Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 30-Oct 1

Ten draws: Stoke v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United, Wimbledon v Rochdale, Shrewsbury v Scunthorpe, Chesterfield v Cheltenham, Crawley v Carlisle, Luton v Newport, Swindon v Cambridge, Dundee v Hearts.

Best draws: Stoke v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, Wimbledon v Rochdale, Luton v Newport, Swindon v Cambridge.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Wolves, Norwich, Leeds, Accrington, Rangers (Friday).

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Cardiff, Preston, Blackburn, Bury, Portsmouth, Southend, Exeter, Kilmarnock.


Pick of the draws: Southampton played much better in defeat against Manchester United than Stoke did against Chelsea last weekend and they can come away from the Potteries with a point. Watford's maximum points haul from three Premier League away matches is one of the surprises of the season so far but they will do well to continue that sequence at The Hawthorns, where Tony Pulis's West Brom are especially obdurate. Wimbledon have fallen into the League One relegation zone after two consecutive losses and I feel that even lowly Rochdale will deny them victory on Saturday. Newport are unexpected promotion contenders in League Two and won't fear a trip to Luton, who have the same number of points. Swindon's home form isn't the best (three defeats already) and an improving Cambridge United can take advantage.

Away days: With three wins out of three on the road in the Premier League, Tottenham are highly recommended at Huddersfield, whose early-season spark is fading. It's hard to see Wolves, flying high in the Championship, failing at Burton, who crashed 4-0 at home to Aston Villa in midweek. Norwich's 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough in midweek caused a few raised eyebrows and they can repeat that scoreline at Reading, who have been unconvincing. Leeds, beaten 3-1 at Cardiff in midweek, weren't helped by going down to 10 men. I believe they will hit back straight away by winning at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. Wednesday are still reeling from their 4-2 home defeat by their bitter Sheffield rivals, United, last weekend. Accrington, third in League Two after beating struggling Port Vale 2-1 away in midweek, cannot be ignored at basement boys Forest Green and   Rangers should be too strong for Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: Bury's 3-0 home victory over Oxford United in midweek lifted them out of the League One relegation zone and was just the tonic they needed. They also held Charlton to a 1-1 draw at The Valley last Saturday, so don't be surprised if they defeat the higher-placed MK Dons. There are signs that Southend's slump is over after victories over Fleetwood (4-2 away) and Wimbledon (1-0 at home) and I'm counting on them to make it a hat-trick against Blackpool. Although bottom club Kilmarnock are without a win from seven games in the Scottish Premiership, Ross County, their opponents on Saturday, are not much better. Ross have appointed Owen Coyle as manager but I think Killie's miserable run will end.


Betting info: I scored five out of six with my away selections last weekend. Tottenham, Brentford, Cardiff, Hibernian and Dunfermline all obliged.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 23-24

Ten draws: Brighton v Newcastle, Norwich v Bristol City, Reading v Hull, Norwich v Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United, Northampton v Bradford City, Peterborough v Wigan, Scunthorpe v Portsmouth, Shrewsbury v Blackburn, Kilmarnock v Dundee, Motherwell v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Norwich v Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United, Scunthorpe v Portsmouth, Shrewsbury v Blackburn, Motherwell v Aberdeen.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Brentford, Cardiff, Blackpool, Hibernian, Dunfermline.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Preston, Wolves, Charlton, Accrington, Luton, Notts County, Partick.


Pick of the draws: Bristol City's 3-3 draw at Championship front-runners Wolves last midweek was well deserved and they improved on that by beating Derby 4-1 at home on Saturday. They are a side on the up and I expect them to gain at least a point at Norwich, who surprised Sheffield United 1-0 away at the weekend. The two Sheffield clubs are in the top half of the table and, despite United's setback against Norwich, thriving. Promoted United are not fazed at all by the Championship and I believe they will share the spoils at Hillsborough. Portsmouth's 4-1 home success against Fleetwood on Saturday was the best result of their League One season so far and they can come away with a point at Graham Alexander's Scunthorpe. League One leaders Shrewsbury are the team of the moment. The Shrews have dropped only two points from eight matches and have a perfect home record. Although their visitors, Blackburn, lost 1-0 at home to Wimbledon at the weekend, I regard this as only a temporary lapse and think they will deny Shrewsbury victory at home for the first time this season. Motherwell, who recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Hibernian, are climbing the Scottish Premiership and can hold second-placed Aberdeen.

Away days: Tottenham were held to a goalless draw by Swansea at Wembley on Saturday but their luck was out. On another day they could have won by three or four and I suspect they will make amends by defeating West Ham in the early Saturday fixture. Brentford are without a win in the Championship this season but I can see that changing when they visit Bolton, who are in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom. Cardiff's Championship surge has been checked recently but they must still be fancied to win at Sunderland, who have only one victory to their credit. In League One, Blackpool are gaining momentum by the week and are recommended at Bristol Rovers, who can't find any consistency. Promoted Hibernian should edge their Scottish Premiership battle against Ross while Dunfermline, the Scottish Championship leaders, will surely confirm their superiority over bottom club Brechin.

Homes sweet homes: You are never sure which Liverpool team is going to turn up these days and Leicester, their hosts on Saturday, will be hoping to use that to their advantage. Although Leicester are in the wrong half of the Premier League, they have had some tough fixtures and are due a break. Another home side worth a punt are Aston Villa, who stopped the rot by winning 3-0 at Barnsley on Saturday. Villa's fans deserve more than they have been getting, especially at Villa Park, and I've a hunch Steve Bruce's team will put that right against Nottingham Forest. I'm backing second-from-bottom Partick to break their duck in the Scottish Premiership, where they are without a win this season. They played well when holding Rangers to a 2-2 draw at home last Friday and they can defeat mid-table Hearts.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 16-17

Ten draws: Huddersfield v Leicester, Newcastle v Stoke, Bristol City v Derby, Nottingham Forest v Wolves, Oldham v Shrewsbury, Portsmouth v Fleetwood, Walsall v Peterborough, Cambridge v Coventry, Crawley v Notts County, Hibernian v Motherwell.

Best draws: Huddersfield v Leicester, Newcastle v Stoke, Oldham v Shrewsbury, Portsmouth v Fleetwood, Cambridge v Coventry.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Fulham, Leeds, Northampton, Newport, Rangers (Friday).

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Brentford, Hull, Sheffield United, Blackburn, Wigan, Swindon, Aberdeen, Ayr.


Pick of the draws: Leicester have suffered from having some tough opening Premier League fixtures but they will probably find promoted Huddersfield a less fearful proposition. The Terriers were unimpressive when going down 2-0 at West Ham on Monday and had a reality check. Stoke have a victory over Arsenal and a draw against Manchester United to their credit - results that should give them a reasonable chance at Newcastle, who had a good result of their own when winning 1-0 away to Swansea last Sunday. Oldham climbed off the bottom of League One with a terrific 3-2 away win against Bristol Rovers in midweek. This followed last weekend's 2-2 draw at highly rated Fleetwood which has put them in the mood to deny leaders Shrewsbury, who have surprised everybody so far. Portsmouth, last season's League Two title winners, are struggling to adapt to a higher division and will not relish facing Fleetwood, who are among the early promotion contenders. Coventry are back in business after some disappointing early results and look good for a point against mid-table Cambridge.

Away days: Manchester City showed what they are capable of when thrashing Liverpool 5-0 at home last Saturday and I suspect they will be too strong for Watford, although the Hertfordshire club have begun the season surprisingly well, winning at Bournemouth and Southampton. Fulham were the first Championship side to take a point off Cardiff this season and they will be expecting a maximum points haul when they travel to lowly Burton. Leeds, the new Championship leaders, are a formidable force at the moment and are recommended at Millwall, who had to play most of their midweek 2-2 away draw against Queens Park Rangers with 10 men. League One Northampton have two wins from two under their new manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and I'm backing them to make it three in a row at fast-fading Southend. Newport continue to confound expectations in League Two and are worth a punt at Morecambe, who are more vulnerable at home. Rangers have two away wins from two in the Scottish Premiership and will be confident of making it a hat-trick at struggling Partick.

Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace, bottom of the Premier League, were much the better side at Burnley last Sunday, despite suffering their fourth consecutive defeat, so don't be surprised if they take their frustration out on Southampton. Former England boss Roy Hodgson will also be anxious to start his managerial career at Selhurst Park with a win. I'm taking Palace to score their first league goals of the season and to gain three points. Brentford's lowly position in the Championship does not do them justice and I believe they will come out on top against Reading, who have yet to click this season. The Stevenage bandwagon in League Two appears to have stopped rolling and Swindon, their hosts on Saturday, can take advantage.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 9-10

Ten draws: Brighton v West Bromwich Albion, Leicester v Chelsea, Norwich v Birmingham, Queens Park Rangers v Ipswich, Sunderland v Sheffield United, Peterborough v Bradford City, Plymouth v MK Dons, Colchester v Crawley, Newport v Wycombe, St Johnstone v Hibernian.

Best draws: Leicester v Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers v Ipswich, Sunderland v Sheffield United, Plymouth v MK Dons, Colchester v Crawley.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Exeter, Aberdeen.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Swansea, Fulham, Wolves, Wimbledon, Charlton, Northampton, Coventry, Crewe, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Although there are signs that Chelsea have their mojo back, I like the look of this Leicester side under Craig Shakespeare's managership and won't be surprised if they share the spoils. Ipswich, who are second in the Championship, suffered their first league defeat of the season when losing 2-0 at home to Fulham but I believe they will recover at Queens Park Rangers, who seem set for a mid-table berth. Relegated Sunderland are finding life almost as difficult in the Championship and there is no guarantee they will beat Sheffield United, who have made such an encouraging start in a higher division. Two consecutive defeats have seen Plymouth slide down League One and I fancy MK Dons, who fought back well to draw 1-1 at home to Oxford last Saturday, to get something at Home Park. Rookie manager Harry Kewell looks to have turned things round at Crawley, who have won their past two games in League Two. I'm taking them to continue their revival by drawing at Colchester.

Away days: Since stumbling at Watford on the opening weekend of the season free-scoring Liverpool have looked the real deal and they can enhance their Premier League title credentials by coming away from Manchester City with maximum points on Saturday. Manchester United lead the Premier League on merit and will expect another three points at Stoke. It will be a brave man who bets against them. Middlesbrough, under Garry Monk, have yet to hit their stride in the Championship but that will probably change when they go to bottom club Bolton. Blackburn's confidence is returning after a rocky start and they are recommended at Rochdale, who have slipped into the League One relegation zone. League Two leaders Exeter look a sound bet at struggling Forest Green while Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen should prevail at Hearts.

Homes sweet homes: Swansea, 2-0 winners at Crystal Palace two weeks ago, are in a healthier frame of mind than their Premier League opponents Newcastle, where manager Rafa Benitez was frustrated by their lack of progress in the last transfer window. Fulham are better than their position in the Championship indicates. They were convincing 2-0 winners at Ipswich two weeks ago and I've a hunch they will also beat Cardiff, despite the Welsh side having gained maximum points from their first five matches. Northampton, pointless and bottom of League One after four games, sacked manager Justin Edinburgh last week. His replacement, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, will be keen to make an instant impact and I think he will do just that when promoted Doncaster visit Sixfields on Saturday.