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.