Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 31-November 1

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Southampton, Newcastle v Everton, Bristol City v Norwich, Luton v Brentford, Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest, Doncaster v Lincoln, MK Dons v Wimbledon, Cheltenham v Forest Green, Leyton Orient v Bolton, Stevenage v Grimsby.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Southampton, Bristol City v Norwich, Luton v Brentford, Doncaster v Lincoln, Leyton Orient v Bolton.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Manchester City, Cardiff, Sunderland, Port Vale, Motherwell.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Tottenham, Bournemouth, Preston, Stoke, Wycombe, Fleetwood, Peterborough, Barrow, Newport, Dunfermline.

Pick of the draws: Southampton brushed aside Premier League leaders Everton 2-0 at home last Sunday, so a draw at Aston Villa should not be beyond them, especially as high-riding Villa suffered an unexpected 3-0 home defeat by Leeds last Friday. Norwich are climbing the Championship table and had another good result in a 1-1 draw at Brentford in midweek. A repeat of that form gives them a fighting chance at Bristol City, who dropped a couple of home points against Swansea last weekend. Brentford don't seem to be the force of last season whereas Luton, their hosts, continue to punch above their weight. Lincoln top League One on merit but Doncaster don't give much away at home and can share the spoils. There are signs that Bolton are getting their act together in League Two. They followed up holding Cambridge to an away draw on Saturday by beating Bradford City at home in midweek and I believe they'll frustrate Leyton Orient.

Away days: Although Chelsea have underwhelmed so far, they should have too much for Burnley, who are still without a Premier League win this season. Manchester City have been weakened by injuries but they were convincing Champions League winners at Marseille and ought to see off lowly Sheffield United. In the Championship, Cardiff are recommended at Queens Park Rangers, mainly because QPR have gone seven matches without a win. Gillingham are also woefully off form and Sunderland, their League One visitors, are smart enough to take advantage. It's impossible to ignore the claims of Port Vale at rock bottom Southend in League Two and Motherwell, 4-0 winners over Ross last Saturday, look a sound bet at Livingston in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: Stoke had a midweek setback when they lost 2-0 at Swansea in the Championship but they have otherwise impressed and are fancied to return to winning ways against Rotherham. Wycombe gained their first point of the season by holding Watford to a 1-1 midweek draw. They can go one better against Sheffield Wednesday, who are the only side below them in the Championship. Barrow at last tasted victory in League Two by defeating Mansfield 4-2 away. They are well worth a wager against Bradford City, who continue to disappoint.

Pools info: Coventry v Reading (No 11 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void. My predicted draws last weekend included Cardiff v Middlesbrough (1-1), Watford v Bournemouth (1-1), Burton v Wimbledon (1-1), Wigan v Plymouth (1-1) and St Johnstone v Dundee United (0-0).

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

Ten draws: Southampton v Everton, Cardiff v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Blackburn, Watford v Bournemouth, Burton v Wimbledon, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Wigan v Plymouth, Bradford City v Newport, Colchester v Harrogate, St Johnstone v Dundee United.

Best draws: Southampton v Everton, Cardiff v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Blackburn, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Colchester v Harrogate.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Charlton, Forest Green, Leyton Orient, Celtic, Dunfermline.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Fulham, Liverpool, Wolves, Millwall, Doncaster, Oxford, Cheltenham, Exeter, Rangers, Dundee.

Pick of the draws: Southampton are going along nicely after a poor start to their Premier League season and will be encouraged by the way they fought back to draw 3-3 at Chelsea after falling two goals behind last Saturday. Also, top-of-the-table Everton will be without Richarlison, who was sent off in last weekend's Merseyside derby, and Rodriguez, who is injured. Middlesbrough's unexpected 1-0 midweek win at Bristol City knocked City off the top of the Championship. If Boro repeat that form on Saturday they will also frustrate Cardiff. A lack of goals has hindered Coventry, which is why I think they'll drop points against Blackburn. Sunderland deserve to be among the early pace-setters in League One but Portsmouth won well at Gillingham in midweek and could hold the northerners. Football League newcomers Harrogate are flying in League Two, so won't feel apprehensive about travelling to Colchester.

Away days: Manchester City achieved a welcome shut-out against Arsenal last weekend after their defensive problems. Because they are always a threat going forward, I believe they'll have enough to beat West Ham, although the Hammers will be buoyed by their fantastic late comeback at Tottenham last Sunday. Charlton have won their past two League One fixtures without conceding. I'm tipping them for a third consecutive success at Northampton. Although Forest Green lost in midweek, they are one of League Two's stronger teams and capable of seeing off Morecambe. Leyton Orient won at Tranmere in midweek and can do the same at Stevenage, who have not scored in their past four league games. In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic will be determined to bounce back from their 2-0 home defeat by fierce rivals Rangers and leave Aberdeen with maximum points. Dunfermline, of the Scottish Championship, have four wins from four in all competitions this season and must be fancied at Alloa. 

Homes sweet homes: Fulham, bottom of the Premier League, had much the better of their 1-1 draw at Sheffield United last Sunday and are well worth a punt against Crystal Palace, who are on a downward spiral. Oxford lifted themselves out of the League One drop zone by defeating Milton Keynes Dons 3-2  in midweek and they will probably climb higher after their home match with ailing Swindon on Saturday. I regarded relegated Dundee's 6-2 reverse at Hearts last Friday as a freakish result and I reckon they will make amends against Morton.

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

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Brighton, Leicester v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Arsenal, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest, Luton v Stoke, Rotherham v Norwich, Charlton v Wigan, Fleetwood v Lincoln, Crawley v Morecambe, Livingston v Kilmarnock.

Best draws: Leicester v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Arsenal, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest, Luton v Stoke, Crawley v Morecambe.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Bristol City, Millwall, Gillingham, Hull, Sunderland, Cambridge.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Swansea, Bristol Rovers, Ipswich, Peterborough, Plymouth, Forest Green, Port Vale.

Pick of the draws: Aston Villa's 7-2 caning of champions Liverpool ensured that they have maximum points from three matches and will have done wonders for their morale. Leicester's tails were similarly up after winning 5-2 at Manchester City but they then lost 3-0 at home to West Ham. I wonder how that result has affected team spirit. Arsenal's recent record at leading Premier League clubs is appalling but they are more resolute these days, which gives them a fighting chance at Manchester City, who have been thrashed by Leicester and held by promoted Leeds. The appointment of Chris Hughton as manager should give struggling Nottingham Forest a badly needed lift in the Championship and I've a hunch they will surprise a few people at Blackburn. Luton are doing better than expected but Stoke have defeated Wolves and Aston Villa away on reaching the last eight of the League Cup and I can see them gaining a point. By leading League Two, Morecambe have turned last season's form upside down. I'll be very surprised if they stay there but they'll be confident of avoiding defeat at mid-table Crawley.

Away days: I expect Bristol City, the early Championship leaders, to continue their progress at the expense of lowly Barnsley. Although Millwall have stalled recently, they will still probably have too much for promoted Wycombe, who lie second from bottom. Gillingham are looking genuine promotion contenders in League One and will fancy their chances at Milton Keynes Dons, who prop up the table. I regard Hull's heavy defeat at Fleetwood last weekend as just a blip and believe they will make amends at Rochdale. Sunderland are recommended at Swindon, who have lost two in a row at home, while high-flying Cambridge, in League Two, will want to confirm their superiority over Scunthorpe.

Homes sweet homes: Everton, who have not beaten Liverpool in 10 years, will never have a better chance than this weekend. The blue half of Merseyside sit proudly at the top of the Premier League, having taken maximum points from four matches, while Liverpool's collapse at Aston Villa must have shaken their confidence. Neither Sheffield United nor Fulham, who meet at Bramall Lane on Sunday, have a point in the league this season and lie 19th and 20th respectively. I reckon that Sheffield United, with ground advantage, will get off the mark. Although Port Vale have lost their past two games in League Two, they are worth a gamble against Salford, who have sacked manager Graham Alexander, despite lying fourth and staying unbeaten this season. 

Pools info: West Brom v Burnley (No 9 on coupon) is being played on Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel. I correctly forecast five draws last weekend and three of my five best draws came up: Mansfield v Stevenage (0-0), Walsall v Colchester (1-1) and France v Portugal (0-0).

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

 Ten draws: Crewe v Wigan, Barrow v Leyton Orient, Mansfield v Stevenage, Walsall v Colchester, England v Belgium, France v Portugal, Iceland v Denmark, Israel v Czech Republic, Northern Ireland v Austria, Lithuania v Belarus.

Best draws: Crewe v Wigan, Mansfield v Stevenage, Walsall v Colchester, England v Belgium, France v Portugal.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Peterborough, Forest Green, Exeter, Sutton, North Macedonia, Slovenia.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Doncaster, Lincoln, Plymouth, Cheltenham, Oldham, Port Vale, Croatia, Scotland, Serbia, Greece.

Pick of the draws: Wigan seem on the upgrade, having beaten Portsmouth (away) and Doncaster (home) in their past two League One fixtures. They should come away with something from Crewe, who sit just above the relegation zone. Stevenage have been on the wrong end of some close scorelines in League Two but they are doing better than Mansfield and will be disappointed to leave empty-handed. By all accounts Walsall were lucky to avoid defeat at Forest Green last Saturday and will probably find visitors  Colchester equally tough opponents. England beat Iceland and drew with Denmark in their two previous Euro Nations encounters but Belgium are on a different level and are favourites to top England's group. France, the World Cup holders, host Portugal, the European champions. This promises to be the best match of the weekend and I think it will end all-square.

Away days: Improving Peterborough have more momentum than Northampton, who have lost consecutive League One matches to Hull (home) and Bristol Rovers (away). I expect Forest Green to go higher than their present 10th position in League Two and three points at Scunthorpe will help them do that. Exeter look back in the groove after defeating Cambridge United 2-0 at home last weekend and must be backed at Southend, who appear destined for a season of struggle. Sutton, who have six points from their opening two National League fixtures, ought to have nine once they've played Weymouth on Saturday. In the Euro Nations programme North Macedonia and Slovenia are expected to confirm their superiority over Estonia and Kosovo respectively.

Homes sweet homes: Morecambe are one of the surprising front-runners in League Two and they could come unstuck at lowly Oldham, whose brave fightback at Colchester last weekend earned them a 3-3 draw. Oldham will be determined to build on that result and they are worth a punt. It's about time Croatia, who are bottom of their four-team Euro Nations group, showed their teeth and I'm taking the 2018 World Cup finalists to gain their first points of the campaign at Sweden's expense. Scotland, who lead their group, host Slovakia, who occupy last place, and should not be inconvenienced. 

Pools info: Sunderland v Blackpool (No 8 on coupon) has been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.