Pools tips for weekend of October 20-21

Ten draws: Sunderland v Newcastle, Tottenham v Chelsea, Huddersfield v Wolves, Watford v Peterborough, Coventry v Notts County, MK Dons v Stevenage, Yeovil v Bury, Bristol Rovers v Torquay, Morecambe v Southend, Dundee United v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Tottenham v Chelsea, Watford v Peterborough, Coventry v Notts County, MK Dons v Stevenage, Morecambe v Southend.

Five aways: Arsenal, Wigan, Manchester City, Leicester, Crawley.

Nine homes: Manchester United, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Derby, Hull, Colchester, Doncaster, Swindon, Bradford City.


Pick of the draws: Tottenham's Andre Villas-Boas will want to make a point against the club which sacked him as manager last season and I believe his in-form team will do it for him. I fancy leaders Chelsea to maintain their unbeaten run in the Premier League but I expect their lead over the two Manchester clubs to have been reduced by Saturday evening. Watford are finding life tough on their own ground (three home defeats already) in the Championship and bottom club Peterborough can take advantage of that. Mark Robins has made an immediate impact since being appointed manager at League One Coventry and I'm taking them to hold promotion-chasing Notts County. Apart from last week, Stevenage have been strong on their travels and their game at MK Dons, who are unbeaten at home, is perhaps the best draw bet on the coupon. Morecambe caused a League Two upset at Rochdale last Saturday and their 2-1 victory should give them heart against higher-placed Southend.

Away days: Arsenal to repeat last season's victory at Carrow Road against a struggling Norwich, who have yet to win in the Premier League this season. There are rumours of dressing-room unrest at Swansea, who are sliding down the table, so it may be worth having a punt on their enterprising visitors, Wigan. Manchester City showed signs of returning to their best form when beating Sunderland 3-0 and they can follow that up at West Bromwich, although the Midlanders have yet to drop a point at the Hawthorns. Leicester, who have climbed to second in the Championship, must be confident of adding Birmingham to their list of victims while, in League One, high-flying Crawley should take maximum points at Hartlepool, who are in all sorts of trouble.

Homes sweet homes: Nigel Clough's Derby are worth a shout against Blackburn, who have three more Championship points but are unsettled following the departure of manager Steve Kean. Colchester ended Stevenage's unbeaten run in League One last weekend with a merited victory and they can do as well against Carlisle, who have been erratic. I believe Doncaster will leapfrog Brentford after playing them on Saturday and don't be surprised if Bradford City make the most of ground advantage against Cheltenham in League Two, even though Cheltenham are unbeaten away.