Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 21-22

Ten draws: Everton v Arsenal, Stoke v Bournemouth, Ipswich v Norwich, Millwall v Birmingham, Blackpool v Wigan, MK Dons v Oldham, Scunthorpe v Peterborough, Morecambe v Grimsby, Swindon v Wycombe, Dagenham & Redbridge v Wrexham.

Best draws: Everton v Arsenal, Stoke v Bournemouth, Ipswich v Norwich, Millwall v Birmingham, Swindon v Wycombe.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Hull, Lincoln, Luton, Tranmere, Ayr.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Swansea, Derby, Middlesbrough, Wolves, Doncaster, Coventry, Stevenage, Dover, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Everton, sitting just above the Premier League relegation zone, have been one of the biggest disappointments of the season so far. However, Arsenal, their opponents at Goodison Park on Sunday, are especially brittle away from home and a draw between two mediocre sides seems the likeliest outcome. Bournemouth, second from bottom, have lost all four of their away games in the league but I fancy them to get something from their visit to Stoke, who are on the slide. Ipswich have been overtaken by fierce rivals Norwich in the Championship and the two meet at Portman Road on Sunday. Norwich are in undeniably better form and can come away with a point. I expect Birmingham to climb the table after the appointment of Steve Cotterill as manager. They had a morale-boosting home win over promotion contenders Cardiff last Friday and they can hold Millwall at the New Den. Wycombe maintained their unbeaten away record in League Two with a thrilling 3-3 draw at Carlisle in midweek and I believe that run will continue at Swindon.

Away days: Manchester United, second in the Premier League and undefeated, are highly recommended at Huddersfield, where the goals have dried up after a bright start to the season. Hull's 10 men were unlucky to concede a late equaliser at Norwich in the Championship last Saturday and I think they'll take their frustration out on Barnsley. Promoted Lincoln are on the cusp of the League Two play-off places following their fine 1-0 win at Swindon in midweek. What they did to Swindon they can do to mid-table hosts Cheltenham. New leaders Luton, 11 goals in their past two matches, must be backed at Crawley, who are hopeless at home, and in the National League the underachieving Tranmere can surprise Aldershot. Ayr, second in Scottish League One, ought to make short work of bottom club Forfar.

Homes sweet homes: Swansea gained their first home victory in the Premier League by beating Huddersfield 2-0 last weekend. I believe they'll follow that up with a further three points against Leicester, whose poor start to the season has left them in the drop zone and without a manager. Derby's 2-0 defeat of their fierce rivals Nottingham Forest in the Championship last Sunday will have improved their mood considerably and I'm taking them to beat Sheffield Wednesday, who may struggle to recover from going down 2-1 to bottom club Bolton. Although Middlesbrough have been a bit of a letdown, they are capable of beating anybody in this division and I've a feeling they'll put high-flying Cardiff to the sword. Doncaster's home record in League One is nothing special but they should have enough in the tank to see off Walsall.