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.