Pools tips for weekend of November 9-10

Ten draws: Manchester United v Arsenal, Swansea v Stoke, Tottenham v Newcastle, Brighton v Blackburn, Derby v Sheffield Wednesday, Hibernian v Inverness, Motherwell v Dundee United, Falkirk v Livingston, Queen of the South v Hamilton, Forfar v Brechin. 

Best draws: Manchester United v Arsenal, Tottenham v Newcastle, Brighton v Blackburn, Motherwell v Dundee United, Queen of the South v Hamilton.

Best weekend away bets: Everton, Manchester City, Wigan, Portsmouth, Cheltenham, Annan.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Liverpool, Norwich, Barnsley, Bolton, Burnley, Brentford, Bury, Aberdeen, St Johnstone.


Pick of the draws: Arsenal, the Premier League leaders and proud conquerors of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, will be anxious to avoid a repeat of their abject performance at Old Trafford last season and there is evidence to suggest that Manchester United are not the force they were. Tottenham are being hindered by a lack of firepower and that could cost them against Newcastle, who deserved their unexpected victory over Chelsea last Saturday. In the Championship, Brighton are struggling to recapture last season's form under their ex-manager Gus Poyet. They have already drawn on six occasions this season and I can see another deadlock looming when they host Blackburn. Dundee United's recent results in the Scottish Premiership suggest they may have turned the corner and they are capable of holding Motherwell. Lowly Queen of the South knocked high-riding Hamilton out of the Scottish Cup last weekend, so there is no reason why they should have an inferiority complex when they entertain the same opponents in the Scottish Championship.

Away days: Things look desperate for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and I don't believe their visitors, Everton, will give them any respite. Manchester City's away record is hampering their title challenge but they are likely to improve on it against struggling Sunderland, who contributed to their own downfall at Hull last Saturday by having two players sent off. Owen Coyle's Wigan have been poor on the road but it would be a major upset if they failed to beat the Championship's bottom club, Yeovil, on Sunday. I'm taking Portsmouth, mid-table in League Two, to spring one of the surprises in the FA Cup first round. They go to League One strugglers Stevenage, who have already lost four matches on their own patch. Cheltenham should be higher than they are in League Two and I believe they will take out their frustration on non-League Tamworth. Annan, Scottish League Two promotion contenders, must be fancied to prevail at Albion, who are at the other end of the table.

Homes sweet homes: Norwich manager Chris Hughton and his team have been severely criticised, particularly after their 7-0 Premier League drubbing at Manchester City, but they can start to turn things around against West Ham, who have impressed nobody this season and are not far off the relegation zone themselves. Barnsley, mired in the Championship relegation zone, gained a hard-earned away point - their first of the season - at Ipswich last Friday and I'm tipping them to go one better against their Yorkshire rivals Doncaster, who are on a downward spiral. Although Bolton have begun climbing the table they have yet to win at home this season. I believe that wretched run will end when they play Millwall.


Pools info: The results of matches 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 on the coupon will be decided by the Pools Panel.