Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Oct 4-5

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.