Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Aug 31-Sept 1

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Aston Villa, Everton v Wolves, Birmingham v Stoke, Brentford v Derby, Blackpool v Portsmouth, Peterborough v Sunderland, Forest Green v Newport, Salford v Leyton Orient, Walsall v Grimsby, Rangers v Celtic.

Best draws: Everton v Wolves, Brentford v Derby, Blackpool v Portsmouth, Peterborough v Sunderland, Forest Green v Newport.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Charlton, MK Dons, Wycombe, Plymouth, Notts County.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Leicester, West Ham, Bristol City, Luton, West Brom, Ipswich, Rotherham, Scunthorpe, Stevenage.


Pick of the draws: I feel Wolves' Premier League form has been hampered by having to play so many Europa League qualifying matches but they should still have enough in the tank to hold Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday. Neither Brentford nor Derby have set the Championship alight so far and there's a good chance they'll cancel each other out here. Although Portsmouth have made a stuttering start to their League One season, they are capable of nicking something at Blackpool, even though the Seasiders are second in the table. Sunderland are showing they mean business again but Peterborough, their hosts, had an excellent 4-0 win at MK Dons last weekend and can share the spoils. Forest Green will be League Two promotion contenders once more but Newport, who are just below them, have conceded only twice in five games and will be hard to break down.

Away days: It takes a brave man to bet against Liverpool these days and the Premier League leaders and European champions must start firm favourites at Burnley. Promoted Charlton have coped with the demands of the Championship better than expected and sit a proud third in the table. I fancy they will maintain the momentum at Reading, despite the Berkshire team's marked improvement. MK Dons bounced back from last weekend's dispiriting home defeat against Peterborough with a 4-1 triumph at Southend in the League Cup. That result should stand them in good stead at struggling Accrington. Wycombe, who are among the leading lights in League One, are recommended at Wimbledon and so are high-riding Plymouth at lowly Northampton in League Two. Notts County are on the rise in the National League and I believe they'll take maximum points at Yeovil.

Homes sweet homes: West Bromwich Albion, still awaiting their first home victory in the Championship, can get off the mark against shot-shy Blackburn. Although relegated Scunthorpe have slid to the bottom of League Two, I'll be surprised if they stay there. A home game against off-colour Carlisle is a good opportunity to climb the table. Just above Scunthorpe are Stevenage, who have two points but no goals from five matches. I've a hunch they will both score and win on Saturday when Macclesfield are the visitors.

Pools info: Bury v Doncaster (No 24 on coupon) will be judged by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 24-25

Ten draws: Watford v West Ham, Barnsley v Luton, Derby v West Brom, Huddersfield v Reading, Preston v Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster v Lincoln, Portsmouth v Rotherham, Shrewsbury v Burton, Grimsby v Port Vale, Leyton Orient v Crawley.

Best draws: Derby v West Brom, Huddersfield v Reading, Preston v Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth v Rotherham, Shrewsbury v Burton.

Six aways: Chelsea, Leicester, Bristol City, Blackpool, Exeter, Aberdeen.

Ten homes: Brighton, Manchester United, Tottenham, Charlton, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Coventry, Sunderland, Wycombe, Bradford City.

Pick of the draws: West Bromwich Albion have already won at Nottingham Forest and Luton in this season's Championship, so I'm confident they will at least avoid defeat at Derby. Reading's unexpected 3-0 home win over Cardiff last Sunday must have put a spring in their step, which is more than can be said for Huddersfield, who have struggled in the lower division since being relegated last season. Managerless Sheffield Wednesday are among the Championship front-runners and are well capable of gaining a point at Preston. Portsmouth's failure to beat nine-man Coventry at Fratton Park in midweek will have infuriated their manager Kenny Jackett and I can't see Rotherham, with two League One away victories under their belt, making it any easier for them. Shrewsbury and Burton, two unfashionable teams playing each other, enjoyed good away wins in midweek at Accrington and Oxford respectively and I cannot separate them.

Away days: Although Chelsea have fallen short for manager Frank Lampard so far, there is more to come from them and I think we'll see it when they travel to promoted Norwich on Saturday. Leicester should really have taken three points from Stamford Bridge last Sunday and I believe they'll make sure of a maximum return at Sheffield United. Bristol City are back on the winning track in the Championship, having defeated Queens Park Rangers (home) and Derby (away). The odds are shortening on their making it a hat-trick at Hull. Blackpool, the League One leaders, are looking strong at the moment and I can't see Rochdale knocking them out of their stride. Exeter, flying high in League Two, have conceded only once in four matches and are a decent bet to keep another clean sheet at Morecambe. In the Scottish Premiership, Aberdeen are tipped to prevail at bottom club Kilmarnock.

Homes sweet homes: Brighton, under new manager Graham Potter, have four points from two Premier League games, whereas Southampton have none. I've a hunch that gap will be wider after the teams meet at the Amex on Saturday. Middlesbrough gave new manager Jonathan Woodgate his first Championship victory when they beat Wigan at home in midweek and I'm taking them to follow that up when they host Millwall. The signs are looking more positive for Bradford City after two consecutive wins in League Two and they are worth backing against Forest Green, although the visitors don't give much away.


Pools info: Tranmere v Bury (No 32 on coupon) has been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel. Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Chelsea v Leicester, Stoke v Derby and Peterborough v Ipswich. I also got nine out of ten homes: Arsenal, Norwich, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Lincoln, Bradford City, Newport and Falkirk.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 17-18

Ten draws: Chelsea v Leicester, Blackburn v Middlesbrough, Luton v West Brom, Stoke v Derby, Doncaster v Fleetwood, Peterborough v Ipswich, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Carlisle v Mansfield, Northampton v Macclesfield, Forfar v East Fife.

Best draws: Chelsea v Leicester, Stoke v Derby, Peterborough v Ipswich, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Northampton v Macclesfield.

Six aways: Liverpool, Cardiff, Leeds, Cheltenham, Crawley, Raith.

Ten homes: Arsenal, Norwich, Sheffield United, Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Lincoln, Bradford City, Newport, Falkirk.

Pick of the draws: Chelsea did not deserve such a mauling at Manchester United last weekend but the size of the defeat (4-0) will have shaken them and that could help Leicester at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, especially as the Midlanders are no mugs themselves. Stoke, with no points from their first two Championship matches, are badly in need of a lift. Winning at Wigan in the midweek League Cup won't have done them any harm and I think they'll gain their first point of the season at Derby's expense. Peterborough are another side with zero return from their opening two games but I suspect they are in a false position in League One and can hold relegated Ipswich. Sunderland were hoping for more than two draws so far but I predict a third consecutive stalemate against Portsmouth, who will be one of their chief rivals for promotion. There are signs that Macclesfield, in League Two, will be a sterner proposition this season. Their 3-0 home victory over Leyton Orient last Saturday was well deserved and they can get something at Northampton.

Away days: Liverpool are hard to ignore at Southampton, who crashed to a 3-0 opening-day defeat at Burnley. The midweek trip to Istanbul for the Super Cup may blunt some of Liverpool's sharpness but they should still have enough in hand at St Mary's. Cardiff, who are aiming for a quick return to the Premier League, must be fancied at Reading, who are joint-bottom of the Championship. Leeds, who may be more effective on their travels than at Elland Road, should be confident going to Wigan. In League Two, Cheltenham, who scored three goals in seven minutes in their 4-1 win over Scunthorpe last Saturday, are worth a wager at Morecambe, while Crawley, with two successive victories (league and League Cup) behind them, are recommended at bottom club Scunthorpe. Raith, the early leaders in Scottish League One, will surely be too strong for Stranraer.

Homes sweet homes: Although beaten 4-1 at Anfield last Friday, promoted Norwich showed enough to suggest that they can survive in the Premier League. They shouldn't have much to fear from the visit of Newcastle, who seem destined for a season of struggle. Another promoted team, Sheffield United, gained a well merited draw at Bournemouth and can follow up by defeating Crystal Palace, who failed to take advantage of 10-man Everton last weekend. I expect Newport to be in the League Two promotion shake-up for the second season in a row and they are worth a punt against leaders Plymouth, who have maximum points from their first two matches.

Pools info: Wolves v Manchester United (No 10 on coupon) and Bury v Gillingham (26) will be judged by the pools panel. Huddersfield v Fulham (15) is void.

Five of my forecast draws were correct last weekend: Birmingham v Bristol City (1-1), Bristol Rovers v Wycombe (0-0), Ipswich v Sunderland (1-1), Rochdale v Doncaster (1-1) and Hearts v Ross (0-0).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of August 10-11

Ten draws: Burnley v Southampton, Birmingham v Bristol City, Hull v Reading, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Ipswich v Sunderland, MK Dons v Shrewsbury, Rochdale v Doncaster, Macclesfield v Leyton Orient, Stevenage v Exeter, Hearts v Ross.

Best draws: Burnley v Southampton, Birmingham v Bristol City, Ipswich v Sunderland, MK Dons v Shrewsbury, Macclesfield v Leyton Orient.

Six aways: Wolves, Coventry, Blackpool, Newport, Salford, Kilmarnock.

Ten homes: Bournemouth, Manchester United, Leeds, West Bromwich, Fleetwood, Portsmouth, Cheltenham, Mansfield, Plymouth, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: Burnley and Southampton struggled in the Premier League last season. I can't see much changing this time around, so expect a stalemate at Turf Moor on Saturday. Bristol City fell to a disappointing home defeat by Leeds in their first match of the season but they are better than they showed last Sunday and can come away from Birmingham with a point. A home draw against Oxford was not what Sunderland wanted in their opening League One fixture but I believe they'll make amends at relegated Ipswich. In beating Portsmouth 1-0, Shrewsbury had one of the best results last weekend and they are well capable of avoiding defeat at MK Dons, who have yet to play. A much-changed Macclesfield will probably have a less fraught campaign in League Two and I think they'll hold promoted Leyton Orient.

Away days: It may be worth having a punt on Wolves at Leicester, who are likely to miss defender Harry Maguire now he has been sold to Manchester United. Coventry are highly recommended at Bolton, who begin their League One season with a 12-point deduction and must be at their wit's end. Blackpool's prospects are much brighter now they are free of their unpopular owner and they look good for three points at Southend. I expect Newport to be in the League Two promotion shake-up again and they should be confident of success at Cambridge. Salford started life in the Football League with a convincing 2-0 win over Stevenage and they can follow that with another victory at Crawley. In the Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock are fancied to prevail at Hamilton, who crashed 3-0 at promoted Ross last Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe seems to have made some astute signings in the close season and I'm backing them to make their mark against promoted Sheffield United. The vibes coming out of Old Trafford are more positive these days and I've a hunch that Manchester United will get the better of Frank Lampard's Chelsea on Sunday. Although Cheltenham lost their League Two opener at Leyton Orient last weekend, they showed lots of resolve and that should stand them in good stead against Scunthorpe, who were defeated 2-0 at home by Swindon.

Pools info: Accrington v Bury (No 21 on the coupon) has been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel.