TWITS Picks GW31: A Close Call
Read below for our Gameweek 24 review and a preview of our picks for Gameweek 25.
Want to test your footie knowledge against us? Download Tipple here and get involved!
Gameweek 30 Review
Kieran: 8 points
Picks
Oxford 1-1 Charlton (BIG BET) - Home (0pts)
Norwich 2-0 Preston North End - Away (0pts)
Doncaster 2-1 Blackpool - Home (3pts)
Mansfield 2-2 Barnsley - Draw (5pts)
Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle - Home (0pts)
Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa - Away (0pts)
Review
Trust Oxford to let me down. Ciaron Brown giving away a stupid penalty in the 92nd minute after we looked pretty comfortable all game. Cannot believe it. Anyway, other than that I guess it was an okay week, 8 points is 8 points at the end of the day. Would have nice to have been 16 though. What would have made it better was if Will didn’t somehow escape a second -10
Schoey: 20 points
Picks
Oxford 1-1 Charlton (BIG BET) - Draw (10pts)
Leicester 1-3 QPR - Home (0pts)
Norwich 2-0 Preston North End - Home (3pts)
Wycombe 1-2 Luton Town - Home (0pts)
Swindon 1-2 MK Dons - Away (4pts)
Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa - Home (3pts)
Review
Finally a big bet prediction! 4/6 last week which I was very happy with! Almost made all the more sweeter with Will nearly getting -10 relying on his last game of the weekend. Unfortunately his boring 0-0 draw came in! I'm hoping I can get the same sort of luck this weekend!
Will: 5 points
Picks
Oxford 1-1 Charlton (BIG BET) - Home (0pts)
Sunderland 0-1 Brighton - Home (0pts)
Birmingham 1-1 Sheffield United - Home (0pts)
Leicester 1-3 QPR - Draw (0pts)
Swindon 1-2 MK Dons - Draw (0pts)
Crystal Palace 0-0 Leeds - Draw (5pts)
Review
Who says 0-0 results aren’t a great result. Crystal Palace Vs Leeds providing me a crucial 5pts, and more importantly to wipe the smugness off Kieran and Schoey’s faces after not entering the hall of shame (again).
Anyway not a great week for me but could have been devastating so got to look on the bright side.
Current Standings
1st) Will (Correct: 74, Points: 294)
2nd) Schoey (Correct: 71, Points: 289)
3rd) Kieran (Correct: 68, Points: 267)
Gameweek 31 Picks
Kieran
Newcastle vs Sunderland (BIG BET) - Home
Well, it seems Newcastle have gotten back to a bit of form lately - if we look past their 7-2 battering at the Nou Camp that is - they have taken 7 points from 12 and beaten Chelsea and Manchester United along the way. Now, obviously form goes out the window in these matches but if the players are not out to prove a point after the Barcelona game then they don’t deserve to be playing football for a living.
Brighton vs Liverpool - Away
I was going to stay away from this match until I saw Liverpool annihilate Galatasary on Wednesday. It did look a bit like the Liverpool of old, and I am hoping they take this form into the weekend and get a decent away win.
QPR vs Portsmouth - Draw
My dodgy bet of the week. A 10 point gap might put people off betting anything that a QPR win, but apart from the win away at Leicester (who let’s be honest are one of the worst in the division) QPR have been in a torrid run of form - losing 5 in 6 before that match. Portsmouth themselves are in trouble and have been slipping towards the relegation zone since the start of February. This is a crucial match in their season and I think a draw would be a decent result, even if maybe not enough for Pompey fans.
Plymouth vs Huddersfield - Home
A huge game in the League One play-off race. Plymouth have pulled themselves right into contention in the last few weeks and I think they might just continue that here in one of the biggest matches of their season. If they were to gain a win they would not only leapfrog Huddersfield, but could even end up in the play-offs if other results go there way.
Gillingham vs Bristol Rovers - Draw
Two teams in contrasting form. Rovers have pulled themselves out of trouble after an impressive run since the turn of the year, and Gillingham seem to be on the beach already after picking up 1 point in the last 4 matches. I think this is going to be a typical “coming to the end of the season” bore draw, both teams are pretty much safe, neither are going up, nothing to play for.
Charlton vs Norwich - Away
After seeing Charlton last Saturday I’m pretty confident Norwich can get a result here, if it weren’t for a bit of stupidity from the Oxford centre back they’d be coming into this off of a 1-0 loss. Now I know they got a couple of results before that, but I’m going to go with instinct and say that they will lose this.
Schoey
Newcastle vs Sunderland (BIG BET) - Home
I know, I know. Newcastle were battered 7-2 by Barca on wednesday. But they did nearly beat them at home in the reverse fixture. Sunderland have been really off it for a while now, even with Xhaka back in the squad. Their ridiculous form from the start of the season has seemed to have disappeared (thank god). Infact Sunderland have only scored 1 goal which wasn't a penalty in their last 8 games! Newcastle have had some really tough games recently, losing to Man City and Barcelona but have beaten Chelsea away and inform Man Utd at home. Please Newcastle. Give me another correct big bet prediction.
Brighton vs Liverpool - Away
This could be a bit of a brave pick as Brighton have won 3 of their last 4 games and we all know how off it Liverpool have been this season. But I do think the 4-0 thrashing of Galatasaray in the week may have given them a bit of a confidence boost, which they desperately needed. They certainly showed glimpses of their class and what we all know they are capable of.games.
Ipswich vs Millwall - Draw
Both these sides have been in very good form recently in their races to automatic spots. But have shown they are capable of the odd slip ups. Ipswich dropping points to Leicester at home and Stoke away, two teams that really aren't pulling up any trees this season. Then Millwall who had been on fire, looking unstoppable in recent weeks, lost at home to relegation battlers Blackburn. Not even registering a single shot on or off target in the first half! What the hell happened there?? Anyway I think this will be a really close game!
MK Dons vs Barnet - Home
I was almost surprised to see this as an option this week! After backing them away at Swindon last weekend and them not letting me down, it would only be rude not to back them again! But at home this time against a mid table Barnet side who haven't really been in impressive form recently.
Charlton vs Norwich - Away
Charlton just about managed to snatch a point thanks to a penalty in the last minute against oxford. Their performance didn't impress me enough to think they would cause Norwich a problem this weekend. Norwich have lost 4 and won 10 in the league this calendar year which is very solid! Whereas Charlton have only won 5 league games this year.
Wigan vs Exeter - Home
Both of these sides are battling to stay in league 1 at the moment, both just 1 point above the drop zone. Exeter have been in pretty terrible form recently, not winning a game in their last 12. Wigan on the other hand have been decent at home recently, winning 3 of their last 4 home games. Only losing to inform side Plymouth.
Will
Newcastle vs Sunderland (BIG BET) - Home
Tyne-wear Derby this Sunday it’s going to be a huge clash at St.James Park. This could be the perfect game for Newcastle after the midweek nightmare in Spain. For Sunderland they are not in the best form with only 1 win in the best 5 games. I have to back Newcastle on this one with the mix of the home support and losing the reverse fixture earlier in the season. They are also in better form winning 2 league games on the bounce and from the last 5 the have won 3 and lost 2.
Brighton vs Liverpool - Away
Liverpool’s result midweek might help to get them back on track in the league they’ve dropped crucial points in the past two weeks, losing to Wolves and drawing to Spurs last weekend. I believe they can take the result midweek into this game and take all 3 points.
Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest - Home
Might be a bit of a stretch I know Spurs winning at home. But the past week they have had a couple players return from injury and suspension which was highlighted in the result against Athletico Madrid. I’m backing they are going to get all 3pts here to move away from the relegation battle and to make it there Third home win all season.
Stevenage vs Reading - Draw
Two teams fighting for their play off spots with 1 point splitting them. Both teams are in similar form winning 3 from the past 5. I don’t think ether side will want to make any mistakes here and which will result in a cagey affair and I’m going on the result it will ended up all square at full time.
Accrington vs Chesterfield - Away
I thought Chesterfield would be comfortably in the play off places by now but they seem to be trying to decide whether to blow it or not. Accrington haven’t won in the past 5 only picking up 2 points, and losing midweek 4-0 at home to Notts county. I think Chesterfield will be disappointed with anything but a win in their push for play off places.
MK Dons vs Barnet - Home
I have to back Mk they are the most inform team in the league winning their last 4 games on the bounce. Barnet on the other hand are sitting mid table not quite playing for anything now and have only won 2 games in the past 5. Mk are still looking to chase down Bromley with only 2 points separating them at the top.
