Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 6-7

Ten draws: Crawley v Rochdale, Oldham v Fleetwood, Stevenage v York, Wycombe v Bury, Braintree v Bristol Rovers, Kidderminster v Gateshead, Bradford PA v Boston, Colwyn Bay v Gainsborough, Greece v Romania, Georgia v Republic of Ireland.

Best draws: Crawley v Rochdale, Stevenage v York, Wycombe v Bury, Braintree v Bristol Rovers, Bradford PA v Boston.

Best weekend away bets: Northampton, Shrewsbury, Plymouth, Dartford, Finland, Poland.

Best weekend home bets: Bradford City, Bristol City, Peterborough, Accrington, Barnet, Chester, Eastleigh, Grimsby, AFC Telford, Germany.


Pick of the draws: Rochdale, 3-0 conquerors of Crewe in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek, have not been overawed playing in the higher division of League One and there is no reason why they can't take a point from Crawley. York have drawn all five of their League Two matches. Don't be surprised if they make it six in a row against relegated Stevenage, who are struggling to adjust to life in a lower division. Wycombe and Bury, who face each other on Saturday, have started the season well and occupy the play-off positions. It's difficult to separate them. In the Vanarama Conference, Bristol Rovers gained a morale-boosting win over promotion contenders FC Halifax last weekend. That should give them the confidence to share the spoils with mid-table Braintree. Bradford PA have maximum points from their three home matches in Vanarama North but I'm taking third-placed Boston to halt their progress.

Away days: Northampton look as though they are going to be contesting promotion from League Two and victory at Dagenham & Redbridge will enhance those claims. Shrewsbury are among the early League Two front-runners, unbeaten in the league so far. They are well worth backing at lowly Hartlepool. Plymouth are due an away success and it may come at Luton, who have not begun the season as they would have liked. Dartford travel to Altrincham, who are in the bottom four of the Vanarama Conference. I reckon that Altrincham will stay there after Dartford have gone away with the points on Saturday. The European Championship qualifiers start at the weekend. Finland and Poland should confirm their superiority over Faroe Islands and Gibraltar respectively.

Homes sweet homes: Although Accrington are bottom of League Two they played well when narrowly beaten at Bury last Saturday and I fancy them to upset the form book against Tranmere. I forecast another surprise at Chester, who host better-placed Macclesfield in the Vanarama Conference. I've a hunch Chester will raise their game against their near and fierce rivals and record their first home victory of the season. In a battle of the Conference strugglers, I'm taking AFC Telford to make ground advantage count against Dover. 

Pools info: Barnsley v Doncaster (No 1 on coupon), Chesterfield v Swindon (4), Crewe v Notts County (7), Leyton Orient v Preston (8), Sheffield United v MK Dons (11) and Newport v Cambridge (21) will be decided by the pools panel. Coventry v Gillingham (5) is void as it is being played on Friday.