Pools tips for this weekend October 29-30

Treble chance: Everton v Manchester United, Swansea v Bolton, West Brom v Liverpool, Birmingham v Brighton, Burnley v Blackpool, Nottingham Forest v Hull, Hartlepool v Charlton, Walsall v MK Dons, Morecambe v Gillingham, Northampton v Rotherham.

Best draws: Swansea v Bolton, West Brom v Liverpool, Birmingham v Brighton, Burnley v Blackpool, Nottingham Forest v Hull.

Aways: Coventry, Peterborough, Leyton Orient, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield.

Homes: Manchester City, Sunderland, Wigan, Barnsley, Millwall, West Ham, Bury, Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers.

Pick of the draws: Lowly Bolton's only league wins this season have come away from home, which is why I think they will get at least a point at Swansea, who failed to hold a two-goal lead at Wolves last Saturday. West Bromwich Albion have climbed to mid-table after two consecutive victories in local derbies and their manager Roy Hodgson will be keen to thwart Liverpool, the club who sacked him last season. In the Championship, in-form Birmingham host out-of-form Brighton but the Seagulls played well in defeat to West Ham on Monday and can trouble Birmingham as well. Burnley are struggling at home and unlikely to get much joy from the visit of Blackpool. Nottingham Forest's new manager Steve Cotterill has begun with two wins but will be hard-pressed to gain a third against Hull, who are doing well on the road.

Away days: The fillip of having a new manager - in this case Dean Saunders - seems to have worn off for relegation-threatened Doncaster and Coventry are tipped to add to their Championship woes. Watford are also in the relegation zone and free-scoring Peterborough are unlikely to be sympathetic visitors. Leyton Orient have recovered well from a terrible start in League One and can beat Rochdale, who sit just above them. Sheffield Wednesday, at lowly Wycombe, will be determined to recover from their midweek setback at Carlisle and you cannot back against unbeaten Huddersfield right now. Expect them to prevail at bottom club Yeovil.

Homes sweet homes: Sunderland seemed a side on the upgrade against Bolton last weekend and host Aston Villa, who appear to be going in the opposite direction. Wigan may be at the foot of the Premier League but can move clear of the relegation zone by beating a brittle-looking Fulham. Millwall's 3-0 triumph at Leicester was one of the upsets of last weekend and, with Ipswich visiting, I'm taking them to confound the Championship form book again. In League One, Bury are playing more confidently these days and I believe they will defeat Stevenage in their mid-table clash.

Pools tips for this weekend October 22-23

 Treble chance: Aston Villa v West Brom, Ipswich v Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient v Sheffield United, Notts County v Brentford, Oldham v Wycombe, Hereford v Barnet, Rotherham v Shrewsbury, Dundee United v St Johnstone, Ayr v Dundee, Partick v Falkirk.

Best draws: Aston Villa v West Brom, Leyton Orient v Sheffield United, Oldham v Wycombe, Dundee Utd v St Johnstone, Ayr v Dundee.

Aways: Tottenham, Birmingham, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers, Swindon.

Homes: Bolton, Newcastle, Blackpool, Hull, Reading, Chesterfield, Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere, Crewe.

Pick of the draws: West Brom deservedly won the Black Country derby last Sunday and they catch Aston Villa on a downer after Villa's 4-1 defeat by Manchester City. After three successive victories lowly Leyton Orient look as though they have turned the corner in League One and I'm taking them to hold promotion contenders Sheffield United. Oldham can beat the best and lose to the worst. However, I don't think they will do either against Wycombe, whose 3-1 triumph at Hartlepool was one of the upsets of last weekend. St Johnstone have eight points more than Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League. I think the gap will be the same after their meeting at Tannadice on Saturday. It's a shock to find Dundee bottom of the Scottish First Division but their away form is holding up and they should gain a point at Ayr.

Away days: Tottenham must be fancied to take maximum points at the Premier League's bottom club Blackburn, who face a long, hard winter. In the Championship, Birmingham are starting to gel under manager Chris Hughton and will be looking forward to their trip to struggling Bristol City. In League One, I suspect Rochdale will take advantage of Exeter's lack of goal thrust. I believe Bristol Rovers, 5-2 home winners against Rotherham last Friday, will overcome Burton, who are better placed in League Two, and that Swindon will confirm their superiority over bottom-of-the-table Plymouth.

Homes sweet homes: Bolton, who climbed off the bottom of the Premier League by winning at Wigan, are overdue a home success (four games, four defeats) and they can get it against Sunderland, who lie just above them. Reading are in mid-table in the Championship but they are capable of much better and worth backing against surprise leaders Southampton. Promoted Chesterfield have yet to find their feet in League One but they have an opportunity to do that against Hartlepool, who have faded after a terrific start. Crewe have already beaten Macclesfield in the Johnstone Paints Trophy this season, so don't be surprised if the result is repeated in their League Two clash at Gresty Road.

Pools tips for this weekend October 15-16

Treble chance: Norwich v Swansea, Stoke v Fulham, Coventry v Nottingham Forest, West Ham v Blackpool, Yeovil v Carlisle, Accrington v Swindon, Crawley v Shrewsbury, Macclesfield v Oxford, Raith v Partick, Albion v East Fife.


Best draws: Norwich v Swansea, Stoke v Fulham, West Ham v Blackpool, Accrington v Swindon, Macclesfield v Oxford.


Aways: Crystal Palace, Notts County, Charlton, Preston, Hearts.


Homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Brighton, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Hartlepool, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, AFC Wimbledon.


Pick of the draws: Mid-table Swansea have lost all three of their away games in the Premier League so far, but they can stop the rot at another promoted club, Norwich, who sit one place above them with the same number of points. Fulham were terrific in their 6-0 rout of Queens Park Rangers two weeks ago and will be confident of at least a point at Stoke. In the Championship, West Ham are not clicking at home and I fancy Ian Holloway's Blackpool to come away with a share of the spoils. In League Two, Swindon's away form has held them back but they should do better at Accrington, who have been inconsistent. The other recommended draw features two in-form sides, Macclesfield and Oxford. Both had praiseworthy victories last weekend.


Away days: Crystal Palace, impressive 3-1 winners at Brighton two weeks ago, are a good bet to inflict more misery on Watford in the Championship. Martin Allen's Notts County can strengthen their League One promotion challenge by winning at promoted Chesterfield, while leaders Charlton will be hot favourites to prevail at Stevenage, who are sliding down the table. In-form Preston are expected to get the better of Walsall. Hearts should record their first away success in the Scottish Premier League at the expense of lowly Dunfermline, who have yet to win at home. 


Homes sweet homes: Manchester United, although still unbeaten, have not been as convincing lately and their fierce rivals, Liverpool, with Steven Gerrard poised to return, will relish springing a surprise at Anfield. Brighton are experiencing a blip after their heady start in the Championship, but I'm taking them to return to winning ways against Hull. Don't be surprised if Portsmouth arrest their slide when Barnsley come visiting, while in League One, Leyton Orient, despite being in the relegation zone, are aiming for their third consecutive win. They should get it against promoted Bury, who sit in mid-table. 

Pools tips for this weekend October 8-9

Treble chance: Carlisle v Brentford, Wycombe v Walsall, Bradford v Torquay, Gillingham v Port Vale, Morecambe v AFC Wimbledon, Rotherham v Burton, Alfreton v Kettering, Staines v Dorchester, Truro v Basingstoke, Altrincham v Boston.


Best draws: Bradford v Torquay, Gillingham v Port Vale, Morecambe v AFC Wimbledon, Rotherham v Burton, Alfreton v Kettering.


Aways: Scotland, Southend, Darlington, Southport, Chelmsford.


Homes: Charlton, Huddersfield, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Aldershot, Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Swindon, York.


Pick of the draws: Bradford City have won only once in League Two and are struggling to stay out of the relegation zone. They cannot be confident of defeating middle-of-the-table Torquay. Inconsistent Gillingham (ninth) against inconsistent Port Vale (seventh) is one of the likeliest three-pointers on the coupon. AFC Wimbledon are thriving after their promotion to the Football League last season and good enough to take a point at Morecambe, who are one place and one point above them. Rotherham have faded  lately, whereas their visitors, Burton, have prospered and are equipped to hold the hosts. Alfreton and Kettering occupy two of the four relegation slots in the Blue Square Premier and the smart money should go on a stalemate.


Away days: Scotland need three points to have any chance of qualifying for next year's European Championship finals. They will probably get them against minnows Liechtenstein. Southend went to the top of League Two after their impressive win over Shrewsbury last weekend, which should stand them in good stead for Saturday's visit to lowly Crewe. In the Blue Square Premier I'm taking Darlington to increase Bath City's misery at the foot of the table and for Southport to gain their fourth consecutive victory on the road at the expense of ailing Newport County. Chelmsford's away record in the Blue Square Bet South is keeping them in promotion contention and I expect them to come away with maximum points from Maidenhead.


Homes sweet homes: Preston's surprising setback at Leyton Orient last weekend may make them even more determined to see off fellow promotion contenders Sheffield United in League One. In League Two Aldershot host Macclesfield, who are not half as formidable on their travels. The former should be backed. I have a hunch that bottom club Plymouth will enhance their chances of survival when Accrington come visiting. York should continue their improvement in the Blue Square Premier by beating Braintree, who are three places and two points above them.