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.