Pools tips for weekend of September 22-23

Ten draws: Southampton v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Cardiff, Leicester v Hull, Peterborough v Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Bury v MK Dons, Crawley v Tranmere, Oxford v Bradford, Port Vale v Gillingham, Ross v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Cardiff, Leicester v Hull, Peterborough v Wolves, Crawley v Tranmere, Ross v St Johnstone.

Five aways: Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Sheffield United, Rotherham.

Nine homes: Chelsea, Tottenham, Birmingham, Derby, Brentford, Notts County, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Accrington.


Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace have recovered well from a bad start to the season in the Championship and I'm taking them to hold Cardiff, who look strong promotion contenders. The rise of Hull, under the managership of Steve Bruce, has been even more impressive and I fancy their chances of gaining a point at Leicester, who have so far failed to live up to expectations. After six matches Peterborough have yet to register a point but they can get off the mark against middle-of-the-table Wolves. Tranmere, unbeaten and clear leaders of League One, may have to settle for a share of the spoils at Crawley, who are adapting well to life in a higher division. St Johnstone will be buoyed by their victory over Celtic in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last Saturday and can deny promoted Ross maximum points.

Away days: Fulham are often fragile on their travels, so they will be eager to make the most of their trip to Wigan in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest won 7-3 in an extraordinary game at Leeds in the Championship last season. Because of their recent form I believe they'll take maximum points again, even if the result may not be quite so spectacular. Gus Poyet's Brighton are a force to be reckoned with and are strongly recommended at Millwall. In League One, Yeovil are faltering after their bright start, which will only encourage their visitors Sheffield United. In League Two, Rotherham look nailed on to prevail at bottom club Barnet, who have only one point.

Homes sweet homes: Birmingham seem on the up in the Championship and are worth a punt against Barnsley. Derby's results are usually hard to predict but in Burnley they are playing a team as inconsistent as themselves and are worth supporting. Stevenage have won all three of their away games in League One but I have a feeling they'll come unstuck at Doncaster, who followed up their win at Colchester last Saturday by drawing at Sheffield United three days later. Scunthorpe's victory at Shrewsbury last weekend was one of the season's upsets - a genuine coupon-buster. They will be determined to build on this and are worth backing against struggling Colchester.

Please note: The match between Blackpool and Huddersfield (No 11 on the coupon) is being played next Monday and will be adjudicated by the pools panel.