Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Nov 23-24

Ten draws: Sheffield United v Manchester United, West Ham v Tottenham, Charlton v Cardiff, Accrington v Bolton, Shrewsbury v Bristol Rovers, Carlisle v Cambridge, Cheltenham v Colchester, Scunthorpe v Port Vale, Walsall v Stevenage, Kilmarnock v Hearts.

Best draws: Sheffield United v Manchester United, West Ham v Tottenham, Accrington v Bolton, Scunthorpe v Port Vale, Walsall v Stevenage.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Preston, Leeds, Portsmouth, Oxford, Forest Green, Rangers.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Everton, Watford, Blackburn, Huddersfield, Swansea, Wycombe, Crewe, Newport, Hibernian.

Pick of the draws: Manchester United have perked up recently but they will underestimate promoted Sheffield United at their peril on Sunday. Sheffield's climb to fifth place in the Premier League is no fluke. They are a well organised team who have conceded only nine goals and are unbeaten away. They have yet to draw at home this season but I can see this one ending all square. A change of manager usually benefits a club in the short term but I believe Tottenham, who have just appointed Jose Mourinho, will be denied victory at West Ham. This is a Spurs side who have not won away in the league since January. Beating MK Dons last Saturday at last put bottom club Bolton on a positive points total in League One. They are showing signs of reviving and should at least share the spoils at struggling Accrington. I predict deadlock when League Two Port Vale, one of the most improved teams in the top four divisions, visit Scunthorpe, who are gradually pulling clear of the relegation zone. Wooden spoonists Stevenage fought gallantly before going out of the FA Cup at Peterborough in midweek and can draw at Walsall, who are also precariously placed.

Away days: Preston, second on merit in the Championship, look a good bet to prevail at Derby, who continue to disappoint. Third-placed Leeds, with four away wins under their belt, should collect more points when they travel to Luton, who are only one position above the drop zone. Portsmouth, with games in hand, are steadily climbing League One and will be looking for a maximum haul at Rochdale, who have only two home wins. Play-off contenders Oxford must be heavily fancied at Southend, surely doomed to relegation. Although Forest Green lost the League Two leadership after being beaten 1-0 at home by Plymouth last weekend, they should return to winning ways at ailing Leyton Orient. Rangers, on level points with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership, are recommended at Hamilton.

Homes sweet homes: Watford did not look like a side battling relegation from the Premier League when they won 2-0 at Norwich two weeks ago and I think they will claim three more points against Burnley, who don't travel well. Manager Danny Cowley has transformed Huddersfield's fortunes in the Championship and I'm tipping the Yorkshiremen to have too much for Birmingham, who have already lost six away. Improving Hibernian inch closer to the top half of the Scottish Premiership and are worth a punt against the better-positioned Motherwell.

Pools info: Aston Villa v Newcastle (No 2 on coupon) will be assessed by the pools panel while Fulham v Queens Park Rangers (16) is void.