Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 2-3

Ten draws: Brighton v Watford, Burnley v Southampton, Brentford v Blackburn, Hull v Stoke, Accrington v Blackpool, Coventry v Gillingham, Shrewsbury v Luton, Crewe v Carlisle, Grimsby v Newport, Port Vale v Tranmere.

Best draws: Burnley v Southampton, Brentford v Blackburn, Accrington v Blackpool, Shrewsbury v Luton, Crewe v Carlisle.

Best weekend away bets: Bournemouth, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Lincoln, Forest Green.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Millwall, Sheffield United, Wigan, Burton, Southend, Bury, Exeter, Stevenage, Hibernian.

Pick of the draws: Burnley gained a creditable draw at Manchester United in midweek but Southampton are also showing the spirit needed to escape relegation from the Premier League. Brentford almost came an FA Cup cropper at non-League Barnet on Monday and I expect equal resistance from Blackburn, who are only three points off the Championship play-off places. Off-form Accrington v cash-strapped Blackpool in League One is probably the likeliest draw on the coupon. Shrewsbury were minutes away from knocking Wolves out of the FA Cup last weekend and can halt the progress of League One leaders Luton. Crewe have won their last four home games in League Two while Carlisle are becoming away specialists. It all points to an entertaining stalemate.

Away days: If Bournemouth play as well as they did when routing Chelsea in midweek, they will surely be too strong for struggling Cardiff. Wolves are challenging for a Europa League place and in much better fettle than Everton, their hosts. This will be Steve Bruce's first game as Sheffield Wednesday manager and he could hardly have picked more accommodating opponents than Ipswich, rock bottom of the Championship. Aston Villa, still with a chance of making the play-offs, are recommended at lowly Reading and Lincoln, top of League Two, cannot be ignored at Notts County, who seemed resigned to relegation. Forest Green are genuine promotion contenders and worth backing at Swindon.

Homes sweet homes: Although beaten 3-1 at Nottingham Forest in the Championship last Saturday, Wigan emerged with credit and can claim all three points against the better-placed Queens Park Rangers. Exeter returned to the League Two play-off positions by beating Cambridge 1-0 last weekend and have the ability to send MK Dons home pointless. Hibernian, who have disappointed in the Scottish Premiership, can go some way towards rectifying that by defeating the more highly rated Aberdeen.

Pools info: West Ham v Liverpool (No 10 on coupon) will be played on Monday and assessed by the pools panel. Preston v Derby (18) has been brought forward to Friday and is void.

Three of my best five draw selections were correct last weekend: Norwich v Sheffield United (2-2), Bury v Lincoln (3-3) and Aberdeen v Kilmarnock (0-0).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 26-27

Ten draws: Brighton v West Brom, Crystal Palace v Tottenham, Norwich v Sheffield United, Fleetwood v Scunthorpe, Bury v Lincoln, Cheltenham v Macclesfield, Stevenage v Forest Green, Aberdeen v Kilmarnock, Partick v Queen of South, Annan v Peterhead.

Best draws: Norwich v Sheffield United, Fleetwood v Scunthorpe, Bury v Lincoln, Cheltenham v Macclesfield, Aberdeen v Kilmarnock.

Best weekend away bets: Derby, Everton, Leeds, Charlton, MK Dons, Carlisle.

Best weekend home bets: Doncaster, Portsmouth, Swansea, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Burton, Crewe, Northampton, Dundee, Hartlepool.

Pick of the draws: Norwich, second in the Championship, have faltered at home recently and Sheffield United's impressive away record should enable them to come away with a point. Scunthorpe's run of good results in League One continued last Saturday when they held third-placed  Sunderland to a 1-1 home draw. They visit Fleetwood, who are none too secure on their own patch. Lincoln strengthened their grip on the League Two leadership by beating Yeovil 2-0 away in midweek. However, they have a far harder task at Bury, who are consistently winning and scoring goals for fun. Macclesfield, after defeating Oldham 2-1 at home last weekend, have League Two safety in their sights and will be disappointed not to gain at least a point at Cheltenham, who are in the relegation dogfight themselves. Aberdeen must have been shaken by their failure to beat minnows Stenhousemuir at home in the Scottish Cup last Saturday - a result that has hindered their chances of overcoming Kilmarnock, who have only Celtic above them.

Away days: A trip to Accrington in the FA Cup fourth round will hold no fears for Derby, especially as they knocked out Southampton, of the Premier League, in the previous round. Everton badly need a positive result and I think they'll get one at Millwall, who may be more concerned with staying in the Championship than progressing in the FA Cup. Although Leeds slipped up at Stoke last weekend, it will be a surprise if they fail to achieve promotion to the top flight and they will probably be too strong for relegation-threatened Rotherham. Charlton are in contention for automatic promotion from League One and I believe they'll cash in on Peterborough's slump in form. MK Dons, fifth in League Two, surprisingly went down at home to Crewe last Saturday but they can bounce straight back at Grimsby, who have lost two in a row. Fourth-placed Carlisle must be fancied at Port Vale, who are fragile at home.

Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that League One leaders Portsmouth, despite losing two consecutive matches, will achieve a mini giant-killing in the FA Cup fourth round when they host Queens Park Rangers, who crashed 4-1 at home to Preston last Saturday. Crewe, with four wins and a draw from their last six League Two games, are worth a punt against higher-placed Colchester while Dundee, bottom of the Scottish Premiership, could upset off-colour Motherwell.

Pools info: Arsenal v Manchester United (No 2 on coupon) and Bristol City v Bolton (5) have been brought forward to Friday and are therefore void. Barnet v Brentford (3) has been put back to Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 19-20

Ten draws: Bournemouth v West Ham, Fulham v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday v Wigan, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Plymouth v Coventry, Forest Green v Bury, Morecambe v Stevenage, Aldershot v Chesterfield, Dover v Bromley.

Best draws: Fulham v Tottenham, Sheffield Wednesday v Wigan, Plymouth v Coventry, Forest Green v Bury, Aldershot v Chesterfield.

Best weekend away bets: Brentford, Leeds, Barnsley, Portsmouth, Northampton, Barnet.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Southampton, Wolves, Derby, Middlesbrough, Blackpool, Charlton, Carlisle, Macclesfield, Tranmere.

Pick of the draws: At first glance Tottenham look an away banker at Fulham but Spurs will be without Kane (injured) and Son (away at Asian Cup) and Fulham played well without reward at Burnley last weekend. Claudio Ranieri's team, although second from bottom in the Premier League, will be hopeful they can get something from this London derby on Sunday. Wigan's 3-0 home win over Aston Villa was a good way to end their recent slump and I fancy them for a point at Sheffield Wednesday, who have already drawn six home games this season. Plymouth's 3-2 victory at Southend last Saturday raised their hopes of survival in League One and they can frustrate eighth-placed Coventry. Bury, who are second in League Two, can't stop scoring and that should serve them well at Forest Green, who are also punching above their weight. Chesterfield, in the drop zone of the National League, have rallied since sacking manager Martin Allen and should share the spoils at fellow strugglers Aldershot.

Away days: I'm backing Brentford, without an away success in the Championship this season, to break their duck at Rotherham, who are battling to avoid relegation. Leeds increased their lead at the top to four points with a 2-0 home triumph over Derby and will travel to ailing Stoke with confidence. Barnsley, striving for automatic promotion from League One, seem a sound proposition at bottom club Wimbledon. Leaders Portsmouth are better away than at home and will surely have too much for lowly Oxford. In League Two, Northampton, convincing 3-0 home winners over Carlisle last Saturday, are worth a punt at Cambridge while Barnet, of the National League, are strongly recommended at rock bottom Braintree.

Homes sweet homes: Although Arsenal are not without their problems, I've a hunch they'll avenge their Premier League defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in August. The Gunners are six points behind Chelsea in the race for the top four and need to start recovering lost ground. Relegation-threatened Southampton won 2-1 at Leicester last Saturday despite playing with only 10 men in the second half and they can take all three points against inconsistent Everton. Sol Campbell's Macclesfield, 23rd in League Two, will be greatly encouraged by winning 2-0 at Grimsby last weekend and are worth supporting against Oldham.

Pools info: Bolton v West Bromwich Albion (No 12 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. Norwich v Birmingham (15) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 12-13

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Watford, Tottenham v Manchester United, West Ham v Arsenal, Hull v Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall v Blackburn, Wigan v Aston Villa, Walsall v Scunthorpe, Cheltenham v Tranmere, Crewe v Newport, Oldham v Forest Green.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Watford, Wigan v Aston Villa, Cheltenham v Tranmere, Crewe v Newport, Oldham v Forest Green.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Swansea, Charlton, Doncaster, Morton, Clyde.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Coventry, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Sunderland, Grimsby, Mansfield, Notts County, Stevenage, Partick.

Pick of the draws: Watford have gained recent creditable draws at Everton (2-2) and Bournemouth (3-3) and are on course for another at Crystal Palace, who are six points clear of the Premier League drop zone but have won only twice at home this season while scoring only five goals. Wigan, lying 20th in the Championship, are in terrible form but they have a fighting chance against Aston Villa, whose progress has stalled. Cheltenham's home record in League Two is nothing to shout about but they may get something from the visit of Tranmere, who will struggle to recover from the 7-0 home thrashing by Tottenham in the FA Cup last weekend. Newport's 2-1 victory over Premier League team Leicester in the FA Cup will probably kick-start their League Two season but Crewe, while feeble away, are a tougher proposition at home, as they showed when they beat leaders Lincoln last month. Oldham's FA Cup giant-killing act at Fulham last Sunday was one of the results of the weekend but they face a Forest Green side who have won seven away games.

Away days: Liverpool, who have suffered consecutive losses, will be disappointed not to return to winning ways at mid-table Brighton. Swansea, who rose to the occasion by knocking Aston Villa out of the FA Cup last Saturday, are on for a repeat victory at Preston, whose climb up the Championship table has been halted. Charlton, who occupy the League One play-off places, will be confident of success at Shrewsbury. Doncaster, fresh from their FA Cup third-round triumph at Preston, will feel just as upbeat travelling to Wycombe. Morton, fourth in the Scottish Championship, are worth backing at lowly Alloa and Clyde, third in Scottish League Two, are likely to prevail at struggling Berwick.

Homes sweet homes: I'm taking promotion-chasing Sunderland in League One to end Luton's remarkable unbeaten streak and to leapfrog them in the table. Luton, who this week lost their manager, Nathan Jones, to Stoke, are unbeaten in the league since October 13. Notts County, the League Two's bottom club, showed signs of a revival by drawing 3-3 at Colchester last Saturday and can improve on that result by defeating Cambridge, who are five points better off but brittle on their travels. Partick, bottom of the Scottish Championship, are worth a punt against Falkirk, who are just above them.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 5-6

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, Middlesbrough v Peterborough, Millwall v Hull, Preston v Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday v Luton, Cambridge v Stevenage, Crawley v Cheltenham, Macclesfield v Swindon, Dunfermline v Alloa, Bromley v AFC Fylde.

Best draws: Middlesbrough v Peterborough, Millwall v Hull, Preston v Doncaster, Sheffield Wednesday v Luton, Crawley v Cheltenham.

Best weekend away bets: Ipswich, Cardiff, Stoke, Burton, Bury, Barrow.

Best weekend home bets: Brentford, Derby, Newcastle, Norwich, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich, West Ham, Colchester, Ayr, Dagenham & Redbridge.

Pick of the draws: It's FA Cup third round weekend and Middlesbrough's stuttering form in the Championship should encourage League One Peterborough, who are often at their best in knockout competitions. Championship sides Millwall (19th) and Hull (13th), who meet at the new Den, excelled over the Christmas holiday period. Both gained maximum points from three matches, Hull beating Bolton 6-0 at home and winning 2-0 away at Leeds. A replay is the likeliest outcome. I'm tipping free-scoring Doncaster, of League One, to force a stalemate at Championship team Preston and Luton, second in the table and unbeaten in 13 games, to do the same at Sheffield Wednesday, who have appointed Steve Bruce as manager. Cheltenham are showing the best form of the relegation-threatened clubs in League Two and can share the spoils at Crawley.

Away days: Ipswich, who are rock bottom of the Championship, will be relieved to have a break from league football and I believe they'll take advantage of Accrington's slide down League One. Premier League strugglers Cardiff have just one away victory but I'll be surprised if they don't add to that at Gillingham, who are finding life difficult in League One. Stoke have disappointed in the Championship this season but they can make some amends by winning at Shrewsbury, who are in the lower half of League One. Outside the FA Cup, League Cup semi-finalists Burton, but mid-table in League One, are worth a punt at Rochdale, who are terrible at home. Bury, one of the form teams of League Two, will feel confident at lowly Yeovil and fast-improving Barrow, of the National League, are recommended at Havant & Waterlooville.

Homes sweet homes: Promotion-seeking Derby, from the Championship, can make it an early FA Cup exit for Southampton, who will probably be more concerned at preserving their Premier League status. The progress of Steve McLaren's Queens Park Rangers seems to have gone unnoticed and I'm backing them to knock out Championship leaders Leeds, who have lost their past two games. Dagenham & Redbridge, who have moved well clear of the National League relegation zone, are worth a wager against Boreham Wood, who are just above them.


Pools info: Three of my best five draws were correct last weekend: Preston v Aston Villa, Walsall v Luton and Cheltenham v Forest Green.