Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 2-3

Ten draws: Everton v Tottenham, Birmingham v Brentford, Burnley v Ipswich, Middlesbrough v Derby, Barnsley v Millwall, Chesterfield v Shrewsbury, Southend v Doncaster, Carlisle v Plymouth, Yeovil v York, Dundee v Dundee United.

Best draws: Everton v Tottenham, Birmingham v Brentford, Burnley v Ipswich, Barnsley v Millwall, Dundee v Dundee United.

Best weekend away bets: Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Dagenham & Redbridge, Ross, Hearts.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Norwich, Leeds, Preston, Sheffield United, Walsall, Mansfield, Portsmouth, Wycombe, Morton.


Pick of the draws: Tottenham, beaten only once away in the Premier League this season and lying third, cannot be ruled out of the title race. They visit free-scoring Everton, who are mid-table but have been playing better than their results suggest. This looks one of the best scoring draws on the coupon. Birmingham ended a run of poor home form in the Championship with a narrow win against MK Dons last Monday. They'll probably find Brentford a more difficult proposition. The Bees are thriving under new manager Dean Smith and their latest victory was away at Reading. Nobody in the division has recorded more away wins than Ipswich's seven. That should serve them well at Burnley, who returned to form with a 4-0 trouncing of Bristol City last Monday. Millwall's 4-0 away success at Southend in League One was one of the surprises of the holiday period but Barnsley, their hosts on Saturday, are fighting hard to avoid relegation and could hold them. Although Dundee United are rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership, local pride should come into play when they face Dundee on Saturday and I won't be surprised if they take a point.

Away days: Consecutive Premier League wins over Manchester United (home) and Everton (away), the latter in a high-scoring thriller, will have put Stoke in great heart and they are capable of making it a holiday hat-trick at West Bromwich Albion. Nottingham Forest gained a creditable Championship point at Cardiff in midweek and I believe they'll go one better at Charlton, who find themselves in the bottom three. League One promotion contenders Coventry must be fancied at Crewe, who have averaged only a goal a game and whose home form is wretched. League Two strugglers Dagenham & Redbridge, fresh from their fine 3-1 triumph at Stevenage, are worth a punt at ailing Exeter. In the Scottish Premiership, Ross seem to have the edge on Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hearts look too strong for lowly Kilmarnock.

Homes sweet homes: Norwich, 2-0 winners over Aston Villa, are fighting hard to avoid the Premier League relegation zone and could upset Southampton, whose only success in the past month came on Boxing Day against Arsenal. Sheffield United moved closer to the League One play-off positions by defeating Bradford City 3-1 last Monday and I think they'll follow that up by overcoming  Peterborough, unexpected 2-0 losers at Blackpool. A lack of recent action in League Two (two postponed matches) has probably left promotion-seeking Accrington a bit rusty. That's why I'm backing Mansfield to beat them.

Pools info:  Brighton v Wolves (No 13 on coupon) and Queens Park Rangers v Hull (21) are being played on Friday and are therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for December 28-31

Ten draws: Everton v Stoke, Watford v Tottenham, Charlton v Wolves, Leeds v Derby, Barnsley v Blackpool, Scunthorpe v Rochdale, Sheffield United v Bradford City, Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient, Northampton v Accrington, Notts County v Morecambe.

Best draws: Watford v Tottenham, Charlton v Wolves, Leeds v Derby, Barnsley v Blackpool, Sheffield United v Bradford City.

Best away bets for Dec 28-31: Liverpool, Coventry, Wigan, Doncaster, Plymouth, Inverness.

Best home bets for Dec 28-31: Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Bolton, Burnley, Preston, Crewe, Gillingham, Mansfield, Stevenage, Wycombe.


Pick of the draws: Watford have been the most successful of the three clubs promoted to the Premier League and their 3-0 home victory over Liverpool last Sunday showed that they are not to be taken lightly. They face Tottenham, who returned to winning ways at Southampton last Saturday after an unexpected lapse at home to Newcastle. Although Spurs have lost only twice in the league this season, they will be given a thorough test at Vicarage Road. Wolves have slipped up so often in the Championship recently that they cannot be sure of prevailing at Charlton, who find themselves in the relegation zone. There are signs that Leeds are finally getting into their stride, which is probably just as well as they are facing promotion favourites Derby, who won 1-0 at Ipswich last weekend. Put your money on a scoring draw. Blackpool's 2-0 home win over in-form Peterborough last weekend confirmed their marked improvement and they should get something from their visit to League One strugglers Barnsley. Sheffield United and Bradford City hover just outside the play-off places and it is hard to separate them.

Away days: Liverpool have had mixed results under new manager Jurgen Klopp but they will be disappointed not to come away from Sunderland with three points as Sam Allardyce's team face an uphill fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League. League One promotion hopefuls Coventry will fancy their chances at Chesterfield, who have lost seven home games this season, and high-flying Wigan will be just as confident at Fleetwood. Manager Darren Ferguson has given Doncaster a new lease of life and they can continue climbing the League One table with a win at relegation-haunted Oldham. Plymouth regained top spot in League Two by beating Hartlepool 2-1 away. That was their seventh victory on the road this season and they should make it eight at Newport.  Inverness Caledonian Thistle are worth a punt at Hamilton, who have fallen out of the top half of the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that Bolton, the Championship's bottom club, will give their fans some Christmas cheer by defeating Lancashire rivals Blackburn. Bolton showed plenty of fighting spirit in a 2-2 draw against Fulham last Saturday and need to repeat that. Ten-man Preston were desperately unlucky to lose at Leeds last Sunday and they could upset promotion-seeking Hull, who may suffer an adverse reaction from their surprise 2-0 loss at lowly Rotherham. Crewe have had few successes on their own ground this season but I believe they will start to put that right against Shrewsbury, who are just above the League One relegation zone.

Pools tips and best bets for Dec 19-20 and 26-27

                                        December 19-20

Ten draws: Southampton v Tottenham, West Bromwich Albion v Bournemouth, Leeds v Preston, Nottingham Forest v MK Dons, Barnsley v Wigan, Millwall v Gillingham, Hartlepool v Plymouth, Northampton v Portsmouth, Gateshead v Woking, FC Halifax v Tranmere.

Best draws: West Brom v Bournemouth, Leeds v Preston, Barnsley v Wigan, Northampton v Portsmouth, FC Halifax v Tranmere.

Best away bets: Queens Park Rangers, Hull, Bradford City, Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Aberdeen.

Best home bets: Everton, Brentford, Burnley, Burton, Coventry, Rochdale, Cambridge, Leyton Orient, Newport, Hibernian.


Pick of the draws: Consecutive wins over Chelsea and Manchester United have lifted Bournemouth out of the Premier League relegation zone but their hosts, West Bromwich Albion, have also had some good results recently, beating Arsenal and drawing at Liverpool. Preston's recovery in the Championship has been built around a sound defence. They have conceded less than a goal a game, so are well equipped to gain a point at Leeds, who have struggled at home. Barnsley hauled themselves off the foot of League One with a 3-2 victory at Colchester last Saturday but they face a tougher test against Wigan, who are among the promotion candidates. Full credit to Northampton for surging to the top of League Two despite their financial troubles. However, their progress may be halted by Portsmouth, who have lost only twice in the league this season and are just three points off the automatic promotion positions. FC Halifax, battling to escape relegation from the National League, could get something from the visit of Tranmere, for whom little is going right.

Away days: Queens Park Rangers, under new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, fought back from two goals down to draw at home with high-riding Brighton in midweek. That result should put them in good heart for their visit to Bristol City, who won promotion last season but have found life difficult in the Championship. Promotion contenders Hull have won their past two matches and appear to have too much for lowly Rotherham. Bradford City are aiming for at least a play-off place in League One and maximum points against ailing Chesterfield will help them to achieve this. Things are looking up for one-time relegation candidates Swindon and they are worth supporting at Shrewsbury, who have lost six at home. Bristol Rovers' away record commands respect in League Two and they will be confident of success at third from bottom Dagenham & Redbridge, who were taken to extra time in the FA Cup by non-League Whitehawk in midweek. In the Scottish Premiership, second-placed Aberdeen should confirm their superiority over second last Kilmarnock.

Homes sweet homes: Premier League leaders Leicester keep confounding everybody but their visit to Everton on Saturday is fraught with danger. Some of Everton's football recently has been exceptional and they should be higher in the table than they are. A repeat of those performances could see them become only the second team to beat Leicester in the league this season. Shaun Derry's appointment as manager seems to have revived Cambridge, who are climbing League Two and won at Plymouth last weekend. They are worth a punt against higher-placed Mansfield. Fourth from bottom Newport have also improved markedly and I'm taking them to defeat middle-of-the-table AFC Wimbledon.


Pools info: Braintree v Wrexham (No 39 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.


                                   December 26-27


Ten draws: Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, Blackburn v Middlesbrough, Ipswich v Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham v Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham, Swindon v Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers, Crawley v Stevenage, Luton v Wycombe, Morecambe v Mansfield.

Best draws: Blackburn v Middlesbrough, Rotherham v Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham, Crawley v Stevenage, Morecambe v Mansfield.

Best away bets: Arsenal, Leeds, Cambridge, Notts County, Northampton, Motherwell.

Best home bets: Tottenham, Bristol City, Derby, Wolves, Blackpool, Doncaster, Oxford, Plymouth, Aberdeen, Arbroath.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Dec 12-13

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Manchester United, Sunderland v Watford, Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday, Derby v Brighton, Sheffield United v Coventry, Accrington v Wycombe, Morecambe v Exeter, Notts County v Newport, Oxford v Carlisle, Hamilton v Ross.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Manchester United, Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington v Wycombe, Notts County v Newport, Oxford v Carlisle.

Best weekend away bets: Arsenal, Stoke, Brentford, Ipswich, Barnsley, Walsall.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Tottenham, Hull, Preston, Bury, Doncaster, Swindon, Wigan, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil.


Pick of the draws: Bournemouth are on a high after their 1-0 win at Chelsea last Saturday whereas Manchester United are down in the dumps following their failure to beat West Ham at home and their early exit from the Champions League. Cardiff moved into the Championship play-off positions with their 3-2 victory at Bolton last weekend but Sheffield Wednesday, their visitors, are made of sterner stuff and have already drawn four times on the road this season. League Two looks a good place for draws this weekend. Wycombe's 2-1 triumph at Millwall was probably the best FA Cup result of last weekend and they will be a tough test for fourth-placed Accrington. Lowly Newport are playing much better under new manager John Sheridan. They knocked Barnet out of the FA Cup last Saturday and look good for a share of the spoils at Notts County. Sixth-placed Carlisle have made spectacular progress over the past two months and I rate their chances of a point at leaders Oxford.

Away days: Although Arsenal have faltered away from home recently (losing at West Bromwich Albion, drawing at Norwich), they are unlikely to stumble at bottom club Aston Villa, who are in danger of being cut off from the rest of the Premier League. Stoke were hugely impressive when defeating Manchester City 2-0 at home last Saturday. Their away record commands respect as well and I fancy them at West Ham, who are not as effective on their own ground. In the Championship, Brentford, now under the managership of former Walsall chief Dean Smith, should be backed at manager-less Fulham and Ipswich can prevail at MK Dons, who are fighting relegation, having lost five matches at home. Barnsley, bottom of League One, are worth a punt at Colchester, who have slipped perilously close to the relegation zone, and promotion-seeking Walsall ought to have too much knowhow for Fleetwood.

Homes sweet homes: Preston have a good opportunity to improve their dismal home record in the Championship against Reading, who have sacked their manager Steve Clarke and seem to be on a downward spiral. Preston's unexpected 2-0 success at Burnley last Saturday won't have done them any harm either. League One strugglers Swindon will have been greatly encouraged by their 4-0 away win against Chesterfield two weeks ago and I think they will follow that up by beating mid-table Rochdale. Yeovil, bottom of League Two, are in desperate need of points and I believe they will get them against Barnet, who appear to have slipped back into their bad old ways. Yeovil also defeated fellow League Two strugglers Stevenage in the FA Cup last weekend.


Pools info: Leicester v Chelsea (No 4 on coupon) is being judged by the pools panel while Blackburn v Rotherham (11) and Wolves v Nottingham Forest (22) are void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 5-6

Ten draws: Swansea v Leicester, Watford v Norwich, Bristol City v Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday v Derby, Kilmarnock v Dundee United, Ross v St Johnstone, Real Sociedad v Eibar, Sporting Dijon v Las Palmas, Torino v Roma, Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund.

Best draws: Swansea v Leicester, Bristol City v Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday v Derby, Kilmarnock v Dundee United, Ross v St Johnstone.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Tottenham, Wolves, Port Vale, Eastleigh, Carlisle.

Best weekend home bets: Southampton, Bolton, Brentford, Brighton, Burnley, Dundee, Hearts, Leyton Orient, Sheffield United, Peterborough.


Pick of the draws: Swansea's directors appear to have lost faith in manager Garry Monk, although his players still seem on board. There's no denying that the Welsh club are going through a dodgy spell but I won't be surprised if they check Leicester's Premier League charge. Promoted Bristol City have struggled to adjust to the higher demands of the Championship and will be hard-pushed to beat Blackburn, who are showing encouraging signs under new manager Paul Lambert. Derby's 2-0 victory at Hull last Friday was one of the best results of the weekend and strengthened their promotion claims. However, they may have to settle for a point against Sheffield Wednesday, whose confidence has been considerably boosted by that League Cup triumph over Arsenal. Dundee United's wretched season in the Scottish Premiership continued with a 2-1 home loss to Hamilton last Saturday but they could nick something at Kilmarnock, who crashed 5-2 at home to Partick and are looking increasingly fragile. St Johnstone have not drawn an away game this season but I believe that sequence will end at Ross, who have yet to draw at home.

Away days: The Klopp effect is proving beneficial to Liverpool, who should edge nearer the Premier League's top four by beating Newcastle on Sunday. If Liverpool play half as well as they did when trouncing Manchester City away it will be no contest. Newcastle's 5-1 hiding at Crystal Palace last Saturday left them in the relegation mire and manager Steve McClaren seems powerless to do anything about it. Tottenham are putting pressure on the division's front-runners and will fancy their chances of maximum points at mid-table West Bromwich Albion. Wolves' results in the Championship have been a letdown this season and they will want to make some amends by beating second from bottom Rotherham. My other three aways are in the second round of the FA Cup. I expect on-form Port Vale to be too strong for Exeter and for National League promotion contenders Eastleigh to prevail at fellow non-Leaguers Stourbridge. League Two high-flyers Carlisle look a sound bet at Welling.

Homes sweet homes: Cash-strapped Bolton, rock bottom of the Championship and with only one league win to their name this season, have a puncher's chance against Cardiff, who have won only once on the road. By all accounts Bolton had the better of their 1-1 home draw with Brentford on Monday and manager Neil Lennon will be looking for further improvement. In the Scottish Premiership, mid-table Dundee are worth a punt against Aberdeen, who although lying second, have little or no chance of catching Celtic. I sense an FA Cup upset at League Two Leyton Orient, who host League One Scunthorpe on Saturday. Orient can beat the best on their day while Scunthorpe's morale has probably been damaged by that 4-0 home defeat to Peterborough last weekend.


Pools info: Ipswich v Middlesbrough (No 17 on coupon) and Reading v Queen's Park Rangers (20) are void while Everton v Crystal Palace (3) and Espanyol v Levante (31) will be judged by the pools panel. I correctly forecast five draws last week and three of my five best draws.

Betting info: I got five out of six aways last weekend. Watford, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Accrington and Cheltenham all obliged.