Pools tips for weekend of September 1-2

Ten draws: Liverpool v Arsenal, Burnley v Brighton, Hull v Bolton, Nottingham Forest v Charlton, Bury v Notts County, Stevenage v Shrewsbury, AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge, Plymouth v Northampton, Rotherham v Bradford, York v Oxford.

Best draws: Liverpool v Arsenal, Burnley v Brighton, Hull v Bolton, Bury v Notts County, AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham & Redbridge.

Five aways: Manchester United, Bristol City, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Brentford.

Nine homes: Newcastle, Tottenham, Wigan, Derby, Ipswich, Crawley, Hartlepool, Portsmouth, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: Liverpool and Arsenal have made stuttering starts to the Premier League season and I cannot see either doing enough to gain maximum points when they play at Anfield on Sunday. Brighton hit Barnsley for five last weekend after going goalless in their previous two matches. That timely return to form will encourage them on their trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley. Hull and Bolton will be licking their wounds after losing to lower division opposition in the League Cup this week and they will probably be nursing a hangover when they meet in the Championship on Saturday. In League One, Notts County can recover from their unexpected home defeat by Walsall when they travel to Bury. It is difficult to separate AFC Wimbledon and Dagenham & Redbridge, who are both struggling in League Two.

Away days: Manchester United, even without the injured Wayne Rooney, will be fancied at Southampton, who have yet to get off the mark in the Premier League. In the Championship, I expect in-form Bristol City to make life unpleasant for Barnsley and for table-topping Blackpool to continue their winning streak against Leicester, who have lost their past three games. Middlesbrough have recovered their poise after a poor performance on the opening day of the season and I'm tipping them to prevail at Millwall, who often fail to make use of home advantage. Brentford, emphatic 5-1 home winners over Crewe last weekend, will be looking forward to their trip to Walsall in League One.

Homes sweet homes: Wigan, two wins from their last two encounters, should be backed against Stoke, who are still reeling from their early League Cup exit when League One Swindon beat them in extra time. I have a hunch that Nigel Clough's Derby will come good against inconsistent Watford in the Championship and that Ipswich will bounce back from consecutive defeats when they take on Huddersfield. There seems no end to Portsmouth's financial troubles but there is a great spirit at Fratton Park, despite the adversity, and I predict three League One points when ailing Oldham come calling on Saturday.

Pools tips for weekend of August 25-26

Ten draws: Norwich v Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham v West Brom, Charlton v Hull, Watford v Birmingham, Bournemouth v Preston, Brentford v Crewe, Oldham v Stevenage, Scunthorpe v Yeovil, Swindon v MK Dons, Chesterfield v Rotherham.

Best draws: Norwich v Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham v West Brom, Bournemouth v Preston, Swindon v MK Dons, Chesterfield v Rotherham

Five aways: Manchester City, Arsenal, Leeds, Sheffield United, Tranmere.

Nine homes: Chelsea, Manchester United, Southampton, Sunderland, Brighton, Coventry, Notts County, Aldershot, Bradford.


Pick of the draws: Norwich and QPR will be licking their wounds after being trounced 5-0 last weekend by Fulham and Swansea respectively. I'm expecting a low-key, low-scoring stalemate at Carrow Road. West Bromwich Albion's clear-cut victory over Liverpool will have given them enormous confidence, which they will take into their game at Tottenham, who may need time to adjust to their new manager. I believe Preston, with an almost completely new team, will have a better season in League One and I'm tipping them to take a point off Bournemouth. Swindon and MK Dons are fancied to be promotion contenders, so have a punt on them cancelling each other out. Relegated Chesterfield were desperately unlucky to lose to AFC Wimbledon in League Two last Saturday and are in the mood to hold promotion favourites Rotherham.

Away days: Premier League champions Manchester City will probably take advantage of the teething problems Liverpool are experiencing under their new manager Brendan Rodgers. Arsenal will be eager to atone for their two dropped home points against Sunderland last Saturday and should be backed against Stoke. In the Championship, Leeds must be fancied to inflict more misery on Peterborough, who have no points from two matches. League One Sheffield United, who last season missed promotion by the narrowest of margins, should be too strong for Colchester. Tranmere, who visit Shrewsbury, have got off to a flyer in League Two and can make it three wins out of three.

Homes sweet homes: Promoted Southampton gained a lot of credit in their 3-2 defeat by Manchester City last Sunday and look a good bet against Wigan, who face another season of struggle. Sunderland were admirably resourceful in their goalless draw against Arsenal last weekend, which should stand them in good stead against Premier League newcomers Reading. Championship side Brighton are without a goal from their opening two fixtures but that will surely change on Saturday when Barnsley are their visitors. Aldershot will press their League Two promotion claims with victory over Cheltenham, losing play-off finalists last season. 

Pools tips for weekend of August 18-19

Ten draws: Fulham v Norwich, West Ham v Aston Villa, Birmingham v Charlton, Burnley v Bolton, Crystal Palace v Watford, Leeds v Wolves, Crawley v Scunthorpe, Walsall v Doncaster, Bristol Rovers v Oxford, Kilmarnock v Motherwell.

Best draws: West Ham v Aston Villa, Burnley v Bolton, Crystal Palace v Watford, Leeds v Wolves, Walsall v Doncaster.

Five aways: Liverpool, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Brentford, Bournemouth.

Nine homes: Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, Queens Park Rangers, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Crewe, Preston, Fleetwood.


Pick of the draws: Aston Villa, under the new management of Paul Lambert, are a good bet to share the spoils at promoted West Ham, who may struggle to adjust to a higher division. I expect relegated Bolton to come away from their Lancashire derby at Burnley with a Championship point. Watford, under new owners and a new manager in Gianfranco Zola, can do the same at Crystal Palace. Relegated Wolves should not fear a visit to Leeds, who let themselves down by dropping so many points at Elland Road last season. Walsall v relegated Doncaster looks the best of the bunch in League One.

Away days: Liverpool seem to have shaped up well in pre-season and new manager Brendan Rodgers can get his campaign off to a positive start at West Bromwich Albion. Chelsea, who have been busy strengthening their squad during the summer, will surely be too strong for Wigan, who will face another battle for survival. In the Championship, Middlesbrough are worth a punt at Barnsley, who narrowly avoided relegation last season. In League One, Brentford can continue their good away form of last season with maximum points at Bury while Bournemouth are nailed on to beat crisis-club Portsmouth.

Homes sweet homes: Take a chance on Newcastle putting one over Spurs, who look weaker than last season after the departure of their manager Harry Redknapp. Queens Park Rangers appear to have made some shrewd summer signings, which should serve them well against Swansea, who may miss the influence of their former manager Brendan Rodgers. Promoted Crewe's 5-0 rout of Hartlepool in the League Cup last weekend should inspire them against Notts County in League One. I'm taking newcomers Fleetwood to make a winning debut in League Two when they play Torquay at Highbury.

Pools tips for weekend of August 11-12

Ten draws: Mechelen v Club Brugge, Standard Liege v Beveren, Heerenveen v NEC, Nancy v Brest, St Etienne v Lille, San Jose Earthquakes v Seattle Sounders, Brondby v Sonderjyske, Randers v Esbjerg, Elfsborg v Malmo, Brann v Haugesund.

Best draws: Mechelen v Club Brugge, Nancy v Brest, St Etienne v Lille, Randers v Esbjerg, Elfsborg v Malmo.

Six aways: Lokeren, Waregem, Feyenoord, Marseille, Lyon, Silkeborg.

Nine homes: Bayern Munich, Gent, Mons, Ajax, Twente, Paris Saint-Germain, Sochaux, Dallas, Horsens.

Australian pools tips for Saturday August 4

Ten draws: Westgate v Keilor, Malvern v Box Hill, Melbourne v North Sunshine, Peninsula Strikers v Fitzroy, Essendon v Geelong, Bayswater v Inglewood, Morley v Gosnells, Melville v Subiaco, Somerset v Riverside, Glenorchy v University.

Best draws: Westgate v Keilor, Malvern v Box Hill, Bayswater v Inglewood, Morley v Gosnells, Melville v Subiaco.

Six aways: Sydenham, Doveton, Moreland United, Knights, Rockingham, Wanneroo.

Nine homes: Pascoe Vale, Moreland City, Preston, Sporting Whittlesea, Corio, Lalor, Westvale, Canning, Mandurah.