Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 20-21

Ten draws: Manchester City v Chelsea, Newcastle v Hull, Rotherham v Charlton, Colchester v Bradford City, Port Vale v Barnsley, Rochdale v Coventry, Scunthorpe v Leyton Orient, Swindon v Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe, Portsmouth v Wycombe.

Best draws: Manchester City v Chelsea, Rotherham v Charlton, Port Vale v Barnsley, AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe, Portsmouth v Wycombe.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Blackburn, Chesterfield, Bristol City, Southend, Rangers.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Everton, Tottenham, Norwich, Wolves, MK Dons, Bury, Mansfield, Oxford, Dundee.


Pick of the draws: Manchester City and Chelsea are the likeliest teams to be contesting the Premier League title. They meet at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday and I believe Chelsea will drop their first league points of the season against a City side eager to make up for their shock home defeat by Stoke.  High-flying Charlton have drawn all three of their away matches in the Championship so far. Don't be surprised if they make it four at Rotherham, who have faded after a bright opening to the season. Port Vale have tumbled alarmingly in League One but they will be hoping to salvage something from the visit of Barnsley, who shipped five goals at home to MK Dons last Saturday. AFC Wimbledon surprised League Two leaders Burton 3-0 in midweek and that should enable them to take a point off promotion challengers Morecambe. Wycombe have forced their way into the automatic promotion positions and look good for a share of the spoils at Portsmouth, who returned to winning ways against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Away days: Manchester United could be up and running after their 4-0 demolition of Queens Park Rangers last Sunday and I expect them to collect another three Premier League points at the expense of promoted Leicester, despite the Midlanders adjusting well to life in the top division. Blackburn recovered from a goal down to beat Wigan 3-1 last weekend and it is hard to see them slipping up at Fulham, who prop up the Championship. Chesterfield seem on course to gain two consecutive promotions. Judged on their League One form so far, they should be too good for Doncaster, who are in danger of going the other way. League One leaders Bristol City go from strength to strength and are worth backing at Fleetwood. Southend have come alive after a dodgy spell in League Two and ought to be backed at York, whose progress has been hindered by a glut of draws. Rangers, conquerors of Scottish Premiership side Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish League Cup, will surely account for Alloa in the Scottish Championship.

Homes sweet homes: I'm taking promoted Burnley to gain their first Premier League victory of the season against an average Sunderland, who were fortunate to escape defeat when they played Tottenham at home last Saturday. Only a late, missed penalty prevented Burnley from getting off the mark at Crystal Palace last weekend. Bury have become the team to watch in League Two and I think they will topple leaders Burton, who suffered their first defeat of the season at AFC Wimbledon in midweek. Oxford took a step away from the League Two drop zone by beating Accrington in midweek. I believe they'll make it two home wins in a row when Stevenage come to visit. Dundee host Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership. The former have been unfazed by life in a higher division and I tip them to come out on top against their fierce rivals. 

Pools info: Wigan v Ipswich (match No 19 on the coupon) will be judged by the pools panel while Partick v St Mirren (No 49) is void.