Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Dec 30-31

Ten draws: Huddersfield v Burnley, Bristol City v Wolves, Blackburn v Scunthorpe, Blackpool v Plymouth, Southend v Shrewsbury, Cambridge v Crewe, Cheltenham v Newport, Grimsby v Accrington, Hibernian v Kilmarnock, Brechin v Inverness.

Best draws: Bristol City v Wolves, Blackpool v Plymouth, Southend v Shrewsbury, Cheltenham v Newport, Grimsby v Accrington.

Best weekend away bets: Leeds, Fulham, Fleetwood, Peterborough, Colchester, Notts County.

Best weekend home bets: Bournemouth, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Brentford, Sheffield United, Portsmouth, Crawley, Exeter, Lincoln.


Pick of the draws: Bristol City, worthy conquerors of Manchester United in the League Cup, have climbed to second in the Championship but if anybody can halt their charge it is Wolves, who lead the table by eight points and, even at this early stage of the season, look certainties for promotion. A 4-1 win at home to Oldham last Saturday and a 1-0 victory at MK Dons on Boxing Day confirmed that Plymouth are on the upgrade in League One and a point at Blackpool, who have stalled recently, shouldn't be beyond them. Shrewsbury are second in League One on merit but a trip to Southend, who have lost only once at home this campaign, is probably harder than it looks. Cheltenham's rollercoaster of a season in League Two continued over the Christmas holiday when they beat Barnet away 2-0 and then lost at home to Yeovil by the same score. Cheltenham's visitors Newport have more than held their own on their travels this season and I expect them to come away with something. Although Accrington have dropped out of the League Two play-off places, I feel their loss of form is only temporary and believe they will leave mid-table Grimsby with a point.

Away days: Leeds are getting into their stride as 2017 comes to an end and it will be an upset if the fifth-place side in the Championship gain anything less than maximum points at bottom club Birmingham, who cannot shake off their mid-season blues. Fulham are up and running after a fine 4-2 away win over promotion hopefuls Cardiff on Boxing Day and will travel to relegation-threatened Hull with confidence. In League One, mid-table Fleetwood are recommended at Bury, who are being cast adrift of the rest, while Peterborough, two wins out of two over the holiday period, are well worth a punt at MK Dons, who suffered two defeats. Colchester, who have moved into the League Two play-off positions, will really rate their chances at Chesterfield, who occupy one of the two relegation places. Notts County, who are Luton's only genuine title challengers, are an attractive proposition at Swindon, who are terrible at home and lost 5-0 there on Boxing Day.

Homes sweet homes: By all accounts, Bournemouth, in the Premier League relegation zone, were unlucky not to defeat West Ham at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day and I believe they are worth supporting against Everton, who have tightened up since Sam Allardyce's appointment as manager but are showing little attacking threat. Brentford have enjoyed a good December in the Championship, including beating Aston Villa, and things could get even better after they have hosted manager-less Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. I'm backing Brentford to take three points, despite Wednesday's impressive Boxing Day victory at Nottingham Forest. Although Crawley's sorry home form has kept them in the bottom half of League Two, I fancy them to edge out fast fading Stevenage, who have lost their last five away.


Pools Info: Tottenham v West Ham (match No 8 on coupon) has been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

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

Ten draws: Burnley v Tottenham, Southampton v Huddersfield, Aston Villa v Sheffield United, Bristol Rovers v Doncaster, Plymouth v Oldham, Shrewsbury v Portsmouth, Barnet v Cheltenham, Forest Green v Carlisle, Celtic v Aberdeen, Motherwell v Dundee.

Best draws: Burnley v Tottenham, Aston Villa v Sheffield United, Plymouth v Oldham, Shrewsbury v Portsmouth, Celtic v Aberdeen.

Best weekend away bets: Crystal Palace, Cardiff, Bristol City, Bradford City, Blackburn, Hearts.

Best weekend home bets: Brighton, Stoke, Fulham, Leeds, Wolves, Charlton, Peterborough, Accrington, Colchester, Crewe.


Pick of the draws: Stuttering Tottenham, who have slipped to seventh in the Premier League after that 4-1 thumping by Manchester City, could have chosen easier opponents than Burnley, who have lost only four league matches this season and have conceded just 12 goals. I expect Spurs to enjoy more possession but to come away from Turf Moor with no more than a draw. Sheffield United, with four defeats and a draw in their past five Championship fixtures, have gone right off the boil but they will be determined to arrest their decline at Aston Villa, who have overtaken them in the table but are not wholly convincing. Plymouth play Oldham in League One this Saturday. Both teams gained a well earned point last weekend (Plymouth at Rotherham, Oldham at Doncaster) and both will probably enjoy better second halves of the season. Oldham are now six points clear of the drop zone after looking certs for relegation and I'll be surprised if they lose to the side sitting in 22nd place. Celtic's magnificent 69-game unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership was brought to a shuddering halt by Hearts last Sunday. I've a hunch Celtic will drop more points this weekend when they play Aberdeen, their most realistic title challengers.

Away days: Roy Hodgson is doing a fabulous job of steering Crystal Palace away from relegation. Their 3-0 victory at Leicester last Saturday spoilt more than a few betting slips and they are well equipped to take three points from Swansea, who are floundering at the foot of the Premier League and have sacked their manager Paul Clement. Cardiff, four points behind leaders Wolves in the race for automatic promotion to the top flight, are recommended at Bolton, whose hopes of escaping relegation from the Championship were dealt a blow when they lost 1-0 at home to Burton last Saturday. A trip to Queens Park Rangers should not faze Bristol City, especially after knocking Manchester United out of the League Cup in midweek, while Bradford City, fourth in League One and boasting eight away wins, are a good bet to overcome struggling Wimbledon. Third-placed Blackburn are strong favourites to prevail at lowly Northampton and Hearts, after beating Celtic 4-0 at home, will look forward to taking on St Johnstone.

Homes sweet homes: Although promoted Brighton are enduring a dodgy spell in the Premier League, Watford, their visitors on Saturday, are leaking goals at an alarming rate and it's worth having a punt on the Seagulls. Stoke host West Bromwich Albion in what will be called a relegation six-pointer. Neither of these sides inspires confidence in their attempts to stay in the Premier League but I believe ground advantage will tip the balance Stoke's way. Crewe halted a wretched run of League Two results by beating Crawley 3-0 at home last weekend. Swindon, their opponents on Saturday, have been slipping down the table and are susceptible to an upset.


Betting info: Nine of my 10 home selections last weekend were correct. Arsenal, Chelsea, Cardiff, Millwall, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Coventry and Kilmarnock all obliged.

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

Ten draws: Brighton v Burnley, Stoke v West Ham, Birmingham v Queens Park Rangers, Ipswich v Reading, Preston v Sheffield United, Fleetwood v Peterborough, Gillingham v Bristol Rovers, Cambridge v Newport, Lincoln v Accrington, Inverness v Dumbarton.

Best draws: Birmingham v Queens Park Rangers, Ipswich v Reading, Gillingham v Bristol Rovers, Cambridge v Newport, Lincoln v Accrington.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Oldham, Walsall, Bradford City, Morecambe, Luton.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Chelsea, Brentford, Cardiff, Millwall, Sunderland, Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Coventry, Kilmarnock.


Pick of the draws: Birmingham, third from bottom of the Championship, can't score and Queens Park Rangers, their visitors, can't win away. Birmingham have netted only 10 times this season and this fixture points towards a low-scoring stalemate. Ipswich may appear favourites to beat Reading but the Berkshire side are a match for anybody on their day and it wouldn't surprise me if they come away with something. Mid-table Bristol Rovers are the only League One team without a draw this season but I believe that sequence will end when they visit relegation-troubled Gillingham. Like Birmingham, Gills are averaging under a goal a game and have just four victories to their credit. There's almost nothing to choose between Cambridge and Newport in League Two and Saturday's outcome will probably reflect that. Lincoln have moved into the play-off places after a praiseworthy 2-0 win at Yeovil last Saturday but there's no guarantee they'll do the same to Accrington, who keep surpassing expectations and deserve their third placing.

Away days: Manchester United, still hurting from their 2-1 home loss to runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City last Sunday, will surely take their frustration out on struggling West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. A resurgent Oldham hit Northampton for five in League One last weekend, a result that should give them the confidence to prevail at Doncaster, who are finding it hard to adapt to life in a higher division. Walsall are nothing special but they may not have to be to win at Northampton, who are leaking goals and in big trouble near the foot of the table. I'm backing promotion contenders Bradford City to continue their fine away form at mid-table Southend. Morecambe's unexpected 2-0 triumph over Coventry in League Two was one of the best results of last weekend and they can add bottom club Barnet to their list of victims. It's impossible to ignore the claims of goal-hungry leaders Luton at Forest Green, who have slipped into the drop zone.

Homes sweet homes: Unfancied and unfashionable Millwall have recently defeated Sheffield United at home and drawn with Aston Villa away in the Championship, results that give them more than a sporting chance against Middlesbrough, who have not made as much progress as expected under new manager Garry Monk. It's been far too long since lowly Sunderland last won at home but with Chris Coleman now in charge I've a hunch they'll do it against Fulham, who are consistently inconsistent.
Kilmarnock seem on the upgrade in the Scottish Premiership. Beating Partick 5-1 at home and drawing at Ross after being 2-0 down in midweek will make them confident of coming out on top against Motherwell.

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

Ten draws: Huddersfield v Brighton, Manchester United v Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers v Leeds, Bristol Rovers v Southend, Charlton v Portsmouth, Peterborough v Blackburn, Accrington v Swindon, Cheltenham v Crewe, Colchester v Exeter, Port Vale v Cambridge.

Best draws: Manchester United v Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers v Leeds, Bristol Rovers v Southend, Charlton v Portsmouth, Colchester v Exeter.

Best weekend away bets: Leicester, Chelsea, Brentford, Mansfield, Lincoln, Dundee United.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Fulham, Wolves, Oldham, Wigan, Chesterfield, Luton, Rangers, Ayr.


Pick of the draws: Manchester United, second in the Premier League, have won all seven of their home matches. Their visitors, leaders Manchester City, have won all seven of their away games. Something has to give at Old Trafford on Sunday in the biggest Premier League fixture of the season so far. I think both records will be blemished in a low-scoring stalemate. My feeling is that United will be more cautious than they were when beating Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates last Saturday and that free-scoring City will find it hard to penetrate their defence. Queens Park Rangers were only minutes away from drawing their Championship game at Preston last weekend, despite playing most of the match with 10 men. A repeat of that spirited display should be enough to deny Leeds, who are falling short of expectations. Bristol Rovers ended their losing run in League One by defeating Rotherham at home last Saturday but will probably find Southend tougher opponents. Charlton may have a hangover after suffering an unexpected exit from the FA Cup at Wimbledon last Sunday. If that is so, then Portsmouth are well equipped to take advantage. Exeter are credible promotion challengers in League Two but Colchester don't give much away at home and this fixture is one of the likeliest draws on the coupon.

Away days: Leicester, who have moved well clear of the Premier League relegation zone under their new manager Claude Puel will fancy their chances at Newcastle, who are heading in the opposite direction. Chelsea's away form is better than how they fare at Stamford Bridge and they will be disappointed with anything less than three points at second-from-bottom West Ham in Saturday's early match. Brentford's fluent football in the Championship has caught the eye this season and they are worth backing at Hull, who are in danger of slipping into the drop zone. Mansfield have climbed into the League Two play-off places and will further strengthen their position with victory at Crawley, who are fragile on their own ground. Ambitious Lincoln are eager to gain promotion in successive seasons and a win at lowly Yeovil will improve their prospects. Scottish Championship leaders Dundee United are highly recommended at Morton.

Homes sweet homes: Roy Hodgson is turning things around at Crystal Palace. After a dreadful start to the season they have moved off the foot of the Premier League and are in the mood to climb higher. They have an excellent opportunity to get three points from the visit of Bournemouth, who have just had disappointing home results against Burnley (lost) and Southampton (drawn). Chesterfield are playing much better than their bottom placing in League Two suggests and should relish the visit of second-last Barnet, who can hardly do a thing right. Leaders Luton have scored a stunning 48 goals from 20 matches - a statistic that ought to tilt the balance their way when they play Notts County, who are second, on Saturday.