Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 28-29

Ten draws: Chelsea v Tottenham, Everton v Leeds, West Bromwich v Sheffield United, Birmingham v Millwall, Huddersfield v Middlesbrough, Reading v Bristol City, Carlisle v Doncaster, Plymouth v Lincoln, Livingston v Ayr, Albion v Stirling.

Best draws: Chelsea v Tottenham, Everton v Leeds, Reading v Bristol City, Carlisle v Doncaster, Livingston v Ayr.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Bournemouth, Oldham, Hull, Dunfermline, Stranraer.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Manchester City, Southampton, Derby, Norwich, Watford, Bolton, Bristol Rovers, Gillingham, Stockport, Queen's Park.

Pick of the draws: Premier League leaders Tottenham, conquerors of Manchester City last Saturday, and third-placed Chelsea are two of the in-form sides in the top flight. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who played under Jose Mourinho when both were at Stamford Bridge, won't want to be outsmarted by his old boss and deadlock is the most likely outcome. Everton returned to winning ways at Fulham but will probably find Leeds tougher opponents. Fourteenth position does not do Leeds justice and they were unlucky not to beat Arsenal last Sunday. I'm taking third-placed Bristol City to come away with something at Reading, who have fallen from first to sixth in the Championship. League One Doncaster will start favourites at Carlisle in the FA Cup second round but I'm tipping Carlisle, sixth in League Two, to take the tie to extra time and penalties. In the Scottish League Cup, Ayr, who are doing well in the Championship, could easily deny Premiership strugglers Livingston victory.

Away days: It's impossible to ignore the claims of Liverpool at Brighton in the Saturday lunchtime game. The Merseysiders, despite being without several injured players last Sunday, swept Leicester aside and I expect them to do something similar to Brighton. Bournemouth, in second place, have lost only once in the Championship this season and I can't see Rotherham threatening that record. Oldham have recorded two consecutive away wins in League Two. In the FA Cup on Saturday they go to Bradford City, where I think they'll make it three. There's no stopping League One leaders Hull at the moment and they'll be confident of FA Cup success at League Two Stevenage. Dunfermline should make Scottish League Cup progress at Arbroath's expense and Stranraer, in Scottish League Two, are a confident selection at bottom club Brechin.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton, flying high in the Premier League, are a delight to watch these days and well worth a punt when they host inconsistent Manchester United. Although Derby are at the foot of the Championship, they showed signs of improvement when losing narrowly at Bristol City last Saturday and can gain three badly needed points against Wycombe, who are also in the drop zone. Two National League teams, Stockport and Yeovil, contest the FA Cup second round on Saturday. Stockport are enjoying a far better season and it will be surprising if they don't make use of home advantage.

Pools info: I scored five draws out of ten last weekend: Leeds v Arsenal (0-0), Luton v Blackburn (1-1), Accrington v Lincoln (0-0), Barrow v Forest Green (2-2) and Scunthorpe v Morecambe (1-1).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 21-22

Ten draws: Leeds v Arsenal, Tottenham v Manchester City, Barnsley v Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth v Reading, Luton v Blackburn, Preston v Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington v Lincoln, MK Dons v Hull, Barrow v Forest Green, Scunthorpe v Morecambe.

Best draws: Leeds v Arsenal, Bournemouth v Reading, Preston v Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons v Hull, Barrow v Forest Green.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Leicester, Chelsea, Cardiff, Watford, Brentford, Wimbledon.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Middlesbrough, Swansea, Ipswich, Peterborough, Cheltenham, Crawley, Exeter, Mansfield (Friday), Newport, Dundee United.

Pick of the draws: A fascinating game in prospect at Elland Road on Sunday: Leeds can't defend and Arsenal can't attack. Leeds have recently conceded four against Leicester (home) and Crystal Palace (away) while Arsenal have failed to score at home against Leicester and Aston Villa, so the match is finely balanced. Although leaders Reading lost 3-0 at home to Stoke in their last Championship outing, the scoreline was harsh on them and I feel they will partly make amends at Bournemouth, who have only lost once in the league this season. Tony Pulis is back in football as manager of struggling Sheffield Wednesday, who could pinch something at Preston. The Lancashire side have yet to win a league fixture at Deepdale this season. MK Dons sprang a surprise in League One last weekend by winning 2-1 at Sunderland. I believe they'll again upset the form book by holding second-placed Hull. In League Two, there are signs that Barrow, promoted from the National League, are getting into their stride. They denied high-riding Cambridge victory last Saturday and I think they'll do the same to Forest Green, who have encountered some recent setbacks.

Away days: Premier League leaders Leicester must have a great chance of beating injury-hit Liverpool at Anfield. Liverpool, the reigning champions, are likely to be without at least five regular first-team players and Leicester, who have not dropped a point away so far, are well equipped to take advantage. Chelsea, just outside the top four, seem to have solved their defensive problems and must be fancied at Newcastle. Cardiff are better than their 15th position in the Championship indicates and are worth a wager at Millwall, who convince one week and disappoint the next. Promotion candidates Watford should assert their superiority over Queens Park Rangers and mid-table Brentford are recommended at lowly Wycombe. I expect League One Wimbledon to celebrate their return to their Plough Lane ground by winning at Rochdale.

Homes sweet homes: Middlesbrough look like being in the Championship promotion mix under manager Neil Warnock. They give little away and are worth a punt against Norwich, who are higher in the table. On present form there's not much to choose between Crawley (ninth) and Carlisle (sixth) in League Two but I reckon ground advantage will give Crawley the edge. Nigel Clough has won his first three matches as Mansfield's manager and I believe the run will continue when Mansfield host Colchester on Friday.

Weekend info: Burnley v Crystal Palace (No 2 on coupon) and Wolves v Southampton (10) will be assessed by the pools panel. Mansfield v Colchester (39) is void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 14-15

Ten draws: Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood, Northampton v Accrington, Bradford City v Exeter, Carlisle v Cheltenham, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Harrogate v Crawley, Portugal v France, Sweden v Croatia, Hungary v Serbia, Albania v Kazakhstan.

Best draws: Northampton v Accrington, Bradford City v Exeter, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Harrogate v Crawley, Sweden v Croatia.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Peterborough, Mansfield, Stockport, Spain, Scotland, Greece.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Hull, Shrewsbury, Sunderland, Cambridge, Morecambe, Oldham, Barnet, Torquay, Netherlands, Austria.

Pick of the draws: Northampton and Accrington, both from League One, went out of the FA Cup first round to sides from a lower division and you wouldn't put money on either to win at the moment. By scoring seven in the FA Cup last weekend, League Two Bradford City showed signs of awakening but Exeter, again among the division's front-runners, will be tougher opponents than Tonbridge Angels. Colchester may still be reeling from their elimination by non-League Marine and Leyton Orient will feel they are in with a shout here. Crawley twice fought back from two goals down to win an enthralling FA Cup tie 6-5 at Torquay, who lead the National League. That sort of spirit should serve them well at Harrogate. Croatia don't seem to be the force they were in the last World Cup when they were beaten finalists and could be denied victory by Sweden as the European Nations programme resumes.

Away days: Peterborough, League One leaders and on a roll, look an away banker at Crewe, who are averaging less than a goal a game in this division. Mansfield, now managed by Nigel Clough, caused one of the biggest FA Cup upsets by winning at Sunderland last Saturday and can also surprise Forest Green, who lost heavily to Lincoln on the same day. Stockport, of the National League, beat League One Rochdale 2-1 away last weekend, so won't be fazed by having to visit lowly Dagenham & Redbridge. In the European Nations, Spain should be too strong for Switzerland while Scotland, revitalised under Steve Clarke's managership, are fancied to defeat Slovakia. Greece will probably come away from Moldova with three points.

Homes sweet homes: Shrewsbury, having beaten Cambridge and Crewe away in their past two games, are tipped to make it a hat-trick of wins when manager-less Swindon come to visit in League One. Barnet, of the National League, recorded a famous victory when their 10 men hung on to send League One Burton crashing out of the FA Cup last Sunday and I reckon they'll send Bromley home pointless. I expect Austria's improvement to be confirmed when they play Northern Ireland in the European Nations. 

Weekend pools info: The following matches have been postponed because of international call-ups and will be assessed by the pools panel: Wimbledon v Wigan (No 1 on coupon), Charlton v Rochdale (3), Lincoln v Gillingham (6), Oxford v Doncaster (8) and Grimsby v Newport (16).

More info: Five of my ten draws last weekend were Brentford v Middlesbrough (0-0), Ayr v Dunfermline (0-0), Huesca v Eibar (1-1), Atalanta v Inter Milan (1-1) and Parma v Fiorentina (0-0).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 7-8

Ten draws: Everton v Manchester United, Brentford v Middlesbrough, Norwich v Swansea, Watford v Coventry, Ayr v Dunfermline, Brechin v Stirling, Stenhousemuir v Edinburgh, Huesca v Eibar, Atalanta v Inter Milan, Parma v Fiorentina.

Best draws: Everton v Manchester United, Brentford v Middlesbrough, Norwich v Swansea, Watford v Coventry, Ayr v Dunfermline.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Leeds, Tottenham, Preston, Wimbledon, Dumbarton, Falkirk.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, West Ham, Derby, Huddersfield, Reading, Boreham Wood, Torquay, Rangers, Hearts, Annan.

Pick of the draws: You're never sure what Manchester United are going to do next these days but they are playing better away than at home and I can see them holding Everton, who have lost their early season zip.  Veteran manager Neil Warnock is starting to get the best out of Middlesbrough, who are climbing the Championship table. They can get something from their visit to mid-table Brentford. Swansea are hot on the heels of leaders Reading and I believe they'll share the spoils at Norwich, whose winning sequence was ended in midweek when Millwall held them to a goalless draw at Carrow Road. Watford will begin firm favourites against Coventry but the Midlanders, who beat Reading 3-2 at home last Friday, could upset the odds again. Dunfermline lead the Scottish Championship on merit and should take at least a point at Ayr.

Away days: Leeds showed what they are capable of by defeating Aston Villa 3-0 away as well as giving champions Liverpool an almighty fright at Anfield on the opening day of the season. They are worth backing at Crystal Palace, who were well beaten at Wolves last Friday. Tottenham are among the Premier League's front-runners and must be fancied at West Brom, who have fallen into the relegation zone. Preston's best results in the Championship have been away from Deepdale, especially the 3-0 win at Reading in midweek, and I think they'll take three points off Rotherham. It's the FA Cup first round this weekend and League One Wimbledon should progress at the expense of League Two Barrow. High-flying Dumbarton are recommended at East Fife, who prop up Scottish League One, while Falkirk look a good bet at Partick. 

Homes sweet homes: Derby's recent improvement has not been reflected in their Championship results but they can put that right against Barnsley. Boreham Wood, of the National League, have a great chance of going through to the FA Cup second round when they host crisis club Southend, bottom of League Two. Torquay, who lead the National League, will approach their tie against Crawley with the same confidence. 

Pools info: Brighton v Burnley (No 2 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

I scored five out of six aways and eight out of 10 homes last weekend. The five aways were Chelsea, Manchester City, Sunderland, Port Vale and Motherwell. The eight homes were Tottenham, Stoke, Wycombe, Fleetwood, Peterborough, Barrow, Newport and Dunfermline.