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

Ten draws: Brighton v Wolves, Bristol City v Stoke, Middlesbrough v Derby, Preston v Rotherham, Accrington v Portsmouth, Burton v Peterborough, Fleetwood v Blackpool, Walsall v Wycombe, Colchester v Lincoln, Mansfield v MK Dons.

Best draws: Brighton v Wolves, Middlesbrough v Derby, Burton v Peterborough, Walsall v Wycombe, Colchester v Lincoln.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Arsenal, Luton, Charlton, East Fife, Raith.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Bolton, Leeds, Swansea, Oxford, Sunderland, Newport, Notts County, Queen of South, Chesterfield.


Pick of the draws: Promoted Wolves suffered only their second loss in nine Premier League matches when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Watford last Saturday. They might be wiser for the experience and I'm backing them to gain at least a point at Brighton, despite the hosts showing no signs of being involved in a relegation struggle. Championship promotion contenders Middlesbrough have not scored in their past three home games and Derby aren't the best team to be playing if you intend to return to winning ways. Don't be surprised if this ends in another low-scoring draw. Although Peterborough's away record in League One is exemplary (won six, drawn one, lost none), they may stumble at Burton, who are putting together an impressive run of results, including a 2-2 draw at leaders Portsmouth in midweek. Walsall appear to be on the slide, having lost twice in succession. On the other hand, Wycombe, their visitors, are rapidly climbing the table and they can come away with a point here. Two consecutive home draws have slowed Lincoln's progress at the top of League Two. On Saturday they travel to Colchester, who are strong at home, and I can also see this fixture ending all square.

Away days: Chelsea are one of three unbeaten Premier League sides and playing attractive football. I really can't see them faltering at Burnley, who are not the same force as last season. I'm also taking Arsenal's remarkable winning streak to continue at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Crystal Palace, just two points above the relegation zone, have still to score at home this season. Luton moved into the League One play-off positions with a 4-1 midweek home victory over Accrington. The Hatters are on a roll and strongly fancied to prevail at lowly Wimbledon. Rochdale's poor home record has kept them in the bottom half of the table and visitors Charlton should be good enough to take advantage of that. East Fife, third in Scottish League One and bang in form, are warmly recommended at struggling Dumbarton and second-placed Raith look a good thing at Forfar.

Homes sweet homes: Oxford, in the League One drop zone, gained a well merited point at Charlton in midweek and can climb out of immediate trouble with a maximum points haul against Shrewsbury, who are without a win on their travels. Notts County's revival in League Two has been abruptly halted by two successive away defeats but I believe they'll get back on track when they host Swindon, who are on the crest of a slump. Finally, there are signs that Chesterfield have turned things around in the National League and I've a hunch they'll defeat promotion-chasing Wrexham.


Weekend pools info: Queens Park Rangers v Aston Villa (match No 18 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

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

Ten draws: Cardiff v Fulham, Derby v Sheffield United, Reading v Millwall, Stoke v Birmingham, Bradford City v Rochdale, Charlton v Barnsley, Plymouth v Burton, Southend v Coventry, Crawley v Newport, Morecambe v Colchester.

Best draws: Cardiff v Fulham, Derby v Sheffield United, Plymouth v Burton, Southend v Coventry, Morecambe v Colchester.

Best weekend away bets: West Bromwich, Oxford, Sunderland, Carlisle, Mansfield, Rangers.

Best weekend home bets: Bournemouth, Newcastle, Wolves, Aston Villa, Blackpool, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Bury, MK Dons, Livingston.


Pick of the draws: Although bottom-of-the-table Cardiff are odds-on favourites to go straight back down and are without a win in the Premier League this season, they should salvage something from the visit of Fulham, who were heavily defeated at home by Arsenal last time out and are showing  defensive frailties. Sheffield United, with four away wins under their belt, have surged to the top of the Championship and can deny Frank Lampard's Derby. Plymouth sank to the bottom of League One after being beaten at Oxford. They have won only once this season and may not add to that against Burton, who are at least defensively efficient. Two teams in better shape are Southend and Coventry, who meet at Roots Hall. Both won their previous match and only two points separate them. Stalemate is the likeliest result. Colchester, in the League Two play-off positions, could find their trip to Morecambe harder than expected. The Lancashire club are enjoying a revival, which was confirmed by their 2-0 victory at Carlisle last time out.

Away days: Free-scoring West Bromwich Albion, second in the Championship, have an excellent chance of sending Wigan to their first home defeat of the season. Oxford's 2-0 home victory over Plymouth last weekend was only the second time they've picked up maximum points in League One this season but they are worth a wager at Bristol Rovers, who are only one point better off and desperately out of form. Sunderland, handily placed for a promotion push, will feel confident of returning from Shrewsbury with three points. Carlisle's best results in League Two have come on the road, winning four matches out of six. They'll fancy achieving their fifth victory at rock-bottom Macclesfield, who are without a win of any kind. Mansfield have drawn all five of their away games. I believe they'll go one better at Swindon, who have slipped into mid-table mediocrity. Steven Gerrard's Rangers will be disappointed if they don't prevail at Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: Newcastle, who have lost all four Premier League fixtures at St James' Park, will feel that the tide must turn soon, so don't be surprised if it happens on Saturday against Brighton, who are consistently weak away. Aston Villa, now managed by former Brentford chief Dean Smith with John Terry as his No 2, are worth a punt against Swansea, who surprisingly lost 3-2 at home to struggling Ipswich in their previous match. Although Villa are in the bottom half of the Championship, they are only four points off a play-off place and will be anxious to improve their indifferent home record. Despite Notts County climbing clear of the League Two relegation zone under new manager Harry Kewell, I don't rate their chances at ninth-placed Bury, who are playing good football and were unlucky not to win at Crewe last Saturday.

Pools info: Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough (match No 17 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Betting info: You'd have been in the money if you had backed my away predictions last weekend. I got six out of six. The successful sides were Portugal, Portsmouth, MK Dons, Lincoln, Wrexham and Gateshead.

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

Ten draws: Rep Ireland v Denmark, Holland v Germany, Russia v Turkey, Rochdale v Doncaster, Scunthorpe v Peterborough, Colchester v Crawley, Boreham Wood v Maidenhead, Bromley v Barrow, Eastleigh v Aldershot, Halifax v Chesterfield.

Best draws: Holland v Germany, Rochdale v Doncaster, Colchester v Crawley, Eastleigh v Aldershot, Halifax v Chesterfield.

Best weekend away wins: Portugal, Portsmouth, MK Dons, Lincoln, Wrexham, Gateshead.

Best weekend home wins: Accrington, Coventry, Fleetwood, Oxford, Crewe, Exeter, Northampton, Tranmere (Friday), Fylde, Leyton Orient.


Pick of the draws: I sense that Germany have not recovered from their World Cup flop of the summer and I'm backing Holland to share the spoils in this Uefa Nations League match. Doncaster's 4-0 loss at home to Fleetwood in League One last Saturday raised more than a few eyebrows but I believe it was a temporary lapse and think they will avoid defeat at Rochdale, who have won only one home game. A 3-1 defeat at Stevenage last Saturday meant that Colchester dropped out of the League Two play-off positions. Improving Crawley sit one place below them on the same number of points and can come away with a draw. Aldershot have found it hard going in the National League this season but they were boosted by an emphatic 3-0 home victory over Halifax last Saturday. Although their away form is terrible, I've a hunch they'll surprise the better-placed Eastleigh. Chesterfield's further decline after their relegation from League Two has been unexpected but two consecutive draws suggest that the rot may have been stopped. Don't be surprised if they are involved in another stalemate at Halifax.

Away days: Portugal will be anxious to make amends for their World Cup disappointment and should have too much for Scotland in this friendly international on Sunday. League One leaders Portsmouth owe their top placing to their away record, where they have won five out of six and are unbeaten. This weekend Pompey visit lowly Wimbledon, whose home is hardly a fortress, and I expect them to return to winning ways after their home defeat by Gillingham. I get the feeling that MK Dons are finally hitting their stride. Their 3-0 home success over Cheltenham last Saturday enabled them to climb to fourth in League Two and they look an away banker at second-from-bottom Cambridge. Lincoln, four points clear at the top of the table, are recommended at Port Vale, whose revival has stalled. Wrexham, promotion contenders in the National League, will fancy their chances at ailing Dagenham & Redbridge and Gateshead will be no less confident when visiting Havant & Waterlooville.

Homes sweet homes: Oxford, bottom of League One, had much the better of their goalless draw at Southend last weekend and are due a break. I'm backing them to get it against promoted Plymouth, who are also in the relegation zone and finding life difficult in the higher division. Crewe's faltering progress in League Two has nothing to do with their record at home, where they have conceded only once and won three out of five. Those stats suggest they ought to get the better of Bury. Remarkably, the unfancied Forest Green Rovers are the only unbeaten team in the Football League. They'll be short odds to maintain that record at struggling Northampton but the Cobblers, now managed by Keith Curle, can cause an upset here.


Weekend pools info: Sunderland v Blackpool (28), Walsall v Charlton (29), Cheltenham v Yeovil (32) and Notts County v Oldham (38) have been postponed owing to international calls and will be judged by the pools panel.

Betting info: Five of my six away selections were correct last weekend: Arsenal, Sunderland, Notts County, Eastleigh and Salford.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 6-7

Ten draws: Leicester v Everton, Liverpool v Manchester City, Watford v Bournemouth, Bolton v Blackburn, Norwich v Stoke, Peterborough v Barnsley, Bury v Mansfield, Forest Green v Newport, Morecambe v Tranmere, Motherwell v Livingston.

Best draws: Leicester v Everton, Watford v Bournemouth, Norwich v Stoke, Peterborough v Barnsley, Motherwell v Livingston.

Best weekend away bets: Arsenal, Sunderland, Notts County, Exeter, Eastleigh, Salford.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Tottenham, Preston, Swansea, West Bromwich, Blackpool, Southend, Crawley, Stevenage, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Everton gained a badly needed Premier League win over Fulham at Goodison Park last Saturday and, as a result, will be more confident of getting something at Leicester, although the hosts are a team in form. To their great credit, Watford and Bournemouth, who meet on Saturday, are hovering just outside the Champions League qualification places. Watford deserved better than to lose 2-0 at Arsenal last weekend and Bournemouth were worthy winners against Crystal Palace 2-1 at home last Monday. The teams are evenly matched and I think that will be reflected in the result. Stoke are starting to find their feet in the Championship and steadily climbing the table. I believe they'll hold Norwich, who have themselves improved. League One high-flyers Peterborough have had two recent setbacks at home, losing to Portsmouth and only drawing with Blackpool. Barnsley's fine away record suggests that the Posh may be disappointed again on Saturday. Livingston's 1-0 home win over Rangers last Sunday showed they are no easy touch in the Scottish Premiership and they will probably prove a tough nut for Motherwell to crack.

Away days: Arsenal, boasting five consecutive Premier League wins, will be short odds to make it six at Fulham, who are finding it difficult to adjust to life in a higher division. Relegated Sunderland are handily placed to make an immediate return to the Championship and will approach their League One fixture at lowly Bradford City with confidence. Notts County have climbed clear of the League Two drop zone with two successive home victories over Crewe and Crawley respectively. They have no reason to fear a trip to Macclesfield, who prop up the table and have yet to win in the league this season. Exeter moved three points nearer to League Two leaders Lincoln by beating Stevenage 1-0 in midweek and I can see them dishing out similar treatment to Yeovil, who appear to have hit a wall. It's shaping up to be a bumper weekend for away wins in the National League. The most likely victors are Eastleigh, who visit rock bottom Braintree, and new leaders Salford, who go to Dover, who are second from last.

Homes sweet homes: Although Preston are bottom of the Championship, they aren't playing as poorly as their results suggest. They gave West Bromwich Albion a battle before going down 3-2 last weekend and forced a 3-3 draw at Aston Villa in midweek. I've a hunch that they'll surprise Wigan on Saturday. Stevenage have begun to impose themselves in League Two after an uncertain start to the season. They won 1-0 at Carlisle last Saturday and only lost narrowly at promotion-chasing Exeter in midweek. On Saturday they play Colchester, another side in the play-off positions, and I believe they'll make home advantage count. Rangers will want to make amends for their 1-0 loss at Livingston in the Scottish Premiership last Sunday and I'm backing them to send leaders Hearts to their first league defeat this season.

Pools info: Six of my 10 selected draws were correct last weekend. The matches were Rotherham v Stoke, Bradford City v Bristol Rovers, Coventry v Sunderland, Luton v Charlton, Port Vale v Exeter and Swindon v Oldham.