Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 11-12

Ten draws: Stoke v Crystal Palace, Preston v Brentford, Wolves v Newcastle, Oxford v MK Dons, Peterborough v Sheffield United, Colchester v Barnet, Plymouth v Exeter, Stevenage v Wycombe, Dover v Wrexham, Torquay v Macclesfield.

Best draws: Wolves v Newcastle, Peterborough v Sheffield United, Plymouth v Exeter, Stevenage v Wycombe, Torquay v Macclesfield.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Everton, Blackburn, Bradford City, Grimsby, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Sunderland, Brighton, Derby, Fulham, Bury, Northampton, Luton, Notts County, Yeovil.


Pick of the draws: Wolves, buoyed by their FA Cup victories over Premier League sides Stoke and Liverpool, should provide Championship leaders Newcastle with a stern test at Molineux. Peterborough arrested their League One slump with a terrific 3-0 win at Port Vale last Saturday and will be in the right frame of mind to take on leaders Sheffield United, who enjoyed a 4-0 home success against Wimbledon at the weekend. Plymouth, second in League Two, host Exeter, who are unbeaten in their past 12 matches and now aiming for automatic promotion. I'm taking Paul Tisdale's players to extend their remarkable sequence. Stevenage are at their most vulnerable at home and play-off contenders Wycombe, who gave Tottenham such a fright in the FA Cup, will be confident of at least a point. Torquay, despite a minor recovery, are still not safe from relegation from the National League and won't relish taking on Macclesfield, who already have seven away wins to their credit.

Away days: Only two Premier League sides have achieved more home victories than Burnley but I believe runaway leaders Chelsea will put a dent in their record at Turf Moor on Sunday. Everton have come alive recently and are well capable of coming away from Middlesbrough with three points. A goals shortage (only 19 in 24 league games) continues to haunt relegation-troubled Boro. Championship strugglers Blackburn are not a team you would normally put money on but they are worth backing at bottom club Rotherham, who are doomed for the drop. League One play-off hopefuls Bradford City are also worth a punt at Bristol Rovers, who have inexplicably sold their leading marksman Matty Taylor to their fierce rivals Bristol City. League Two Grimsby look an away banker at 21st-placed Crewe, who cannot buy a goal, let alone a point, at the moment. Dagenham & Redbridge, who are back in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Football League, should have too much firepower for lowly Southport.

Homes sweet homes: That 4-0 away rout of Crystal Palace last Saturday will have given Sunderland, the Premier League's bottom club, an enormous lift and I fancy them to win again, this time at the expense of Southampton, whose recent form has given cause for alarm. Lowly Bury's revival in League One was halted by a 2-1 defeat at Shrewsbury last weekend but they can make amends by beating Swindon, who sit just outside the relegation zone. Notts County, third from bottom of League Two, play Cheltenham, who are only two places and three points better off. Although County have been terrible at home this season, I think they will make ground advantage count on this occasion.