Rudger Football Tips

This could really go a long way to Coventry City getting one foot in the door of promotion as first play third. Super Frank have been gaining some cracking results lately. Although they lost to Ipswich in early December, the scoreline was not a true representative of a game where arguably the Ipswich goalkeeper had the game of his season and the woodwork came to the rescue. The referee was also guilty of bottling a definite red card for an Ipswich player who scored their first goal that day. I feel revenge for that day is a strong possibility.

Make no mistake: Boro are stuttering. A 0-0 home draw against lowly Blackburn does not lift the spirits, and they now play Hull, who are chasing Boro for the automatic promotion spot. I think a draw is a massive possibility.

East Midlands match-up that has a draw written all over it. Leicester need points as they are facing a points deduction, and Derby are on the up. Only one point separates them in midtable positions.

QPR are a better team than WBA. That is an easy statement to make, as the London team are seven points above them in the league. But West Brom and the manager need a positive result. I expect a share of the points and a continuation of the home fans' frustrations.

Wrexham at home are a tougher proposition than an away team. They are realising previous seasons' success has not been so easy. A dramatic win over Sheff Utd showed how good they can be at home. Dogged Preston will fight but not find it easy to get much out of this one.

Portsmouth drew with QPR last game, which is decent considering the league positions of both teams. Charlton's form recently has not been too good, losing at lowly Norwich, so they could find Fratton Park another away-day loss.

Eighth-place Watford will not fear a trip to Carrow Road. Winning at Leicester City will boost their confidence and should make Norwich City a harder game than when they face an out-of-sorts Charlton. I can see another away win for the Hornets as they chase a play-off place.

Swansea City are a bit toothless in attack, but they did show decent possession skill at Coventry. Oxford are no Coventry, and I expect a share of the points in this bottom-of-the-table clash.

Mansfield face a tough trip to high-flying Bolton. Bolton won their last game and will be confident of dispatching Mansfield, who did get a cracking result at Barnsley, but this might be another level for them to repeat.

Probably a banker bet. Huddersfield smashed bottom-of-the-table Port Vale by five goals, and I think they will be licking their lips as they chase a promotion spot with a second home game on the trot.

It doesn't get any easier for Port Vale after a battering last game as they face third-placed Bradford City. Bradford beat Wigan last game and will be licking their lips at another home win.

Chelsea need to quickly realize that teams don't fear them and should stop making too many changes. After beating a decent Aston Villa, they take off too many players and lose momentum, giving Villa encouragement. Bournemouth are no Villa, and I don't see the same result. Brentford battered Bournemouth in the last game.

Mid-table Everton are a really boring team to follow. Seven wins and seven losses, but up against a resurgent Forest at Nottingham will be a hard nut to crack. The league table shows Forest languishing near the bottom, but the team at home is a hard one to beat.

A big chance for Brighton to get an away win here. West Ham are, to put it bluntly, awful. Third from bottom, conceding thirty-five goals so far with just three wins says it all. Brighton fought hard at Arsenal in a 2-1 loss but should have plenty to beat this Hammers team, who look destined for relegation.

Burnley cannot cope with the better Premier League teams and are doomed to relegation. Second to bottom, they are struggling, and Newcastle can overrun them with the players at their disposal.

Although still winning games, Arsenal have not been at their most convincing best. But with the injury list beginning to recede at the right time, they can take on Aston Villa with a lot more belief. Villa did really well to beat Chelsea, but I don't see Arsenal players making the same errors.