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.