Pools forecast & best bets for Dec 28-29 & Dec 31-Jan 2

                                 December 28-29

Ten draws: QPR v Crystal Palace, Tottenham v Manchester United, West Ham v Arsenal, Cardiff v Watford, Reading v Norwich, Bradford City v Notts County, Coventry v Chesterfield, Stevenage v Cambridge, Inverness v Aberdeen, St Johnstone v Dundee United.

Best draws: Tottenham v Manchester United, Cardiff v Watford, Coventry v Chesterfield, Stevenage v Cambridge, Inverness v Aberdeen.

Best away bets: Leicester, Rotherham, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bristol City, Wycombe.

Best home bets: Stoke, Blackburn, MK Dons, Sheffield United, Swindon, Accrington, Plymouth, Southend, Tranmere, Dundee.


Pick of the draws: Manchester United, in terrific form of late, have a wonderful record at Tottenham but they may have their work cut out this time as Spurs are also on a winning streak. Victories over Wigan and Reading have moved Watford back into the Championship play-off positions and they should have enough about them to hold Russell Slade's Cardiff. League One Coventry have not done as well as expected on their return to the Ricoh Arena and they might struggle to overcome Chesterfield, who won well at Gillingham last weekend. Stevenage and Cambridge are next to each other in League Two's mid-table and I wouldn't like to separate them. Although Inverness Caledonian Thistle are faltering in the Scottish Premiership, they have lost only once at home and can stop the progress of third-placed Aberdeen, who have yet to draw away this season.

Away days: Leicester, the Premier League's bottom club, are worth a punt at Hull, who are in free-fall and just one place above them. Rotherham moved three points nearer safety in the Championship by winning at Wigan last weekend and another away success looks on the cards at Blackpool, who seem doomed to relegation and were trounced 6-1 at home by Bournemouth last Saturday. Neil Lennon's Bolton are becoming more confident by the week and can prevail at Huddersfield, who appear to have slipped back into their bad old ways. Championship leaders Bournemouth have already scored 50 goals this season and I can see them adding to that total at relegation-threatened Millwall. League One leaders Bristol City suffered a shock reverse at Crewe last Saturday but I believe they'll recover at Gillingham. If any team can inflict Shrewsbury's first home defeat this season it's League Two leaders Wycombe, who have already won seven times on the road. 

Homes sweet homes: Blackburn are tough nuts to crack at Ewood Park and I'm taking them to damage Middlesbrough's promotion prospects in the Championship. Boro were desperately disappointing when losing 2-0 at Ipswich last weekend. Mid-table Accrington held Wycombe last Saturday, so don't be surprised if they go one better against League Two promotion contenders Burton. Remember Accrington gave League One Yeovil a good run for their money before going out of the FA Cup. Tranmere (23rd) are lower than their visitors Northampton (19th) but are in better form and I'm confident they can gain maximum points.

          
                              December 31-Jan 2


Ten draws: Southampton v Arsenal, St Mirren v Kilmarnock, Alfreton v Lincoln, Grimsby v Macclesfield, Welling v Dover, Barrow v Fylde, Colwyn Bay v Stockport, Tamworth v Solihull Moors, Ebbsfleet v Chelmsford, Sutton Utd v Wealdstone.

Best draws: Southampton v Arsenal, Alfreton v Lincoln, Grimsby v Macclesfield, Welling v Dover, Ebbsfleet v Chelmsford.

Best away bets: Swansea, Manchester United, Celtic, Inverness, Chester, Dartford.

Best home bets: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, Aberdeen, Hamilton, Barnet, Bristol Rovers, FC Halifax, AFC Telford, Woking.