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.