Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 6-7

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Norwich, Bournemouth v Arsenal, Swansea v Crystal Palace, Burnley v Hull, Fulham v Derby, Leeds v Nottingham Forest, Scunthorpe v Doncaster, Walsall v Millwall, Carlisle v Accrington, Hamburg v Cologne.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Norwich, Swansea v Crystal Palace, Burnley v Hull, Leeds v Nottingham Forest, Carlisle v Accrington.

Best weekend away bets: Everton, Peterborough, Rochdale, Blackpool, Wigan, Plymouth.

Best weekend home bets: Tottenham, Bolton, Cardiff, Barnsley, Gillingham, Port Vale, Southend, Newport, Northampton, Wycombe.


Pick of the draws: Aston Villa, rock bottom of the Premier League, can't buy a win at the moment but Norwich, their visitors on Saturday, are also ailing, a place above the relegation zone and beaten 3-0 at home to Tottenham in midweek. A low-scoring draw looks the safest bet. A late goal deprived Swansea of victory at West Bromwich in midweek. On Saturday they host Crystal Palace, who are more reliable away than at home. With both teams struggling to score, a draw looks the likeliest result. Burnley, third in the Championship, put up a good fight before going out of the FA Cup at Arsenal last Saturday but the form of leaders Hull is just as impressive and they can take something from this "six-point" fixture. Leeds have drawn five matches at Elland Road this season. Don't be surprised if they make that six in their mid-table clash against Nottingham Forest, who have given little away recently. League Two Carlisle must be relieved to return to their Brunton Park ground after the terrible flooding but promotion-chasing Accrington won't stand on ceremony and will fancy their chances of coming home with a point.

Away days: Everton's Premier League results don't match their ability but they have a chance to put that right at Stoke, who seem to have been adversely affected by their penalty shoot-out defeat in the League Cup semi-final. Peterborough are in fine fettle, contenders for the League One play-off positions and forcing an FA Cup fourth-round replay against West Bromwich Albion. They will probably be too good for Chesterfield, who are just outside the drop zone. Rochdale can beat the best on their day, as they showed when they defeated leaders Burton last weekend. Second-from-bottom Crewe are certainly not the best and seem especially vulnerable at home. Blackpool's improvement was confirmed by a stirring victory over promotion favourites Gillingham last Saturday and they will be confident of a similar result at relegation-troubled Oldham. Fourth-placed Wigan turned in one of the weekend's best performances with a comprehensive 3-0 home win against Port Vale. They are worth a punt at Sheffield United, who are not making the most of ground advantage. Plymouth will be peeved at losing the League Two leadership to Northampton and I believe they will take it out on third-from-bottom Yeovil.

Homes sweet homes: Bolton, the Championship's bottom club, scored two late goals to grab a creditable 2-2 draw at Wolves in midweek and I think they will carry on the good work against Rotherham, who suffered a heavy home defeat against unfancied Charlton last Saturday. Port Vale have beaten some good sides in League One recently, so there is every chance they can get the better of fifth-placed Coventry, who are faltering. The home form of League Two strugglers Newport is embarrassingly bad but thanks to a fine 2-1 win at Morecambe last Saturday, they appear to be pulling clear of a relegation scrap. I've a hunch they will take maximum points against Barnet, whose progress has been hindered by injuries.


Pools info: Brighton v Brentford (match No 13 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.