Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 10-11

Ten draws: Burnley v Bournemouth, Watford v Everton, Brentford v Burton, Preston v Blackburn, MK Dons v Wimbledon, Rochdale v Scunthorpe, Grimsby v Portsmouth, Mansfield v Colchester, Plymouth v Doncaster, Motherwell v Kilmarnock.

Best draws: Burnley v Bournemouth, Brentford v Burton, Preston v Blackburn, Grimsby v Portsmouth, Mansfield v Colchester.

Best weekend away bets: Crystal Palace, Norwich, Exeter, Cambridge, Wycombe, Clyde.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Newcastle, Millwall, Crewe, Newport, Stevenage, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Bournemouth's fantastic comeback against Liverpool last Sunday enabled them to move into the top half of the Premier League. Although their away record is unexceptional, I believe they will stay there by getting a point at Burnley. All but one of Burnley's 14 points this season have been gained at Turf Moor, so they are not easily vanquished at home. Brentford's slide down the Championship must be worrying their supporters. Their latest setback was a 5-0 defeat at Norwich and I'm taking Burton, without an away win this season, to hold them at Griffin Park. Having Jermaine Beckford and Eoin Doyle sent off for fighting each other last weekend will put Preston at a disadvantage in their home match with Blackburn, who are raising hopes of escaping relegation, and I predict a stalemate. Portsmouth are one of several sides in League Two more comfortable away than at home and I rate their game at free-scoring Grimsby the most likely draw on the coupon. Colchester have scored seven and conceded none in their last two fixtures to climb away from the relegation places and can share the spoils at Mansfield, who have been lifted by their new manager, the former Leeds and Rotherham boss Steve Evans.

Away days: Now that Crystal Palace have ended their alarming losing run in the Premier League, I can see them taking maximum points at Hull, who are second from bottom and scoring less than a goal a game. Alan Pardew's teams don't tend to do draws. They either provoke joy or despair. Norwich returned to winning ways in the Championship with a resounding 5-0 home success against Brentford last Saturday and have enough about them to take another three points at Barnsley, who were slightly flattered by their 3-0 win at 10-man Birmingham. Exeter, six away wins out of 10 in League Two despite lying 21st, are well worth a punt at second-from-bottom Cheltenham, who may still be reeling from going out of the FA Cup to non-League Sutton. Cambridge's dreadful start to the season is well behind them and the mid-table outfit will fancy their chances at out-of-sorts Hartlepool. Wycombe have come from nowhere to move into the League Two play-off positions and should prevail at Notts County, who seem to reserve their worst displays when they are at home. Clyde look a banker at bottom club Montrose in Scottish League Two.

Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that Newport, bottom of League Two with only one home win to their name this season, will upset erratic Morecambe. Stevenage's home form is nothing to crow about but they gave leaders Doncaster a real fright before going down 4-3 last Saturday. After winning 2-0 at Newport in midweek, Stevenage will be in the mood for the visit of Blackpool, who don't travel that well. Rangers are making a strong claim for the runner's-up spot in the Scottish Premiership and I expect them to get three points against Hearts, who may be adversely affected by their manager Robbie Neilson joining Milton Keynes Dons, of the English League One.