Pools tips for weekend of November 23-24

Ten draws: Fulham v Swansea, Stoke v Sunderland, Blackburn v Reading, Bournemouth v Derby, Ipswich v Leicester, Watford v Bolton, Swindon v Leyton Orient, Wolves v Brentford, Inverness v St Johnstone, Dumbarton v Alloa.

Best draws: Stoke v Sunderland, Watford v Bolton, Swindon v Leyton Orient, Wolves v Brentford, Inverness v St Johnstone.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Port Vale, Oldham, AFC Wimbledon.

Best weekend home bets: Birmingham, Leeds, Queens Park Rangers, Peterborough, Preston, Rotherham, Accrington, Rochdale, Southend, Hearts.


Pick of the draws: Sunderland's morale-boosting victory over title contenders Manchester City has given them a Premier League lifeline and I fancy them to get something at Stoke, who are still trying to adjust to life without their former manager Tony Pulis. Watford have had a bit of a hangover after last season's near miss for promotion to the top flight. It wouldn't surprise me if they were held by Bolton, who are climbing the Championship table after a terrible start to the season. League One Swindon recovered from their shock FA Cup exit by winning impressively at Colchester last weekend. A repeat of that performance could see them share the spoils with promotion contenders Leyton Orient, in many ways the team of the season so far. Nobody in the League is in better form than Uwe Rosler's Brentford. They will not fear visiting League One leaders Wolves and can come away with a point. Inverness Caledonian Thistle, second in the Scottish Premiership, may not recover quickly enough from the departure of manager Terry Butcher to overcome the improving St Johnstone.

Away days: That win over Arsenal at Old Trafford the Sunday before last suggests that Manchester United are getting into their Premier League stride and I don't expect Cardiff to halt their progress. Even at this early stage of the season there seems no way back for bottom club Crystal Palace, who have lost all five away matches. But one win can change everything and they are worth a wager at shot-shy Hull, who came up to the Premier League with them last season. Chelsea slipped up by allowing West Bromwich Albion to escape from Stamford Bridge with a draw but I can't see them faltering against West Ham, who are in the relegation mix. In League One, Port Vale are a must selection at Crewe, who have easily the worst goal difference in the top four divisions, and my other fancy is Oldham, conquerors of Wolves in the FA Cup, to beat Gillingham, who lost to non-League Brackley. AFC Wimbledon, who slammed Portsmouth 4-0 at home last Saturday, look a good thing at struggling Bury in League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Birmingham have had some indifferent results this season but they showed what they are capable of with a deserved victory at Huddersfield in the Championship. I'm taking them to hand out the same treatment to high-flying Blackpool at St Andrew's. Accrington are displaying the spirit which is necessary to avoid relegation from League Two. They had a terrific win at Scunthorpe last Saturday and I'm backing them to gain another three points at the expense of Torquay, who are just below them. Although Hearts, with their 15-point deduction, are seemingly doomed to relegation from the Scottish Premiership, they can relieve some of their gloom by defeating Ross, who are poor travellers and badly out of sorts.