Pools tips for weekend of December 8-9

Ten draws: Arsenal v West Brom, Manchester City v Manchester United, Crystal Palace v Blackpool, Huddersfield v Bolton, Preston v Crewe, Swindon v Doncaster, Bristol Rovers v Dagenham & Redbridge, Oxford v Aldershot, Rotherham v Gillingham, Cambridge v Gateshead.

Best draws: Arsenal v West Brom, Crystal Palace v Blackpool, Swindon v Doncaster, Oxford v Aldershot, Rotherham v Gillingham.

Five aways: Queens Park Rangers, Burnley, Stevenage, Bournemouth, Notts County.

Nine homes: Aston Villa, Swansea, Leicester, Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves, Coventry, Crawley, Tranmere, Bradford City.

Pick of the draws: You wouldn't bet on Arsenal to win any match at the moment but overachieving West Brom have also lost their last two games, so a point apiece seems the likeliest outcome. The Eagles of Crystal Palace are flying high in the Championship but mid-table Blackpool will be eager to frustrate their former manager Ian Holloway, who thought the grass was greener at Selhurst Park. Doncaster's away record in League One is something special (won 7, drawn 2, lost 1), so they won't fear a trip to Swindon, who can beat anybody when they are in the mood. League Two strugglers Aldershot have perked up recently and can hold Oxford. In the Blue Square Premier, Cambridge are tipped to halt their slide by depriving Gateshead of maximum points.

Away days: Queens Park Rangers, still without a Premier League victory this season, have a wonderful opportunity of ending their wretched run at Wigan, who look as though they are in for another long, hard winter. Burnley are playing with great enterprise in the Championship and a win over better-placed Nottingham Forest is well within their grasp. League One Stevenage are more reliable away than at home and must be backed at Hartlepool, who are eight points adrift of the next-to-bottom club, Scunthorpe. Eddie Howe has worked wonders during his short stay at Bournemouth and they will be confident of gaining maximum points at Scunthorpe. Promotion contenders Notts County are unbeaten on their travels and I can't see that changing at Yeovil.

Homes sweet homes: Paul Lambert's Aston Villa, despite relegation worries, have more going for them than many people believe and are worth a punt against on-form Stoke. Sheffield Wednesday, second from bottom in the Championship, have an excellent chance to return to winning ways against fellow strugglers Bristol City, who were thrashed by Wolves at Ashton Gate last weekend. The manner of that overdue win should encourage Wolves to shade Birmingham in the Midlands derby at Molineux. I'm taking League Two play-off hopefuls, Bradford City, to send Torquay home pointless.

Pools tips for weekend of December 1-2

Ten draws: Fulham v Tottenham, Liverpool v Southampton, Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Brighton, Mallorca v Real Zaragoza, Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, Valencia v Real Sociedad, Lazio v Parma, Udinese v Cagliari, Ajax v PSV Eindhoven.

Best draws: Fulham v Tottenham, Liverpool v Southampton, Crystal Palace v Brighton, Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, Udinese v Cagliari.

Five aways: Manchester United, Chelsea, Blackpool, Malaga, Roma.

Nine homes: West Bromwich Albion, Bristol City, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Watford, Barcelona, Genoa, Juventus, Napoli.

Pick of the draws: Tottenham have lost their last three away games but I'm taking them to stop the rot against Fulham, who have recently been beaten by Sunderland and Stoke. Southampton were so impressive in their victories over Queens Park Rangers (away) and Newcastle (home) that they can earn a point from their trip to Liverpool, who are far from invincible at Anfield.  Crystal Palace's charge up the Championship has been halted and on-form Brighton, their fierce rivals, can take advantage of that at Selhurst Park on Saturday. Second-placed Atletico Madrid, fresh from their 4-0 thumping of Sevilla in the Spanish League, look capable of holding Real Madrid while draw specialists Udinese seem likely to add to their tally when Cagliari come visiting.

Away days: Free-scoring Manchester United will surely prevail at lowly Reading and Chelsea, despite their problems and the unpopularity of their new manager, are probably worth a punt at West Ham, who were well beaten by Spurs last Sunday. In the Championship, Blackpool's progress has been hindered by a number of draws, but they have an excellent chance of maximum points at bottom-of-the-table Peterborough. Malaga, handily placed at fourth in the Spanish League, are tipped to triumph at Getafe. Roma won at lowly Pescara in the Italian League last weekend and I fancy them to beat another struggling side, Siena.

Homes sweet homes: I believe Bristol City will climb away from the Championship relegation zone by defeating Wolves, who are in wretched form. Burnley, with the prolific Charlie Austin scoring almost to order, can see off bitter rivals Blackburn at Turf Moor and Nottingham Forest are well equipped to cash in on Hull's recent lapses. Lowly Genoa earned a surprise 1-0 win at Atalanta in the Italian League last weekend and I'm taking them to follow that up at the expense of Chievo.


Please note: Newcastle v Wigan (match No 5) and Sevilla v Valladolid (31) will be decided by the pools panel. There are two void matches: Birmingham v Middlesbrough (11) and Osasuna v Rayo Vallecano (28). 

Pools tips for weekend of November 24-25

Ten draws: Charlton v Huddersfield, Hull v Burnley, Ipswich v Peterborough, Leyton Orient v Preston, Notts County v Swindon, Stevenage v Tranmere, Accrington v Gillingham, Plymouth v Chesterfield, Brechin v Forfar, East Fife v Arbroath.

Best draws: Hull v Burnley, Ipswich v Peterborough, Leyton Orient v Preston, Stevenage v Tranmere, Accrington v Gillingham.

Five aways: Reading, Cardiff, Crystal Palace, Port Vale, Bradford City.

Nine homes: Manchester United, Stoke, Blackburn, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Wolves, Doncaster, Walsall, Southend.


Pick of the draws: Burnley's 10 men played with great spirit before losing to Charlton in the Championship last weekend and a repeat performance could see them hold high-flying Hull. Ipswich, in the relegation zone, have the worst goal difference of any team in the top four English divisions but they should still get something from the visit of fellow strugglers Peterborough. Leyton Orient's best League One wins this season have come away from home. They are not so hot at the Matchroom Stadium, which is why I think middle-of-the-table Preston will gain a point. Stevenage have continued last season's habit of drawing at home and that is the most likely result of their game against League One leaders Tranmere, especially as both sides have faltered recently. The signing of former England forward James Beattie has given League Two team Accrington a shot in the arm and I'm taking them to deny leaders Gillingham victory.

Away days: Last Saturday's win - their first in this season's Premier League - over highly rated Everton has got the monkey off Reading's back and I believe they will prevail at Wigan, who have only one home victory to their credit. The away record of Championship title challengers Cardiff is nothing to write home about but they will feel confident of success at Barnsley, who hover just above the relegation zone. Championship leaders Crystal Palace will take some stopping and I cannot see an off-form and injury-troubled Leeds doing it. Goals are flowing freely for League Two promotion contenders Port Vale, who will surely defeat lowly Aldershot. A resurgent Bradford City will fancy their chances at Bristol Rovers.

Homes sweet homes: Stoke have not lost on their own ground in the Premier League this season and have conceded only one goal. That should encourage them against Fulham, who will be without their suspended centre-back stalwart Brede Hangeland. The abrupt departure of manager Ian Holloway adversely affected the Championship fortunes of Blackpool but they are showing signs of settling down again under new boss Michael Appleton. Expect them to take three points off Watford. Wolves will be anxious to halt their slide down the table and are worth a punt against inconsistent Nottingham Forest. Southend, eight goals in their past two matches, will be confident of adding higher-placed Rochdale to their list of League Two victims.

Pools tips for weekend of November 17-18

Ten draws: Newcastle v Swansea, Birmingham v Hull, Cardiff v Middlesbrough, Huddersfield v Brighton, Watford v Wolves, Colchester v Bury, Rotherham v Cheltenham, Dumbarton v Morton, Arbroath v Queen of South, Forfar v Stenhousemuir.

Best draws: Birmingham v Hull, Cardiff v Middlesbrough, Watford v Wolves, Colchester v Bury, Dumbarton v Morton.

Five aways: Everton, Coventry, Doncaster, Crewe, Southend.

Nine homes: Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion, Bolton, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Crawley, Sheffield United, Swindon, AFC Wimbledon.


Pick of the draws: Birmingham have yet to convince under manager Lee Clark and promotion-chasing Hull are well capable of taking a Championship point from St Andrew's. Third-placed Cardiff have won all eight of their home matches this season but in-form Middlesbrough, who are second, can stop them making it nine. Watford's shock 6-1 victory at Leeds last Saturday gave them an unexpected boost  but their home record is nothing to shout about and Wolves should at least match them. Mid-table Colchester have hit the wall recently, whereas their lowly League One visitors, Bury, have improved enough to take something from the game. Dumbarton, bottom of the Scottish first division, will have been encouraged by their 1-0 win at Cowdenbeath last weekend and can surprise Morton.

Away days: Everton are irresistible these days and must be fancied to heap more misery on Reading, who are still without a win in the Premier League. In League One, bottom club Hartlepool are in danger of being cast adrift from the rest and I believe visitors Coventry will add to their problems this weekend. Similarly, Doncaster can take advantage of the turmoil at cash-strapped Portsmouth, who lost their manager Michael Appleton to Blackpool last week. Crewe, who have won their last three matches, will be confident of prevailing at relegation-troubled Shrewsbury and I'm taking Southend to inflict Torquay's first home defeat of the season in League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Anything less than victory against struggling Southampton on Saturday will be unacceptable to Queens Park Rangers supporters and probably the QPR directors who employed beleaguered manager Mark Hughes. Expect bottom-of-the table QPR to break their Premier League duck. Title contenders Chelsea will be weakened by the absence of John Terry at high-riding West Bromwich Albion, so don't be surprised if the hosts win for the sixth time at home. I'm taking Sheffield United to make ground advantage count against fellow League One promotion contenders Stevenage and AFC Wimbledon to continue their climb away from the relegation zone in League Two by defeating Aldershot.

Pools tips for weekend of November 10-11

Ten draws: Wigan v West Bromwich Albion, Barnsley v Huddersfield, Bristol City v Charlton, Ipswich v Burnley, Bury v Portsmouth, Leyton Orient v Shrewsbury, Oldham v Tranmere, Accrington v Northampton, Exeter v Fleetwood, Southend v Port Vale.

Best draws: Wigan v West Brom, Bristol City v Charlton, Bury v Portsmouth, Exeter v Fleetwood, Southend v Port Vale.

Five aways: Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Bradford City.

Nine homes: Everton, Manchester City, Reading, Blackburn, Coventry, Crewe, Notts County, Stevenage, Yeovil.


Pick of the draws: Wigan, who enjoyed a splendid Premier League victory at Tottenham last Saturday, play host to another in-form team in West Brom, who have surprised a lot of people with their early-season progress. Expect deadlock. Bristol City are in freefall in the Championship but can stop the rot against Charlton, who have disappointed so far in a higher division. In League One, struggling Bury are staging a revival and will be upbeat about collecting something from the visit of Portsmouth, who have lost their past four matches. Exeter got their League Two home form back on track by beating AFC Wimbledon but will find newcomers Fleetwood a tougher proposition. With Southend and Port Vale both on the upgrade, I am taking them to share the spoils at Roots Hall.

Away days: It is impossible to overlook the claims of new Premier League leaders Manchester United. They continue to thrive despite not being at their best and they have a remarkable record at Villa Park, where lowly Aston Villa have won only once this season. Queens Park Rangers are still searching for their first victory but may get it at Stoke, who have averaged less than a goal a game and have won only once themselves. Ian Holloway's Crystal Palace are top of the Championship after thrashing Ipswich 5-0 and look a banker at Peterborough, who are in the relegation zone. Brighton's chances of prevailing at off-form Wolves are also highly recommended. Bradford City should improve their League Two promotion prospects by beating bottom club Aldershot.

Homes sweet homes: Reading, still waiting for a Premier League win this season, are playing better than their position suggests and are worth a punt against Norwich. Coventry have climbed out of the League One relegation zone and are set to continue the good work against Scunthorpe. Crewe are coping well in a higher division and will fancy their chances against Colchester, who may suffer a hangover after being knocked out of the FA Cup by non-League Chelmsford last weekend. Notts County have yet to click at home, despite being in the promotion shake-up. A home match against fellow high-flyers Crawley gives them the perfect opportunity.