Pools tips for this weekend August 13-14

Treble chance: Stoke v Chelsea, Wigan v Norwich, Leicester v Reading, Portsmouth v Brighton, Watford v Derby, Bournemouth v Sheffield Wednesday, Colchester v Wycombe, Notts County v Charlton, Yeovil v Oldham, Burton v Shrewsbury.


Best draws: Stoke v Chelsea, Wigan v Norwich, Portsmouth v Brighton, Bournemouth v Sheffield Wednesday, Notts County v Charlton.


Aways: Arsenal, Bolton, Manchester United, West Ham, MK Dons.


Homes: Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff, Ipswich, Leeds, Millwall, Chesterfield, Leyton Orient, Barnet.




Pick of the draws: Stoke are formidable at home, have had a good pre-season and won't have an inferiority complex about playing Chelsea, who will be hoping to impress their new manager. Norwich are the likeliest of the three Premier League newcomers to stay up and I expect them to start this campaign by holding Wigan, who only escaped relegation on the final day of last season. Another promoted club, Brighton, got their Championship season off to a good start last Saturday by winning in stoppage-time and look good for a share of the spoils at Portsmouth. In League One, Sheffield Wednesday look a stronger outfit now and capable of spoiling Bournemouth's day. Notts County and Charlton impressed while recording 3-0 victories last weekend, so don't be surprised if this Saturday's fixture results in stalemate.


Away days: Newcastle are one of the few Premier League clubs to have had a more unsettling close season than Arsenal, who visit St James' Park on Saturday. That's the main reason I'm taking injury-troubled Arsenal to collect maximum points. Bolton faded badly at the end of last season but Owen Coyle's team should still have too much for promoted Queens Park Rangers. Champions Manchester United, strengthened by three new signings, are determined to be first out of the blocks this time and I cannot see Roy Hodgson's West Bromwich Albion denying them at the Hawthorns. West Ham will surely shrug off their Championship home defeat by Cardiff last Sunday by defeating injury-ravaged Doncaster at the Keepmoat stadium. In League One, MK Dons are tipped to win at Exeter, who were shot-shy in a drab goalless draw at Stevenage last weekend.


Homes sweet homes: Relegated Birmingham played well despite being beaten at Derby last weekend and should regain their confidence against Coventry in the Championship. Leeds are much better than they showed in their opening-day defeat at Southampton last Saturday and I fancy them to put things right against Middlesbrough. Millwall, who gained a creditable 2-2 draw at Reading, are tipped to see off  Nottingham Forest. In League One, Leyton Orient can get off the mark against Tranmere and in League Two, Barnet, convincing 1-0 winners at Morecambe, can prevail against Port Vale, who are poor travellers.