Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 2-3

Ten draws: Spain v Italy, Estonia v Cyprus, Blackpool v Wimbledon, Gillingham v Shrewsbury, Carlisle v Mansfield, Chesterfield v Coventry, Exeter v Newport, Port Vale v Notts County, Halifax v Fylde, Hartlepool v Maidstone.

Best draws: Blackpool v Wimbledon, Carlisle v Mansfield, Chesterfield v Coventry, Exeter v Newport, Port Vale v Notts County.

Best weekend away bets: Scunthorpe, Peterborough, Oxford, Crewe, Accrington, Chester.

Best weekend home bets: Wales, Israel, Ukraine, Southend, Walsall, Lincoln, Wycombe, Barrow, Leyton Orient, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: Wimbledon gave their best display of the season so far when defeating Doncaster 2-0 at home in League One last Saturday and a repeat of that form should see them share the spoils at Blackpool, who have made an encouraging start to life in a higher division. Mansfield, the bookmakers' favourites for promotion from League Two, will be disappointed to have conceded two late goals in a 2-2 draw at home to Luton last weekend and will want to make amends at Carlisle, who came a cropper at Lincoln. Bottom-of-the-table Chesterfield (4-1 losers at Newport) and Coventry (beaten 2-0 at Yeovil) are two ailing sides and it's hard to make a case for either of them winning on Saturday. Newport's second place in League Two is no fluke. They are playing good football and can hold leaders Exeter to a draw. Port Vale's 10 men put up a spirited fight when losing 1-0 to Crewe last weekend and can gain their first home point of the season against an improved Notts County.

Away days: Scunthorpe got their season up and running with a 4-0 victory at Plymouth last Saturday and will be confident of another three points at Bury. Peterborough are the only League One team with a perfect record so far and I'm taking them to carry on the good work at promoted Doncaster. Although Oxford were held to a home draw by Shrewsbury last weekend, I expect them to be among the promotion contenders and they should be too strong for MK Dons. Fourth-placed Crewe are unbeaten in League Two and will probably extend the sequence after their visit to troubled Grimsby. Accrington keep punching above their weight and I fancy them to come away from Morecambe with maximum points. Chester, of the National League, upset high-flying Aldershot 2-1 away last Saturday, so a trip to bottom club Torquay should hold no fears.

Homes sweet homes: A win for Wales in Group D is imperative if they hope to qualify for next year's World Cup finals and I think they'll achieve it against Austria, who have the same number of points but are generally poor travellers. Promoted Lincoln gave Carlisle a football lesson last Saturday when winning their League Two encounter 4-1, so they are definitely worth a punt against Luton, even though they are among the favourites for promotion. Although Barrow, of the National League, have been no more than mediocre so far, they may get the better of Boreham Wood, whose high placing has surprised most pundits.


Pools Info: Blackburn v Fleetwood (match No 15 on coupon) and Wigan v Northampton (25) have been postponed because of international calls and will be pools panel verdicts.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 26-27

Ten draws: Huddersfield v Southampton, Millwall v Norwich, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood, Rotherham v Charlton, Colchester v Forest Green, Mansfield v Luton, Port Vale v Crewe, Barrow v Maidenhead, Ebbsfleet v Gateshead.

Best draws: Huddersfield v Southampton, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Rotherham v Charlton, Colchester v Forest Green, Mansfield v Luton.

Best weekend away bets: West Ham, Derby, Peterborough, Exeter, Wycombe, Coventry.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Cardiff, Blackpool, Rochdale, Walsall, Newport, Swindon, Aldershot, Ayr.


Pick of the draws: Promoted Huddersfield, with maximum points from their opening two Premier League matches, just about got over the line at home to Newcastle last Sunday but I believe Southampton, who defeated West Ham 3-2 at St Mary's last Saturday, will provide a sterner test. Mark Warburton is doing a good job at Nottingham Forest but Leeds, who have won both their away games in the Championship, can take a point here. Rotherham's last home match in League One ended in a 5-0 victory over Southend. It will be a major surprise if they do half as well against Charlton, who have begun the season well, and the hosts may even have to settle for a point. Colchester, with no wins from three, are among the early toilers in League Two and will have to improve to get the better of promoted Forest Green, who have not been overawed so far. Mansfield had their first setback of the season when losing 2-1 at Accrington last Saturday and could be playing easier opponents than Luton, who will again be among the promotion contenders.

Away days: Ten-man West Ham deserved better than to lose to a disputed penalty at Southampton in the dying minutes and I think they will take it out on Newcastle, who are struggling to adapt to the Premier League. Neither has a point to show for their efforts so far but something's got to give on Saturday. Derby clicked into gear with a 2-1 win at Bolton in the Championship last Saturday and I'm taking them to repeat that success at promoted Sheffield United, who are due a home loss. Peterborough, second in League One with maximum points from three games, are fancied to continue the good work at lowly Northampton while in League Two, high-flying Exeter look a sound bet at troubled Cheltenham. Wycombe are recommended at Grimsby, who were feeble when losing 3-1 at Stevenage last weekend and keep having players sent off. Coventry unexpectedly lost at home to Newport last Saturday but I expect them to recover at Yeovil, who have already conceded 14 goals in three matches.

Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace, although pointless from their opening two Premier League fixtures, made Liverpool work hard for their 1-0 victory at Anfield last Saturday and I believe they'll get off the mark against Swansea, who shipped four at home against Manchester United. Although Rochdale have made a disappointing start in League One, they should have enough in the tank to beat Bury. Walsall have a habit of upsetting more fashionable sides. They deserved their point in a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth last Saturday and have the ability to see off the higher-placed Bradford City.


Pools info: Macclesfield v Dover (match No 49 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Betting info: I scored eight out of 10 with my home selections last weekend. Leicester, Liverpool, Charlton, Fleetwood, Carlisle, Forest Green, Aberdeen and Dunfermline all obliged.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 19-20

Ten draws: Burnley v West Brom, Bolton v Derby, Sunderland v Leeds, Wolves v Cardiff, Bury v Bristol Rovers, Doncaster v Blackpool, Southend v Plymouth, Accrington v Mansfield, Crawley v Cambridge, Forest Green v Yeovil.

Best draws: Sunderland v Leeds, Wolves v Cardiff, Doncaster v Blackpool, Southend v Plymouth, Accrington v Mansfield.

Best weekend away bets: Arsenal, Manchester United, Birmingham (Friday), Oxford, Ross, Ayr.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Liverpool, Tottenham, Bristol City, Charlton, Fleetwood, Shrewsbury, Carlisle, Aberdeen, Dunfermline.


Pick of the draws: Despite two goalless draws in their opening three matches, I expect Leeds to challenge for promotion to the top flight this season. Sunderland will present a tough test on Saturday but I believe Leeds will pass it. One of the games of the weekend is at Molineux where Wolves host Cardiff in the Championship. Both sides have maximum points from their first three fixtures but I fancy they will have to settle for a point each. In League One, Blackpool got off the mark by defeating Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 at home last weekend. I think they will build on that result by gaining a point at Doncaster, who won even more convincingly (3-1) at Blackburn. Southend came crashing back to earth when losing 5-0 at Rotherham last Saturday. In normal circumstances I would have taken Southend to beat promoted Plymouth but now I'm backing the Devon team to hold them.  Accrington surprisingly came unstuck by 3-2 at Yeovil last Saturday but they have a lot going for them and can share the spoils with Mansfield, the bookmakers' favourites for promotion from League Two.

Away days: Arsenal will want to repeat their Premier League success at Stoke last May and have the firepower to do so, as shown in their thrilling 4-3 home victory over Leicester last Friday. Manchester United looked ominously good when thrashing West Ham 4-0 at Old Trafford last Sunday and will be disappointed to come away from Swansea with anything less than three points. Burton are the only Championship team without a point after three matches. They are probably in for a long, hard season and visitors Birmingham will be optimistic about their chances on Friday evening. Oxford are the early leaders in League One and look full of goals. I'm taking them to score a few more at Scunthorpe, who are struggling to produce last season's form. In the Scottish Premiership, Ross are recommended at Motherwell, who will be without the three players sent off in a 4-1 defeat at St Johnstone last weekend, and top-of-the-table Ayr are a confident selection at Stranraer in Scottish League One.

Homes sweet homes: Tottenham will be anxious to lay their Wembley bogey this season and their home game against Chelsea on Sunday gives them a good opportunity to do so. The Premier League champions are in disarray on and off the pitch and I reckon they will be even more downcast after the weekend. Bristol City have made an encouraging start to their Championship campaign and should have too much for Millwall, who are finding life more difficult in a higher division. Unfashionable Shrewsbury have two wins from two in League One. I'm backing them to make it a hat-trick against Rochdale, who have been slow out of the blocks.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 12-13

Ten draws: Southampton v Swansea, Barnsley v Ipswich, Norwich v Sunderland, Reading v Fulham, Northampton v Fleetwood, Rotherham v Southend, Colchester v Stevenage, Grimsby v Coventry, Swindon v Exeter, Hamilton v Dundee.

Best draws: Southampton v Swansea, Norwich v Sunderland, Northampton v Fleetwood, Rotherham v Southend, Grimsby v Coventry.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool, Bradford City, Luton, Accrington.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal (Friday), Everton, Manchester United, Birmingham, Leeds, Blackburn, Blackpool, Wigan, Lincoln, Kilmarnock.


Pick of the draws: Swansea ended last season with a flourish to escape relegation from the Premier League and I think they will carry on the good work at Southampton, who may take time to adjust to a new manager. Norwich are one of those teams tipped to be among the Championship front-runners but relegated Sunderland will want to atone for last season's debacle and should be up for this challenge on Sunday. Uwe Rosler has done a great job as manager of League One Fleetwood. They had a good start to this campaign with a 2-0 home victory over Rotherham and I'm backing them to deny Northampton on Saturday. Southend got off to a flier by beating relegated Blackburn 2-1 at home but their hosts, relegated Rotherham, will be trying to stop the rot as quickly as possible. Grimsby and Coventry, who face each other in League Two, had excellent starts to the season last weekend and it's difficult to pick a winner.

Away days: Manchester City have spent big during the summer and they will be expecting instant reward at promoted Brighton, who could scarcely have had a harder start to 2017-18. Newcastle may have won the Championship last season but I get the feeling that all is not well at St James' Park and manager Rafa Benitez is unsettled. Tottenham, who are hoping to improve on last season's second place, can capitalise. Liverpool are strongly recommended in the mid-day kick-off at Watford, who are expected to be among the Premier League strugglers. Bradford City were unlucky not to go up from League One last season and ought to begin their away programme with three points at Gillingham. Luton's 8-2 home thrashing of Yeovil was the most eye-catching result in League Two last weekend. Similar firepower should be enough to see off Barnet. Accrington, 3-1 winners over Colchester last Saturday and League Cup conquerors of Championship side Preston in midweek, have my support at Yeovil.

Homes sweet homes: Despite narrow defeats in their opening two games - 2-1 at Bradford City and 2-1 at Wigan in the League Cup - I believe promoted Blackpool will recover and gain maximum points in their League One home fixture against Milton Keynes Dons. Lincoln, winners of the National League last season and FA Cup giant-killers, won't be overawed playing in League Two. They deserved their 2-2 draw at Wycombe last Saturday and I'm taking them to beat Morecambe. Although Kilmarnock are nothing special in the Scottish Premiership, they appear to be in better shape than manager-less Hearts and are on course to gain their first points of the season.


Pools Info: Newport v Crewe (match No 40 on coupon) is being played at Crewe because of unfinished work on Newport's ground.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 5-6

Ten draws: Burton v Cardiff, Ipswich v Birmingham, Queens Park Rangers v Reading, Oldham v Oxford, Portsmouth v Rochdale, Crawley v Port Vale, Crewe v Mansfield, Morecambe v Cheltenham, Stevenage v Newport, Dundee v Ross.

Best draws: Burton v Cardiff, Ipswich v Birmingham, Portsmouth v Rochdale, Crewe v Mansfield, Morecambe v Cheltenham.

Best weekend away bets: Derby (Friday), Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Blackburn, Peterhead.

Best weekend home bets: Aston Villa, Fulham, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest (Friday), Charlton, Peterborough, Carlisle, Forest Green, Luton, Hibernian.


Pick of the draws: Nigel Clough's Burton surprised everybody by avoiding relegation from the Championship last season and can confound the pundits again. They look good for a share of the spoils against Neil Warnock's Cardiff. Birmingham's chances will be boosted by the appointment of Harry Redknapp as manager but Ipswich, their opponents on Saturday, will be anxious to put some poor pre-season results behind them. Promoted Portsmouth should have few alarms in League One but Rochdale are no mugs and can come away from Fratton Park with a point. Mansfield are the bookmakers' favourites to go up from League Two, mainly because they have made so many summer signings. However, they may be held by Crewe, who must be hoping to improve on last season's disappointment. Morecambe's home form continually let them down last season, so don't be surprised if they drop another couple of points to Cheltenham.

Away days: Relegated Sunderland are still in turmoil under new manager Simon Grayson and Gary Rowett's Derby will fancy their chances in this Championship opener. I believe Sheffield Wednesday will be among the Championship front-runners again and I expect them to start their campaign with a win at Preston. Middlesbrough, now managed by former Leeds and Swansea boss Garry Monk, will be eager to return to the Premier League as quickly as possible and are worth a punt at Wolves. In League One, relegated Wigan are recommended at MK Dons while another demoted side, Blackburn,  should be too strong for Southend. Free-scoring Peterhead are a confident selection at Annan in Scottish League Two.

Homes sweet homes: Sheffield United, League One title winners last season, have a winnable opening Championship fixture against Brentford. I'm taking Carlisle, who reached the play-offs last season, to heap more misery on relegated Swindon in League Two and don't bet against the Football League's newcomers, Forest Green Rovers, continuing their winning ways against Barnet. Neil Lennon's Hibernian, promoted to the Scottish Premiership, will be confident of maximum points against Partick.