Pools tips for this weekend December 3-4

Ten draws: Wolves v Sunderland, Blackpool v Reading, Bristol City v Middlesbrough, Hull v Leicester, Ipswich v Watford, West Ham v Burnley, Buxton v North Ferriby, Hamilton v Dundee, East Fife v Stenhousemuir, Elgin v Stranraer.


Best draws: Wolves v Sunderland, Hull v Leicester, Ipswich v Watford, Hamilton v Dundee, East Fife v Stenhousemuir.


Five aways: Manchester United, Swansea, Arsenal, Marine, Ayr.


Nine homes: Everton, Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham, Peterborough, Bradford PA, Hearts, Kilmarnock, Partick.


Pick of the draws: Wolves and Sunderland are out of form and out of luck at the wrong end of the Premier League and it is difficult to separate them. In the Championship, Hull will be keen to do well against their former manager Nigel Pearson, who is now in charge at Leicester. Ipswich's confidence is shot after six consecutive defeats but I think they will gain at least a point against Watford, who are also precariously placed. Dundee keep climbing in the Scottish first division and should come away from Hamilton with a draw. In the Scottish second division, stalemate is the most attractive option when East Fife (4th) host Stenhousemuir (3rd).


Away days: Manchester United have a fantastic record at Villa Park and, given Aston Villa's patchy form, I cannot see that changing at the weekend. Blackburn's season took a further turn for the worse when they went out of the Carling Cup at Cardiff and Swansea will be fancying their chances of gaining their first away victory in the Premier League this season. Arsenal unexpectedly dropped two points at home to Fulham last weekend and they will be anxious to get back on the winning track when they visit second-bottom Wigan. I'm backing Marine to take advantage of Mickleover Sport's poor home form in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier and I believe Ayr will prevail in their bottom-of-the-table clash against Queen of South in the Scottish first division.


Homes sweet homes: Queens Park Rangers are coping well in the Premier League and I expect them to be too strong for West Bromwich Albion. Peterborough outscore most teams at home and will probably do the same to Barnsley in this mid-table Championship fixture. Hearts have been shaping up better in the Scottish Premier recently and can see off St Johnstone, who are one place and one point above them. Kilmarnock had a terrific win over leaders Rangers last Sunday and will be confident of sending relegation-threatened Aberdeen packing. I have a hunch that Partick, in the Scottish first division, will beat Livingston, who aren't the same force on their travels. 

Pools tips for this weekend November 26-27

Ten draws: Bolton v Everton, Norwich v Queens Park Rangers, Blackpool v Birmingham, Bristol City v Southampton,  Hull v Burnley, Ipswich v Reading, Peterborough v Middlesbrough, Bury v Preston, Plymouth v Northampton, Dunfermline v Aberdeen.


Best draws: Bolton v Everton, Blackpool v Birmingham, Bristol City v Southampton, Ipswich v Reading, Bury v Preston.


Five aways: Tottenham, Watford, Leicester, Sheffield United, Tranmere.


Nine homes: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Brighton, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Hartlepool, Crewe, Oxford.


Pick of the draws: Bolton have not drawn at home; their Premier League opponents, Everton, have not drawn away. I expect that statistic to change on Saturday. Birmingham, under manager Chris Hughton, are making a good impression in the Championship and well capable of collecting a point at Blackpool. Leaders Southampton seem unassailable at the moment but lowly Bristol City are thriving under the managership of Derek McInnes and I fancy them to get something. Neither Ipswich nor Reading is setting the Championship alight this season and a stalemate appears the best bet. In League One, Bury's home form is none too convincing and visitors Preston should be able to halt their dismal run.


Away days: Tottenham are playing as well as anybody and will probably be too strong for West Brom. Watford deserved their Championship win over Portsmouth last Saturday and are expected to carry on the good work against bottom-of-the-table Doncaster. Leicester thumped Crystal Palace last Sunday and, reunited with manager Nigel Pearson, are fancied to mete out similar punishment against Portsmouth. Promoted Chesterfield are struggling to adapt to life in League One and I cannot see their luck changing when they host Sheffield United. Tranmere played well despite losing to Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday and should be confident of prevailing at Exeter.


Homes sweet homes: Brighton have had their problems in the Championship lately but have an excellent opportunity of returning to winning ways against relegation-haunted Coventry. In League One, I'm taking Bournemouth to recover from their midweek FA Cup defeat by Gillingham when Oldham come visiting. Crewe's home form has held them back in League Two but they will be eager to reverse the trend against Hereford, who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last Saturday. Third-placed Cheltenham keep winning but they may come unstuck at Oxford, who have yet to lose at home this season. 

Pools tips for this weekend November 19-20

Ten draws: Chelsea v Liverpool, West Brom v Bolton, Burnley v Leeds, Leicester v Crystal Palace, Brentford v Charlton, Leyton Orient v Stevenage, Yeovil v Exeter, Aldershot v Gillingham, Hereford v Burton, Hibernian v Kilmarnock.


Best draws: West Brom v Bolton, Brentford v Charlton, Leyton Orient v Stevenage, Aldershot v Gillingham, Hereford v Burton.


Five aways: Arsenal, Blackburn, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Swindon.


Nine homes: Everton, Barnsley, Birmingham, Derby, Southampton, Preston, Scunthorpe, Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers.


Pick of the draws:  That 5-0 victory over Stoke the Sunday before last will have invigorated Bolton and they can follow it up by gaining a point at West Brom, who will miss the injured striker Shane Long. League One leaders Charlton are difficult to oppose at the moment, with seven away wins to their credit, but Brentford will be eager to improve their indifferent home form. Ditto Leyton Orient. They entertain one of the teams of the season in Stevenage, who are relishing playing in a higher division. Aldershot host Gillingham in League Two when both sides may be distracted by their forthcoming FA Cup first-round replays against Maidenhead United and Bournemouth respectively. Hereford gained a creditable home point against promotion favourites Crawley a few weeks ago and can repeat the feat against Burton.


Away days: Arsenal have won nine of their past 11 matches and must be fancied to defeat promoted Norwich. Bottom club Wigan are at home to second bottom Blackburn. Both teams are finding points elusive but Blackburn are playing better and should come out on top. Portsmouth are without an away win in the Championship but can rectify that at Watford, who are one place above the relegation zone. In League One, Bournemouth are expected to take advantage of Wycombe's plight. Swindon are on a hot streak in League Two and will be confident of maximum points at AFC Wimbledon.


Homes sweet homes: Everton are better than their 17th position in the Premier League indicates and they will probably see off Wolves, who are fragile away. The departure of manager Nigel Pearson to Leicester has not done Championship team Hull any favours and Derby are capable of cashing in. I have a hunch that Scunthorpe will prevail over Hartlepool in League One and an even firmer belief that Sheffield United (5th) will extend their points advantage over Carlisle (10th). 

Pools tips for this weekend November 12-13

Treble chance: AFC Wimbledon v Scunthorpe, Bradford City v Rochdale, Exeter v Walsall, Luton v Northampton, Oldham v Burton, Preston v Southend, Colwyn Bay v Gainsborough, Morton v Dundee, Ross v Falkirk, Dumbarton v East Fife.


Best draws: AFC Wimbledon v Scunthorpe, Luton v Northampton, Oldham v Burton, Ross v Falkirk, Dumbarton v East Fife.


Aways: Rotherham, Crawley, Colchester, Yeovil, Aldershot.


Homes: Brentford, Chesterfield, Dagenham & Redbridge, MK Dons, Notts County, Southport, Swindon, Solihull Moors, Raith.


Pick of the draws: League One Scunthorpe have only one away win this season and they will be hard-pushed to add to it when they visit the well-supported League Two side AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup first round. There were signs, in their narrow defeat at Gillingham last weekend, that Northampton are starting to find some form and they should be capable of taking Blue Square Premier promotion contenders Luton to a replay. Burton are doing well in League Two and won't be intimidated by a trip to League One Oldham, who have been erratic. Ross lead the Scottish first division but don't be surprised if they are held at home by Falkirk, who are just behind them. In the Scottish second division I'm taking East Fife to gain their first away draw at Dumbarton, who struggle at home.


Away draws: League Two Rotherham have picked up lately and I expect them to maintain their improvement at Barrow, who sit mid-table in the Blue Square Premier. Crawley, who lie second in League Two, have won three of their last four away and are worth a punt at League One Bury. I cannot see League One Colchester failing at League Two Crewe, whose recent results have been wretched. Although Yeovil are bottom of League One, they can win away for the first time this season against League Two strugglers Hereford. Aldershot's best results have come on the road and they will surely move into the FA Cup second round at the expense of Blue Square South Maidenhead.


Homes sweet homes: Southport have climbed into the play-off places in the Blue Square Premier on the back of some notable results and look a fair bet against Barnet, who are fighting relegation from League Two. Huddersfield's 42-match unbeaten run could be ended by Swindon, who are thriving in League Two under the managership of former West Ham favourite Paolo Di Canio. Bishop's Stortford are poor travellers in the Blue Square North and Solihull Moors look likely to add to their misery. In Scotland, Raith are fancied to send Ayr to the bottom of the first division.

Pools tips for this weekend November 5-6

Treble chance: Blackburn v Chelsea, Cardiff v Crystal Palace, Hull v West Ham, Portsmouth v Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth v Scunthorpe, Accrington v Bristol Rovers, Bradford v Cheltenham, Port Vale v Swindon, Rotherham v Aldershot, Motherwell v Celtic.

Best draws: Cardiff v Crystal Palace, Hull v West Ham, Bournemouth v Scunthorpe, Bradford v Cheltenham, Motherwell v Celtic.

Aways: Norwich, Southampton, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury, Morecambe.

Homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Chesterfield, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, Oldham, Burton, Crewe.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace, surprise promotion contenders in the Championship, have conceded less than a goal a game, a defensive record which should serve them well when they visit Cardiff. Second-placed West Ham are also sound defensively but their hosts, Hull, don't give much away either. Bournemouth are really struggling at home in League One but they had a morale-boosting win at Preston last Saturday and can hold Scunthorpe, who are also improving. Cheltenham are doing surprisingly well in League Two and I expect them to share the spoils at Bradford. Celtic are 12 points behind their bitter Rangers in the Scottish Premier League and will be stretched to get more than a point from Motherwell, who are also above them.

Away days: Promoted Norwich are more than holding their own in the Premier League, so don't rule out a victory at Aston Villa, who look a mid-table side at best. Another promoted team, Southampton, runaway leaders in the Championship, will be confident of gaining three points at Coventry, who languish in the relegation zone. In League One, Sheffield United should have too much firepower for Stevenage. In League Two, Shrewsbury ought to be backed against lowly Dagenham & Redbridge, who have lost their last three at home. Expect third-placed Morecambe to increase Plymouth's misery.

Homes sweet homes: League One Chesterfield have struggled in a higher division but they should still have enough to beat bottom club Yeovil. Leyton Orient are on a roll after a terrible start to the season and I fancy them to defeat inconsistent Hartlepool. In League Two, Burton, who face Macclesfield, will probably bounce back from their midweek loss to Aldershot. Crewe need to improve their home form and I believe they will do that against Torquay.