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

Ten draws: Chelsea v Leicester, Blackburn v Middlesbrough, Luton v West Brom, Stoke v Derby, Doncaster v Fleetwood, Peterborough v Ipswich, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Carlisle v Mansfield, Northampton v Macclesfield, Forfar v East Fife.

Best draws: Chelsea v Leicester, Stoke v Derby, Peterborough v Ipswich, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Northampton v Macclesfield.

Six aways: Liverpool, Cardiff, Leeds, Cheltenham, Crawley, Raith.

Ten homes: Arsenal, Norwich, Sheffield United, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Lincoln, Bradford City, Newport, Falkirk.

Pick of the draws: Chelsea did not deserve such a mauling at Manchester United last weekend but the size of the defeat (4-0) will have shaken them and that could help Leicester at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, especially as the Midlanders are no mugs themselves. Stoke, with no points from their first two Championship matches, are badly in need of a lift. Winning at Wigan in the midweek League Cup won't have done them any harm and I think they'll gain their first point of the season at Derby's expense. Peterborough are another side with zero return from their opening two games but I suspect they are in a false position in League One and can hold relegated Ipswich. Sunderland were hoping for more than two draws so far but I predict a third consecutive stalemate against Portsmouth, who will be one of their chief rivals for promotion. There are signs that Macclesfield, in League Two, will be a sterner proposition this season. Their 3-0 home victory over Leyton Orient last Saturday was well deserved and they can get something at Northampton.

Away days: Liverpool are hard to ignore at Southampton, who crashed to a 3-0 opening-day defeat at Burnley. The midweek trip to Istanbul for the Super Cup may blunt some of Liverpool's sharpness but they should still have enough in hand at St Mary's. Cardiff, who are aiming for a quick return to the Premier League, must be fancied at Reading, who are joint-bottom of the Championship. Leeds, who may be more effective on their travels than at Elland Road, should be confident going to Wigan. In League Two, Cheltenham, who scored three goals in seven minutes in their 4-1 win over Scunthorpe last Saturday, are worth a wager at Morecambe, while Crawley, with two successive victories (league and League Cup) behind them, are recommended at bottom club Scunthorpe. Raith, the early leaders in Scottish League One, will surely be too strong for Stranraer.

Homes sweet homes: Although beaten 4-1 at Anfield last Friday, promoted Norwich showed enough to suggest that they can survive in the Premier League. They shouldn't have much to fear from the visit of Newcastle, who seem destined for a season of struggle. Another promoted team, Sheffield United, gained a well merited draw at Bournemouth and can follow up by defeating Crystal Palace, who failed to take advantage of 10-man Everton last weekend. I expect Newport to be in the League Two promotion shake-up for the second season in a row and they are worth a punt against leaders Plymouth, who have maximum points from their first two matches.

Pools info: Wolves v Manchester United (No 10 on coupon) and Bury v Gillingham (26) will be judged by the pools panel. Huddersfield v Fulham (15) is void.

Five of my forecast draws were correct last weekend: Birmingham v Bristol City (1-1), Bristol Rovers v Wycombe (0-0), Ipswich v Sunderland (1-1), Rochdale v Doncaster (1-1) and Hearts v Ross (0-0).