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.