Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 13-14

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Burnley, Burton v Queens Park Rangers, Ipswich v Leeds, Blackburn v Shrewsbury, Oldham v Rotherham, Cambridge v Mansfield, Exeter v Coventry, Lincoln v Notts County, Wycombe v Colchester, Morton v Falkirk.

Best draws: Ipswich v Leeds, Blackburn v Shrewsbury, Oldham v Rotherham, Cambridge v Mansfield, Exeter v Coventry.

Best weekend away bets: Derby, Charlton, Fleetwood, Luton, Newport, St Mirren.

Best weekend home bets: Newcastle, Tottenham, Watford, Bristol City, Hull, Nottingham Forest, Gillingham, Morecambe, Swindon, Arbroath.


Pick of the draws: The downbeat mood of Ipswich fans cannot have been improved by the team losing at home to Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round last Saturday. However, Ipswich's opponents, Leeds, fared even worse, going out to Newport, of League Two. Leeds have not drawn away in the Championship this season but I predict they'll get something at Portman Road. Unfashionable Shrewsbury are second in League One on merit with only three defeats to their name this season. A trip to Blackburn, who lie third, is no easy task but I'm backing Shrewsbury to hold Tony Mowbray's team. Rotherham are making a spirited challenge for the League One play-off places and will be hoping for at least a point at Oldham, where the goals have dried up recently. League Two play-off contenders Mansfield have begun 2018 well, including drawing at Championship side Cardiff in the FA Cup, and are well equipped to share the spoils at mid-table Cambridge. Coventry are on a roll, having moved into third spot in League Two and knocking Premier League Stoke out of the FA Cup last weekend. They travel to home specialists Exeter, who are more likely to give them a tougher match than Stoke.

Away days: Manager Gary Rowett has just signed a new contract at promotion-seeking Derby and will be keen to put one over Birmingham, the club that sacked him midway through last season and have been regretting it ever since. Derby lie second in the Championship whereas Birmingham are second from bottom. Charlton halted their League One slump with a 1-0 home win over Oldham last Saturday and look an away banker against rock bottom Bury. Fleetwood, having given Leicester a scare in the FA Cup last weekend, will go to ailing Southend with confidence while League Two leaders Luton must fancy themselves at relegation-threatened Chesterfield. FA Cup giant-killers Newport are well worth a punt at off-colour Grimsby and St Mirren, top of the Scottish Championship, are recommended at lowly Dumbarton.

Homes sweet homes: Hull's FA Cup tie at Blackburn last Saturday was a potential banana skin but they kept their feet to progress to the next round and that victory will encourage them in their attempt to avoid relegation from the Championship. Hull host Reading, who are clearly out of sorts and were lucky to escape defeat when facing League Two Stevenage in the FA Cup last Saturday. Nottingham Forest's deserved 4-2 win over Arsenal at the City Ground last Sunday has given them an enormous lift and I believe they'll send Aston Villa packing. League Two strugglers Morecambe have a real opportunity to move further away from the drop zone when they entertain Stevenage, who have lost their past five games on the road.