Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Oct 25-26

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.