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.