Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 27-28

Ten draws: Cardiff v Manchester City, Hull v Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United v Preston, Doncaster v Bristol Rovers, Oldham v Plymouth, Crawley v Accrington, Port Vale v Colchester, Leyton Orient v Aldershot, Wrexham v Tranmere, Hamilton v Dundee.

Best draws: Sheffield United v Preston, Doncaster v Bristol Rovers, Crawley v Accrington, Leyton Orient v Aldershot, Wrexham v Tranmere.

Best weekend away bets: Fulham, Wolves, Charlton, Luton, Fylde, Rangers.

Best weekend home bets: Wigan, Middlesbrough, Millwall, Bristol City, Blackburn, Swindon, Bromley, Dover, Gateshead, Aberdeen.


Pick of the draws: Two evenly matched Championship teams, Sheffield United and Preston, meet at Bramall Lane in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday and parity is the likeliest outcome. Doncaster's progress in League One was confirmed by them earning draws at Shrewsbury (2-2) last Saturday and Scunthorpe (1-1) in midweek but Bristol Rovers, three places below Doncaster, have had some encouraging results themselves, including a 3-1 home victory over promotion contenders Bradford City last weekend, and I rate this as the best draw on the coupon. Crawley's morale was lifted by a fine 2-1 midweek win at Notts County, who are second in League Two, and I believe they will check Accrington's charge towards promotion. Second-placed Aldershot look a fair bet to go up from the National League but Leyton Orient, under new manager Justin Edinburgh, are less brittle now and capable of forcing a draw. Two former Football League clubs, Wrexham and Tranmere, face each other at the Racecourse Ground. They are fourth and fifth respectively in the National League and everything points to a stalemate.

Away days: Fulham have the credentials to be in the promotion shake-up in the Championship and their 6-0 rout of Burton at Craven Cottage last Saturday was no fluke. I expect them to continue the good work at Barnsley, who have been sucked into the battle to avoid relegation. Although runaway leaders Wolves have stumbled recently, I think they'll resume winning ways at Ipswich, who have short-changed their supporters this season. Charlton are looking more like League One promotion contenders these days and must be fancied at Blackpool, who are seemingly drifting. League Two leaders Luton suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat at lowly Chesterfield two weeks ago but I can't see them making the same mistake at ailing Grimsby. Fylde, of the National League, are one of the most improved sides in the country. Their 6-0 home win over table-topping Macclesfield last Saturday was an eye-opener and I'm taking them to beat Woking, who lie 16th. Rangers, who have climbed to second in the Scottish Premiership, are recommended at bottom club Ross County on Sunday.

Homes sweet homes: Wigan have a good FA Cup pedigree, winning it in 2013, and have already eliminated Bournemouth from this season's competition. The League One leaders must have a fighting chance against West Ham, who will probably rest their leading players in this fourth-round tie. Another cup upset is on the cards at Middlesbrough, who are reviving under Tony Pulis. The Championship side host Brighton, who are only one point away from the Premier League drop zone and crashed 4-0 at home to Chelsea last weekend. Gateshead's National League fortunes were boosted when they defeated Chester 3-1 away last Saturday and they are worth backing against Maidstone.


Pools info: The FA Cup fourth-round tie between Sheffield Wednesday and Reading (match No 13 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.