Pools tips for December 31-January 2

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Norwich, Southampton v Chelsea, Swansea v Man City, Derby v Wigan, MK Dons v Colchester, Peterborough v Brentford, Stevenage v Gillingham, Walsall v Sheff Utd, Exeter v Wycombe, Scunthorpe v Rochdale.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Norwich, Derby v Wigan, Peterborough v Brentford, Stevenage v Gillingham, Walsall v Sheff Utd.

Best away bets: Newcastle, Bournemouth, Leicester, Bradford City, Wolves, Chesterfield.

Best home bets: Arsenal, Liverpool, Sunderland, Birmingham, Queens Park Rangers, Leyton Orient, Preston, Bristol Rovers, Newport, Celtic.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Pools tips for weekend of December 28-29

Ten draws: Hull v Fulham, Newcastle v Arsenal, West Ham v West Brom, Blackburn v Birmingham, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Watford v Queens Park Rangers, Shrewsbury v Preston, Wolves v Leyton Orient, Accrington v Southend, Wycombe v Fleetwood.

Best draws: Hull v Fulham, Newcastle v Arsenal, West Ham v West Brom, Watford v Queens Park Rangers, Wolves v Leyton Orient.

Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Derby, Peterborough, Walsall.

Best weekend home bets: Man City, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Doncaster, Huddersfield, Wigan, Bristol City, Crawley, Chesterfield, Portsmouth.

Pick of the draws: Hull's lack of goal power will give relegation-threatened Fulham a chance of parity. Arsenal have gone off the boil, resulting in them losing the Premier League leadership. Newcastle, by contrast, are in good nick and the visitors will be pressed to come away with anything more than a draw. West Ham, averaging under a goal a game in the Premier League, host ailing and manager-less West Brom, who are two points and one place above them. The smart money is on a stalemate. Watford will be anxious to improve their wretched home form in the Championship and I think they will avoid defeat against Queens Park Rangers, who have not been entirely convincing lately. In League One, second in the table Wolves are at home to leaders Leyton Orient and I expect deadlock.

Away days: Mid-table Swansea are worth a wager at Aston Villa, who are hopeless at home. Liverpool, the new Premier League leaders and with Luis Suarez unstoppable, must fancy their chances of winning at Stamford Bridge, even if Chelsea are unbeaten there this season and among the title contenders. Manchester United now look capable of a long unbeaten run and will probably be too strong for Chris Hughton's Norwich. Steve McLaren has worked wonders since taking over as manager at Derby and Barnsley, the bottom Championship club, should present few problems. League One promotion hopefuls Peterborough can take maximum points off inconsistent Carlisle and Walsall, on the strength of their away prowess, are worth a punt at Gillingham.

Homes sweet homes: Bournemouth, with recent away victories at Reading and Sheffield Wednesday, are punching above their weight in the Championship and will be confident of upsetting Ipswich. Former Brentford boss Uwe Rosler has made an immediate impact at Wigan since replacing Owen Coyle as manager and I've a hunch that his team will defeat leaders Burnley. Bristol City find themselves bottom of League One at Christmas but I don't believe they will be there for long. Victory over Stevenage, another relegation-troubled side, will help their cause.

Pools tips for December 26 (Boxing Day)

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace, Barnsley v Bolton, Blackburn v Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest v Queens Park Rangers, Carlisle v Preston, Colchester v Stevenage, Accrington v York, Morecambe v Fleetwood, Wycombe v Newport, Partick v Inverness.

Best draws: Barnsley v Bolton, Blackburn v Sheffield Wednesday, Colchester v Stevenage, Accrington v York, Morecambe v Fleetwood.

Best away bets: Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds, Ipswich, Tranmere, Hibernian.

Best home bets: Newcastle, Tottenham, Bournemouth, Leicester, Wigan, Bradford City, Bristol City, Wolves, Chesterfield, Oxford.

Pools tips for weekend of December 21-22

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Brighton v Huddersfield, Millwall v Middlesbrough, Reading v Wigan, Peterborough v Bradford City, Swindon v Coventry, Walsall v Carlisle, Hartlepool v Burton, Scunthorpe v Morecambe, Elgin v East Stirling.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Reading v Wigan, Peterborough v Bradford City, Walsall v Carlisle, Hartlepool v Burton.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Blackburn, Port Vale, Sheffield United, Wycombe, Oxford.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, West Bromwich, Burnley, Derby, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe, Mansfield, Newport, Plymouth.

Pick of the draws: Incoming manager Tony Pulis has given Crystal Palace a fighting chance of Premier League survival but they may have to settle for parity with visitors Newcastle, another team in form. Reading are in the Championship play-off positions but won't have things all their own way against Wigan, who have been boosted by the managerial appointment of Uwe Rosler. Peterborough have hit the wall in League One recently and they meet highly respected opponents in Bradford City, who drew with leaders Leyton Orient last weekend. Carlisle are climbing further away from the relegation zone and look good for a point at Walsall, who are vulnerable at home. Burton's outstanding away record in League Two should should serve them well at improving Hartlepool.

Away days: Manchester City, who are scoring for fun, visit relegation-haunted Fulham and have a marvellous opportunity to improve their away form. The same can be said for Blackburn, who visit second from bottom Yeovil in the Championship. In League One, Port Vale, with five away wins to their credit so far, are worth a punt at MK Dons, whose form is up and down like a yo-yo. Nigel Clough has moved Sheffield United out of the relegation zone in his short time as manager and a trip to troubled Stevenage should hold no fears. In League Two, I'm taking Wycombe to increase Northampton's pain near the foot of the table and leaders Oxford to strengthen their promotion challenge by beating York.

Homes sweet homes: I believe West Bromwich Albion will put the sacking of manager Steve Clarke behind them to defeat Hull, who are four points and places above them. Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, under the temporary charge of Stuart Gray, raised a few eyebrows by winning at Watford last Saturday and I've a hunch they will repeat the feat against Bournemouth this Saturday. In League One, lowly Crewe's confidence has gained a much needed boost by victory over Crawley and a hard-earned point against Coventry. Don't be surprised if they follow that up by overcoming mid-table Shrewsbury.

Betting info: I scored five out of six with my away selections last weekend.

Pools tips for weekend of December 14-15

Ten draws: Hull v Stoke, Newcastle v Southampton, Tottenham v Liverpool, West Ham v Sunderland, Bournemouth v Birmingham, Wigan v Bolton, Colchester v Notts County, Sheffield United v Swindon, AFC Wimbledon v Mansfield, Rochdale v Fleetwood.

Best draws: Hull v Stoke, Newcastle v Southampton, Wigan v Bolton, Colchester v Notts County, Sheff Utd v Swindon.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers, Derby, Leeds, Preston, Exeter.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Everton, Blackburn, Leicester, Watford, Bristol City, Port Vale, Wolves, Burton, Portsmouth.


Pick of the draws: The Premier League has plenty of draw possibilities this weekend and Hull v Stoke looks the most likely. Promoted Hull have probably surprised themselves with their progress this season. Recent results include a home victory over Liverpool and a well earned point at Swansea. But Stoke will have gained confidence from their coupon-busting win over Chelsea last Saturday. Newcastle have five wins from their last six games but Southampton halted their losing sequence with an impressive display in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City and they can collect another point at St James' Park. In the Championship, Wigan should be boosted by the appointment of former Brentford boss Uwe Rosler as manager but Bolton are just getting into their stride and capable of getting something on Sunday. Notts County, bottom of League One, gained a long overdue but deserved victory against Gillingham last weekend and I'm tipping them to deny Colchester. Sheffield United are improving enough under new manager Nigel Clough to share the spoils with Swindon.

Away days: Although Manchester United are going through a rocky patch, they have an outstanding record at Villa Park and will be eager to return to winning ways against a bafflingly inconsistent Aston Villa, who are ineffective at home. Queens Park Rangers, second in the Championship, look an away banker at Blackpool, who are in disarray and will be depleted after having five players sent off in their past two matches. The appointment of the much maligned Steve McClaren has revitalised Derby, who have moved into the promotion reckoning. It's hard to see their lowly hosts, Charlton, stopping them. Play-off contenders Leeds travel to struggling Doncaster with a good opportunity to put more pressure on the sides above them. Preston, third in League One and getting stronger, are well worth a punt at ailing Crawley. Exeter have surprisingly fallen away in League Two but I believe they will turn things around by beating Accrington.

Homes sweet homes: Third-placed Leicester will be anxious not to lose more ground in the Championship after two consecutive away defeats but they are a different proposition at home, where they have already won seven games. I'm backing them to make it eight against leaders Burnley. Although Bristol City are still in the League One relegation zone, their results have been picking up and they can upset sixth-placed Rotherham. Portsmouth are due a change of fortune in League Two and I'm banking on their new management team of Richie Barker and Steve Coppell to provide it against the Football League newcomers Newport. 

Pools tips for weekend of December 7-8

Ten draws: Sunderland v Tottenham, West Bromwich v Norwich, Ipswich v Huddersfield, Millwall v Wigan, Yeovil v Charlton, Ross v Kilmarnock, Falkirk v Raith, Arbroath v Stranraer, Elgin v Berwick, Cagliari v Genoa.

Best draws: Ipswich v Huddersfield, Millwall v Wigan, Yeovil v Charlton, Ross v Kilmarnock, Falkirk v Raith.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Leicester, Inverness, Livingston, Dundee, Burton (not on coupon).

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Burnley, Derby, Leeds, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Dundee United, Hamilton, Bristol Rovers (not on coupon), Grimsby (not on coupon). 


Pick of the draws: Ipswich and Huddersfield, with wins last Saturday and in midweek, are climbing into play-off contention in the Championship and there is little to choose between the sides. Wigan are without a manager following the unexpected sacking of Owen Coyle after only six months in charge but they should be sufficiently equipped to take a point off Millwall, who are perilously close to the relegation zone. Third from bottom Yeovil have given themselves a lifeline with two consecutive victories but find goals hard to come by - just like Charlton, their opponents on Saturday. Third from bottom Ross and second last Kilmarnock are two underachievers in this season's Scottish Premiership and the smart money is on a stalemate. Raith will have gained much satisfaction from their away win at Dundee in last weekend's Scottish Cup fourth round, so expect them to hold Falkirk in their Scottish Championship fixture.

Away days: Chelsea are gaining momentum in the Premier League and must be fancied at Stoke, who are struggling to adjust to the methods of new manager Mark Hughes. Championship leaders Leicester's shock defeat by Sheffield Wednesday was probably only a blip and I'm backing them to return to winning ways at Brighton. Inverness Caledonian Thistle appear to be Celtic's only challengers for the Scottish Premiership title and they ought to be too strong for St Mirren. In the Scottish Championship, Livingston are a confident selection to prevail at lowly Cowdenbeath while Dundee look too strong for bottom club Morton. It's the FA Cup second round at the weekend and Burton, with their splendid away record, are worth a punt at Fleetwood, who are not as strong at home as on their travels.

Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace are stirring under new manager Tony Pulis and three points against West Ham last night should give them the confidence to beat Cardiff. Having three players sent off in their midweek defeat at Yeovil will surely handicap Blackpool at Derby, who have a wonderful opportunity to improve their home form. Looking for upsets in the FA Cup, I've a hunch that League Two Bristol Rovers will knock out off-colour Crawley, from League One, and that non-League Grimsby, from the Skrill Premier, will send Northampton packing. 

Pools info: Motherwell v Celtic (match No 25 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.