Pools tips for weekend of September 29-30

Ten draws: Aston Villa v West Brom, Fulham v Manchester City, Bolton v Crystal Palace, Cardiff v Blackpool, Leyton Orient v Doncaster, Shrewsbury v Swindon, Bradford v Port Vale, Burton v Northampton, Plymouth v Southend, Motherwell v Celtic.

Best draws: Bolton v Crystal Palace, Leyton Orient v Doncaster, Shrewsbury v Swindon, Plymouth v Southend, Motherwell v Celtic.

Five aways: Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Leicester, Accrington.

Nine homes: Manchester United, Stoke, Brighton, Charlton, Hull, Wolves, Colchester, Stevenage, Chesterfield.


Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace's marvellous comeback to beat Cardiff in the Championship last weekend suggests they are a side on the upgrade. They will be confident of a point at Bolton, who have yet to hit their stride this season. Leyton Orient have gone four matches unbeaten in League One, but their opponents, Doncaster, are also in good form and it's difficult to separate them. Swindon are aiming for two consecutive promotions but they won't find it easy at Shrewsbury, who are resilient on their own patch. Plymouth have surprised a few people in League Two, not least Morecambe last Saturday who lost to them 3-2 after being 2-0 ahead. However, Paul Sturrock's Southend will probably be made of sterner stuff, so expect honours to be even. Motherwell lead the Scottish Premier League but visitors Celtic are in hot pursuit and can make their point as well as gain one.

Away days: I'm taking Liverpool, who have slipped into the relegation zone, to gain their first win in the Premier League this season at Norwich, one point and two places (16th) in front of them. Liverpool were the better team, despite losing to Manchester United at Anfield last Sunday, and are worth backing here. The Premier League is an unforgiving place and Newcastle can increase Reading's misery at the bottom of the table. Championship side Leeds caused one of the season's upsets by knocking Everton out of the League Cup and I predict another Leeds triumph when they travel to Bristol City. Middlesbrough have won all three of their home games; Leicester have lost all three of their away matches. At first glance it looks a home banker but I've a hunch that Leicester will turn the form book upside down and take maximum points. Accrington are fancied to add AFC Wimbledon to their list of victims in League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Surprisingly, Stoke are still looking for their first win of the season. I think they will get it when they host Swansea, whose Premier League progress has been halted in the last few weeks. Blackburn may be Championship promotion contenders but the fans are unhappy with the manager Steve Kean and the club's owners. Charlton, who took maximum points from their trip to Ipswich last Saturday, are well equipped to take advantage. Although Colchester are without a victory and struggling in League One, I expect them to get off the mark against Hartlepool, who seldom travel well. Chesterfield have rallied to such an extent in League Two that a home win against Torquay would not come as a surprise.

Pools tips for weekend of September 22-23

Ten draws: Southampton v Aston Villa, Crystal Palace v Cardiff, Leicester v Hull, Peterborough v Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Bury v MK Dons, Crawley v Tranmere, Oxford v Bradford, Port Vale v Gillingham, Ross v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Cardiff, Leicester v Hull, Peterborough v Wolves, Crawley v Tranmere, Ross v St Johnstone.

Five aways: Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Sheffield United, Rotherham.

Nine homes: Chelsea, Tottenham, Birmingham, Derby, Brentford, Notts County, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Accrington.


Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace have recovered well from a bad start to the season in the Championship and I'm taking them to hold Cardiff, who look strong promotion contenders. The rise of Hull, under the managership of Steve Bruce, has been even more impressive and I fancy their chances of gaining a point at Leicester, who have so far failed to live up to expectations. After six matches Peterborough have yet to register a point but they can get off the mark against middle-of-the-table Wolves. Tranmere, unbeaten and clear leaders of League One, may have to settle for a share of the spoils at Crawley, who are adapting well to life in a higher division. St Johnstone will be buoyed by their victory over Celtic in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last Saturday and can deny promoted Ross maximum points.

Away days: Fulham are often fragile on their travels, so they will be eager to make the most of their trip to Wigan in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest won 7-3 in an extraordinary game at Leeds in the Championship last season. Because of their recent form I believe they'll take maximum points again, even if the result may not be quite so spectacular. Gus Poyet's Brighton are a force to be reckoned with and are strongly recommended at Millwall. In League One, Yeovil are faltering after their bright start, which will only encourage their visitors Sheffield United. In League Two, Rotherham look nailed on to prevail at bottom club Barnet, who have only one point.

Homes sweet homes: Birmingham seem on the up in the Championship and are worth a punt against Barnsley. Derby's results are usually hard to predict but in Burnley they are playing a team as inconsistent as themselves and are worth supporting. Stevenage have won all three of their away games in League One but I have a feeling they'll come unstuck at Doncaster, who followed up their win at Colchester last Saturday by drawing at Sheffield United three days later. Scunthorpe's victory at Shrewsbury last weekend was one of the season's upsets - a genuine coupon-buster. They will be determined to build on this and are worth backing against struggling Colchester.

Please note: The match between Blackpool and Huddersfield (No 11 on the coupon) is being played next Monday and will be adjudicated by the pools panel.

Pools tips for weekend of September 15-16

Ten draws: Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea, Reading v Tottenham, Bristol City v Blackburn, Middlesbrough v Ipswich, Wolves v Leicester, Stevenage v Crewe, AFC Wimbledon v Rochdale, Burton v Oxford, Plymouth v Port Vale, Inverness v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Reading v Tottenham, Bristol City v Blackburn, Wolves v Leicester, Burton v Oxford, Plymouth v Port Vale.

Five aways: West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool, Derby, Southend, Accrington.

Nine homes: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bolton, Hull, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Sheffield United, Shrewsbury, Chesterfield.

Pick of the draws: Tottenham, under new management, have made a sluggish start to their Premier League season and I'm not convinced things are going to pick up when they visit promoted Reading on Sunday. Reading are a well-organised team under Brian McDermott and can claim at least a share of the spoils. Blackburn are eager to make an instant return to the Premier League but will find Bristol City no pushover at Ashton Gate. Leicester have surprisingly lost both opening away matches in the Championship this season but they will be disappointed not to get anything at relegated Wolves, who are hardly setting the division alight. Don't be surprised if inconsistent Burton hold League Two promotion contenders Oxford while Plymouth can confirm their improvement by matching free-scoring Port Vale.

Away days: West Bromwich Albion are one of the surprise packets of the season so far and must fancy their chances at Fulham, who have lost some influential players this summer. Ian Holloway's Blackpool are quick out of the blocks in the Championship and the league leaders should have too much for injury-troubled Barnsley. Nigel Clough's Derby scored five in their last game against Watford and are worth a punt at Huddersfield. I'm taking improving Southend to prevail at Cheltenham in League Two and for Accrington to make it three away wins in a row when they visit struggling Dagenham & Redbridge.

Homes sweet homes: Battling Aston Villa deserved their point at Newcastle two weeks ago and Paul Lambert's team will be looking to go one better against Premier League high-flyers Swansea. Bolton have a good chance to make up for a disappointing start to their Championship campaign when erratic Watford travel to the Reebok. Portsmouth will be fired up after their emphatic 3-0 victory at Crawley in League One last Sunday, so back them to beat Walsall. League Two Chesterfield, who were denied victory at York in the dying seconds last Saturday, are also worth supporting against Wycombe. 

Pools tips for weekend of September 8-9

Ten draws: Crewe v Tranmere, Hartlepool v Carlisle, Walsall v MK Dons, Bristol Rovers v Aldershot, York v Chesterfield, Cambridge v Wrexham, Ebbsfleet v Mansfield, Kidderminster v Southport, Macclesfield v Braintree, Colwyn Bay v Boston.

Best draws: Crewe v Tranmere, Walsall v MK Dons, Bristol Rovers v Aldershot, York v Chesterfield, Cambridge v Wrexham.

Five aways: Preston, Sheffield United, Gillingham, Fleetwood, Luton.

Nine homes: Denmark, Brentford, Coventry, Swindon, Northampton, Torquay, Wycombe, Gateshead, Tamworth.


Pick of the draws: Table-topping Tranmere have got off to a flyer in League One but promoted Crewe are adjusting well to a higher division, which suggests the points will be shared. Walsall have been punching above their weight so far and it wouldn't surprise me to see them deny MK Dons maximum points. There's a stalemate look to Bristol Rovers v Aldershot as both teams have started poorly in League Two. Relegated Chesterfield secured a well-deserved point at Gillingham last weekend and can do the same when they visit League Two newcomers York. Wrexham are beginning to thrive in the Blue Square Premier but Cambridge, traditionally sound at home, can match them.

Away days: Preston, 4-1 winners over highly-rated Swindon last Sunday, must be fancied to add to Bury's problems in League One. Sheffield United will be even stronger favourites to prevail at Scunthorpe, who are bottom and pointless after four games. League Two leaders Gillingham will surely make it three away league victories in a row when they travel to basement club Barnet and newcomers Fleetwood are worth a punt at Morecambe, who are less reliable at home than away. In the Blue Square Premier I expect goal-hungry Luton to record their fourth consecutive away win when they visit Alfreton.

Homes sweet homes: Denmark were never easy opponents in this summer's European Championships. If they can beat Holland then they can put the Czech Republic to the sword in the opening round of World Cup qualifying matches. Managerless Coventry are due a change of fortune in League One and I believe they will get it when higher-placed Stevenage come visiting. In League Two, Wycombe are capable of better than they have shown so far this season and they seem good value against inconsistent Cheltenham. Gateshead look like challenging for promotion from the Blue Square Bet Premier and should be backed against Dartford.