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.