Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 17-18

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v West Ham, West Bromwich v Sunderland, Birmingham v Queens Park Rangers, Port Vale v Peterborough, Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury, AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe, Cambridge v Northampton, Notts County v Yeovil, Aldershot v Bromley, Barrow v Welling.

Best draws: West Bromwich v Sunderland, Port Vale v Peterborough, Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury, Cambridge v Northampton, Aldershot v Bromley.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Arsenal, Rotherham, Cardiff, Burton, Portsmouth.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Southampton, Burnley, Ipswich, Reading, Coventry, Walsall, Wigan, Dagenham & Redbridge, Leyton Orient.


Pick of the draws: I suspect Premier League strugglers Sunderland will be less easy to beat now that Sam Allardyce has been appointed manager. Sunderland's hosts on Saturday, West Bromwich Albion, are averaging under a goal a game - one of the reasons why they are hovering just above the relegation zone. I'll be surprised if this match doesn't finish in a low-scoring stalemate. The appointment of Graham Westley as manager has perked up Peterborough, who are climbing towards the League One play-off places. They are certainly playing well enough to share the spoils at Port Vale. Shrewsbury fought back from 2-0 down to beat Colchester 4-2 at home last Saturday and I believe they will come away from Scunthorpe with a point. Although Cambridge lost 3-1 at home to League Two promotion favourites Portsmouth last weekend, they were leading until defender Mark Roberts was sent off at half-time. They should be encouraged by that, and I'm taking them to check Northampton's charge up the table. Promoted Bromley are taking the National League by storm but they probably won't have things all their own way at Aldershot, who are making steady progress.

Away days: The appointment of the former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager has provoked much debate this week. I've a hunch that he will start his career at Anfield with victory at Tottenham, although Spurs have yet to lose at White Hart Lane in the Premier League this season. Arsenal, with three away wins to their credit already and lying second, are a more confident selection at Watford, who have scored only once at Vicarage Road this season. Rotherham, 21st in the Championship, are in better form than Brentford, the side immediately above them. They clash on Saturday and I think Rotherham will emerge triumphant. Manager Russell Slade has done a fine job at Cardiff and they must be fancied to prevail at relegation-troubled Preston. I expect League One promotion challengers Burton to recover quickly from their loss at Walsall by beating ailing Fleetwood while League Two high-flyers Portsmouth look set to gain maximum points at bottom club Newport.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton are really hitting their stride after a dodgy start to their Premier League season. Their 3-1 victory at Chelsea two weeks ago showed what they are capable of and they are well worth a punt against Leicester, who are nevertheless unbeaten on their travels. Dagenham & Redbridge are without a home win this season, which partly explains their second from bottom placing in League Two. However, I believe they will break their duck against Hartlepool, whose early promise had faded. Although Leyton Orient unexpectedly lost at Crawley last weekend, they were down to 10 men for most of the match. The O's are genuine promotion contenders and I'm taking them to return to winning ways when they host third-placed Oxford.