Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 22-23

Ten draws: Everton v Manchester City, Bolton v Nottingham Forest, Leeds v Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe v Bury, Oldham v Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe v Millwall, Walsall v Coventry, Bristol Rovers v Barnet, Stevenage v Hartlepool, Yeovil v Luton.

Best draws: Everton v Manchester City, Bolton v Nottingham Forest, Walsall v Coventry, Bristol Rovers v Barnet, Yeovil v Luton.

Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Chelsea, MK Dons, Swindon, Oxford, Leyton Orient.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Burnley, Barnsley, Fleetwood, Sheffield United, Cambridge, Exeter, Wycombe, Stirling.


Pick of the draws: Manchester City have started the season like an express train thanks to a couple of 3-0 victories but Everton's fine 3-0 win at Southampton last Saturday suggests that the visitors won't have things all their own way at Goodison Park on Sunday. I believe Everton will halt City's early Premier League charge. Championship team Bolton are without a goal in their first three league matches. Nottingham Forest, their visitors on Saturday, don't give much away and my money is on a dour draw. Coventry, top of League One with maximum points from their opening three matches, face tricky opponents in Walsall, who have just achieved two consecutive away wins. This looks one of the best score draws on the coupon. The two promoted sides in League Two, Bristol Rovers and Barnet, play each other on Saturday. Both did well in midweek and it's hard to separate them. Luton seem to be suffering from a hangover from last season and I'm taking hosts Yeovil to gain their first point of the season.

Away days: Swansea, who are establishing themselves as a top-of-the-table Premier League side, must be backed at bottom club Sunderland, who are in complete disarray. All is not well at Chelsea but they have an excellent chance to get their season back on track at West Bromwich Albion, who look out of sorts and have yet to score this campaign. Promoted MK Dons are adjusting well to the Championship and are fancied to prevail at Reading, who have yet to spark. Despite losing some players in the summer, Swindon will probably be among the front-runners in League One and I expect them to beat promoted Southend. Oxford are showing signs of getting into their stride in League Two and are worth a wager at Mansfield. Leaders Leyton Orient are one of only two clubs with maximum points in this division and they can keep up the good work at Newport.

Homes sweet homes: I suspect that Crystal Palace will have an even better season than last in the Premier League and should be too strong for Aston Villa, who are much changed from last season and will probably take time to click. Burnley have hardly set the world alight on their return to the Championship but I'll be surprised if they don't defeat Brentford, who could struggle after dispensing with the services of manager Mark Warburton. In Scottish League Two, relegated Stirling are long overdue a change of luck and it may come when they entertain Berwick.


Pools info: Arsenal v Liverpool (No 1 on coupon) is being played on Monday and will be decided by the pools panel. Birmingham v Derby (11) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Five of my draw selections were correct last weekend - the matches at Tottenham, Bury, Port Vale, Carlisle and Newport.

Betting info: I scored five out of six with last week's away tips. Arsenal, Rochdale, Leyton Orient, Hartlepool and Hearts obliged.