Pools tips for this weekend January 22-23

Treble chance (home teams):  Blackburn, Cardiff, Leicester, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Yeovil, Macclesfield, Northampton, Dundee. 


Best draws: Leicester, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Dundee. 


Aways: Swansea, Burnley, Norwich, MK Dons, Burton. 


Homes: Arsenal, Blackpool, Everton, Crystal Palace, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Charlton, Huddersfield, Notts County. 


Pick of the draws: Stalemate looks the likeliest option at Leicester, where Millwall are the visitors. Both teams are on good runs in the Championship and they are evenly matched, with Millwall three points and four places better off. Portsmouth have been playing better than their recent results suggest, which is why I think they will hold Leeds at Fratton Park. Leeds may also feel the effects of this week’s FA Cup third-round replay against Arsenal. Promotion contenders Bournemouth have lost their astute young manager, Eddie Howe, to Burnley but are still good enough to share the spoils with League One leaders Brighton. At the other end of the table, improving Leyton Orient can take a step towards safety by denying Sheffield Wednesday victory at Brisbane Road. A deduction of 25 points for going into administration has sent Dundee to the foot of the Scottish first division, but I am backing them to get something from their home fixture against fading Falkirk. 


Away days: High-flying Swansea must be strongly fancied to win at Barnsley in the Championship. Burnley, under their newly appointed manager Eddie Howe, seem an even better bet to triumph at lowly Scunthorpe, who have already lost eight home games. Norwich are formidable on the road and should have the beating of Sheffield United, who are one place off the relegation zone. In League One, play-off contenders MK Dons will never have a better chance of improving their poor away record when they visit relegation strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge. In League Two, take a chance on Burton, shock FA Cup conquerors of Middlesbrough, winning at Bradford City, who are still flattering to deceive. 


Homes sweet homes: The visit of Sunderland should hold no fears for Ian Holloway’s Blackpool, whose Premier League achievements this season include a double over Liverpool. Crystal Palace’s low league placing (22nd) cannot be blamed on their home form and they can scramble clear of the Championship relegation zone by beating Bristol City. Ipswich will want to go into next week’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal with a good result behind them. Now under new manager Paul Jewell, I believe they will get it against Doncaster, who have conceded eight goals in their last two games. Paul Ince’s Notts County are the form side in League One - including a praiseworthy goalless draw at Southampton last Saturday - and I expect them to continue their climb up the table at the expense of Carlisle.