Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 25-26

Ten draws: Liverpool v Chelsea, Newcastle v Watford, Middlesbrough v Derby, Nottingham Forest v Cardiff, Reading v Sheffield Wednesday, Gillingham v Oldham, Shrewsbury v Bradford City, Cambridge v Stevenage, Exeter v Accrington, Lincoln v Port Vale.

Best draws: Liverpool v Chelsea, Newcastle v Watford, Middlesbrough v Derby, Shrewsbury v Bradford City, Exeter v Accrington.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Everton, Bournemouth, Sunderland, Wigan, Luton.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Sheffield United, Wolves, Blackburn, Southend, Barnet, Mansfield, Notts County, Wycombe.


Pick of the draws: Liverpool, so good going forward, have serious issues in defence. Relinquishing a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 against Sevilla in the Champions League in midweek was a worrying lapse and Chelsea are well equipped to take advantage of Liverpool's vulnerability. The Londoners must be fancied to come away with at least a point. Watford are one of the surprise packets of the Premier League and on current form are capable of denying Newcastle victory at St James' Park. Derby are Championship promotion contenders and I expect them to share the spoils with fellow high fliers Middlesbrough. Bradford City's superb away record (six wins, two draws and one defeat) has kept them in the League One promotion frame and I believe they'll get something at leaders Shrewsbury, who unexpectedly lost at bottom club Bury in midweek. Exeter, fourth in League Two, host difficult opponents in third-placed Accrington, who often play their best football away from home.

Away days: Mid-table Huddersfield are finding goals hard to come by and will surely suffer against all-conquering Manchester City, who have dropped only two points in their opening 12 Premier League matches. Everton are one of three teams in the Premier League yet to win away this season. That could change on Sunday when they visit Southampton, who look to be on the slide. Bournemouth, coming off the back of a 4-0 home triumph over Huddersfield last Saturday, will be in a much better frame of mind than their hosts Swansea, who lie second from bottom and are probably in for a long, hard winter. Chris Coleman's first game in charge of Championship strugglers Sunderland ended in a midweek defeat at Aston Villa but Saturday's match at goal-shy Burton is far more winnable. Wigan, second in League One, are admirably consistent this season and they are well capable of taking maximum points at Rotherham. New League Two leaders Luton, 46 goals from 18 matches, are a formidable force. They put seven past Cambridge last Saturday and must be rated an away banker at ailing Crewe.

Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace, who prop up the Premier League, were unlucky not to beat Everton at Selhurst Park last weekend and there are signs they are getting their act together. A repeat of the form they showed last Saturday should be enough to account for Stoke. Apart from leaders Shrewsbury, Southend are the only side in League One not to have lost at home. That record ought to be intact after Saturday when they entertain Oxford, who shipped four goals at home to Blackburn in midweek. Two goals in the last three minutes of normal time gave lowly Barnet in League Two a surprising and desperately needed 2-1 midweek victory at Newport. It was a timely boost for their new manager Mark McGhee and I suspect they'll follow it up by defeating Grimsby at The Hive.


Pools info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend. Crystal Palace v Everton (2-2), Hull v Ipswich (2-2) and Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol City (0-0).