Saturday 31st March Banker Treble – Tractor Boys Can Tame Tykes

We’ve reached the weekend again and the pressure is really starting to show as teams we expect to cruise to victory are struggling, and teams that were almost unbackable earlier in the season are beginning to find their form. I’ve studied hard this week to find the best three selections for Saturday afternoon to make my banker, and here is what I consider the pick of the bunch.

Ipswich Town v Barnsley 3.00pm

The Tractor Boys have gone from strength to strength since late January, and they can continue their fine form against a Barnsley side that have won just 1 of their last 8 games.

Ipswich are undefeated in their last 8 home games, and a 6 game winning streak was only halted by a respectable 1-1 draw with play off hopefuls Middlesbrough last weekend.

Straight wins over West Ham(5-1), Cardiff(3-0), Bristol City(3-0), Peterborough(3-2) and Burnley(1-0) show that the Suffolk club are on top of their game at present, and should be backed to beat a very average Barnsley side that have won just 4 of their 19 away games this season.

Fulham v Norwich City 3.00pm

I’ve been an admirer of Norwich City all season, but Fulham have what it takes to take all 3 points here.

I was impressed with the way they set their stall at Old Trafford against Manchester United in their 1-0 loss in midweek, and Norwich are the perfect opponents for them this weekend.

Fulham are far stronger when playing at Craven Cottage, and although they disappointed last time out against Swansea, Norwich play a completely different style of football- which should complement Martin Jol’s teams chances.

The Canaries gained their first win in 5 games when beating a poor Wolves team last weekend, but Fulham pose a much bigger threat and will be looking to go one step further than the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, which saw Simeon Jackson grab an injury time leveller for Norwich.

Dundee United v Dunfermline 3.00pm

The Tangerines are the form team in the Scottish Premier League, gaining maximum points in all of their last 6 games, and they should be backed to beat bottom of the league Dunfermline at Tannadice.

With just 2 points earned from their last 6 games, Dunfermline are at the opposite end of the scale and it’s hard to see them getting a sniff here.

Consecutive wins over Kilmarnock(4-0), Hearts(2-0), Inverness(3-0), Rangers(2-1), and Hibs(2-0) have given Dundee United live hopes of finishing in the top 4, and they are taken to beat a poor side that are staring relegation in the face.