Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 19-20

Ten draws: Chelsea v Liverpool, Norwich v Preston, Nottingham Forest v Cardiff, Stoke v Bristol City, Blackpool v Swindon, Burton v Accrington, Peterborough v Fleetwood, Harrogate v Walsall, Tranmere v Cheltenham, Kilmarnock v Hamilton.

Best draws: Chelsea v Liverpool, Nottingham Forest v Cardiff, Burton v Accrington, Peterborough v Fleetwood, Harrogate v Walsall.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Millwall, Ipswich, Portsmouth, Salford, Oldham, Rangers.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Everton, Leeds, Leicester, Southampton, Blackburn, Brentford, Luton, Hull, Newport.

Pick of the draws: I'm expecting a high-scoring stalemate when champions Liverpool go to Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Liverpool's much praised defence looked vulnerable when they beat Leeds on the opening day of the season and Chelsea have the forwards to take advantage of that. Meanwhile, Chelsea's defence is also far from secure. In the Championship, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff have flopped so far and it's hard to make a positive case for either of them. Accrington's 2-0 home victory over Peterborough in League One last Saturday indicates that they will continue to punch above their weight and I'm taking them to hold Burton. If Fleetwood's away form improves they could mount a promotion challenge and their first test is against Peterborough, who have yet to get out of the starting blocks. Harrogate's 4-0 away success at Southend in League Two was probably the best result of last weekend but Walsall will probably provide stiffer opposition for the Football League's newcomers.

Away days: Millwall, who finished just outside the Championship play-off places, will start favourites at promoted Rotherham and I think they will justify that favouritism. In League One, Ipswich will surely do better than last season and their visit to Bristol Rovers is a match they should be winning. Although Portsmouth have made a hesitant start to the campaign, I have to fancy them at Rochdale on Sunday. I reckon Salford will be in the League Two promotion mix and a win at Grimsby is within their grasp. Although Oldham lost at home to Leyton Orient last weekend, I expect them to bounce back at Stevenage, who can count themselves lucky to still be in the Football League. Rangers have made a flying start in the Scottish Premiership and the leaders are capable of extending their unbeaten run at Hibernian.

Homes sweet homes: Leeds seem more likely to adapt to a higher grade of football than Fulham, their visitors. Leeds were unlucky to come away from Anfield empty-handed last Saturday and I'm taking them to come out on top in this Premier League clash on Saturday. Southampton should also have got something at Crystal Palace and they have a good chance of making amends against Tottenham, who were poor when losing at home to Everton last Sunday. Unfashionable Luton, of the Championship, have won all their games so far, so won't be fearing a visit from Derby, who have impressed nobody.

Pools info: Aston Villa v Sheffield United (No 2 on coupon) is being played on Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 12-13

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Southampton, Barnsley v Luton, Bristol City v Coventry, Huddersfield v Norwich, Queens Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest, Wycombe v Rotherham, Lincoln v Oxford, Swindon v Rochdale, Oldham v Leyton Orient, Salford v Exeter.

Best draws: Barnsley v Luton, Bristol City v Coventry, Lincoln v Oxford, Swindon v Rochdale, Oldham v Leyton Orient.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Brentford, Reading, Charlton, Newport, Hibernian.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Bournemouth, Preston, Northampton, Plymouth, Bolton, Bradford City, Cheltenham, Port Vale, Walsall, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: Barnsley and Luton performed miracles to avoid the drop into League One and both won League Cup ties against the odds last Saturday. With the Football League programme starting this weekend it's hard to separate them. Promoted Coventry showed their intent when their 10 men won at MK Dons last Saturday. It shouldn't be beyond them to gain a point at Bristol City, whose promotion challenge faded at the end of last season. Oxford were unlucky not to be promoted to the Championship but won't underestimate their task at Lincoln, who are hoping to improve on last season's mid-table position. I believe promoted Swindon will recover from last week's League Cup home defeat by Charlton and share the spoils with Rochdale. Leyton Orient began the 2020-21 campaign by winning at Forest Green but may have to settle for a point at Oldham, who had a comfortable home victory over Carlisle. 

Away days: Arsenal's morale is high after lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield and intend to put down an early marker at Fulham's Craven Cottage, where they have a good record. Brentford, who were so close to the Premier League last season, are fancied to triumph at Birmingham, who don't inspire the same confidence. Reading, first-round League Cup winners last Saturday, are worth a punt at Derby, who only beat League newcomers Barrow via a penalty shoot-out. Charlton's impressive 3-1 win at Swindon last weekend will make them favourites to come away from Crewe with maximum points. In League Two, Newport should be too strong for Scunthorpe while Hibernian seem to have the measure of St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership. 

Homes sweet homes: Despite selling striker Callum Wilson to Newcastle, I expect Bournemouth to bounce back from last season's demotion and they will be disappointed with less than three points from the visit of Blackburn. Northampton's 3-0 success over Championship team Cardiff was possibly the best result of last weekend and if they play half as well this Saturday they should account for Wimbledon. Plymouth, like Northampton promoted to League One, also beat higher opposition when hosting Queens Park Rangers and they can see off visitors Blackpool.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 5-6

 Ten draws: Crewe v Lincoln, Forest Green v Leyton Orient, Ipswich v Bristol Rovers, Luton v Norwich, MK Dons v Coventry, Oldham v Carlisle, Scunthorpe v Port Vale, Walsall v Sheffield Wednesday, Azerbaijan v Luxembourg, Gibraltar v San Marino.

Best draws: Crewe v Lincoln, Luton v Norwich, MK Dons v Coventry, Scunthorpe v Port Vale, Gibraltar v San Marino.

Best bets: Six aways: Wigan, Swansea, Cardiff, Rotherham, Belgium, England.

Best bets: Ten homes: Brentford, Bristol City, Derby, Gillingham, Oxford, Peterborough, Rochdale, Swindon, Sunderland, Tranmere.

Pick of the draws: League One Lincoln's poor away record last season will be put to the test on Saturday in the League Cup first round when they visit Crewe, who have been promoted from League Two. It's my hunch that Lincoln will at least take the tie to a penalty shoot-out after 90 minutes. The way that relegated Norwich folded in last season's latter stages was worrying and Luton, who staged a remarkable late rally to stay in the Championship, will be encouraged by that. Although Coventry gained promotion to the Championship, they won't find it easy at MK Dons, who were capable of better than their 18th placing in League One last term. Port Vale, who missed the League Two play-offs by a whisker, travel to Scunthorpe, who are hoping to improve on last season's 19th position. Gibraltar v San Marino is a clash of football minnows in the first batch of Nations League matches at the weekend and neither will feel confident of seizing the day.

Away days: Wigan were desperately unlucky to drop into League One, having gone into administration, and they will be aiming to take their frustration out on Joey Barton's Fleetwood. Swansea, who reached the Championship play-offs, shouldn't be inconvenienced by Newport, of League Two, while Cardiff, who were also in the Championship play-offs, will surely see off promoted Northampton. I expect Rotherham, up from League One, to confirm their superiority over Salford. It would take a brave man to bet against Belgium these days and I can't see Denmark upsetting them in the Nations League. Iceland aren't half the side they were when they beat England in the 2016 Euros and Gareth Southgate's men are seeking revenge.

Homes sweet homes: If there's a surprise in this weekend's League Cup it may come at Rochdale, who host Huddersfield. Thanks mainly to the Cowley brothers, Huddersfield avoided relegation from the Championship and then promptly sacked them. That decision may come to haunt them this season and could work in favour of League One Rochdale, who often relish being the underdogs. Swindon, promoted into League One as champions, meet cash-strapped Charlton, who dropped out of the Championship. The momentum is with the hosts and the same can be said for Sunderland, who play relegated Hull.

Pools info: Burton v Accrington (No 6 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore  void.    

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

Ten draws: Watford v Leicester, Hull v Charlton, Middlesbrough v Swansea, Reading v Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest, Blackpool v Sunderland, Gillingham v Fleetwood, Cambridge v Cheltenham, Forest Green v Northampton, Hibernian v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Watford v Leicester, Hull v Charlton, Reading v Stoke, Gillingham v Fleetwood, Forest Green v Northampton.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Manchester United, Peterborough, Walsall, Plymouth, Hamilton.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Manchester City, Norwich, West Ham, Queens Park Rangers, West Brom, Portsmouth, Tranmere, Exeter, Grimsby, Kilmarnock.

Pick of the draws: If Watford, fourth from bottom of the Premier League, can beat runaway leaders Liverpool so convincingly then they are capable of doing the same to third-placed Leicester. The only snag is that Leicester returned to form with a bang when defeating Aston Villa 4-0 at home on Monday and will surely show more resistance than Liverpool did. Hull and Charlton, who are both sinking like a stone in the Championship, play each other on Saturday and I can't make a positive case for either of them. Reading's fine 3-1 away win at Birmingham last weekend was matched by Stoke's 5-1 home thrashing of Hull. Stoke's away record leaves much to be desired but I believe they'll pinch a point here. Fleetwood are League One promotion hopefuls and showed their mettle by drawing 2-2 at fellow contenders Portsmouth in midweek. But Gillingham, their hosts, are no slouches either, as shown by their merited point at Sunderland last Saturday. Forest Green's terrible home form has held them back in League Two but their shock 2-0 win at Swindon last weekend will have given them the belief to hold the better-placed Northampton.

Away days: Chelsea, impressive 4-0 home winners over Everton last Sunday, look an away banker at Aston Villa, where hope of avoiding relegation from the Premier League seems to be fading fast. Manchester United, who have improved in leaps and bounds, are also a confident selection at Tottenham, whose last hope of a trophy this season disappeared when they crashed out of the Champions League in midweek. Peterborough are right back in the hunt for automatic promotion from League One and will be disappointed not to take three points at bottom club Bolton. Walsall, mid-table in League Two and fresh from defeating promotion-seeking Exeter 3-1 at home, will travel to Macclesfield with confidence. High-riding Plymouth will also be counting on a maximum haul at third-from-last Morecambe. Hamilton, with two consecutive victories, are making a spirited effort to avoid the drop in the Scottish Premiership and I'm taking them to make it a hat-trick at Ross.

Homes sweet homes: This is a must win for Norwich, the Premier League's bottom club, and I think they'll achieve it against Southampton, who have lost four out of the last five. West Ham were unlucky not to get something from their away defeats against Liverpool and Arsenal and are playing better than their lowly league position suggests. They are well worth a punt in their Sunday fixture against Wolves. Two away wins in a row against Accrington and Blackpool have revived Tranmere's chances of staying in League One and I'm backing them to make ground advantage count against Lincoln.

Pools info: Fulham v Brentford (No 13 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 7-8

Ten draws: Chelsea v Everton, Crystal Palace v Watford, Charlton v Middlesbrough, Preston v Queens Park Rangers, Ipswich v Coventry, MK Dons v Doncaster, Peterborough v Portsmouth, Cheltenham v Port Vale, Salford v Bradford City, St Johnstone v Livingston.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Watford, Charlton v Middlesbrough, MK Dons v Doncaster, Peterborough v Portsmouth, Salford v Bradford City.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Burton, Rotherham, Oxford, Rangers, Inverness.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Wolves, Derby, Leeds, Stoke, Crewe, Northampton, Plymouth, Swindon, Hearts.

Pick of the draws: Watford must still be on cloud nine after that magnificent 3-0 home win over Liverpool last Saturday. It moved them out of the Premier League relegation zone but they may have to settle for a point at Crystal Palace, who have defeated Newcastle (home) and Brighton (away) in the past two weeks and are nearly safe. Charlton v Middlesbrough is a clash between two out-of-form sides in the Championship. Both are fighting to avoid relegation and it's hard to make a positive case for either of them. Doncaster's 3-1 home victory over League One high-flyers Wycombe last weekend was probably their best display of the season but their hosts, MK Dons, have also perked up and held second-placed Rotherham to a 1-1 draw last Saturday. It's getting very tight at the top of this division and Peterborough v Portsmouth is the stand-out match. Pompey gave Arsenal some anxious moments in the first half of the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Fratton Park last Monday and I believe they'll come away with a point here. Bradford City have the quality to climb back into the League Two play-off places but Salford have acquitted themselves well in their first season in the Football League and can deny them maximum points.

Away days: I think beating Real Madrid away in the Champions League and winning the League Cup for the third year in a row will lift Manchester City for the rest of the season and I tip them to come out on top against their bitter foes Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. Burton, who have six away wins in League One, will fancy their chances of making it seven at Lincoln, who appear on a downward spiral. Promotion-seeking Rotherham let two points slip at home to MK Dons and will be anxious not to repeat this mistake when they visit Rochdale, who are just above the drop zone. Oxford are also in the promotion reckoning and will strengthen their case by beating Shrewsbury. Although Steven Gerrard's Rangers have faltered badly lately, I believe they'll gain their 10th away success of the season at Ross County. Inverness, second in the Scottish Championship, are a confident selection at struggling Alloa.

Homes sweet homes: Derby, who won impressively at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, could get another three Championship points on Sunday against Blackburn, who have been hindered by too many draws. Relegation-threatened Stoke are worth backing against Hull, who have completely gone off the boil and are leaking goals galore. Hearts, having already knocked Rangers out of the Scottish Cup, moved off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership with a great 3-1 midweek win at Edinburgh rivals Hibernian and can send Motherwell home pointless.

Pools info: Nottingham Forest v Millwall (No 17 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.