Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 11-12

Ten draws: Stoke v Crystal Palace, Preston v Brentford, Wolves v Newcastle, Oxford v MK Dons, Peterborough v Sheffield United, Colchester v Barnet, Plymouth v Exeter, Stevenage v Wycombe, Dover v Wrexham, Torquay v Macclesfield.

Best draws: Wolves v Newcastle, Peterborough v Sheffield United, Plymouth v Exeter, Stevenage v Wycombe, Torquay v Macclesfield.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Everton, Blackburn, Bradford City, Grimsby, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Sunderland, Brighton, Derby, Fulham, Bury, Northampton, Luton, Notts County, Yeovil.


Pick of the draws: Wolves, buoyed by their FA Cup victories over Premier League sides Stoke and Liverpool, should provide Championship leaders Newcastle with a stern test at Molineux. Peterborough arrested their League One slump with a terrific 3-0 win at Port Vale last Saturday and will be in the right frame of mind to take on leaders Sheffield United, who enjoyed a 4-0 home success against Wimbledon at the weekend. Plymouth, second in League Two, host Exeter, who are unbeaten in their past 12 matches and now aiming for automatic promotion. I'm taking Paul Tisdale's players to extend their remarkable sequence. Stevenage are at their most vulnerable at home and play-off contenders Wycombe, who gave Tottenham such a fright in the FA Cup, will be confident of at least a point. Torquay, despite a minor recovery, are still not safe from relegation from the National League and won't relish taking on Macclesfield, who already have seven away wins to their credit.

Away days: Only two Premier League sides have achieved more home victories than Burnley but I believe runaway leaders Chelsea will put a dent in their record at Turf Moor on Sunday. Everton have come alive recently and are well capable of coming away from Middlesbrough with three points. A goals shortage (only 19 in 24 league games) continues to haunt relegation-troubled Boro. Championship strugglers Blackburn are not a team you would normally put money on but they are worth backing at bottom club Rotherham, who are doomed for the drop. League One play-off hopefuls Bradford City are also worth a punt at Bristol Rovers, who have inexplicably sold their leading marksman Matty Taylor to their fierce rivals Bristol City. League Two Grimsby look an away banker at 21st-placed Crewe, who cannot buy a goal, let alone a point, at the moment. Dagenham & Redbridge, who are back in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Football League, should have too much firepower for lowly Southport.

Homes sweet homes: That 4-0 away rout of Crystal Palace last Saturday will have given Sunderland, the Premier League's bottom club, an enormous lift and I fancy them to win again, this time at the expense of Southampton, whose recent form has given cause for alarm. Lowly Bury's revival in League One was halted by a 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury last weekend but they can make amends by beating Swindon, who sit just outside the relegation zone. Notts County, third from bottom of League Two, play Cheltenham, who are only two places and three points better off. Although County have been terrible at home this season, I think they will make ground advantage count on this occasion.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 4-5

Ten draws: Southampton v West Ham, Watford v Burnley, Cardiff v Norwich, Huddersfield v Leeds, Charlton v Fleetwood, Southend v Scunthorpe, Walsall v Northampton, Cheltenham v Newport, Crawley v Stevenage, Grimsby v Luton.

Best draws: Watford v Burnley, Cardiff v Norwich, Southend v Scunthorpe, Walsall v Northampton, Crawley v Stevenage.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Fulham, Wolves, Millwall, Carlisle, Elgin.

Best weekend home bets: Everton, Manchester City, Tottenham, Bristol City, MK Dons, Port Vale, Sheffield United, Blackpool, Aberdeen, Dumbarton.

Pick of the draws: Watford's unexpected midweek win at Arsenal will have given them an enormous lift but promoted Burnley have adapted well to life in the Premier League and will be disappointed if they fail to collect only their second away point of the season. Cardiff, under Neil Warnock, have started looking up rather than down in the Championship while Norwich, their opponents on Saturday, have recovered some of their poise after a dispiriting run of results. Southend, who sit just outside the play-off places in League One, can give as good as they get against surprise but worthy leaders Scunthorpe. Having halted their losing run with a 3-0 home success against Coventry last Saturday, Northampton, now managed by Justin Edinburgh, will be more confident of going to Walsall than was the case a few weeks ago, even if second-placed Sheffield United were one of Walsall's recent victims. Like more than a few teams in League Two, Stevenage are more efficient away than at home and I'm backing them to return from Crawley with a point.

Away days: Manchester United are hitting their stride, although their improvement may have come too late for a Premier League title charge. I expect them to return from Leicester with maximum points. Last season's champions find themselves fighting relegation this term and their midweek defeat at Burnley won't have helped morale. Fulham, who have an outside chance of the Championship play-offs and are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup, won't be fearing a trip to Birmingham, who seem to be in free-fall. A 3-1 midweek victory at Barnsley enabled a revitalised Wolves to move further away from the relegation zone and on Saturday they face lesser opponents in Burton. League One Millwall, fresh from their FA Cup triumph over Watford last Sunday, will surely make their superiority count against bottom club Coventry. Carlisle, third in League Two, have faltered lately but should still have too much for ailing Leyton Orient, who are now without a manager. Elgin, third in Scottish League Two, are a confident selection at Cowdenbeath, who have already lost six at home.

Homes sweet homes: A 4-0 victory at Peterborough last weekend shows that MK Dons are on the upgrade. Don't be surprised if they beat Bolton, whose hopes of automatic promotion from League One are dwindling. Port Vale gave leaders Scunthorpe a fright before going down by the odd goal in five last Saturday. They have a good chance of shaking off their disappointment when they host Peterborough, who have mysteriously gone off the boil. I suspect that Blackpool are better than their mid-table position in League Two suggests and they are worth a wager against higher-placed Colchester.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 28-29

Ten draws: Rochdale v Huddersfield, Southampton v Arsenal, Bury v Walsall, Northampton v Coventry, Oldham v Bradford City, Carlisle v Barnet, Newport v Hartlepool, Portsmouth v Exeter, Solihull v Maidstone, Inverness v Partick.

Best draws: Rochdale v Huddersfield, Bury v Walsall, Northampton v Coventry, Newport v Hartlepool, Portsmouth v Exeter.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Newcastle, Barnsley, Grimsby, Doncaster, Rangers.

Best weekend home bets: Blackburn, Burnley, Millwall, Preston, Reading, Fleetwood, Scunthorpe, Mansfield, Notts County, Barrow.


Pick of the draws: Rochdale are one of the best teams in League One and I believe their 4-0 home defeat by Oxford last weekend was an aberration. They host in-form Huddersfield, fourth in the Championship, in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday and are a fair bet to at least take them to a replay. League One strugglers Bury have arrested their slide, beating Peterborough 5-1 at home and drawing 2-2 at Port Vale. They entertain Walsall, whose recent victims include leaders Sheffield United (4-1) and Bristol Rovers (3-1). This suggests an open encounter likely to end in stalemate. Northampton, who have lost their last five at home, take on Coventry, who have sunk to the bottom of the table. However, don't be surprised if the visitors nick a point. Hartlepool's new manager Dave Jones was off to a winning start at home to Stevenage last Saturday but his players may find it harder at League Two's bottom club Newport, who did well to come back from Barnet with a point. Exeter's remarkable away form - nine wins and a draw - has left them just outside the play-offs and I'm taking them to hold Portsmouth, although Pompey are only three points off an automatic promotion place.

Away days: We saw the best of Manchester City when they thrashed West Ham 5-0 in the FA Cup third round, so they should have nothing to fear from a fourth-round visit to Crystal Palace, who have slipped into the Premier League relegation zone and are not responding to new manager Sam Allardyce. It's high time Newcastle, second in the Championship, had a lucrative FA Cup run and a visit to League One Oxford gives them a good opportunity to make further progress. Barnsley gained a morale-boosting 3-2 home victory over their higher-placed Yorkshire rivals Leeds last Saturday and will be confident of recording their seventh away win in the Championship when they travel to seemingly-doomed Rotherham. League Two Grimsby are another side to relish their away trips and I fancy them to take maximum points at Stevenage, who have already lost eight home games. Promotion looks assured for League Two leaders Doncaster, who will probably extend their winning sequence at Yeovil. Rangers knocked Motherwell out of the Scottish Cup last weekend. Back them to complete a quick double by winning at Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.

Homes sweet homes: If there's an upset in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend I expect it to be at Millwall on Sunday. The enterprising League One team play Premier League Watford, who are desperately out of sorts and were grateful to draw 2-2 at Bournemouth last Saturday. That result halted a run of five consecutive away defeats and there are rumours that the manager's job is on the line. The fact that Kevin Nolan has been appointed manager may put some much-needed pep into Notts County, who lie second from bottom in League Two. They are well worth a punt against Crawley, who are none too impressive on their travels. High-flyers Barrow recovered from their shock loss at bottom club York last Saturday by beating National League leaders Lincoln City 3-0 at home in midweek. They are worth backing against second-placed Forest Green, who have stumbled recently.

Pools Info: Derby v Leicester (No 6 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

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

Ten draws: Manchester City v Tottenham, Norwich v Wolves, Wigan v Brentford, Shrewsbury v Oldham, Swindon v Peterborough, Cheltenham v Plymouth, Exeter v Colchester, Leyton Orient v Morecambe, Wycombe v Luton, Chester v Wrexham.

Best draws: Manchester City v Tottenham, Wigan v Brentford, Swindon v Peterborough, Cheltenham v Plymouth, Wycombe v Luton.

Best weekend away bets: Everton, Manchester United, Leeds, Carlisle, Portsmouth, Aldershot.

Best weekend home bets: West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn, Huddersfield, Newcastle, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Walsall, Barnet, Dagenham & Redbridge, Forest Green.


Pick of the draws: Manchester City will have been shaken by their heavy defeat at Everton last Sunday and will be anxious to make amends. It won't be easy against a Tottenham side who are flying but if City play as they did when beating West Ham 5-0 away in the FA Cup two weeks ago they can at least halt Tottenham's Premier League charge. Wigan's 2-0 win at Burton last weekend has given them more of a chance of escaping relegation from the Championship and I'm taking them to hold mid-table Brentford. If Swindon v Peterborough had been played a few weeks ago most of the money would have gone on Peterborough. Since then, however, Swindon have defeated League One promotion candidates Bolton 2-1 away and Peterborough have crashed 5-1 at struggling Bury. Suddenly a draw looks an enticing prospect. Plymouth's FA Cup heroics against Liverpool may have taken something out of them and I won't be surprised if the League Two high-flyers are denied victory at lowly Cheltenham. Luton excelled themselves last Saturday, winning 2-1 at Crewe, despite being down to 10 men. A repeat of that performance should be good enough to earn them a point at Wycombe, who are one place above them in the League Two play-off positions.

Away days: Everton caused the upset of last weekend when they beat Manchester City 4-0 at home in the Premier League. After that display they will expect nothing less than three points at Crystal Palace, who struggled to knock League One Bolton out of the FA Cup. Manchester United and their manager Jose Mourinho seem to have regained their appetite and will fancy their chances of further progress at Stoke. Leeds are one of the most improved sides in the Football League, let alone the Championship, and are a confident selection at Barnsley, who will probably have a hangover from their midweek FA Cup defeat by League Two Blackpool. Carlisle, third in League Two, have stumbled recently but can return to winning ways at Accrington, who are battling to avoid relegation. Portsmouth's hopes of automatic promotion are rising and I expect them to have too much for mid-table Crawley. Aldershot have promotion from the National League in their sights and are worth a punt at Gateshead.

Homes sweet homes: Relegation-haunted Blackburn have at least kept in touch with the teams immediately above them in the Championship and they have a good chance of climbing the table when Birmingham visit on Saturday. The Midlanders have yet to win under new manager Gianfranco Zola. Queens Park Rangers have eased their fears of going down with three consecutive victories and are capable of making it four in a row in their London derby against Fulham. As mid-table Walsall defeated League One leaders Sheffield United 4-1 at home last Saturday, I'm backing them to overcome the challenge of Bristol Rovers.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 14-15

Ten draws: Watford v Middlesbrough, West Ham v Crystal Palace, Bristol City v Cardiff, Burton v Wigan, Preston v Brighton, Charlton v Millwall, Chesterfield v Coventry, Southend v Rochdale, Cheltenham v Accrington, Grimsby v Exeter.

Best draws: Burton v Wigan, Preston v Brighton, Charlton v Millwall, Chesterfield v Coventry, Cheltenham v Accrington.

Best weekend away bets: Huddersfield, Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe, Sheffield United, Colchester, Mansfield.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Birmingham, Wolves, Bolton, Oldham, Carlisle, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Wycombe, Falkirk.


Pick of the draws: Wigan are second from bottom in the Championship but that FA Cup third-round win over Nottingham Forest must have lifted their spirits. I'm taking them to gain a point at Burton, who are only one place off the relegation zone. Preston gave Arsenal an almighty scare in the same competition before losing to a late goal. Simon Grayson's team showed what they are capable of and they may check Brighton's charge towards promotion. Charlton, who have shown markedly better League One form of late, host Millwall, who had perhaps the best FA Cup result last weekend when they beat Premier League Bournemouth 3-0 at home. Deadlock is the likeliest result here. Russell Slade, the new manager of struggling Coventry, doesn't underestimate the task of keeping the club in League One. They travel to another relegation-fearing side, Chesterfield, who have sacked their manager Danny Wilson. Prepare for a stalemate. Accrington are in better heart after winning at Crewe in League Two and knocking Luton out of the FA Cup. I believe they will come away from second-from-bottom Cheltenham with a draw.

Away days: Huddersfield seem well over their blip in the Championship and are worth a wager at Sheffield Wednesday, who were expected to put up more of a fight when defeated 3-0 by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last Sunday. Bristol Rovers, of League One, also suffered a dip in form recently but their 5-0 home triumph over Northampton last Saturday suggests they have got their act together again. They could upset Fleetwood, even though the Lancashire team have lost only once at home this season. Scunthorpe, second in League One, are a confident selection at Northampton, who have dismissed their manager Rob Page and are sliding down the table. It's very difficult opposing leaders Sheffield United at the moment and I cannot see Walsall, their hosts, causing a surprise. Colchester, who have surged into the League Two play-off positions, will surely overcome bottom club Newport while Mansfield, with successive wins over Blackpool and Crewe, look a good bet at floundering Notts County.

Homes sweet homes: Manchester United are enjoying a wonderful winning streak and I expect them to continue it against their fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. Mourinho's players are now turning those early-season Premier League draws into victories and I think they expose the flaws in Liverpool's defence. Birmingham, mid-table in the Championship, have yet to win under Gianfranco Zola but I reckon that will change when they play Nottingham Forest, who are being sucked into a relegation scrap. Wolves deservedly eliminated Premier League Stoke from the FA Cup last weekend and are in the mood to take maximum points off Aston Villa. No side could do with a break more than Oldham, bottom of League One and scorer of only 12 goals this season. However, they could get it against Gillingham, who disappoint more often than not.