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.