Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 20-21

Ten draws: Everton v West Bromwich Albion, Bolton v Ipswich, Leeds v Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff, Sunderland v Hull, Plymouth v Wigan, Rotherham v Portsmouth, Coventry v Swindon, Yeovil v Chesterfield, Fylde v Macclesfield.

Best draws: Everton v West Bromwich Albion, Bolton v Ipswich, Sunderland v Hull, Plymouth v Wigan, Coventry v Swindon.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Blackburn, Lincoln, Wycombe.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Stoke, Aston Villa, Fulham, Preston, Wolves, Northampton, Rochdale, Colchester, Mansfield.


Pick of the draws: After a brief revival under new manager Sam Allardyce, Everton have fallen apart and are vulnerable to a West Brom team who are fighting to save their Premier League lives. West Brom also had the encouragement of a 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Brighton last weekend. Ipswich's results in the Championship have been underwhelming and they only just managed to beat 10-man Leeds at Portman Road last Saturday. I expect they won't get too much out of Bolton, who at one point this season looked doomed but are now above the drop zone. Despite appointing Chris Coleman as manager, Sunderland are still bottom with only one home victory to their name. They'll struggle to overcome Hull, whose results have improved recently. Plymouth's startling rise to
mid-table in League One is impossible to ignore and I'm backing them to hold leaders Wigan. Although Coventry will be keen to climb back into the League Two play-off places after losing to Exeter, Swindon, their opponents on Saturday, have the best away record in the division, winning nine matches, and will probably relish this encounter.

Away days: Chelsea have stumbled recently but they look good for maximum points at Brighton, who are in need of more firepower. Second-placed Manchester United will no doubt take advantage of Burnley's loss in form while free-scoring Tottenham, with Harry Kane unstoppable, are a confident selection on Sunday at Southampton, who are low on morale and hovering just above the Premier League relegation zone. Manager Tony Mowbray is doing a good job of reviving Blackburn, who have become strong contenders for automatic promotion in League One. I believe they'll improve that prospect by winning at Fleetwood on Saturday. Lincoln have a wonderful opportunity to gain two successive promotions and are strong favourites to prevail at Barnet, who are languishing at the bottom of League Two. Wycombe's chances of going up to League One are also good and they will have high hopes at relegation-troubled Crewe.

Homes sweet homes: Stoke, third from bottom of the Premier League, have a new manager in Paul Lambert. I think he'll get off to a winning start when Huddersfield come to visit on Saturday. Huddersfield have steadily slipped in the past few months and are now one of at least 10 clubs involved in the battle to avoid relegation. Northampton's 2-1 victory at high-flying Bradford City was one of the best results last weekend and has given them a fighting chance of escaping relegation from League One. They are well worth a punt against MK Dons, who are far from safe themselves. Second from bottom Rochdale have a lot of ground to recover but they can make a start against Southend, whose away record is poor and includes 10 defeats.


Pools info: Derby v Bristol City (match No 12 on coupon) and Newport v Crawley (42) have been brought forward to Friday and are therefore void.


Betting info: I scored five out of six with my away selections last weekend. Derby, Charlton, Fleetwood, Newport and St Mirren all obliged.