Pools tips for this weekend January 1-2

Treble chance (home teams): Liverpool, Stoke, Norwich, Watford, Colchester, Walsall, Lincoln, Aberdeen, Hamilton, St Johnstone.

Best draws: Liverpool, Norwich, Watford, Aberdeen, Hamilton.

Aways: Arsenal, Ipswich, Derby, Bournemouth, Torquay.

Homes: Manchester City, Tottenham, Doncaster, Hull, Nottingham Forest, Hartlepool, Plymouth, Burton, Gillingham.


Pick of the draws: Bolton's rise in the Premier League has been one of the features of the season and they look good for a point at Liverpool, who are nowhere near the force they were. Queens Park Rangers have spectacularly recovered from their blip as Championship leaders and visit fellow promotion contenders Norwich, who are not as convincing at home as they are away. Watford play Portsmouth at Vicarage Road - a meeting of two teams who are consistently inconsistent. In the Scottish Premier League, lowly Aberdeen, now managed by Craig Brown, are tipped to end their losing home sequence against mid-table Dundee United while Hamilton, without a home victory all season, can at least hold fading Motherwell.

Away days: A goal in stoppage time denied Arsenal victory at St Andrew's last season, but they should go one better on Saturday against a goal-shy Birmingham side who are fighting relegation. Have a punt on Ipswich springing a surprise at Coventry, who have lost both their Christmas fixtures in the Championship. Although Derby have surprisingly lost five matches in a row, they will surely be too strong for managerless Preston, who are rock-bottom. For a team chasing League One promotion, Bournemouth's away form is poor, but I'm backing them to improve on that by beating a disappointing Swindon. Torquay to increase Hereford's misery at the bottom of League Two.

Homes sweet homes: A frustrated Doncaster, whose two games were postponed over Christmas, could be in the mood to take it out on relegation-threatened Scunthorpe. Hull are fancied to continue their climb up the Championship at the expense of Leicester. In League One, Hartlepool, who are making a surprising charge for the play-offs, are expected to account for Oldham. In League Two, take a chance on Burton defeating the higher-placed Shrewsbury while Gillingham, who are flying, will probably send Stevenage home pointless.

Pools tips for this weekend December 26-27

Treble chance (home teams): Arsenal, Blackburn, Ipswich, Leicester, Scunthorpe,  Bristol Rovers, Peterborough, Macclesfield, Kilmarnock, Partick. 


Best draws: Arsenal, Scunthorpe, Bristol Rovers, Macclesfield, Kilmarnock. 


Aways: Tottenham, Norwich, Hull, Brentford, Gillingham. 


Homes: Everton, Derby, Reading, Bournemouth, Exeter, Huddersfield, Leyton Orient, Notts County, Port Vale. Because of the severe winter weather, there is again likely to be major disruption to the holiday fixtures. If postponements are the rule rather than the exception, punters are advised to keep an eye on the selections of the pools panel, which should be published the following day in the national newspapers. A happy Christmas to you all. 


Pick of the draws: Arsenal appear to have a mental block when playing the top teams but this time should be the equal of Chelsea, who have had their own problems recently. I am taking Scunthorpe, last but one in the Championship, to end their wretched run of results at home against Preston, who are bottom. Bristol Rovers have slipped into the League One relegation zone and may have to settle for a point against 23rd-placed Walsall, who unexpectedly won at Charlton last week. There are only four points separating Macclesfield (10th) from Morecambe (20th) in League Two, so don’t be surprised if this match ends in deadlock. In the Scottish Premier League, Kilmarnock, who have not drawn at home, host Hearts, who have not drawn away. I predict both sequences to end. 


Away days: Tottenham can strengthen their claims for a Champions League place with victory at Aston Villa, who have struggled since Martin O’Neill’s departure. Norwich’s away form has elevated them into the Championship play-off positions and it is difficult to see relegation-threatened Crystal Palace stopping them. Hull are fancied to continue their improvement at the expense of managerless Sheffield United. In League One, Brentford (five away wins already) look too strong for bottom club Yeovil, and in League Two, Gillingham, who travel to Aldershot, are tipped to gain their fourth consecutive away victory.  


Homes sweet homes: Take a chance on Derby. Despite losing four matches in a row in the Championship, they have not played badly and can turn things around against Doncaster. Reading were one of the sides who beat Derby and maximum points are again likely when they play Bristol City. Leyton Orient are on the upgrade in League One and should be backed to defeat MK Dons, who do not travel well. Paul Ince’s Notts County are showing signs of coming into form, whereas Rochdale, their visitors, are on a downward spiral. County will leapfrog Rochdale if they win.                                    

Pools tips for this weekend December 18-19

Treble chance (home teams):  Birmingham, Blackpool, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Accrington, Gillingham, Oxford, Hearts. 


Best draws: Birmingham, Blackpool, Nottingham Forest, Gillingham, Hearts. 


Aways: Swansea, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham, Southampton, Lincoln. 


Homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, West Bromwich, Leeds, Watford, Hartlepool, Swindon, Bury, Cheltenham.  


Pick of the draws: Apart from Fulham, no team has drawn more matches in the Premier League this season than Birmingham, and I can see them sharing the spoils again this weekend when inconsistent Newcastle visit St Andrew’s. Blackpool’s fine victory at Stoke last Saturday should inspire them to hold Tottenham, who have not kept a clean sheet in the league since the opening day of the season. Crystal Palace have an awful away record, but they are fighting hard to avoid relegation from the Championship and capable of taking a point off Nottingham Forest, who are underachieving. Gillingham are charging up the League Two table and I expect them to deny leaders Chesterfield at Priestfield Stadium. In the Scottish Premier League, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who deservedly held Rangers last weekend, can maintain their unbeaten away record against in-form Hearts. 


Away days: Sheffield United are in turmoil, having lost their manager Gary Speed to the Wales job, and Championship promotion contenders Swansea are tipped to take advantage. Sheffield Wednesday, thriving under new ownership, have surged into the automatic League One promotion places and are a confident selection to win at Exeter. It’s worth backing Oldham to gain maximum points against an ailing MK Dons while Southampton can make amends for their surprising home defeat last Saturday by winning at lowly Walsall. Aldershot’s slump in League Two looks set to continue as Lincoln, perking up under new manager Steve Tillson, are the visitors. 


Homes sweet homes: Leeds are on a roll, having soared into the Championship play-off positions. After their comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Burnley last Saturday, they must fancy their chances of toppling leaders Queens Park Rangers, who lost their unbeaten record to Watford last weekend. Hartlepool regularly punch above their weight in League One and could hand promotion-chasing Charlton their second consecutive league defeat. Swindon, who are still feeling sore about their FA Cup exit at the hands of non-League Crawley, will probably take it out on Tranmere. In League Two, third-placed Bury are fancied to end their run of home reverses against the League newcomers Stevenage. 

Pools tips for this weekend December 11-12

Treble chance (home teams): Stoke, Wolves, Burnley, Leicester, Oldham, Barnet, Chesterfield, Macclesfield, Dundee United, St Mirren. 


Best draws: Stoke, Wolves, Barnet, Chesterfield, Macclesfield. 


Aways: Liverpool, Manchester City, Derby, Cardiff, MK Dons. 


Homes: Bolton, Everton, Tottenham, Preston, Reading, Bournemouth, Carlisle, Charlton, Bradford City.  


Pick of the draws: Blackpool have won many friends with the way they have entertained this season and look good for a point at Stoke. Next-to-bottom Wolves are desperate for maximum points but their opponents, Birmingham, are resilient and can add to their five away draws. In League Two, Accrington are also away draw specialists, having been involved in seven stalemates on the road. They are tipped to make it eight at Barnet. Play-off contenders Torquay have lost only once on their travels. I expect them to collect a point at second-placed Chesterfield, who have lost their past two home matches. Two consecutive victories have enabled Gillingham to lose their away inferiority complex and they can hold Macclesfield. 


Away days: Newcastle have been rocked by the surprise sacking of manager Chris Hughton, whereas Liverpool have revived under Roy Hodgson, climbing to eighth place. I expect them to maintain their improvement at St James’ Park. Manchester City played their best football of the season when winning at Fulham two weeks ago and should repeat the dose against bottom club West Ham. Derby have dropped out of the Championship play-off places after two consecutive defeats, but I back them to return to winning ways at Bristol City. Promotion-chasing Cardiff have had a wobble but will probably steady themselves against relegation-threatened Middlesbrough. In League One, MK Dons to beat struggling Notts County, who are managed by former Dons boss Paul Ince. 


Homes sweet homes: I expect Bolton, flourishing under Owen Coyle, to defeat Blackburn, who are not the same force away from Ewood Park. Chelsea are losing ground in a fascinating Premier League title race and in-form Tottenham are in the mood to cash in at White Hart Lane. Preston, bottom of the Championship, are in desperate need of maximum points and will never have a better chance of getting them against Ipswich, who are in freefall, having lost their last five in the league. Middle-of-the-table Reading are fancied to dent the promotion ambitions of Coventry. 

Pools tips for this weekend December 4-5

Treble chance (home teams): Birmingham, Manchester City, Derby, Ipswich, Swindon, Accrington, Gillingham, Oxford, Inverness, St Johnstone. 


Best draws: Birmingham, Ipswich, Swindon, Gillingham, Oxford. 


Aways: Manchester United, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bradford City, Wycombe. 


Homes: Arsenal, West Bromwich, Coventry, Doncaster, Millwall, Portsmouth, Leyton Orient, Bury, Cheltenham. 


Pick of the draws: Tottenham are flying at the moment, but Birmingham are no pushover at St Andrew’s, as Chelsea found to their cost two weeks ago. Ipswich have lost four on the trot in the league, but I expect them to stop the rot by pinching a point off promotion challengers Swansea at Portman Road. Sheffield Wednesday are the form team in League One, but may find it hard to gain maximum points at Swindon, who are better than their lowly position suggests. In League Two, Gillingham have emerged from their slump and I’m tipping them to hold fifth-placed Rotherham. Next-to-bottom Barnet can take advantage of Oxford’s poor home form. 


Away days: League One Bournemouth to sustain their promotion challenge with victory at Bristol Rovers while Southampton should prove too strong for Hartlepool, despite the long journey to the north-east. In League Two, Aldershot are reeling from their FA Cup second-round exit at the hands of non-League Dover, so don’t be surprised if Bradford City cash in. Wycombe have been defeated only once on the road this season and are a confident selection to beat Crewe, who are making a habit of losing to the sides above them. 


Home sweet homes: West Bromwich Albion got back on the winning track in fine style at Everton last Saturday and should be victorious against Newcastle. Coventry, who have edged into the Championship play-offs, look to have too much in their locker for relegation-troubled Middlesbrough and I’m backing Millwall to add to Scunthorpe’s worries. Leyton Orient are just above the relegation zone in League One, but are playing well enough to surprise Carlisle. Chesterfield have lost confidence as well as the League Two leadership to Port Vale; third-placed Bury will be encouraged by that.