Pools tips and best bets for December 26-28

Ten draws: Burnley v Middlesbrough, Southampton v Tottenham, Ipswich v Fulham, Millwall v Swindon, Port Vale v Walsall, Cheltenham v Barnet, Plymouth v Wycombe, Stevenage v Cambridge, Yeovil v Exeter, Partick v Dundee.

Best draws: Southampton v Tottenham, Ipswich v Fulham, Cheltenham v Barnet, Stevenage v Cambridge, Yeovil v Exeter.

Best away bets for Dec 26-28: Manchester City, Leeds, Scunthorpe, Carlisle, Portsmouth, Rangers.

Best home bets for Dec 26-28: Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barnsley, Brighton, Rotherham, Wolves, Bolton, Sheffield United.


Pick of the draws: Southampton's excellent 3-1 win at Bournemouth last Sunday should serve them well against Tottenham, who in the past two matches have strengthened their claims to finish in the top four of the Premier League. Ipswich already have five home draws to their name this season.  Don't be surprised if they add to that tally when they host Fulham, who are the best of the London sides in the Championship. Cheltenham, battling to avoid the drop in League Two, fought back to win at Morecambe last Saturday and can pinch a point off mid-table Barnet. Cambridge's climb from bottom to the League Two play-off positions has been one of the turnarounds of the season and I fancy them to hold Stevenage, who are one point behind them. Exeter's terrific away record (seven wins) is helping them move away from the danger zone and I'm backing them to get a point at Yeovil.

Away days: Manchester City, with two consecutive home victories behind them, will surely be far too strong for Hull, who are bottom of the Premier League and look certain to be relegated. Leeds are responding well to Garry Monk's management and deserve to be in the Championship play-off places. They are worth a punt at Preston. Scunthorpe are the surprising leaders in League One but there is no fluke about their success and they are perfectly capable of inflicting Bradford City's first home defeat of the season. Carlisle, second in League Two and firing on all cylinders, look an away banker at Crewe, who are going backwards at an alarming rate. Portsmouth are a better proposition away from home these days and will expect three points at bottom club Newport. Rangers won't catch Celtic in the Scottish Premiership but they are a sound bet for second and should have too much for St Johnstone.

Homes sweet homes: That 2-2 draw at Stoke last Saturday, despite playing with 10 men for most of the game, will put a spring in Leicester's step and I believe they will make Everton suffer. Leicester are better than their precarious Premier League position indicates while Everton have yet to spark this season. Rotherham, last by a long way in the Championship, were very unlucky to lose to a late goal through a disputed penalty at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend. As long as they've recovered from that devastating setback, I reckon they will defeat second-from-bottom Wigan. Wolves gained a sorely needed victory at Nottingham Forest last Saturday, which should encourage them against Bristol City, who have slipped down the table after a dip in form.