Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 7-8

Ten draws: Slovenia v Scotland, Cyprus v Greece, MK Dons v Bradford City, Northampton v Bristol Rovers, Plymouth v Fleetwood, Scunthorpe v Wigan, Cambridge v Wycombe, Morecambe v Crawley, Barrow v Leyton Orient, Boreham Wood v Halifax.

Best draws: Slovenia v Scotland, MK Dons v Bradford City, Plymouth v Fleetwood, Cambridge v Wycombe, Morecambe v Crawley.

Best weekend away bets: Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Coventry, Mansfield, Hartlepool, Queen of  South.

Best weekend home bets: Oxford, Rochdale, Cheltenham, Lincoln, Notts County, Port Vale, Maidstone, Wrexham, Inverness, St Mirren.


Pick of the draws: I suspect Scotland need to win in Slovenia to have a realistic chance of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals but I believe they'll fall short. Gordon Strachan's players have perked up recently but it looks a case of too little too late. Bradford City are League One promotion contenders for the second season in a row and unbeaten away but they may have to settle for a point at MK Dons, who appear to be on the upgrade. Bottom club Plymouth face another out-of-form side in Fleetwood at Home Park, where they should at least halt their run of home defeats. Three consecutive have enabled Wycombe to climb into the League Two play-off places and I expect their progress to continue at mid-table Cambridge. Morecambe are notoriously brittle at home and will probably struggle to get more than a point out of Crawley.

Away days: Although Portsmouth are inconsistent in League One, it will be a surprise if they don't obtain maximum points at lowly Gillingham on Sunday. Leaders Shrewsbury have been the success story of the season with just four points dropped from their first 11 matches. They are in the mood to take on all-comers and are expected to add Walsall to their list of victims on Saturday. Relegated Coventry are eager to return to League One at the first attempt and will be confident of victory at Barnet, who have already lost three at home this season. Mansfield gained a morale-boosting win over League Two leaders Notts County last weekend and should have no reason to be apprehensive about a visit to Colchester. Hartlepool are climbing the National League after a dreadful start and are recommended at struggling Solihull Moors. Queen of South ought to asset their superiority over Scottish League Two Montrose in the fourth round of the Irn-Bru Cup.

Homes sweet homes: Rochdale are at last showing signs of life in League One and are worth a punt against the better-placed Rotherham, who are weak away from home with four losses from five games. Cheltenham have moved swiftly away from the League Two relegation zone with some impressive displays and are looking forward to the visit of erratic Swindon. Although Port Vale are in desperate trouble near the foot of the table I'm backing them to record their first home win of the season against Grimsby, who tend to blow hot and cold.

Pools info: Blackpool v Blackburn (No 16 on coupon), Charlton v Peterborough (17) and Oldham v Bury (22) have been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel.

Betting info: For the second weekend in a row I scored five from six with my away selections. Tottenham, Wolves, Norwich, Accrington and Rangers all obliged.