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

Ten draws: Manchester City v Arsenal, Sunderland v Watford, Bristol City v Preston, Fulham v Derby, Wigan v Ipswich, Bury v Oxford, Charlton v Peterborough, Northampton v Rochdale, Swindon v Fleetwood, Barnet v Stevenage.

Best draws: Sunderland v Watford, Fulham v Derby, Wigan v Ipswich, Bury v Oxford, Barnet v Stevenage.

Best weekend away bets: Brighton, Newcastle, Bolton, Milton Keynes Dons, Southend, Falkirk.

Best weekend home bets: Tottenham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Blackpool, Cambridge, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Wycombe, St Mirren.


Pick of the draws: Watford continue to punch above their weight in the Premier League and deserved to beat Everton at home last Saturday. They can pinch a point at relegation-threatened Sunderland. Derby's upward move in the Championship has been remarkable under Steve McClaren and I think they will continue their progress at Fulham, who are fellow promotion contenders. After their midweek defeat at Birmingham, Ipswich are peering nervously over their shoulders but they should at least gain a point at Wigan, who are fighting to avoid relegation. Bury have lost 10 consecutive matches in League One and sit just above the relegation zone. However, I believe they will stop the rot against Oxford, who have only one away victory to their name this season. In-form Barnet host Stevenage, who play their best football away and seem good value to share the spoils in League Two.

Away days: Brighton are a good bet for automatic promotion to the Premier League and must be fancied to prevail at Birmingham, who have inexplicably sacked their manager Gary Rowett, despite lying just outside the play-off positions. Championship leaders Newcastle are back on the winning path and look an away banker at lowly Burton. In League One, Bolton have rediscovered their mojo and will be confident of gaining another three points at Chesterfield, who are one place off the bottom. MK Dons have won two games in a row since a change of managership and can make it three at Gillingham, who are having a mediocre season. Southend are on the up these days and I'm taking them to win at struggling Oldham. Falkirk are my selection to come away with maximum points at Dumbarton in the Scottish Championship.

Homes sweet homes: Neil Warnock's Cardiff are showing all the battling qualities needed to escape relegation from the Championship and are worth a wager against Barnsley, although the Yorkshire club have arrested their slide by winning successive matches. Blackpool, seventh in League Two after winning 2-0 at Stevenage last weekend, have the ability to go higher and they will overtake Luton if they beat them on Saturday. Two wins in a row have given bottom club St Mirren a ray of hope in the Scottish Championship. Don't be surprised if they achieve a hat-trick of victories against Ayr, who are only two places higher.

Pools info: Everton v Liverpool (match No 3 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be judged by the pools panel.