Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 24-25

Ten draws: Manchester United v Manchester City, Hull v Birmingham, Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Barnsley v Fleetwood, Blackpool v Crewe, Shrewsbury v Bury, Exeter v Notts County, Morecambe v Leyton Orient, York v AFC Wimbledon, Hearts v Ross.

Best draws: Manchester United v Manchester City, Hull v Birmingham, Exeter v Notts County, Morecambe v Leyton Orient, Hearts v Ross.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Derby, Wigan, Walsall, Coventry, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Norwich, Brighton, Gillingham, Peterborough, Accrington, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Brora.


Pick of the draws: I'm taking the coward's way out in the Manchester derby. Manchester United did exceptionally well to win 3-0 at Everton last Saturday while Premier League leaders Manchester City have defeated Bournemouth (5-1) and Sevilla (2-1) at home in the past week. I believe the sides will cancel each other out and City will draw for the first time in 30 matches. Hull and Birmingham, who meet on Saturday, are in fine form in the Championship where they are challenging for promotion. It is difficult to separate them. League Two Notts County won convincingly at Stevenage on the opening day of the season but have done little of note since. But don't rule them out of getting something at Exeter, who are increasingly erratic. Goals are never in short supply at Morecambe and I can see a few being scored when they play Leyton Orient, who are also attack-minded. This is one for the short list if you fancy a high-scoring draw. Ross have defeated some good teams in the Scottish Premiership this season, including one-time leaders Aberdeen last Friday, and are well equipped to deny Hearts victory.

Away days: Tottenham, unbeaten in the Premier League since the first day of the season, should be too strong for promoted Bournemouth, who are having wretched luck with injuries. In the Championship, Derby, who are unbeaten on the road and improving by the week, are worth a punt at Huddersfield. Wigan are steadily climbing League One and could further boost their promotion prospects by winning at Bradford City. Second-placed Walsall recovered from their surprise home defeat by Chesterfield with a midweek victory at Barnsley. You have to fancy their chances at Colchester. Coventry's hopes of promotion have been strengthened by the arrival of former England midfielder Joe Cole. They are expected to register their fourth away success of the season at Swindon, who have dropped into the relegation zone. In the Scottish Championship, I'm taking second-placed Hibernian to end the 100% home record of third-placed Raith.

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa are second last in the Premier League and in desperate need of their first home win of the season. I believe they will achieve it on Saturday at the expense of Swansea, who are badly off form. As long as Norwich have recovered from the shock of losing 6-2 at Newcastle last Sunday, I think they will have enough to see off West Bromwich Albion, who are finding goals hard to come by. There are some intriguing ties in the second round of the Scottish Cup at the weekend and a few League Two teams are in danger of an early exit. One of them is struggling Arbroath, who travel to Highland League high-flyers Brora, who just missed promotion to the Scottish League last season. Brora can follow up their 6-0 romp against Forres Mechanics last Saturday by knocking out Arbroath.