Pools tips for this weekend August 27-28

Treble chance: Blackburn v Everton, Tottenham v Manchester City, Brighton v Peterborough, Ipswich v Leeds, Watford v Birmingham, Preston v Notts County, Sheffield Wednesday v Scunthorpe, Northampton v Morecambe, Inverness v Kilmarnock, St Johnstone v Dundee United.


Best draws: Tottenham v Manchester City, Ipswich v Leeds, Watford v Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday v Scunthorpe, Northampton v Morecambe.


Aways: Queens Park Rangers, Reading, West Ham, Oldham, Crawley.


Homes: Aston Villa, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion, Derby, Middlesbrough, Exeter, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, Bristol Rovers.




Pick of the draws: Manchester City drew at Tottenham on the opening day of last season and Sunday's match looks nailed on for a repeat result. City have hit the ground running with maximum points from their first two Premier League fixtures, but Tottenham are hard to beat at home and will be anxious to put some points on the board. Although Ipswich have conceded 12 goals in their last two Championship matches, manager Paul Jewell will be determined to find a solution for the visit of Leeds, who have made only an average start to the season. It looks like being a long, hard winter for both Watford and Birmingham, who meet at Vicarage Road on Sunday. I cannot see them being separated. In League One, get on Scunthorpe to follow up their merited 2-2 draw at Charlton by gaining a point at Sheffield Wednesday. Morecambe are the surprise package in League Two and tipped to share the spoils at Northampton.


Away days: The mood at QPR has changed for the better. Now under new ownership, they deserved their victory at Everton last Saturday and can come away from Wigan with three points. Hull have already lost two Championship matches at home this season, so don't be surprised if they end up second best to their enterprising visitors, Reading. West Ham have looked more comfortable away than at home and I fancy them to beat Nottingham Forest, who have yet to settle under Steve McClaren. Oldham are showing signs of turning the corner in League One and winning at Colchester should not be beyond them. Crawley are the bookmakers' favourites for a second successive promotion and will probably add Cheltenham to their list of League Two scalps.


Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa are showing signs of being a more difficult proposition this season and they can halt the early-season progress of Wolves in the Premier League. Although West Bromwich are pointless after two matches, they played well against Manchester United and Chelsea and are a good bet to defeat Stoke. In League One, promoted Chesterfield are still reeling from their 6-2 thrashing by MK Dons on Saturday and Exeter can take advantage. Leyton Orient find themselves bottom of this division but won't be panicking just yet. Have a punt on the Londoners collecting their first points of the season against Carlisle.