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

Ten draws: Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth, Derby v Middlesbrough, Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich v Leeds, Cambridge v Crawley, Shrewsbury v Peterborough, Accrington v Harrogate, Bromley v Wimbledon, Grimsby v Cheltenham, Dundee United v St Mirren.

Best draws: Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth, Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday, West Bromwich v Leeds, Accrington v Harrogate, Grimsby v Cheltenham.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Blackburn, Hull, Gillingham, Doncaster.

Ten homes: Arsenal, Newcastle, West Ham, Burnley, Watford, Portsmouth, Huddersfield, Bradford City, Aberdeen, Dundee.

Pick of the draws: Bournemouth have a good Premier League record against Nottingham Forest and despite selling leading scorer Dominic Solanke to Tottenham last week, I fancy them to deny Forest again. Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday made encouraging starts to their Championship campaign - Sunderland winning 2-0 at Cardiff and Wednesday beating Plymouth 4-0 at home. I believe they will cancel each other out on Sunday. Although Leeds dropped two home points to Portsmouth in their opening game, they showed enough attacking flair to worry West Brom, who proved their quality with a 3-1 win at Queens Park Rangers. Accrington have suffered consecutive heavy away defeats in the past few days but they are a different proposition at home and can gain their first League Two point of the season against Harrogate. Still in League Two, relegated Cheltenham may have to settle for parity at Grimsby, who are stubborn at home.

Away days: Crystal Palace finished last season like an express train and I think they'll continue in that vein at Brentford on Sunday. Premier League champions Manchester City often take a while to get going but they should still be good enough to take maximum points at Chelsea. Blackburn, 10 goals in their first two games, are well worth a punt at Norwich, who slumped 2-0 at promoted Oxford in the Championship last weekend. I'll be surprised if Hull don't come away from Plymouth, battered 4-0 last Sunday, with three points. Gillingham are one of the favourites for promotion from League Two and I expect them to win at Morecambe. Doncaster, 4-1 home winners over Accrington last Saturday, are another fancied side and will feel confident of beating Newport.

Homes sweet homes: West Ham appear to have made some shrewd close-season signings and I'm tipping them to come out on top in their Premier League encounter with Aston Villa, who have had an unsettling summer. Watford, two victories and eight goals in their opening two matches, will be in the mood to make it a hat-trick of wins when Stoke visit on Saturday. That 3-3 draw at Leeds last weekend will have encouraged Portsmouth, who were promoted to the Championship last season. They host relegated Luton, who crashed 4-1 at home to Burnley on Monday.

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 10-11

 Ten draws: Cardiff v Sunderland, Millwall v Watford, Leyton Orient v Bolton, Peterborough v Huddersfield, Wimbledon v Colchester, Cheltenham v Newport, MK Dons v Bradford City, Tranmere v Notts County, Aberdeen v St Mirren, Kelty Hearts v Stenhousemuir.

Best draws: Cardiff v Sunderland, Leyton Orient v Bolton, Wimbledon v Colchester, MK Dons v Bradford City, Aberdeen v St Mirren.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Norwich, Lincoln, Blackpool, Rotherham, Charlton, Celtic.

Ten homes: Manchester City, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham, Stockport, Wrexham, Doncaster, Gillingham, Walsall, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: It's unlikely that Sunderland will struggle as much as they did last season in the Championship and on the opening weekend of the campaign they should be able to leave Cardiff with a point. Bolton's failure to gain promotion from League One was a big disappointment and that may still be on their minds when they visit Leyton Orient. I expect Colchester, with the Cowley brothers in charge, to fare better in League Two this term and I rate their chances of gaining a point at Wimbledon. Last season ended in anti-climax for MK Dons and their opponents Bradford City. Both are a sound bet to improve over the next nine months and my money is on a stalemate. Aberdeen and St Mirren enjoyed good results - St Johnstone 1 Aberdeen 2, St Mirren 3 Hibernian 0 - on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership and face each other this Sunday. 

Away days: I tip Norwich to get three Championship points at promoted Oxford, who may take time to adjust to a higher division. Lincoln, who finished last season like an express train in League One, should have enough to beat Burton, who narrowly escaped relegation. In the same division, Blackpool are a confident selection at Crawley, who have lost several of the players who won them their unexpected promotion. Relegated Rotherham, now managed by the successful Steve Evans, will fancy their chances at Exeter, as will Charlton at Wigan. Once again, Celtic look the side to beat in the Scottish Premiership. Having defeated Kilmarnock 4-0 at home last Sunday, they will relish going to Hibernian, who lost 3-0 at St Mirren last Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: I believe the feel-good factor at Stockport, last season's League Two champions, will continue after they have played Cambridge on Saturday. Ditto Wrexham, the League Two runners-up, who host Wycombe. Indeed, I'll be surprised if Stockport and Wrexham don't thrive in the higher division. A more settled Gillingham, under their new manager, Mark Bonner, will probably be more of a force in League Two this season and I think they'll come out on top against relegated Carlisle. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 20-21

 Ten draws: Sheffield United v Burnley, Huddersfield v Swansea, Stoke v Plymouth, Sunderland v Millwall, Watford v Hull, Bristol Rovers v Peterborough, Harrogate v MK Dons, Newport v Salford, Walsall v Bradford City, Stirling v Queen of the South.

Best draws: Sheffield United v Burnley, Stoke v Plymouth, Bristol Rovers v Peterborough, Newport v Salford, Walsall v Bradford City.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Birmingham, Derby, Wycombe, Annan.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Luton, Blackburn, Bolton, Portsmouth, Doncaster, Mansfield, Morecambe, Stockport, Tranmere.

Pick of the draws: Sheffield United (bottom) and Burnley (second bottom) seem doomed to relegation from the Premier League. They have been so poor this season that I can't see them beating each other. Plymouth's hopes of surviving the drop from the Championship were given a big boost when they beat promotion contenders Leicester at home last Friday. That will encourage them to get something at Stoke, who are also nervously looking over their shoulders. Although Peterborough are in the League One promotion mix, their results can fluctuate wildly. As Bristol Rovers, their hosts, have won their past two games, there's a good chance they can deny the Posh. Newport v Salford is a clash between teams on the slide in League Two. Neither can buy a win at the moment, so a draw is the most likely outcome. Bradford City's hopes of finishing in the top half of the table have risen recently and they can halt Walsall's surge.

Away days: Nottingham Forest, precariously placed in the Premier League, have won only two away matches this season but will be looking to make that three when they visit fellow relegation strugglers Everton, who lost 6-0 at Chelsea on Monday and appear to have imploded. With the top three in the Championship all faltering, fourth-placed Southampton can suddenly sense automatic promotion. They can follow their routine 3-0 midweek home victory over Preston by beating Cardiff. Birmingham's convincing 3-0 home win against FA Cup semi-finalists Coventry last Saturday moved them out of the relegation zone, so you have to fancy them at rock bottom Rotherham. Automatic promotion from League One is within Derby's grasp and they will probably clinch it by winning at Cambridge. Mid-table Wycombe have recovered well from their defeat in the EFL Trophy final, winning consecutive away games at Shrewsbury and Port Vale. I'm tipping them to make it a hat-trick at Carlisle, who have been relegated. Annan are battling bravely to escape the drop from Scottish League One and another three points are on the cards at Edinburgh, who cannot be saved.

Homes sweet homes: Luton have fared the best of the three promoted clubs from last season's Championship and have every chance of staying in the top flight. They are worth a wager against Brentford, who have lost 11 away fixtures so far this season. Doncaster won their eighth successive match by defeating Accrington 4-0 at home last weekend. They are now only two points off the League Two play-off positions and are in the mood to see off fellow contenders Barrow. Wimbledon look like falling short of the play-offs and it won't surprise me if they lose at Tranmere. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 13-14

Ten draws: Burnley v Brighton, Preston v Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke, Bolton v Portsmouth, Oxford v Peterborough, Shrewsbury v Wycombe, MK Dons v Mansfield, Newport v Tranmere, Walsall v Notts County, Aberdeen v Dundee.

Best draws: Burnley v Brighton, Bolton v Portsmouth, Oxford v Peterborough, MK Dons v Mansfield, Walsall v Notts County.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Leicester (Friday), Blackpool, Northampton, Dundee United (Friday), Rangers, Oldham.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Hull, Millwall, Swansea, Stevenage, Crewe, Doncaster, Stockport, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: A long injury list has made 10th-placed Brighton less effective this season, which gives Burnley, seemingly doomed to relegation from the Premier League, a chance to avoid defeat. Bolton, aiming for automatic promotion from League One, need maximum points but prospective champions Portsmouth have lost only four league fixtures all season and I don't see them losing this one. Peterborough, the EFL Trophy winners at Wembley last Sunday and fourth in the table, visit Oxford United, another side in form and fellow promotion contenders. Mansfield, strongly fancied to go up from League Two, crashed 4-1 at home to Crawley in a major upset last weekend but I believe they'll recover sufficiently to hold MK Dons, who are also challenging for promotion. Notts County, after an alarming slide down the table, are showing signs of turning things around and can take a point at Walsall.

Away days: Championship leaders Leicester fell to a shock 1-0 midweek loss at struggling Millwall. I'll be surprised if they make the same mistake at Plymouth, who, like Millwall, are battling relegation. Consecutive 1-0 home victories have given Blackpool a chance of reaching the League One play-offs, so they should prevail at Carlisle, who are going down. Mid-table Northampton visit Fleetwood, where hope of escaping relegation is fast fading. Dundee United, who lead the Scottish Championship, had a resounding 5-0 success at Queen's Park last Saturday. I don't think they'll win as handsomely at Morton but I still fancy them to collect three points. Rangers, one point behind table-topping Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with a game in hand, know they cannot afford to switch off and I'm tipping them to make lowly Ross County suffer on Sunday. Oldham, of the National League, will have only themselves to blame if they cannot return from rock bottom Oxford City with three points.

Homes sweet homes: Despite holding Premier League title contenders Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford last Sunday, Manchester United looked terribly vulnerable and it would be just like them to lose  on Saturday against Bournemouth, who, incidentally, are no mugs. This is well worth a punt. If Millwall can beat promotion favourites Leicester at home, then they are perfectly capable of defeating Cardiff, who have nothing left to play for in the Championship. Crewe ended a run of five League Two games without a win with a 1-0 midweek victory at Morecambe. They will improve their play-off chances further by beating Grimsby, who are too near the drop zone for comfort. 

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 6-7

 Ten draws: Fulham v Newcastle, Blackburn v Southampton, Cardiff v Hull, Huddersfield v Millwall, Stoke v West Brom, Charlton v Barnsley, Notts County v Harrogate, Tranmere v Walsall, St Mirren v Hearts, Dunfermline v Partick.

Best draws: Fulham v Newcastle, Blackburn v Southampton, Huddersfield v Millwall, Charlton v Barnsley, Notts County v Harrogate.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Bristol City, Oxford, Lincoln, Aberdeen, Peterhead.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Exeter, Northampton, Portsmouth, Barrow, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: Fulham, beaten 3-1 at Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle, held to a 1-1 home draw by Everton, had disappointing Premier League results in midweek and inconsistency has been their undoing. Blackburn have played better than recent Championship results suggest and thrashing Sunderland 5-1 away on Easter Monday will make them believe they can frustrate Southampton, whose hopes of automatic promotion are fading. Lowly Millwall will want to make up for the embarrassment of losing 2-1  at relegation-doomed Rotherham last Monday and they visit Huddersfield, who are below them and in the drop zone. Charlton have been much harder to beat in League One lately and I fancy they will deny Barnsley, who look as though they will have to settle for the play-offs. Few teams relish facing mid-table Harrogate in League Two. They routed Gillingham 5-1 at home last Monday and have won more away games than they have lost. Notts County, their hosts, will be aware of the danger.

Away days: Liverpool let Manchester United off the hook when they lost their FA Cup quarter-final last month and I cannot see the favourites for the title making the same mistake at Old Trafford on Sunday. I think Bristol City, winners of their past two Championship fixtures, will take advantage of the unrest at Sunderland, who suffered a heavy home defeat last Monday. Oxford's 4-0 win over Fleetwood may have revived their League One season and I believe they'll carry on the good work at Burton. Lincoln's transformation in the same division has been remarkable and the high-flyers go to crisis-club Reading with confidence. In the Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen should prevail at rock bottom Livingston while Peterhead, second in Scottish Two, will rate their chances at league newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose. 

Homes sweet homes: Watford have perked up in the Championship under interim manager Tom Cleverley and are worth backing against Preston, whose play-off hopes are fading. Exeter, mid-table in League One, may be worth a punt against Stevenage, who are faltering and drawing too often to feel confident about promotion. In Scotland's big match of the weekend on Sunday, I'm going for second-placed Rangers to topple leaders Celtic and thus overtake them in the table.

Pools info: For the second week running, three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace, Hearts v Kilmarnock and Dumbarton v Stenhousemuir.