Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 27-28

Ten draws: Bolton v Derby, Charlton v Middlesbrough, Reading v Wolves, Bristol City v MK Dons, Coventry v Preston, Crawley v Yeovil, Accrington v Plymouth, Morecambe v Northampton, Stevenage v Mansfield, Ross v Dundee.

Best draws: Bolton v Derby, Charlton v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Preston, Crawley v Yeovil, Ross v Dundee.

Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Norwich, Leeds, Millwall, Swindon, Bury.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Southampton, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Oldham, Carlisle, Luton, Wycombe.

Pick of the draws: If Bolton play as well as they did against Wolves in the Championship at Molineux last weekend - despite losing 1-0 - they will get something from the visit of Derby. Another hard luck story was that of Middlesbrough, who were beaten in an epic midweek penalty shoot-out in the League Cup at Anfield. They are gaining confidence by the week and I believe they will hold Charlton at The Valley. Two successive away defeats have halted Coventry's surge up League One. They entertain Preston this weekend and I cannot see them taking more than a point. Yeovil's home victory over promotion contenders Peterborough last Saturday was a considerable boost and they can continue their upward curve by sharing the spoils at Crawley. Ross are the only side in the English and Scottish divisions to remain pointless but I've a hunch that will change on Saturday when they host Dundee in the Scottish Premiership. Dundee's heavy defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals and neighbours Dundee United last Sunday will have damaged their morale.

Away days: Impressive Swansea should get plenty of joy from their Premier League visit to Sunderland, who are without a league win this season and were knocked out of the League Cup by Stoke in midweek. Championship high flyers Norwich must be fancied to prevail at Blackpool, despite their League Cup defeat by League Two team Shrewsbury. Leeds look like a team who are going places and I believe they will confirm their improvement by beating Brentford. Millwall gave as good as they got when they held table-topping Nottingham Forest to a goalless draw last Saturday. A repeat of that performance should enable them to triumph at struggling Huddersfield. League One Swindon put five past highly regarded Sheffield United last weekend and are capable of returning from Barnsley with three points. Free-scoring Bury deservedly lead League Two and are worth backing at Exeter, who are struggling at home.

Homes sweet homes: Crewe, bottom of League One, were so bad when losing 6-1 to MK Dons last Saturday that manager Steve Davis will be demanding a positive reaction. That may be forthcoming against Colchester, who are second bottom. The team who loses this match will probably be facing a long hard winter. Leyton Orient have under-performed this season but there is enough quality in the side to be higher than they are. At their best they should have enough to defeat promoted Rochdale. Carlisle are in danger of being stranded at the foot of League Two. Despite their precarious position there were encouraging signs in their 3-2 defeat at Mansfield last weekend and I'm taking them to record their first win of the season against a disappointing Tranmere.


Pools info: I scored five out of 10 with my draw selections last week and three out of five (Man City v Chelsea, Rotherham v Charlton, Portsmouth v Wycombe) with my best draws.