Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 1-2

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.