Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Oct 31-Nov 1

Ten draws: Chelsea v Liverpool, West Bromwich v Leicester, Ipswich v Cardiff, Coventry v Peterborough, Doncaster v Colchester, Fleetwood v Chesterfield, Southend v Rochdale, Newport v Northampton, Hamilton v St Johnstone, Kilmarnock v Motherwell.

Best draws: Chelsea v Liverpool, West Bromwich v Leicester, Coventry v Peterborough, Fleetwood v Chesterfield, Newport v Northampton.

Best weekend away bets: Hull, Sheffield United, Burton, Oxford, Ross, Hearts.

Best weekend home bets: Newcastle, Southampton, Derby, Middlesbrough, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Wigan, Barnet, Falkirk.


Pick of the draws: Jurgen Klopp began his managerial stint at Liverpool with three draws. Don't be surprised if his team draw again at Chelsea, who are lurching from one setback to another. West Bromwich Albion have climbed into the top half of the Premier League on the back of two good results and won't be intimidated by the visit of Leicester, whose midweek League Cup tie against Hull went to extra time. Although Coventry are one of the favourites for promotion from League One, they face tricky opponents in Peterborough, who have regained their scoring touch under Graham Westley. Fleetwood moved out of the relegation zone, courtesy of a 1-0 victory at Barnsley last Saturday, but they play a Chesterfield team who are better away than at home. League Two strugglers Newport are revitalised after two fine away wins. They host Northampton, who are among the promotion contenders, and there's a good chance that the points will be shared.

Away days: Hull, second in the Championship and in the last eight of the League Cup, must be fancied at MK Dons, who have disappointed this season. League One promotion hopefuls Sheffield United look an away banker at injury-ravaged Crewe, who are rock bottom and cannot buy a result at home. Promotion-seeking Burton returned to form last weekend by beating Port Vale 2-0 at home. I believe they will gain their fifth away win of the season at Oldham, who have only two victories to their credit. High-flying Oxford were surprisingly beaten at home by Barnet last Saturday but their away form is good and I think they'll have too much for lowly Stevenage. In the Scottish Premiership, I'm going for Ross to inflict more pain on bottom club Dundee United and Hearts to prevail at second-from-bottom Partick.

Homes sweet homes: Newcastle had much the better of their derby with Sunderland before Coloccini's sending-off just before half-time last Sunday. Following their 6-2 thrashing of Norwich the previous week, there are signs that Steve McClaren's team are on the upgrade and they are worth a punt to beat inconsistent Stoke. Despite losing 4-2 at Fulham last Saturday, seventh-placed Reading are equipped to end Brighton's long unbeaten run in the Championship. Leaders Brighton are the only side in the top four divisions not to have lost this season but Reading can put a stop to that. Barnet's fortunes have picked up in League Two and I'm taking them to make it three wins in a row at the expense of Exeter, who have five points more.

Pools info: Brentford v Queens Park Rangers (No 10 on coupon), Leeds v Blackburn (15) and Cambridge v Bristol Rovers (35) are all void as the matches are being played before Saturday.                                  

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

Ten draws: Manchester United v Manchester City, Hull v Birmingham, Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Barnsley v Fleetwood, Blackpool v Crewe, Shrewsbury v Bury, Exeter v Notts County, Morecambe v Leyton Orient, York v AFC Wimbledon, Hearts v Ross.

Best draws: Manchester United v Manchester City, Hull v Birmingham, Exeter v Notts County, Morecambe v Leyton Orient, Hearts v Ross.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Derby, Wigan, Walsall, Coventry, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Norwich, Brighton, Gillingham, Peterborough, Accrington, Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Brora.


Pick of the draws: I'm taking the coward's way out in the Manchester derby. Manchester United did exceptionally well to win 3-0 at Everton last Saturday while Premier League leaders Manchester City have defeated Bournemouth (5-1) and Sevilla (2-1) at home in the past week. I believe the sides will cancel each other out and City will draw for the first time in 30 matches. Hull and Birmingham, who meet on Saturday, are in fine form in the Championship where they are challenging for promotion. It is difficult to separate them. League Two Notts County won convincingly at Stevenage on the opening day of the season but have done little of note since. But don't rule them out of getting something at Exeter, who are increasingly erratic. Goals are never in short supply at Morecambe and I can see a few being scored when they play Leyton Orient, who are also attack-minded. This is one for the short list if you fancy a high-scoring draw. Ross have defeated some good teams in the Scottish Premiership this season, including one-time leaders Aberdeen last Friday, and are well equipped to deny Hearts victory.

Away days: Tottenham, unbeaten in the Premier League since the first day of the season, should be too strong for promoted Bournemouth, who are having wretched luck with injuries. In the Championship, Derby, who are unbeaten on the road and improving by the week, are worth a punt at Huddersfield. Wigan are steadily climbing League One and could further boost their promotion prospects by winning at Bradford City. Second-placed Walsall recovered from their surprise home defeat by Chesterfield with a midweek victory at Barnsley. You have to fancy their chances at Colchester. Coventry's hopes of promotion have been strengthened by the arrival of former England midfielder Joe Cole. They are expected to register their fourth away success of the season at Swindon, who have dropped into the relegation zone. In the Scottish Championship, I'm taking second-placed Hibernian to end the 100% home record of third-placed Raith.

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa are second last in the Premier League and in desperate need of their first home win of the season. I believe they will achieve it on Saturday at the expense of Swansea, who are badly off form. As long as Norwich have recovered from the shock of losing 6-2 at Newcastle last Sunday, I think they will have enough to see off West Bromwich Albion, who are finding goals hard to come by. There are some intriguing ties in the second round of the Scottish Cup at the weekend and a few League Two teams are in danger of an early exit. One of them is struggling Arbroath, who travel to Highland League high-flyers Brora, who just missed promotion to the Scottish League last season. Brora can follow up their 6-0 romp against Forres Mechanics last Saturday by knocking out Arbroath.

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

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v West Ham, West Bromwich v Sunderland, Birmingham v Queens Park Rangers, Port Vale v Peterborough, Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury, AFC Wimbledon v Morecambe, Cambridge v Northampton, Notts County v Yeovil, Aldershot v Bromley, Barrow v Welling.

Best draws: West Bromwich v Sunderland, Port Vale v Peterborough, Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury, Cambridge v Northampton, Aldershot v Bromley.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Arsenal, Rotherham, Cardiff, Burton, Portsmouth.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Southampton, Burnley, Ipswich, Reading, Coventry, Walsall, Wigan, Dagenham & Redbridge, Leyton Orient.


Pick of the draws: I suspect Premier League strugglers Sunderland will be less easy to beat now that Sam Allardyce has been appointed manager. Sunderland's hosts on Saturday, West Bromwich Albion, are averaging under a goal a game - one of the reasons why they are hovering just above the relegation zone. I'll be surprised if this match doesn't finish in a low-scoring stalemate. The appointment of Graham Westley as manager has perked up Peterborough, who are climbing towards the League One play-off places. They are certainly playing well enough to share the spoils at Port Vale. Shrewsbury fought back from 2-0 down to beat Colchester 4-2 at home last Saturday and I believe they will come away from Scunthorpe with a point. Although Cambridge lost 3-1 at home to League Two promotion favourites Portsmouth last weekend, they were leading until defender Mark Roberts was sent off at half-time. They should be encouraged by that, and I'm taking them to check Northampton's charge up the table. Promoted Bromley are taking the National League by storm but they probably won't have things all their own way at Aldershot, who are making steady progress.

Away days: The appointment of the former Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager has provoked much debate this week. I've a hunch that he will start his career at Anfield with victory at Tottenham, although Spurs have yet to lose at White Hart Lane in the Premier League this season. Arsenal, with three away wins to their credit already and lying second, are a more confident selection at Watford, who have scored only once at Vicarage Road this season. Rotherham, 21st in the Championship, are in better form than Brentford, the side immediately above them. They clash on Saturday and I think Rotherham will emerge triumphant. Manager Russell Slade has done a fine job at Cardiff and they must be fancied to prevail at relegation-troubled Preston. I expect League One promotion challengers Burton to recover quickly from their loss at Walsall by beating ailing Fleetwood while League Two high-flyers Portsmouth look set to gain maximum points at bottom club Newport.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton are really hitting their stride after a dodgy start to their Premier League season. Their 3-1 victory at Chelsea two weeks ago showed what they are capable of and they are well worth a punt against Leicester, who are nevertheless unbeaten on their travels. Dagenham & Redbridge are without a home win this season, which partly explains their second from bottom placing in League Two. However, I believe they will break their duck against Hartlepool, whose early promise had faded. Although Leyton Orient unexpectedly lost at Crawley last weekend, they were down to 10 men for most of the match. The O's are genuine promotion contenders and I'm taking them to return to winning ways when they host third-placed Oxford.

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

Ten draws: Finland v Northern Ireland, Bury v Wigan, Oldham v Scunthorpe, Shrewsbury v Colchester, Swindon v Peterborough, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Notts County v Plymouth, Boreham Wood v Welling, Braintree v Grimsby, Gateshead v Cheltenham.

Best draws: Shrewsbury v Colchester, Swindon v Peterborough, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Notts County v Plymouth, Gateshead v Cheltenham.

Best weekend away bets: Gillingham, Coventry, Portsmouth, Leyton Orient, Lincoln, Dunfermline.

Best weekend home bets: Israel, Norway, Millwall, Southend, Walsall, Barnet, Mansfield, Northampton, Forest Green, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: Colchester have pulled well clear of the League One relegation zone and will be disappointed not to get something from their visit to Shrewsbury, who have lost four of their five home games. Swindon are dropping down the table and may be pushed to gain more than a point from their match with Peterborough, who scored five against Millwall last weekend and have a new manager in former Stevenage boss Graham Westley. Wycombe's rise to second place in League Two is due mainly to their fine away form. They are unbeaten on their travels and I expect them to remain unbeaten at mid-table Bristol Rovers. Plymouth top the table but they won't find it easy at Notts County, who are a match for anybody on their day. Cheltenham, fresh from their 7-1 rout of lowly FC Halifax in the National League last Saturday, have a more difficult task this week when they travel to promotion-seeking Gateshead.

Away days: League One promotion contenders Gillingham have faltered recently but I believe they will return to winning ways at Chesterfield, who have been struggling at home. Coventry are also in the promotion mix and will probably be too strong for Fleetwood, who have sunk to second from bottom. Portsmouth won 6-2 at Cambridge in League Two last season. Although I can't see them repeating that remarkable scoreline on Saturday, I think they'll have enough to take maximum points again. Leyton Orient's 3-1 home victory over Notts County last weekend enabled them to climb back into the automatic promotion places and they must be fancied to win at Crawley, who are languishing at the other end of the table. Improving Lincoln are worth a punt at Chester FC in the National League and I've a hunch that Scottish League One Dunfermline will upset their Championship opponents St Mirren in the Petrofac Training Cup quarter-finals.

Homes sweet homes: Southend are on a roll in League One and will be confident of extending their winning run against Port Vale. Walsall host Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Burton in a top-of-the-table clash and I think home advantage will be the decisive factor here. Barnet's troubles in League Two are down to their rotten away record. They have failed to collect a point from six away matches. It's a different story at home, however, where they have triumphed on three occasions. It wouldn't surprise me to see them come out on top against on-form Accrington.


Pools info: Bradford City v Blackpool (No 15 on the coupon) will be adjudicated by the pools panel.