Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 10-11

Ten draws: Burnley v Hull, Stoke v Tottenham, Sheffield Wednesday v Wigan, Bristol Rovers v Rochdale, Fleetwood v Charlton, Oxford v Swindon, Colchester v Blackpool, Newport v Cheltenham, Yeovil v Hartlepool, Barrow v Boreham Wood.

Best draws: Burnley v Hull, Sheffield Wednesday v Wigan, Fleetwood v Charlton, Colchester v Blackpool, Yeovil v Hartlepool.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Barnsley, Sheffield United, Doncaster, Macclesfield, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Brighton, Queens Park Rangers, Northampton, Scunthorpe, Luton, Portsmouth.


Pick of the draws: It's no fluke that Hull find themselves fifth after three Premier League matches and they almost held Manchester United last weekend. Hull's hosts Burnley have a win over Liverpool to their credit and can nick a point out of this one. Sheffield Wednesday, beaten Championship play-off finalists last season, have disappointed so far with only one victory from five games. Their opponents on Saturday, Wigan, have also underwhelmed and deadlock seems likely. League One Fleetwood are prospering under manager Uwe Rosler but may find improving Charlton tough nuts to crack. Blackpool made a welcome return to form in League Two with a 3-0 away success at Yeovil last Saturday and I'm backing them to return from Colchester with a share of the spoils. Hartlepool manager Craig Hignett admitted they were an embarrassment when crashing 6-1 at Stevenage last weekend but Yeovil's 3-0 home loss to Blackpool was nearly as bad. I expect Hartlepool to tighten up sufficiently to come away with a point.

Away days: Chelsea, maximum points from their opening three Premier League fixtures, look a sure thing on Sunday at Swansea, who could be fighting relegation. The Championship holds no fears for promoted Barnsley, who lie third in the table. I believe they will keep up the good work at Preston, who are struggling. Sheffield United must fancy their chances of making it three League One wins in a row at Wimbledon. United gave themselves a huge boost by coming from behind to win 2-1 at Gillingham last Sunday and I expect them to continue climbing the table. League Two promotion contenders Doncaster surprisingly slipped up at Crewe last Saturday but can make amends at second-placed Morecambe, who have begun to look vulnerable. Macclesfield are challenging for promotion in the National League and are a confident selection at Bromley. Dagenham & Redbridge's 2-0 home defeat by Boreham Wood was one of last weekend's upsets, so they will be eager to return to winning ways at Solihull, who lost 4-0 at York.

Homes sweet homes: The season-long loan of the Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere should benefit Bournemouth, who have yet to win a Premier League game this season. They can get off the mark against West Bromwich Albion, who will probably struggle. The absence of ace striker Sergio Aguero - banned for three matches - for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on Saturday has tilted the balance in favour of United, who have started confidently under Jose Mourinho. United and City have maximum points from their first three games so something has to give. Aston Villa have hardly set the world alight in the Championship so far but ought to win most of their home fixtures. They are worth a wager on Sunday against Nottingham Forest, who are not the best of travellers.


Pools info: Reading v Ipswich (No 18 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.