Ten draws: Burnley v Brighton, Newcastle v West Ham, Barnsley v Coventry, Swansea v Sheffield United, Morecambe v Shrewsbury, Plymouth v Gillingham, Wigan v Rotherham, Bristol Rovers v Stevenage, Port Vale v Tranmere, Sutton v Salford.
Best draws: Burnley v Brighton, Newcastle v West Ham, Plymouth v Gillingham, Wigan v Rotherham, Sutton v Salford.
Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Fulham, Sunderland, Forest Green, Aberdeen.
Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Everton, Leicester, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich, Wimbledon, Burton, Sheffield Wednesday, Barrow, Swindon.
Pick of the draws: Burnley and Brighton were among the Premier League strugglers last season but managed to survive. I can see a similar outcome this campaign. I'll be surprised if West Ham match last season's position of sixth but they are more than capable of taking a point off Newcastle on Sunday. League One Plymouth made amends for a disappointing opening weekend by scoring four without reply at Peterborough in the League Cup on Tuesday. I suspect they won't find it quite as easy against Gillingham, who held high-flyers Lincoln to a 1-1 draw last Saturday. Rotherham's 2-0 margin of victory against Plymouth last Saturday sent them to the top of the League One table but hosts Wigan won't give much away. In League Two, Sutton's home fixture against Salford has been switched to the latter's ground as Sutton are having problems with their artificial surface. Despite this disadvantage I believe Sutton, who were unlucky to lose their first two matches, will earn a draw.
Away days: Liverpool are firm favourites to start the 2021-22 campaign with victory at promoted Norwich, who could scarcely have had a harder opening fixture. Aston Villa appear to have made some shrewd summer signings and will be optimistic about beating Watford, who have rejoined the top flight. Fulham, back in the Championship, should have had more than a point to show for their efforts at home to Middlesbrough last Sunday and I think they'll make Huddersfield pay. Sunderland, with two consecutive victories behind them, should make it three at MK Dons and in League Two, Forest Green are fancied at Walsall, who have yet to score. It's League Cup weekend in Scotland and Premiership club Aberdeen are recommended at Championship team Raith.
Homes sweet homes: Wimbledon to gain their third win in eight days when they host promoted Bolton. Wimbledon's previous victims were Doncaster (League One) and Charlton (League Cup), both away. Unfashionable Burton, of League One, don't fear anybody now, which is why I'm tipping them to defeat underperforming Ipswich. In League Two, Barrow look to have the edge over newcomers Hartlepool, who went down 1-0 at home to 10-man Crewe in the midweek League Cup.
Pools info: Crawley v Harrogate (No.36 on coupon) has been postponed because of a Covid outbreak at Harrogate and the match will be assessed by the pools panel. Sutton v Salford (41) will be played at Salford's ground.
More pools info: I forecast the following five draws last weekend: Bristol City 1 Blackpool 1; Derby 1 Huddersfield 1; Gillingham 1 Lincoln 1; Carlisle 0 Colchester 0 and St Johnstone 1 Motherwell 1. Three of my five best draws were also correct: the matches at Bristol City, Derby and Gillingham.
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