LIVERPOOL, MIDDLESBROUGH, MK DONS & ROTHERHAM – GILLINGHAM DRAW
Bolton have a miserable away record against Liverpool in the Premier League having lost 11 of 12 at Anfield, and on each of their previous nine visits. A stoppage-time Joe Cole goal from close range ensured the Reds maintained that impeccable run last season, but it should be a lot more straight-forward for Kenny Dalglish’s resurgent Reds, who will be brimming with confidence after tidy victories over Arsenal in the league and away at Exeter in the Carling Cup.
LIVERPOOL TO BEAT BOLTON, BEST ODDS: 4/9 WilliamHill
Just about everyone has missed a trick with Middlesbrough it would seem, the team who finished last season with four straight wins having continued where they left off with three wins and a draw from their first four games of the new term, stretching their unbeaten run in the Championship to eight games. It has taken long enough but it would appear Tony Mowbray finally has those Teesiders singing from the same hymn sheet, and I expect them to hit all the right notes at home to second from bottom Coventry at the weekend.
MIDDLESBROUGH TO BEAT COVENTRY, BEST ODDS: 4/6 SkyBet
With ten points under their belts, 11 goals scored – six of which were netted in last week’s 6-2 thrashing of Chesterfield at Stadium: MK – there shouldn’t be any shortage of confidence in Milton Keynes. That said, news of Sam Baldock’s departure – the soon to be West Ham striker who netted a hat-trick against the Spireites – has come as a blow, but that shouldn’t put the brakes on their gathering momentum and Karl Robinson’s charges should be far too strong for promoted Stevenage at home.
MK DONS TO BEAT STEVENAGE, BEST ODDS: 10/11 WilliamHill
Finally, Rotherham versus Gillingham – second against third in League Two. It should be a very close, evenly-fought encounter between two teams who’ll feel promotion certainly isn’t beyond them after the stunning starts they’ve made. Both are unbeaten, both have ten points under their belts after four league fixtures. Home advantage could be key, but negating that possibly could be the absence of Millers’ prolific Adam le Fondre, Rotherham’s current leading marksmen this season, as well as their top scorer last season, who is poised to sign for Championship side Reading. Separating these two will take some doing, while a draw wouldn’t be a catastrophe for either camp.
ROTHERHAM TO DRAW WITH GILLINGHAM, BEST ODDS: 12/5 PaddyPower
Four-Timer Odds: 15/1 VictorChandler
