Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 14-15

Ten draws: Watford v Middlesbrough, West Ham v Crystal Palace, Bristol City v Cardiff, Burton v Wigan, Preston v Brighton, Charlton v Millwall, Chesterfield v Coventry, Southend v Rochdale, Cheltenham v Accrington, Grimsby v Exeter.

Best draws: Burton v Wigan, Preston v Brighton, Charlton v Millwall, Chesterfield v Coventry, Cheltenham v Accrington.

Best weekend away bets: Huddersfield, Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe, Sheffield United, Colchester, Mansfield.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Birmingham, Wolves, Bolton, Oldham, Carlisle, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Wycombe, Falkirk.


Pick of the draws: Wigan are second from bottom in the Championship but that FA Cup third-round win over Nottingham Forest must have lifted their spirits. I'm taking them to gain a point at Burton, who are only one place off the relegation zone. Preston gave Arsenal an almighty scare in the same competition before losing to a late goal. Simon Grayson's team showed what they are capable of and they may check Brighton's charge towards promotion. Charlton, who have shown markedly better League One form of late, host Millwall, who had perhaps the best FA Cup result last weekend when they beat Premier League Bournemouth 3-0 at home. Deadlock is the likeliest result here. Russell Slade, the new manager of struggling Coventry, doesn't underestimate the task of keeping the club in League One. They travel to another relegation-fearing side, Chesterfield, who have sacked their manager Danny Wilson. Prepare for a stalemate. Accrington are in better heart after winning at Crewe in League Two and knocking Luton out of the FA Cup. I believe they will come away from second-from-bottom Cheltenham with a draw.

Away days: Huddersfield seem well over their blip in the Championship and are worth a wager at Sheffield Wednesday, who were expected to put up more of a fight when defeated 3-0 by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup last Sunday. Bristol Rovers, of League One, also suffered a dip in form recently but their 5-0 home triumph over Northampton last Saturday suggests they have got their act together again. They could upset Fleetwood, even though the Lancashire team have lost only once at home this season. Scunthorpe, second in League One, are a confident selection at Northampton, who have dismissed their manager Rob Page and are sliding down the table. It's very difficult opposing leaders Sheffield United at the moment and I cannot see Walsall, their hosts, causing a surprise. Colchester, who have surged into the League Two play-off positions, will surely overcome bottom club Newport while Mansfield, with successive wins over Blackpool and Crewe, look a good bet at floundering Notts County.

Homes sweet homes: Manchester United are enjoying a wonderful winning streak and I expect them to continue it against their fierce rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday. Mourinho's players are now turning those early-season Premier League draws into victories and I think they expose the flaws in Liverpool's defence. Birmingham, mid-table in the Championship, have yet to win under Gianfranco Zola but I reckon that will change when they play Nottingham Forest, who are being sucked into a relegation scrap. Wolves deservedly eliminated Premier League Stoke from the FA Cup last weekend and are in the mood to take maximum points off Aston Villa. No side could do with a break more than Oldham, bottom of League One and scorer of only 12 goals this season. However, they could get it against Gillingham, who disappoint more often than not.