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.