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Ten draws: Bolton v Wolves, Barnsley v Leeds, Millwall v Crystal Palace, Preston v Sheffield Wednesday, Scunthorpe v Chesterfield, Wycombe v Stevenage, Bristol Rovers v Crewe, Morecambe v Burton, Forest Green v Kidderminster, Southport v Fleetwood.
Best draws: Bolton v Wolves, Barnsley v Leeds, Millwall v Crystal Palace, Scunthorpe v Chesterfield, Southport v Fleetwood.
Five aways: Tottenham, Blackpool, Brighton, MK Dons, Southend.
Nine homes: Arsenal, Manchester United, West Brom, Burnley, Derby, Reading, Sheffield United, Walsall, Aldershot.
Pick of the draws: Wolves showed their resilience when their 10 men held out for a point at Arsenal. Relegation-haunted Bolton have not drawn this season but that sequence may end on Saturday. Leeds have stumbled in the Championship recently and Yorkshire rivals Barnsley won't be in the mood to do them any favours. Crystal Palace don't score many but don't concede many either, so expect a dour stalemate at Millwall. Chesterfield, bottom of League One, are due a change of luck and could get it at Scunthorpe, who have slid into the relegation zone themselves. Fleetwood's progress in the Blue Square Premier has been one of the success stories of the season and I'm taking them to finish 2011 by sharing the spoils at fellow promotion contenders Southport.
Away days: Tottenham are starting to look genuine contenders for the Premier League title and will surely be too good for promoted Swansea. Take a chance on Ian Holloway's Blackpool inflicting Birmingham's first home defeat of the season in the Championship. Blackpool warmed up for this fixture by winning 3-1 at Barnsley on Boxing Day. I'm tipping Brighton to recover from recent setbacks when they visit bottom club Coventry. MK Dons are red-hot in League One at the moment and should be backed at Brentford, who are indifferent at home. In League Two, promotion-chasing Southend will be confident of returning to winning ways against out-of-form AFC Wimbledon.
Homes sweet homes: I fancy West Brom, bolstered by holding Premier League leaders Manchester City to a goalless draw, to continue climbing the table by defeating Everton at the Hawthorns. Burnley have had a terrific December in the Championship and will probably take maximum points off Hull. Second-placed West Ham have a lot of injured players, so don't be surprised if Derby, 1-0 winners over Leeds on Boxing Day, take advantage. Two stoppage-time goals enabled lowly Walsall to beat high-flying Sheffield Wednesday in League One on Boxing Day. That should give them the confidence to dispatch struggling Rochdale.
Ten draws: Bolton v Newcastle, Derby v Leeds, Leicester v Ipswich, Nottingham Forest v Peterborough, Aldershot v Southend, Bradford City v Crewe, Cheltenham v Shrewsbury, Northampton v Burton, Torquay v Swindon, Inverness v Aberdeen.
Best draws: Derby v Leeds, Leicester v Ipswich, Aldershot v Southend, Bradford City v Crewe, Northampton v Burton.
Five aways: Blackpool, Cardiff, Charlton, Oxford, Port Vale.
Nine homes: Liverpool, Manchester United, Stoke, Birmingham, Burnley, Coventry, Huddersfield, Oldham, Wycombe.
Pick of the draws: Leeds' better results in the Championship have come away from home and they can collect a valuable point at Derby in their quest for promotion. Ipswich have come alive in their past two matches and I fancy them to hold Leicester, whose recent results have been disappointing. In League Two, Southend's progress has come to a shuddering halt, but I believe they will gain their first away draw of the season at inconsistent Aldershot. Lowly Bradford City caused an upset against Southend last Friday and that should give them encouragement against Crewe, who held leaders Crawley despite playing with 10 men for most of the match. Northampton are having a terrible time but they could get something from the visit of Burton.
Away days: Blackpool continue to play enterprisingly under Ian Holloway and have the ability to unlock Barnsley's suspect defence. I am confident promotion-seeking Cardiff will recover from their weekend defeat by Middlesbrough by beating Watford. League One leaders Charlton have dropped only five away points all season and I cannot see Yeovil threatening that record. Oxford will probably take advantage of AFC Wimbledon's slide down League Two, and Port Vale, 4-0 winners last Saturday, will be looking forward to their trip to Hereford.
Homes sweet homes: Birmingham boast the only unbeaten home record in the Championship and I've a hunch they will surprise second-placed West Ham, who have admittedly done well on the road. It's time Coventry, rooted to the bottom, had a break and they may get it against Bristol City, who are in relegation trouble themselves. Oldham gained a creditable point at The Valley in League One last Saturday and should take all three against Hartlepool, who are in some disarray after sacking their manager Mick Wadsworth. Wycombe are showing the kind of spirit they will need to avoid relegation and look a good bet to defeat Exeter.
Ten draws: Blackburn v West Brom, Everton v Norwich, Wolves v Stoke, Ipswich v Derby, Portsmouth v Southampton, Stevenage v Tranmere, Crewe v Crawley, Swindon v Morecambe, Kilmarnock v Dundee United, Hamilton v Morton.
Best draws: Everton v Norwich, Ipswich v Derby, Portsmouth v Southampton, Stevenage v Tranmere, Crewe v Crawley.
Five aways: Liverpool, Chelsea, Burnley, Leicester, Brentford.
Nine homes: Tottenham, Blackpool, Bristol City, Peterborough, West Ham, Bournemouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Burton, Plymouth.
Pick of the draws: Norwich are surpassing expectations back in the Premier League and look a good bet for at least a point at goal-shy Everton. Ipswich and Derby halted their slide down the Championship with much-needed wins last Saturday and I predict a point each at Portman Road. Leaders Southampton have stumbled recently and I'm taking fierce rivals Portsmouth, who are formidable at home, to deprive them of another two points at Fratton Park. League One newcomers Stevenage have already drawn four times at home. I think they'll make it five against mid-table Tranmere, who are due a good result. Although Crawley are overwhelming favourites to be promoted from League Two, don't be surprised if their progress is checked at Crewe, who look a more compact unit since Steve Davis took over as manager.
Away days: Liverpool have won more matches away than at home in the Premier League this season and are tipped to add to their tally at Aston Villa. Chelsea have dug themselves out of a hole with three consecutive victories and will feel confident of making that four at Wigan, who are weak at home. As Burnley have already recorded away Championship victories at Hull and West Ham, they won't be intimidated by a trip to promoted Brighton. Leicester must fancy themselves at relegation-threatened Doncaster while in League One, Brentford should benefit from their fine away form when they visit erratic Bury.
Homes sweet homes: Championship strugglers Bristol City have been boosted by new manager Derek McInnes and should see off labouring Nottingham Forest. Home results have been Bournemouth's Achilles heel in League One but their triumph at Huddersfield last Saturday will encourage them to believe they can beat Sheffield United. Sheffield Wednesday are flying and should account for Huddersfield, who are having a blip. Plymouth have hauled themselves off the bottom of League Two and can take another step nearer safety by defeating Hereford, who are only four points ahead of them.
Ten draws: Norwich v Newcastle, Leicester v Peterborough, Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace, Southampton v Blackpool, Scunthorpe v Carlisle, Tranmere v Milton Keynes Dons, Bradford City v Plymouth, Cheltenham v Southend, Morecambe v Oxford, Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Dundee United.
Best draws: Norwich v Newcastle, Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace, Southampton v Blackpool, Tranmere v MK Dons, Bradford City v Plymouth.
Five aways: Hull, Cardiff, Notts County, Accrington, Shrewsbury.
Nine homes: Arsenal, Bolton, Manchester United, Sunderland, Barnsley, Birmingham, Derby, Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers.
Pick of the draws: Defeats by first Manchester City and then Chelsea may have dented Newcastle's confidence and they will do well to gain more than a point from their trip to Carrow Road. Nottingham Forest were desperately unlucky to lose to Brighton last Saturday and they are capable of holding Carling Cup semi-finalists Crystal Palace. Championship leaders Southampton have not dropped a point at home all season but that could change against Blackpool, who can match anybody on their day. League One promotion contenders Milton Keynes Dons are one of the form teams and I fancy them to keep their run going at Tranmere. I expect revitalised Plymouth, bottom of League Two, to share the spoils at Bradford City, who are only three points better off.
Away days: Although unsettled by the departure of manager Nigel Pearson, Hull should still have too much for bottom-of-the-table Coventry, who are being cast adrift of the other Championship clubs. Promotion contenders and Carling Cup semi-finalists Cardiff are on a roll and must be backed at Millwall, who are fighting to stay clear of the relegation zone. League One promotion candidates Notts County can inflict more misery on Yeovil, who have already lost six matches at home. Accrington can gain their first away victory of the League Two campaign when they travel to erratic AFC Wimbledon. In-form Shrewsbury look an even better bet to prevail at Aldershot.
Homes sweet homes: Relegation-threatened Bolton are due a change of luck, so don't be surprised if they triumph against Aston Villa, who are ninth in the Premier League but convincing nobody. I expect Martin O'Neill to begin his tenure at Sunderland with victory over troubled Blackburn and their under-fire manager Steve Kean. Derby halted their slide down the Championship with a well-merited draw at Crystal Palace and I'm taking them to return to winning ways against improving Bristol City. Bristol Rovers appear to have a difficult assignment against Swindon, who are riding high in League Two, but their 6-1 victory at AFC Totton in the FA Cup second round will have given them confidence and I'm predicting an upset here.
