to four weeks with knee cartilage damage, while Wright should be out for a similar amount of time after sustaining a groin strain at Chesterfield.
Nigerian international Efe Sodje should make his first league start since 18 January as a replacement for Wright.
Wigan manager Paul Jewell could name an unchanged team for the trip to Crewe, although he will give Peter Kennedy until the last possible moment to prove his fitness. The Northern Ireland international took ill late last week and missed the win at Wycombe, with Stephen McMillan impressing in his absence.
The rest of the squad has reported no after-effects and although Nathan Ellington came off with 16 minutes remaining after struggling all week with tonsillitis, he should be fine for the game
Luton v Plymouth
Luton will have Steve Howard back in their starting line-up for the crucial Division Two match against Plymouth. Howard has missed two matches through suspension and Luton slipped back in the play-off race without him, going down 1-0 at home to Brentford at the weekend.
Canadian international Lars Hirschfeld looks set to replace Carl Emberson in goal after signing on a month's loan from Tottenham. Sol Davis returned to the side against Brentford to replace Emmerson Boyce, who is struggling with a groin injury, and should continue. Defender Alan Neilson is out with a calf muscle injury, but Russell Perrett is back in the squad after returning from his ongoing groin problems.
Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock is set to keep changes to a minimum for the trip to Luton.
Sturrock was delighted with his side's performance in the 1-1 draw at Cardiff, where fit-again Lee Hodges returned at left-back and Brian McGlinchey was recalled on the left side of midfield.
Sturrock still has options though after introducing Steve Adams, Nathan Lowndes and Marino Keith as late substitutes at Cardiff
Inverness CT v Ross County
Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson has close to a full-strength squad to choose from for the derby clash against Ross County. Influential midfielder Bobby Mann is the only concern after twisting an ankle in the Scottish Cup win over Hamilton and will face a late fitness test.
Robertson knows that with leaders Falkirk having opened up a 10-point lead over his side, Caley Thistle cannot afford to drop any points at home to County. He said: "Falkirk have a lead now and we really need to get a run of wins going if we are to put any pressure on them. The win over Hamilton was just what we needed before this game."
Ross County have a couple of serious injury doubts.
Martin Canning suffered a thigh strain in a game against Nairn County and is doubtful, while Steven Mackay picked up an ankle knock in the same game.
I have to say I disagree with the Wolves pick. I'm their fan, and have been putting money on them from round one (losing intentionally just becose I love this team), and have won a nice amount in the last two rounds when they won away. You must remember that Wolves had an amazing away record last year (much better then their home record) compared to an average home record. The same thing seems to be happening again, and I expect them to continue their great away form in their run to secure a play-off place.
They have had problems during this season because of the injuries, but now they seem to be hitting the peak of their form and I expect that will last.
Even though this should be a home win, I will not put money on Wolves today because: A) Watford are a bit of a bogey team for Wolves and me too B) Wolves have won two away games in a row, and might relax a bit which will allow Watford to surprise them C) I think 3 wins in a row would be a bit too much at the moment for Wolves, especially if the first two were away..
My advice is to cover the home win with a draw.