Pools tips for this weekend October 30-31

Pick of the draws: Liverpool looked more like their old selves when beating Blackburn at Anfield last Sunday and are tipped to hold Bolton at the Reebok. Watford’s excellent away form is keeping them in the Championship promotion hunt and I expect them to gain a point at mid-table Derby. Charlton, who stopped their slide in League One by winning a high-scoring thriller at Carlisle last Saturday, may have to settle for deadlock against a reviving Sheffield Wednesday while MK Dons can halt their losing away sequence at lowly Tranmere. In Scotland, Division One basement club Partick, who have yet to draw at home, host Cowdenbeath, who have yet to draw away. I predict a stalemate.


Away days: Manchester City’s 10 men did themselves proud in defeat by Arsenal last Sunday. Their 11 will surely be too strong for Wolves, who are next to bottom in the Premier League. Championship promotion contenders Swansea are a confident selection to increase the anxiety at Crystal Palace and in-form Brighton, the clear League One leaders, are worth a bet to beat one of their nearest challengers, Peterborough. In League Two, Bury are good travellers (four wins and a draw in six matches) and can prevail at Aldershot.


Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa, unlucky to lose at Sunderland last Saturday, to win the Midlands derby against Birmingham; Everton to continue their climb in the Premier League and send Stoke nearer the relegation zone; struggling,  Middlesbrough, now managed by Tony Mowbray, to come good against ailing Bristol City; Dagenham & Redbridge, who are bottom of League One, to spring a surprise against Hartlepool and Oldham to triumph over Plymouth. 


Treble chance (home teams): Bolton, Newcastle, Derby, Reading, Sheffield United, Charlton, Exeter, Tranmere, Dundee United, Partick.


Best draws: Bolton, Derby, Charlton, Tranmere, Partick.


Aways: Chelsea, Manchester City, Swansea, Brighton, Bury.


Homes: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Everton, Barnsley, Middlesbrough, Dagenham & Redbridge, Huddersfield, Oldham, Accrington.

Pools tips for this weekend October 23-24

Pick of the draws: The Premier League looks the best place for draws this weekend and Wigan v Bolton appears the soundest bet. Only two points separate the teams and both enjoyed good results last Saturday - Wigan drawing 2-2 at Newcastle and Bolton beating Stoke 2-1 at the Reebok. In the Championship, Portsmouth are beginning to thrive under Steve Cotterill and look good for at least a point at Hull, who have acquired the draw habit at home. Leeds and Cardiff, both genuine promotion challengers, are tipped to share the spoils at Elland Road. In League One, lowly Brentford can prevent high-flying Peterborough from taking maximum points. The Londoners are playing better than their 21st placing indicates. Colchester v Notts County is a mid-table tussle that will probably end in deadlock.

Away days: Blackpool’s away form (three wins already) is responsible for their encouraging start in the Premier League, so don’t be surprised if they add struggling Birmingham to their list of victims. Derby are the most improved team in the Championship and it’s worth taking a chance on them at Millwall. Have a punt on Huddersfield winning at shot-shy Plymouth and Bradford City to continue their revival with victory at Burton. League Two promotion hopefuls Port Vale should get back on the winning track at Cheltenham. 

Homes sweet homes: In-form West Bromwich are a confident selection to overcome Fulham. Coventry should send Barnsley packing while Watford can make up for their unexpected defeat at Portsmouth last Saturday with three points against Scunthorpe. Sheffield Wednesday are coming on strong and should be backed to beat fellow promotion contenders Bournemouth. In League Two, a revitalised Hereford, who host Accrington, look set for their first home win of the season. 

Treble chance (home teams): Sunderland, West Ham, Wigan, Hull, Leeds, Brentford, Colchester, Swindon, Kilmarnock, Queen of South.

Best draws: Wigan, Hull, Leeds, Brentford, Colchester.

Aways: Blackpool, Derby, Huddersfield, Bradford City, Port Vale.

Homes: Chelsea, West Bromwich, Coventry, Norwich, Watford, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday, Bury, Hereford.

Pools tips for this weekend October 16-17

Pick of the draws: Chelsea could have their four-point lead in the Premier League reduced by Saturday evening if their opponents Aston Villa continue to prosper under new manager Gerard Houllier. Blackpool are more than holding their own in top-flight company and after winning at Anfield they can deny Manchester City victory at Bloomfield Road. Preston’s astonishing comeback from 4-1 down to win 6-4 at Leeds two weeks ago should enable them to gain a point at Derby, who have also improved. Southampton are fancied to confirm their progress under Nigel Adkins by drawing at Huddersfield.


Away days: Bottom club West Ham to win at next-to-bottom Wolves, who have fallen away after starting brightly. Championship promotion contenders Burnley are tipped to gain their first win on the road against Sheffield United. League One leaders Brighton were unlucky not to beat Bournemouth last Saturday. They can return to winning ways at Charlton, who have underachieved so far. Sheffield Wednesday look good for three points at Yeovil while In League Two, it’s worth backing Oxford (unbeaten away) to prevail at Macclesfield (weak at home).


Homes sweet homes: Back Bolton to record their first home win of the season when they entertain Stoke. Owen Coyle’s improving team are overdue a victory at the Reebok. Newcastle should make amends for recent home disappointments by defeating Wigan, who are notoriously fragile. Lowly Crystal Palace were unlucky to lose to Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers at Selhurst Park two weeks ago but can triumph against Millwall. Leyton Orient were also impressive in defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday and are a good bet to overcome Hartlepool. If Aldershot can win with 10 men at Oxford last Saturday then they should be capable of seeing off Morecambe.


Treble chance (home teams): Aston Villa, Blackpool, Fulham, Derby, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Huddersfield, Southend, Dundee United.


Best draws: Aston Villa, Blackpool, Derby, Bournemouth, Huddersfield.


Aways: West Ham, Burnley, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford.


Homes: Arsenal, Bolton, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Ipswich, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Aldershot, Shrewsbury.

Pools tips for this weekend October 9-10

Pick of the draws: Seventh-placed Wycombe are unbeaten away in League Two and are fancied to retain that record at Burton, who have yet to lose at home. Crewe, who have drawn their past two home matches, look likely to make it three in a row against Torquay, who rediscovered their form by drawing at Shrewsbury last weekend. Altrincham, although bottom of the Blue Square Bet Premier, have begun to pick up points and can hold Histon, who are also struggling. Promotion contenders Mansfield look good for a point at Rushden & Diamonds and AC Wimbledon are backed to share the spoils at Wrexham.


Away days: Peterborough to strengthen their League One promotion challenge by beating Hartlepool, who are weak at home. Similarly, Charlton could exploit Plymouth’s frailties at Home Park. Accrington are one of the surprise packets of the season. Having scored seven against Gillingham last Saturday, take a chance on them winning at Bury, who are one place higher in fifth. Grimsby, who are steadily climbing the Blue Square Bet Premier, should continue their progress with victory against middle-of-the-table Kidderminster.


Homes sweet homes: Sheffield Wednesday stopped the rot with a good win at Notts County and ought to account for lowly Leyton Orient at Hillsborough. Southampton are also on the upgrade and should be backed to defeat Tranmere. As I predicted, Barnet won the battle of the League Two strugglers against Hereford last Saturday and they can again collect maximum points against Bradford City, who just cannot get going. Have a gamble on France, under their new manager Laurent Blanc, to come good against Romania in the European Championship qualifier. 


Treble chance (home teams): Brentford, Burton, Crewe, Morecambe, Gateshead, Histon, Rushden & Diamonds, Wrexham, Lewes, Redditch.


Best draws: Burton, Crewe, Histon, Rushden & Diamonds, Wrexham.


Aways: Peterborough, Charlton, Accrington, Port Vale, Grimsby.


Homes: MK Dons, Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Barnet, Chesterfield, Rotherham, France, Buxton.