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Ten draws: Everton v Swansea, Manchester City v Manchester United, Huddersfield v Nottingham Forest, Rotherham v Middlesbrough, Bradford City v Doncaster, Colchester v Port Vale, MK Dons v Swindon, Burton v Plymouth, Mansfield v Southend, Kilmarnock v Dundee.
Best draws: Everton v Swansea, Rotherham v Middlesbrough, Bradford City v Doncaster, Burton v Plymouth, Mansfield v Southend.
Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, West Ham, Ipswich, Preston, Shrewsbury, Wycombe.
Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Cardiff, Watford, Wolves, Peterborough, Sheffield United, Cheltenham, Exeter, Northampton, Tranmere.
Pick of the draws: Swansea returned to form when beating Premier League newcomers Leicester 2-0 last weekend and can never be underestimated. They will find Everton tougher opponents but should come away from Goodison Park with a point. Promoted Rotherham are nobody's patsies in this season's Championship and I believe they will follow their draws against Fulham and Brighton with another stalemate against promotion-chasing Middlesbrough. Bradford City continue to disappoint in League One. They host Doncaster, who are better on their travels than at home and must be confident of at least parity. Burton, third in League Two, have lost their manager Gary Rowett to Birmingham as well as Rowett's backroom staff. This will probably have an adverse effect on the team, who host fast-climbing Plymouth on Saturday. League Two Mansfield have experienced three consecutive draws. I'm taking them to make it four against Southend, who have slipped out of the play-off places.
Away days: Tottenham are hardly inspiring confidence in the Premier League but they are in better shape than Aston Villa, who cannot buy a goal let alone a point at the moment. I expect Tottenham to repeat last season's victory at Villa Park. West Ham are buzzing and last Saturday's 2-1 win against champions Manchester City will have done wonders for their morale. Given the form they are in, West Ham have no need to fear a trip to Stoke. The Championship's bottom club Blackpool have the second lowest points total in the top four divisions. They are also without a manager and I cannot see Ipswich making life any easier for them. Preston go from strength to strength in League One and have cut Bristol City's lead at the top to two points. They visit Rochdale, who are not half as good at home as they are away. Shrewsbury have their sights on promotion from League Two and gave Chelsea a hard game in the League Cup. It would be foolish to ignore their chances at lowly Dagenham & Redbridge. Wycombe lost the League Two leadership last weekend but I reckon they will bounce straight back at Oxford.
Homes sweet homes: Exeter are on the upgrade in League Two. They had a noteworthy
2-0 success at Morecambe last Sunday and can upset leaders Luton, although the Hatters have lost only once on the road. Northampton can arrest their surprising slide down the table by defeating AFC Wimbledon. The Cobblers put up a spirited show in their narrow defeat at Luton last Saturday and you can never be sure which Wimbledon is going to turn up. Second from bottom Tranmere are already responding to the new management of former Port Vale boss Mickey Adams and are well worth a punt against Stevenage, who are often brittle on their travels.
Pools info: Norwich v Bolton (No 15 on coupon) and St Johnstone v Motherwell (46) are void while Ross v Aberdeen (45) will be decided by the pools panel.
I scored five out of 10 with my draw selections last week and three of my five best draws were correct. Make sure you follow me every week.
Ten draws: West Bromwich Albion v Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough v Watford, Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich, Crewe v Sheffield United, Port Vale v Leyton Orient, Yeovil v Rochdale, Luton v Northampton, Inverness v Dundee United, Partick v St Johnstone, Hibernian v Hearts.
Best draws: Middlesbrough v Watford, Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich, Crewe v Sheffield United, Port Vale v Leyton Orient, Hibernian v Hearts.
Best weekend away bets: Everton, Rotherham, Cardiff, Peterborough, MK Dons, Rangers.
Best weekend home bets: Southampton, Tottenham, Bolton, Nottingham Forest, Preston, AFC Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, Wycombe, York, Dundee.
Pick of the draws: Watford lost the leadership of the Championship in midweek but they are impressive on their travels and their 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday was as convincing as they could wish for. They are well capable of holding fellow promotion contenders Middlesbrough to a draw. Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich, who meet at Hillsborough, have gone off the boil lately and I don't believe either of them will return to winning ways. Three consecutive victories have hauled Crewe off the bottom of League One. Their opponents on Saturday, the highly rated Sheffield United, will still start favourites but I've a hunch that Crewe will avoid defeat. Leyton Orient must be wishing they played all their League One matches away. Their 2-0 midweek triumph at Doncaster was their third on the road this season, whereas they are without a victory at home. However, they won't find it easy at Port Vale, who are fighting to preserve their status. Scottish Championship leaders Hearts are unbeaten, having dropped only one point all season. They travel to their fierce Edinburgh rivals Hibernian on Sunday. Because of Hibernian's sudden improvement, I think Hearts will have to settle for parity.
Away days: As predicted in this blog last week, Everton returned to form when comfortably beating Aston Villa. They should continue their climb up the Premier League table by defeating struggling Burnley. Promoted Rotherham are holding their own in the Championship and must fancy their chances at Brighton, who cannot buy a win at the moment. Cardiff are responding well to new manager Russell Slade. Home wins over Nottingham Forest and Ipswich respectively have turned things around, so have a punt on them opening their away account at Millwall. Peterborough were handicapped in midweek when they played with 10 men for most of their 1-0 defeat at Crewe. As long as that game didn't take too much out of them, they should be too strong for Coventry, who are slipping towards the League One relegation zone. Promotion contenders MK Dons look good value for maximum points at Doncaster, who have won only once on their own ground. Rangers, nine points behind leaders Hearts in the Scottish Championship, will be eager to make up lost ground and can do so at Dumbarton.
Homes sweet homes: Bolton are worth supporting against Brentford. They are already improving under new manager Neil Lennon and have moved off the bottom of the Championship. Also, Brentford have become goal-shy, firing blanks in their past two matches. Lowly York are without a home win in League Two this season but they can put that right against mediocre Mansfield. Only a stoppage-time goal denied York victory at Morecambe in midweek and I'm taking them to gain maximum points on Saturday. In the Scottish Premiership, Dundee, who have not won at home, play Hamilton, who have not lost away. Logic points to an away victory but football's a funny old game and I sense an upset is on the cards.
Pools info: Aberdeen v Motherwell (match No 43 on the coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.
Ten draws: Stoke v Swansea, Birmingham v Bolton, Reading v Derby, Chesterfield v Oldham, Peterborough v Barnsley, Scunthorpe v Colchester, Dagenham & Redbridge v Newport, Mansfield v Cambridge, Stevenage v Accrington, Motherwell v Dundee.
Best draws: Birmingham v Bolton, Scunthorpe v Colchester, Dagenham & Redbridge v Newport, Mansfield v Cambridge, Stevenage v Accrington.
Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Bristol City, Doncaster, Swindon, Shrewsbury, Kilmarnock.
Best weekend home bets: Everton, Fulham, Ipswich, Wigan, Notts County, Preston, Rochdale, Plymouth, Hearts, Rangers.
Pick of the draws: I expect the Championship's bottom club, Bolton, to get an immediate lift from the appointment of former Celtic boss Neil Lennon as manager and I'll be surprised if they don't nick something from their visit to Birmingham. Scunthorpe's 3-0 win at Gillingham in League One last Saturday was rather distorted in that Gillingham played with 10 men for most of the match. They surely won't find it so easy against Colchester, who have climbed out of the relegation zone. Dagenham & Redbridge arrested their League Two slump with a fine 2-1 victory at Accrington last weekend. Newport will probably provide stiffer opposition and deadlock is the likeliest result. Cambridge's 5-1 thrashing of Oxford caught the eye last weekend but Mansfield also had a good result when drawing 1-1 at Portsmouth. This looks the best draw on the coupon. Visitors Accrington will be eager to make up for last Saturday's lapse and can do so at Stevenage, who are going the wrong way.
Away days: Premier League leaders Chelsea lost at Crystal Palace last season but I cannot see a repeat of that result at Selhurst Park on Saturday. After seven matches Jose Mourinho's side have dropped only one point and I'm expecting them to maintain their progress. Bristol City, top of League One, have collected more points than any of the other 91 Football League clubs. They look a formidable outfit and should be too strong for Coventry, who have disappointed so far. Doncaster have been better on their travels than on their own patch and they are worth a punt at fast-fading Fleetwood. Nobody is playing better than third-placed Swindon at the moment and they should be backed at Yeovil, who have dropped into the relegation zone. Despite being well placed in League Two, Shrewsbury have yet to win on their travels. I believe they'll break their duck at struggling York. In the Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock are a decent bet to prevail at off-colour St Johnstone.
Homes sweet homes: It's surprising to see Everton so close to the foot of the Premier League. They are better than that and I'm taking them to stop the rot against Aston Villa, who have stumbled after their flying start to the season. Fulham look a different proposition under Kit Symons. The Championship table suggests they have no chance against leaders Norwich but they are capable of collecting maximum points at Craven Cottage. Wigan, promotion contenders last season, have been one of the letdowns of 2014-15. They hover just above the relegation places but in their 2-2 draw at Wolves there were signs they were emerging from their slump. I reckon they'll improve their league position by beating Brentford.
Ten draws: Barnsley v Bradford City, Colchester v Fleetwood, Morecambe v Wycombe, Tranmere v Plymouth, Aldershot v Bristol Rovers, Altrincham v Woking, Barnet v Kidderminster, Dover v Chester FC, Forest Green v Gateshead, East Stirling v Queen's Park.
Best draws: Barnsley v Bradford City, Tranmere v Plymouth, Aldershot v Bristol Rovers, Altrincham v Woking, Barnet v Kidderminster.
Best weekend away bets: Peterborough, Coventry, Yeovil, Hearts, Germany, England.
Best weekend home bets: Gillingham, Sheffield United, Accrington, Carlisle, Exeter, Luton, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Hibernian, East Fife.
Pick of the draws: Bradford City are unbeaten away from home in League One. They should keep that record on Sunday at Barnsley, who have disappointed on their own ground. However, Barnsley gained a creditable away win against Rochdale last Saturday and won't let Bradford have all their own way. Plymouth have made significant strides in League Two recently but they are poor travellers, having already lost four times on the road this season. Tranmere, third from bottom, desperately need points and I think they will pinch one on Saturday. Bristol Rovers have climbed into promotion contention in the Conference and look good for a share of the spoils at mid-table Aldershot. Altrincham's 3-1 victory at FC Halifax last weekend was one of the upsets of the season. That should give them the confidence to hold promotion-seeking Woking. Barnet's midweek defeat at Macclesfield reduced their lead at the top of the table to three points. Don't be surprised if visiting Kidderminster also inconvenience them.
Away days: Peterborough's results in League One have held up well away from home and I'm taking them to gain another three points at Crawley, who are flaky. Although Coventry are without an away win, it is impossible to overlook their chances at rock-bottom Crewe, who have collected only four points this season and keep suffering heavy defeats. Improving Yeovil should be backed at Port Vale, who have slipped into the relegation zone. Hearts have won seven of their eight matches in the Scottish Championship and lead the table by six points. They will surely add lowly Alloa to their list of victims. Germany have had a slight hangover since their World Cup triumph but I expect it will be business as usual in their European Championship qualifier in Poland. England will have been relieved to have won in Switzerland and shouldn't find Estonia half as difficult in their qualifier on Sunday.
Homes sweet homes: League Two strugglers Carlisle are responding well to the management of Keith Curle. I believe they will follow up last Saturday's fine 3-0 win at manager-less Hartlepool with another three points against Stevenage. Promoted Luton moved into the play-off places by deservedly beating Stevenage away last weekend. They seem to be over their recent rough patch and have a fighting chance against fellow promotion contenders Southend. Shrewsbury have dropped just one point at home this season. I'm taking them to improve that record against Cheltenham, whose progress has stalled.
Pools info: The matches at Doncaster (No 6 on coupon), MK Dons (8), Swindon (12), Cowdenbeath (37), Falkirk (38), Stranraer (44), Annan (45), Berwick (46) and Elgin (49) will be decided by the pools panel. Ayr v Dunfermline (41) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.
Ten draws: Hull v Crystal Palace, Tottenham v Southampton, West Ham v Queens Park Rangers, Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Peterborough v Oldham, Scunthorpe v Doncaster, Mansfield v Accrington, Wycombe v Northampton, Dundee v Aberdeen, Partick v Motherwell.
Best draws: Tottenham v Southampton, West Ham v QPR, Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Scunthorpe v Doncaster, Wycombe v Northampton.
Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Swindon, Newport, Portsmouth, Rangers, Hearts.
Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Swansea, Derby, Norwich, Wolves, Notts County, Preston, Plymouth, Stevenage, Hibernian.
Pick of the draws: Southampton, who lie a remarkable second in the Premier League, have not put a foot wrong since losing to Liverpool on the first weekend of the season. They are the team of 2014-15 so far and look set to extend their unbeaten run at Tottenham, who have not yet clicked, probably because their manager doesn't seem to know what his best side is. Queens Park Rangers are without an away point this season and have slipped into the relegation places but they performed creditably against Southampton last Saturday and that should give them encouragement at West Ham. Three consecutive goalless draws have checked Nottingham Forest's progress in the Championship. Ipswich have been playing better than Forest recently and will be disappointed not to get something at the City Ground. Relegated Doncaster have struggled to adapt to League One but a point at Scunthorpe should be within their capabilities. Wycombe host fellow promotion contenders Northampton in League Two and this pairing looks one of the best draws on the coupon.
Away days: Manchester City have dropped too many points in the Premier League this season but I reckon they will be back on track at Aston Villa, who were no match for either Arsenal or Chelsea. Swindon look as if they mean business in League One. A 3-0 away win against Barnsley put them third and I believe they will find further joy on their travels at Leyton Orient, who have been hit by the resignation of manager Russell Slade. Newport have recovered well from a terrible start to the season in League Two and must be fancied at lowly Oxford. Portsmouth will feel a lot better knowing their outstanding debts have been cleared and I believe they will prevail at York, who have yet to win at home. Rangers, second in the Scottish Championship, will be eager to make amends for their shock 3-1 home defeat by Hibernian last Sunday and will surely do so against Livingston. As table-topping Hearts have dropped only one point all season, it is hard to see them faltering against Queen of South.
Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that Plymouth's impressive home record in League Two will serve them well against higher-placed Shrewsbury, who are still waiting for their first away victory. Stevenage's convincing 3-0 home triumph over Mansfield was one of the more eye-catching results of last weekend. They looked as though they had found the winning formula at this level and I'm taking them to collect another three points at the expense of fierce, local rivals Luton, who have also improved recently. Expect a glut of yellow cards. Relegated Hibernian have languished in the Scottish Championship but their fine away win at Rangers last Sunday could well inspire them to another three points against Raith.
Pools info: Kilmarnock v Dundee United (match No 44 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.
