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.