Pools tips for weekend of January 26-27

Ten draws: Aberdeen v Hibernian, Dundee United v Ross, Dunfermline v Livingston, Arbroath v Forfar, Annan v Peterhead, Levante v Valladolid, Sevilla v Granada, Bologna v Roma, Parma v Napoli, Hannover v Wolfsburg.

Best draws: Aberdeen v Hibernian, Dundee United v Ross, Dunfermline v Livingston, Annan v Peterhead, Parma v Napoli.

Five aways: Walsall, Celtic, Ayr, Clyde, Malaga.

Nine homes: Portsmouth, Exeter, Inverness, Dumbarton, Alloa, Elgin, Rangers, Barcelona, Real Madrid.


Pick of the draws: Aberdeen and Hibernian are consistently inconsistent in the Scottish Premier League, making a draw the likeliest result on Sunday. Dundee United may find their 4-0 thrashing at Celtic hard to shake off, so don't be surprised if lowly Ross come away with a point from Tannadice. Ross, it must be noted, had a morale-boosting 4-1 victory at St Mirren last Saturday. Dunfermline's home record is not that impressive for a team chasing promotion from the Scottish first division and visitors Livingston can take advantage. Annan and Peterhead are two well-matched teams in the Scottish third division and I cannot separate them. In the Italian League I'm backing middle-of-the-table Parma to halt the progress of second-placed Napoli.

Away days: Walsall's rise in League One (they are only two points off a play-off place) has been one of the stories of the season, whereas Colchester's ignominious slide continues. At the risk of being made to look foolish, this is surely an away banker. Celtic, 12 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League, are in great heart for their Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at St Mirren on Sunday. Out-of-sorts Ayr could spring a surprise by beating erratic East Fife in the Scottish second division and I'm taking Clyde to win the battle of the third division strugglers at East Stirling. In the Spanish League, upwardly mobile Malaga are confidently expected to do the business at relegation-troubled Mallorca.

Homes sweet homes: Portsmouth will never have a better opportunity to gain a long overdue home win when they host hapless Hartlepool at Fratton Park in League One. Both sides are favourites for the drop but Hartlepool are well adrift of the rest.  Although bottom of the Scottish first division, Dumbarton have won two matches in a row. They are capable of making it three against Hamilton. Elgin have had a blip recently but it is not beyond them to upset second-placed Queen's Park in the Scottish third division.