Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 28-29

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Everton, Cardiff v Burnley, Queens Park Rangers v Leeds, Blackpool v Fleetwood, Millwall v Bury, Rochdale v Port Vale, Shrewsbury v Gillingham, Southend v Wigan, Barnet v Mansfield, Wycombe v Portsmouth.

Best draws: Cardiff v Burnley, Millwall v Bury, Shrewsbury v Gillingham, Barnet v Mansfield, Wycombe v Portsmouth.

Best weekend away bets: Watford, Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Accrington, Cheltenham.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Blackburn, Fulham, Wolves, Burton, Coventry, Carlisle, Stevenage, Queen's Park.


Pick of the draws: Relegated Burnley are looking good for an instant return to the Premier League and will be confident of at least a point at Cardiff. Millwall and Bury suffered surprising midweek defeats in League One but both are genuine promotion contenders. Bury have been more effective away and they can force a draw at The Den. Shrewsbury's 4-2 midweek away win at Sheffield United was as unexpected as it was praiseworthy. A repeat of that form will enable them to share the spoils with second-placed Gillingham. Mansfield's defence has been mostly responsible for their rise in League Two but their trip to Barnet will probably be harder than it looks. Promotion-seeking Portsmouth have been at their best on the road in League Two but they will have their work cut out at Wycombe, who also have their sights set on going up.

Away days: Watford have two away victories to their credit in the Premier League this season and will fancy making it three at bottom club Aston Villa, who are without a win at home and in a desperate state. Nothing went right for title challengers Arsenal, beaten at West Bromwich Albion last Saturday. It was one of those freakish days which is unlikely to repeat itself at lowly Norwich on Sunday. Middlesbrough's stingy defence - only 12 goals conceded in 17 matches - should serve them well at Huddersfield in the Championship. Oxford's chief gains in League Two have come away from home and I expect them to enhance their promotion challenge by defeating Hartlepool. High-flying Accrington will be disappointed not to get maximum points at York, who crashed 6-0 to Portsmouth in midweek. National League leaders Cheltenham have lost only two of 22 league games this season. I can't see them slipping up at Aldershot.

Homes sweet homes: The appointment of Paul Lambert as manager spurred Blackburn to a 2-1 success at Preston in the Championship last Saturday. I believe they will win again this weekend, this time at the expense of League Cup quarter-finalists Sheffield Wednesday. Stevenage, fresh from their first away triumph of the season at Bristol Rovers, look capable of climbing the League Two table and I'm taking them to beat ailing Morecambe. I'm going for an upset in the third round of the Scottish Cup and having a punt on Queen's Park, from League Two, to knock out Forfar, from League One.


Pools info: I correctly forecast six draws last weekend. The six were Swansea v Bournemouth, MK Dons v Fulham, Walsall v Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe, Carlisle v Portsmouth and Stevenage v Luton. I also scored three out of five with my best draws: the games at MK Dons, Carlisle and Stevenage.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 21-22

Ten draws: Newcastle v Leicester, Swansea v Bournemouth, MK Dons v Fulham, Port Vale v Chesterfield, Walsall v Sheffield United, AFC Wimbledon v Wycombe, Carlisle v Portsmouth, Stevenage v Luton, Aldershot v Wrexham, Eastleigh v Grimsby.

Best draws: MK Dons v Fulham, Carlisle v Portsmouth, Stevenage v Luton, Aldershot v Wrexham, Eastleigh v Grimsby.

Best weekend away bets: Arsenal, Peterborough, Swindon, Bradford City, St Johnstone, Falkirk.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Everton, Birmingham, Burnley, Leeds, Millwall, Wigan, Barnet, Newport, Braintree.


Pick of the draws: MK Dons, who are just above the relegation zone in the Championship and clearly out of sorts, are tipped to gain a valuable point against mid-table Fulham, who sacked their manager Kit Symons after a 5-2 home defeat by Birmingham. A lack of goals has seen Portsmouth drop out of the automatic promotion places in League Two. They won't find it easy to regain their scoring touch at Carlisle, who have recovered well from their early-season troubles. Although Stevenage are at the wrong end of the table, you can't fault their spirit. This should serve them well when they clash with  fierce rivals Luton at the Lamex Stadium. Wrexham must improve their away form if they are to gain promotion from the National League. They ought to get something from their visit to Aldershot, who are up one minute and down the next. Eastleigh and Grimsby fill two of the four play-off places and as both are playing really well it is difficult to separate them.

Away days: Arsenal's away record is the best in the Premier League and with their injury problems clearing up, it is hard to see them faltering at West Bromwich Albion, who have struggled on their own ground. Peterborough have surged into promotion contention in League One and are an obvious choice at bottom club Crewe, who have failed to score in four of their past five matches. Lowly Swindon will be boosted by the appointment of Martin Ling as manager and are worth a punt at Fleetwood, who have dropped below them. Phil Parkinson's Bradford City are on a roll and could climb into the play-off places by beating Scunthorpe. St Johnstone are one of the better sides in the Scottish Premiership and must be backed at Dundee United, who have collected only eight points all season. Falkirk, an outside bet for promotion to the top flight, should strengthen their claims with victory at Queen of the South.

Homes sweet homes: The international break has probably helped out-of-sorts Chelsea and I believe they will kick-start their Premier League recovery by beating promoted Norwich at Stamford Bridge. Promotion-seeking Burnley are formidable at Turf Moor and I'm taking them to end Brighton's magnificent unbeaten run of 16 games in the Championship. Barnet's home record stands up in League Two, so don't be surprised if they add Morecambe to their list of victims. The visitors are  reeling from their midweek home FA Cup exit by bottom club Dagenham & Redbridge.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 14-15

Ten draws: Blackpool v Doncaster, Gillingham v Bury, Rochdale v Wigan, Exeter v Crawley, Luton v Barnet, Barrow v Torquay, Forest Green v Dover, Woking v Macclesfield, Morton v Queen of the South, Airdrieonians v Dunfermline.

Best draws: Blackpool v Doncaster, Gillingham v Bury, Exeter v Crawley, Luton v Barnet, Woking v Macclesfield.

Best weekend away bets: Scunthorpe, Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Eastleigh, Tranmere, Cheltenham.

Best weekend home bets: Barnsley, Chesterfield, Peterborough, Accrington, Oxford, Boreham Wood, Bromley, Grimsby, Falkirk, Ayr.


Pick of the draws: League One strugglers Blackpool will be disheartened by their FA Cup first-round exit at Barnet last Saturday and it is doubtful whether they will gain more than a point from the visit of Darren Ferguson's Doncaster. Bury's away record, as well as their form, is impressive and I believe they will hold Gillingham, who suffered a surprising away defeat by League Two Stevenage in the FA Cup last weekend. Crawley have pulled clear of the League Two relegation zone on the back of some good away results. They can add to that at Exeter, who are up and down like a yo-yo. Barnet are one of the in-form sides in the division and will not fear a trip to Luton, who have regularly flopped at home. Woking's promotion challenge in the National League is fast fading, whereas Macclesfield, their visitors, appear to be on the upgrade.

Away days: Scunthorpe are probably the most improved team in League One and are favourites to inflict another defeat on lowly Swindon. Leyton Orient scored six against non-League Staines in the FA Cup last weekend and will be confident of hitting the target again on Sunday at Hartlepool, who have struggled since the opening weeks of the season. Stevenage are yet to win away but they could put that right against second from bottom Yeovil. Eastleigh, gunning for promotion from the National League and conquerors of League One Crewe in the FA Cup last Saturday, will fancy their chances of another victory at mid-table Guiseley. Tranmere's away form is keeping them in the promotion hunt and they are worth backing at Lincoln. Free-scoring Cheltenham are the new National League leaders and will surely prevail at relegation-threatened Southport.

Homes sweet homes: League One toilers Barnsley ended a long losing run with a midweek victory in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. I've a hunch they will win again on Saturday at the expense of an inconsistent Port Vale. Oldham, 19th in League One, have remarkably not lost away this season but Chesterfield, their hosts on Saturday, are in the mood and form to spoil that record. Boreham Wood, who are just above the National League relegation zone, gained an unexpected midweek success at promotion-challenging Bromley, so don't be surprised if they collect another three points against Chester FC.


Pools info: Burton v Millwall (No 4 on coupon), Shrewsbury v Walsall (11), Morecambe v Dagenham & Redbridge (18), Wycombe v Notts County (23), Hibernian v Livingston (38), Raith v St Mirren (40), Rangers v Dumbarton (41) and Peterhead v Stranraer (45) will be adjudicated by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 7-8

Ten draws: Norwich v Swansea, West Ham v Everton, Cardiff v Reading, Huddersfield v Leeds, Hull v Middlesbrough, Aberdeen v Dundee United, Stranraer v Stenhousemuir, Arbroath v East Fife, Berwick v Stirling, Celta Vigo v Valencia.

Best draws: Norwich v Swansea, West Ham v Everton, Hull v Middlesbrough, Stranraer v Stenhousemuir, Berwick v Stirling.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Southampton, Ipswich, Hibernian, Forest Green, Cheltenham.

Best weekend home bets: Liverpool, Manchester United, Brighton, Fulham, Mansfield, Dundee, Hearts, Albion, Dunfermline, Clyde.


Pick of the draws: Norwich are sliding towards the Premier League relegation zone but they came agonisingly close to a point at Manchester City last Saturday. They should be encouraged by that and I can see them holding Swansea, who are also on a downward spiral. Despite their sixth placing, West Ham's home form is only average while Everton, their visitors on Saturday, have lost only once away. This looks one of the best scoring draws on the 49-game coupon. Hull are the new Championship leaders, conceding just eight goals so far this season and with two consecutive away victories behind them. They host fellow promotion contenders Middlesbrough, whose defensive record is almost as good (nine conceded). A draw is the likeliest outcome here and don't be surprised if it is goalless. Stranraer, fighting relegation from Scottish League One, won't be overly optimistic about their match against Stenhousemuir, who last Saturday fought back from three goals down against Peterhead to win 4-3. Berwick are having only a moderate season in Scottish League Two, so Stirling will be hopeful of at least a point from this fixture.

Away days: Manchester City, at Aston Villa on Sunday, looks an away banker to end all away bankers. Premier League leaders City are justifiably title favourites and also had a good result in Europe in midweek. In stark contrast, Villa are bottom and without a home win this season. What a daunting introduction to English football for their new manager Remi Garde. Southampton are hitting their stride after early-season difficulties and are recommended at lowly Sunderland, who lapsed into their bad old ways when losing 6-2 at Everton last Sunday. Ipswich ended their slump in form in midweek and must be fancied to prevail at Rotherham, who are bottom of the Championship. Hibernian, second in the Scottish Championship, inflicted Rangers' first league defeat of the season last weekend and appear too strong for St Mirren. I'm taking non-League sides Forest Green and Cheltenham to provide two of the upsets in the FA Cup first round. Forest Green, the National League leaders, have a fighting chance at AFC Wimbledon and second-placed Cheltenham won't fear a trip to off-form Hartlepool.

Homes sweet homes: Mid-table Fulham have shown much more enterprise in the Championship recently, including four goals against Reading and Bristol City respectively. I believe they will beat the better placed Birmingham, who are experiencing a rough patch. Mansfield are exceeding expectations in League Two and deserve to be among the promotion contenders. They host Oldham, struggling in League One, in the FA Cup first round and have a good chance of knocking them out. A midweek Scottish Cup second-round exit at the hands of non-League Lothian Thistle won't have done much for the confidence of Montrose, so my money's on Clyde in Saturday's League two fixture.

Pools info: Las Palmas v Real Sociedad (No 47 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.