Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Jan 31-Feb 1

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Everton, West Bromwich v Tottenham, Reading v Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley v Port Vale, Chesterfield v Doncaster, Walsall v Gillingham, Accrington v Northampton, Burton v Bury, Newport v Shrewsbury, Motherwell v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Reading v Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley v Port Vale, Walsall v Gillingham, Burton v Bury, Newport v Shrewsbury.

Best weekend away bets: Newcastle, Brighton, Derby, Preston, Mansfield, AFC Wimbledon.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Birmingham, Ipswich, Bradford City, Bristol City, Oldham, Peterborough, Exeter, Hartlepool, Luton.


Pick of the draws: Reading, 18th in the Championship, missed a trick in midweek when they failed to beat a Millwall side reduced to 10 men. They won't find it any easier against Sheffield Wednesday, who are better on their travels than at Hillsborough. Wednesday have lost only twice away from home. Barnsley and Port Vale are coming off the back of poor results in League One last weekend and deadlock is the likeliest outcome. Walsall may have reached the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final but their home form has held them back this season. Gillingham, without a manager after Peter Taylor's departure, have come alive recently to climb clear of the relegation zone and look good for at least a point on Sunday. The home form of League Two promotion challengers Burton is formidable but Bury have rediscovered their mojo with two consecutive victories and can come away with a point. Two successive heavy away defeats have hit Newport's promotion hopes, so they will want to stop the rot against second-placed Shrewsbury, who are vulnerable away.

Away days: Injuries are damaging Hull's chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League and this is a good opportunity for Newcastle to take advantage of their plight. Brighton are responding to new manager Chris Hughton as they move nearer safety in the Championship and are firm favourites to gain maximum points at bottom team Blackpool, who conceded seven goals in the second half at Watford last Saturday. Only goal difference prevents Derby from topping the Championship. Bolstered by the arrival of Darren Bent, I fancy them to prevail at Cardiff, who meekly went out of the FA Cup last weekend. Preston, fourth in League One, have stumbled recently but they should have more than enough to triumph at bottom-of-the-table Crawley. Lowly Mansfield were unlucky not to defeat League Two leaders Wycombe last Saturday. A repeat of that display will probably see them beat Carlisle, who have dropped into the relegation zone. Another team worth a punt are AFC Wimbledon. They visit Morecambe, who are two places above them but are unconvincing at home. 

Homes sweet homes: Birmingham are one of the most improved sides in the Football League. From being relegation candidates, they have risen to 11th in the Championship and they can confirm their improvement by beating Norwich, who are seven points better off. League One Oldham appear to be over their dodgy spell and I'm backing them to defeat Notts County, who don't appear to be over theirs. Hartlepool manager Ronnie Moore said their performance in a 1-1 draw at Tranmere last Saturday was the best in his short time at the club. Hartlepool, who are propping up League Two, entertain Plymouth, who seem to be going backwards and this match gets my vote as the coupon buster of the weekend.


Pools info: Bournemouth v Watford (No 14 on the coupon) and Partick v St Mirren (48) are being played on Friday and are therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Jan 24-25

Ten draws: Northampton v Newport, Oxford v Exeter, Kilmarnock v Partick, Queen of the South  v Hibernian, Airdrieonians v Stranraer, Stenhousemuir v Ayr, Annan v Berwick, Montrose v Albion, Valencia v Sevilla, Inter Milan v Torino.

Best draws: Northampton v Newport, Kilmarnock v Partick, Queen of South v Hibernian, Annan v Berwick, Montrose v Albion.

Best weekend away bets: Bournemouth, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Wycombe, Burton, Arbroath.

Best weekend home bets: Birmingham, Blackburn, Liverpool, Watford, Wolves, Fleetwood, Gillingham, Bury, Tranmere, Dumbarton.


Pick of the draws: Newport's 4-0 defeat at Cambridge last Saturday was out of character for the League Two promotion challengers and normal service should be resumed for their visit to mid-table Northampton. Kilmarnock have not drawn at home in the Scottish Premiership this season but there's a good chance they will break their duck against Partick. Neither team looks convincing. Queen of the South (4th) and Hibernian (3rd) are two in-form sides in the Scottish Championship and, as the table suggests, there is little between them. In Scottish League Two I'm taking Berwick to stay above Annan by forcing a stalemate and Montrose, who gained a creditable point at Berwick last weekend, to deny higher-placed Albion victory.

Away days: Championship leaders Bournemouth came unstuck at Leeds in midweek but they are worthy promotion contenders and well worth a punt to knock Aston Villa out of the FA Cup on Sunday. Villa's lack of goals (only 11 in the Premier League this season) is embarrassing, whereas Bournemouth are prolific scorers (57 in the Championship so far). It will be surprising if Leyton Orient fail to avoid relegation from League One and their match at vulnerable Colchester on Saturday gives them a great opportunity to climb nearer safety. Peterborough's decline into mid-table has been startling but they can recover some lost ground at Notts County, who are unreliable at home. It is hard to find fault with either Wycombe or Burton, who are respectively first and second in League Two. Wycombe's claims cannot be ignored at struggling Mansfield and Burton must be backed at York, who have won only once at home. Arbroath, who lead Scottish League Two, lost at Queen's Park last Saturday but should return to winning ways at Clyde.

Homes sweet homes: West Bromwich Albion are expected to improve under new manager Tony Pulis but they may not survive a trip to fierce rivals Birmingham in this weekend's FA Cup fourth round. Birmingham's improvement under Gary Rowett has been one of the noteworthy aspects of the season and the Championship team will be eager to claim another scalp. Another Premier League side under threat are Swansea, who have to travel to Blackburn. Swansea's confidence was badly dented by that 5-0 home thrashing handed out by Chelsea and they may be feeling worse at the final whistle on Saturday. Three goals in the final 10 minutes gave Gillingham a priceless home win over Coventry last weekend and moved them out of the League One relegation zone. I believe they'll gain another three points at the expense of inconsistent Oldham. Tranmere (22nd) are only two places higher than Hartlepool (24th) but have nine more points. Expect that margin to increase on Saturday evening.


Pools info: Cambridge v Dagenham & Redbridge (No 3 on coupon), Getafe v Celta Vigo (40) and Empoli v Udinese (45) will be decided by the pools panel. St Johnstone v Aberdeen (17) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. There were only five score draws on the coupon last weekend; I forecast three of them - the games at Leeds, Bury and Portsmouth.

Betting info: I scored four out of six with my away selections last week. The winning teams were Liverpool, Bournemouth, Bristol City and Luton.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Jan 17-18

Ten draws: Brighton v Brentford, Leeds v Birmingham, MK Dons v Sheffield United, Notts County v Crewe, Bury v Wycombe, Mansfield v Exeter, Oxford v Southend, Portsmouth v Burton, Dundee United v Inverness, Ross v St Mirren.

Best draws: MK Dons v Sheffield United, Mansfield v Exeter, Oxford v Southend, Portsmouth v Burton, Ross v St Mirren.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Bournemouth, Bristol City, Bradford City, Luton, Morton.

Best weekend home bets: Tottenham, West Ham, Norwich, Watford, Wigan, Wolves, Colchester, Rochdale, Cambridge, Aberdeen.


Pick of the draws: Sheffield United could be distracted by their upcoming League Cup semi-final tie against Tottenham but they are still playing well enough to gain a point at MK Dons, who have lost their past two home games and are experiencing a mini slump. This is a match-up between two of the most attractive sides in League One. Mansfield are slipping dangerously close to the League Two relegation zone but they should get something from the visit of Exeter, who have also gone off the boil. Southend's promotion hopes are being hindered by injuries, which gives 15th-placed Oxford the chance of parity. Portsmouth are much stronger at Fratton Park than on the road and I'm taking them to halt Burton's promotion charge. Ross and St Mirren are locked together at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, same points, same goal difference and six points away from the nearest club, Motherwell. Stalemate is the likeliest outcome.

Away days: Liverpool are in good nick and eager to challenge for a top-four Premier League place. They are strongly fancied to make further progress at Aston Villa, who have managed only 11 league goals this season and are only three points clear of the relegation zone. Liverpool should benefit from the unrest at Villa Park. Championship leaders Bournemouth lost at home to Norwich last Saturday but I believe they'll bounce straight back by winning at Rotherham, who are being dragged into a relegation fight. Despite being toppled from the League One leadership by Swindon, Bristol City are in great form. A 4-0 victory over Notts County and a 2-0 FA Cup win against Doncaster (both at home) sets them up nicely for a trip to Scunthorpe, who went out of the cup after extra time in midweek. Bradford City are doing better on their travels than on their own ground and must be backed at bottom-of-the-table Yeovil. Plymouth, seventh in League Two, have failed to score in their past two matches and may also struggle to do so against Luton, who give little away on their travels and are well worth a punt. Scottish League One promotion challengers Morton are recommended at lowly Ayr.

Homes sweet homes: Wigan's decline has been astonishing. Lying 23rd in the Championship, they are in desperate need of three points. However, they may well get them against Blackburn, whose promotion push seems to be fading. Colchester's surprising 2-0 success at Peterborough last Saturday improved their prospects of avoiding relegation from League One. Colchester host Walsall, who lost 4-1 at home to Scunthorpe last Saturday and could be on the slide. There is a buzz around Cambridge, who have drawn Manchester United at home in the FA Cup fourth round. Consecutive triumphs over Luton (FA Cup) and Carlisle have put them in the mood to dish out similar treatment to League Two promotion contenders Newport.

Pools info: Everton v West Brom (match No 3 on the coupon) is being played on Monday and will be decided by the pools panel. Preston v Leyton Orient (29) will take place on Friday and is therefore void.

Betting info: I scored eight out of 10 with my home selections last weekend. The successful teams were Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester, Birmingham, Brentford, Crewe, Burton and Brechin.



                                                                                    

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Jan 10-11

Ten draws: Burnley v Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace v Tottenham, Manchester United v Southampton, Bolton v Leeds, Cardiff v Fulham, Ipswich v Derby, Reading v Middlesbrough, Oldham v Doncaster, Carlisle v Cambridge, Stevenage v AFC Wimbledon.

Best draws: Burnley v Queens Park Rangers, Manchester United v Southampton, Ipswich v Derby, Reading v Middlesbrough, Oldham v Doncaster.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Liverpool, Watford, Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons, Inverness.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Chelsea, Leicester, Birmingham, Brentford, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Burton, Brechin, Annan.


Pick of the draws: Queens Park Rangers have lost all nine of their Premier League away games this season. That wretched sequence has to end sometime and I believe QPR will salvage a point at Burnley, who are three places lower and two points worse off. Southampton's recent dip in form was only a blip and not the start of a decline. Normal service seems to have been resumed and I fancy them to get a point at Manchester United, who are being hit hard by injuries. Ipswich (2nd) v Derby (3rd) should be one of the best Championship matches of the season. Ipswich's home record is formidable but if any team can put a dent in it it's Derby, who are shrewdly managed by former England boss Steve McClaren. Reading looked more like their old selves when knocking Huddersfield out of the FA Cup last Saturday and can prevent promotion-chasing Middlesbrough from gaining maximum points. Oldham, mid-table in League One, have had a rotten time of it lately but I expect them to halt their slide against Doncaster, who have the same number of points and equal goal difference.

Away days: Manchester City are right back in the Premier League title race and could even find themselves top if they win at Everton on Saturday. I'm banking on the champions collecting all three points against a side whose confidence has disappeared and are only four points off the relegation zone. Liverpool appear to be on the upgrade and are recommended at Sunderland, who are short of firepower and have only one league win at the Stadium of Light. Championship promotion hopefuls Watford show no inferiority complex when playing away and should be too good for Huddersfield, who could easily be sucked into a relegation battle. Sheffield Wednesday's hopes of a lucrative FA Cup third-round replay were dashed by Manchester City's late winning goal at the Etihad last Sunday but their away form has held up well. They must fancy their chances of beating Nottingham Forest, who are slithering down the table. Although MK Dons, fourth in League One, had an indifferent Christmas, that should not deter you from backing them at Crawley, who are favourites for relegation. Inverness are worth a punt at inconsistent Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: There's a good chance Arsenal will have some of their injured players back when they host Stoke on Sunday. They will also be keen to avenge their defeat at Stoke last month and I think they will do just that. Their home form since losing to Manchester United has been exemplary. Bottom club Leicester have not won at home in the Premier League since defeating Manchester United in September. They have a wonderful opportunity of improving that record against a lacklustre and goal-shy Aston Villa. Crewe, third from last in League One, took seven points from nine over Christmas and a predicted win over fellow strugglers Gillingham will probably take them out of the relegation zone. Leyton Orient's poor home record has contributed to their lowly position but I believe they will start to put that right against Fleetwood, whose promotion challenge seems to be fading.

Pools info: Luton v Shrewsbury (No 40 on coupon) is void. Coventry v Swindon (27) and Hamilton v Dundee United (47) will be decided by the pools panel.