Pools tips for weekend of February 2-3

Ten draws: Newcastle v Chelsea, West Brom v Tottenham, Ipswich v Middlesbrough, Leeds v Cardiff, Portsmouth v Colchester, Yeovil v Brentford, Fleetwood v Bradford City, Rotherham v Northampton, Forest Green v Wrexham, Newport v Kidderminster.

Best draws: Ipswich v Middlesbrough, Leeds v Cardiff, Portsmouth v Colchester, Fleetwood v Bradford City, Newport v Kidderminster.

Five aways: Manchester United, Swansea, Brighton, Swindon, Notts County.

Nine homes: Arsenal, Wigan, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Watford, MK Dons, Stevenage, Tranmere, Port Vale.


Pick of the draws: Promotion-seeking Middlesbrough have lost their last four on the road and may have to settle for a point at Ipswich, who are battling hard to avoid relegation from the Championship. That FA Cup fourth-round victory over Tottenham has put Leeds in good heart but they face formidable opposition in Cardiff, who are 10 points clear at the top of the table. In League One, struggling Portsmouth keep losing at home while their lowly opponents, Colchester, keep losing away. A draw is the likeliest result. Bradford City's stunning achievement in reaching the League Cup final should help their League Two campaign and I believe they will come away with something from their visit to Fleetwood. Kidderminster are the most improved side in the Blue Square Premier and a draw at third-placed Newport is within their grasp.

Away days: It is impossible to ignore the claims of Premier League leaders Manchester United at Fulham, who provided feeble resistance when they crashed 4-1 at Old Trafford in the FA Cup last weekend. League Cup finalists Swansea are a match for anyone these days and are well worth a punt at West Ham. Brighton showed their quality when giving Arsenal an uncomfortable ride in the FA Cup and Gus Poyet's team can enhance their promotion prospects by defeating Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. Swindon have looked the League One side to beat since Christmas and I'm taking them to gain maximum points at Crawley.  Notts County are red-hot away and must be fancied to prevail at bottom club Hartlepool.

Homes sweet homes: Wigan, who held Stoke to a well-merited midweek draw, can make Southampton pay for their unjustified sacking of manager Nigel Adkins. Although they are third in the Championship, Hull have gone right off the boil and Millwall are the kind of team to take advantage, especially at the New Den. The ease with which League One MK Dons beat Queens Park Rangers was one of the FA Cup upsets last weekend and I've a hunch they will carry on the good work against Bournemouth. Stevenage are due a good result at home and I believe they will get it against Leyton Orient, who are just one place below them.