Brighton & Stoke

[TONNY]

In addition to my picks in the weekly newsletter I am confident in the two picks below.

1. English League One: Brighton v Swindon – Home Win

Ninth placed Brighton have one or two games in hand to three of the four teams immediately in front of them and are at only four points adrift of fifth placed Southend. Winning their game today when hosting Swindon will be most useful in their endeavour to be among the play-offs teams at the end.
They are on a good run of 5W-2D-2L in last nine. Four of these wins and the two draws were from home games. The two losses were in away games at very good Carlisle and in-form Huddesfield. At home they do very well and are expected to deliver another great game today.
From last ten games Swindon managed only two home wins and two home draws while losing three and drawing one of four away games.
They are poor on their travels and overall won only one of last seven games(LLDLWLD)
As regards the players : Midfielder Therry Racon is set for his Brighton debut after joining on loan. Andrew Whing begins a two-match ban while another loanee, left-back Matt Richards, is back at Ipswich for treatment on his hamstring injury.
Swindon striker Billy Paynter is back in contention after his two-game ban, and fellow forward Barry Corr is fit again after a shoulder injury. But Lee Peacock is banned and Jamie Vincent, Pat Kanyuka and Christian Roberts are still out injured.
I see Brighton winning here and take the home win

2. Championship : Stoke v Blackpool – Home Win

Stoke are leading the Championship with same number of 67 points as Bristol City but thanks to a better (+8 more) GD. They have played one game more than Watford who are at three points adrift but with a better (+2 more) in GD. So Stoke have all interests not to drop points when hosting combative Blackpool tody if they do not want to be leapfrogged into the first seat by any one of their immediate followers.
They’ve won only one game (LLDWD) from last five and drawn one at home, but four of these games were away games. They are nevertheless unbeaten in last three and also show WWWWD in last five homes.
They should be able to overcome 15th placed Blackpool who are winless in last four DDLD whilst meeting lower opposition. Blackpool won only three games form last ten and only one was an away game on Norwich. They show DLWL in last four away.
I believe that Stoke with their second best attack (61 goals in 39 games) can score here and pick up the three precious points. Stoke won three of five H2H, drew one and lost one. They won the two H2H at home by 3-0 and 2-0. I choose the home win.