By his own admission it could have been Bangers Blunders last week, but redemption couldbe at hand this time out

OK, being the gent that I am I will man up and apologise for last weeks disastrous start in getting just 3/12 I think it was in the end. Just goes to show even the very best of us can make mistakes (Following on from last weeks slant on Nick’s spelling and grammar).

I shall take I think a slight different approach this week and pick for you just my 5 bankers, after all to be fair that is what a Bangers Banker is and always was meant to be. I shall still be bold enough to make predictions on all the 12 games, but give you my top five hot tips!

This weekend sees the NPC revert to its normal slightly disjointed format with ten games on the old boys tradition Saturday, with the other two on Sunday and Monday for all you armchair Murdoch types. First on the list we see the ruination of our home record welcome a lowly Watford in what I believe another 3 points towards the Blackpool play off target haul. 

A revitalised Brighton face a quite tough home game against Burnley who were also going quite well until their unforgivable lay down and die against Pompey last week. The two ‘would-be’ Saints strikers on show in this one, who will win it, J. Rod or Mackerel? I will stick to home advantage on this one.

Bristol City vs Forest, how secure would SC’s job be if he loses this six-pointer which on recent form he is sure to do. I really can’t see where Cotterill’s next point is coming from, but stranger things have happened in this league. Another six-pointer meanwhile at the top end of the table sees Boro take a trip to Cardiff. The Bluebirds have one of the best home records there is, whilst Boro are also known as hot stuff away from the Riverside so this is odds on for a draw surely, which would of course do us no end of good. However, figure on the Welsh side to win this one to make amends for last weeks dropped points at Millwall.

When we lost at Donny many came onto the Ugly forum and said it was no big deal as they were a side on the up and in a false position etc. We will see how accurate that maybe as they invite Leicester to take all the points away from the Keep Moat. Leicester are rather similar to us away from home, nothing special so it should be a good comparison. Personally I think the Foxes will win this one for sure.

Hull are going well this season all things considered and should I feel have no problem beating visiting Millwall, three points which could well have them within a gnats of ourselves. Down in Suffolk we see two sides that really ought to be doing better in the battle of fading Ipswich and Derby. I would think this is one the Paul Jewell must surely win else Monday morning could see him calling Sky for a pundit’s job. Tough one to call, but I think Ipswich will indeed win through.

Holding on currently to the last play off berth, Leeds United welcomes an ever improving Reading side. Reading are no slouches away from home (Can’t be bothered to look up the spelling of Madejski) and Leeds totally unreliable fro gamblers so avoid this one like the plague I would suggest. It’s got a 2-1 home draw all over it for the away side.

Posh and Coventry, I’m sorry but does anyone actually care? Posh are sliding fast and Coventry I suspect outta here come May, but OK just to keep the numbers up let us say Posh to find them winning feet again! Meanwhile down the M1 a bit into London and we see a much more important game of footer as our rivals West Ham

take on Barnsley, without doubt a potential banana skin, and let us hope it is. Sadly I think Big Sam will have them well up for this one and they are about due a good win.

And so onto the armchair thrillers (copyright ITV circa 1979) and of course the biggest game in this seasons NPC bar none. The Derby at FP which I genuinely believe is a nailed on a draw, giving us a point that we should really consider a good point. Despite the fact that all of Pompey’s home wins this season have come against bottom sides, I still believe they are hard to beat at home, and of course even harder for us than any other visiting teams.

That leaves me only with Monday night’s game between a fading Palace side and a distracted Brum team. Again, like others both these sides should be doing better and until recently in the case of the Eagles, they were. Will Brum again let European leftovers rubbish their league form? Quite the reverse, I think the floodlit night will create a Euro like atmosphere that will suit the midlands outfit and lead them to victory. 

So there we are. All that remains from this lengthy load of old flannel is for me to pick my 5 Bankers and they, my loyal band of readers (Del and Benny), are as marked below! I think we got something there. 

Blackpool v Watford – HOME WIN

Brighton v Burnley

Bristol City v Nott'm Forest

Cardiff v Middlesbrough

Doncaster v Leicester – AWAY WIN

Hull v Millwall – HOME WIN

Ipswich v Derby

Leeds v Reading

Peterborough v Coventry – HOME WIN

West Ham v Barnsley

Portsmouth v Southampton - DRAW

Crystal Palace v Birmingham 

Photo: Action Images

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