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Ollie's predictions: Wins for Plymouth and Sheffield United

Ian Holloway

Sky Sports pundit Ian Holloway predicts the outcome of the big League One and Two fixtures this weekend..

Rochdale v Wigan Athletic, Saturday, Sky Sports 1, 12.30

After they lost 4-0 at Bury and then won 4-0 at home to Blackpool, I don't know which Wigan will turn up this week.

Keith Hill is working his magic again at Rochdale. He's absolutely brilliant. He was harshly treated at Barnsley and not many people would have expected Rochdale to be doing what they're doing this season.

They haven't won since the end of September in the league but would have got plenty of confidence from their 3-1 FA Cup win over Swindon. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored a hat-trick in that match and is a player with plenty of ability. He looks a good shout to net the winning goal. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)

Hartlepool v Leyton Orient, Sunday, Sky Sports 1, 12.15

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I'm in Sky Studios for the two televised games on Sunday - starting with this one. Jeff Stelling and the Hartlepool fans aren't going to like me much, but this could be a convincing away win. Ronnie Moore worked a miracle to keep them up last season. What a bloke. Tranmere booted him out and subsequently got relegated and he kept Pool up. He should have won manager of the year.

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Orient had a fantastic 6-1 victory in the FA Cup against Staines Town and despite what people might think, that's a hard thing to do against such a motivated non-league team.

Jay Simpson, who has scored 11 goals this season, is a player I tried to sign at Blackpool and QPR, he's a very, very talented boy. That is the sort of quality Orient have got.

OLLIE PREDICTS: 0-3 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)

Portsmouth v AFC Wimbledon, Sunday, Sky Sports 1, 2.30

Adebayo Akinfenwa of AFC Wimbledon
Image: Adebayo Akinfenwa will be a threat for AFC Wimbledon, says Ollie

Paul Cook slaughtered the Portsmouth players despite winning 2-1 against Macclesfield Town in the FA Cup, telling them it wasn't good enough. One of his players said he went absolutely crazy. Every cup match against a lower league team is a banana skin - as a manager it's an absolute nightmare. Cook has set high standards there now and it's fantastic to see. It shows the change at the club.

Pompey are only going to get stronger and stronger. They'll be too strong for Wimbledon, who got beat by Forest Green Rovers last weekend. Adebayo Akinfenwa will be a threat though.

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He looks like one of those blokes out of World Strongest Man - he could take that up if he wanted. He's a brilliant target man and doesn't get the credit his football deserves. Is he the strongest footballer in the world? I'm not sure. Alan Shearer was the strongest bloke I ever accidentally ran in to in a game. The bloke was made of granite. No-one could have ever roughed him up.  

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)

Colchester v Coventry, Saturday, 3.00

I think Colchester will be buoyant after putting six past Wealdstone. Macauley Bonne scored four goals in that game and I loved his reaction at the end of the game to go and grab the match ball. No-one was getting it off him, it was like he was hanging off the end of a cliff such was his tight grip. He's got the goalscoring feeling and he'll fancy his chances of getting another. 

Coventry have got some great players but this is going to be my shock of the weekend. The formbook says it should be an away win but Coventry lost in the FA Cup to Northampton and a result like that can give a team the jitters. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)

Sheffield United v Southend, Saturday, 3.00

Sheffield United manager Nigel Adkins looks on during the pre season friendly match with Newcastle United at Bramall Lane
Image: Nigel Adkins' Sheffield United have won just one of their last four in the league

The talent on show in League One is perfectly summed up by Sheffield United's forward line. Conor Salmon, Billy Sharp, Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Jose Baxter, especially, could all easily play at a higher level. Also, at home with that Bramall Lane crowd it's like having 12 men.

They've had a bit of a wobble lately, losing their last two league games, but Nigel Adkins knows what he's doing and I think they'll get promoted this season. A win against Southend could get them back into the play-off positions and I think they'll get it.

Phil Brown has done an amazing job at Southend but are his young team good enough to win at Sheffield United? I hope his players read this and prove me wrong, but I just can't see anything but a home win.  

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)

Gillingham v Bury, Saturday, 3.00

This is the game of the day and if you fancy watching two attack-minded teams going at it, then get yourself down to Priestfield. I wish I was going. This is where managers really earn their keep in games like this. 

You've got one team here in Gillingham that had a horrible defeat against Stevenage last weekend and one, Bury, who had a fantastic 4-0 win over high-flying Wigan. Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh would have had his team in on Sunday and the aftermath of that result could just give the edge to Bury. They will be floating on air. 

Tom Pope scored for Bury in that win at Wigan and he's a player I tried to take to Millwall last season but he was injured. He would have suited us down to the ground. If you get the ball in the box, he usually gets his head on it. I think he can fire the away side to a 3-1 victory. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 25/1)

York v Plymouth, Saturday, 3.00

Reuben Reid, Plymouth Argyle
Image: Reuben Reid has scored six times in League Two this season

Plymouth are my team of the season so far. I love watching them, they have got pace out wide, great athleticism and the manager Derek Adams deserves a medal.

York's new manager Jackie McNamara will have to wait for his first home win. I read that Peter Hartley says Plymouth have the best striker in League Two in Reuben Reid and I can't argue with that.

I managed him at Plymouth and I've always had big hopes for him. He loves Plymouth and the crowd love him - I hope he becomes a legend by getting them up. He's a great kid. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)

Bristol Rovers v Carlisle, Saturday, 3.00

The Gas Heads against my old mucker Keith Curle! He's a great mate. I moved into his house when he moved to Manchester City and I signed for QPR in 1991. He robbed me on the price though!

Carlisle had a great result away at Plymouth last weekend. I think they've only just got home after that 800-mile round trip. No rest for the wicked either, as it's back down to Bristol lads!

I just can't separate them and if I did I'd be in so much trouble. I'm the coward sat on the fence. Everybody wins! 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

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