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

 Ten draws: Brighton v Everton, Liverpool v Chelsea, Barnsley v Birmingham, Huddersfield v Reading, Luton v Sheffield United, Preston v Swansea, Cambridge v Bolton, Leyton Orient v Bradford City, Swindon v Mansfield, St Mirren v St Johnstone.

Best draws: Brighton v Everton, Liverpool v Chelsea, Luton v Sheffield United, Cambridge v Bolton, Swindon v Mansfield.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Gillingham, Stevenage, Annan, Kelty Hearts. Ten homes: Aston Villa, Tottenham, West Ham, Fulham, Ipswich, Oxford, Forest Green, Harrogate, Sutton, Montrose.

Pick of the draws: Brighton have begun the campaign with three successive wins - two in the Premier League and one in the League Cup. However, Everton, who have also started well under Rafa Benitez, are probably the toughest opponents they've faced so far and I'm tipping this one to finish all square. Neither Liverpool, who are third, and Chelsea, who are second, have conceded a league goal this season and it wouldn't surprise me if the game at Anfield on Saturday was scoreless. The teams both have six points and an identical goal difference. Luton's devastating 5-0 defeat at home to Birmingham in last weekend's Championship must have affected their confidence and I can see lowly Sheffield United nicking a point. Bolton are attempting consecutive promotions but may have to settle for a draw at Cambridge, who are adapting well to the higher division of League One. Swindon and Mansfield, who meet in League Two, are early promotion contenders and I don't think either will give ground on Saturday.

Away days: Leeds to gain their first maximum haul of the season when they visit Burnley, who have yet to get off the mark in the Premier League this season. Sheffield Wednesday's climb to the top of League One is no fluke and they can strengthen their position by beating promoted Morecambe. Although Gillingham have not really got out of first gear in League One, they should have enough to defeat bottom club Shrewsbury, who are pointless. Stevenage, sixth in League Two, have more going for them than hosts Walsall, who are next to bottom. In Scottish League Two, Annan look stronger than their opponents, Cowdenbeath, and Kelty Hearts, the surprise leaders, are recommended at struggling Stenhousemuir.

Homes sweet homes: There are signs that Aston Villa may be better without Jack Grealish in the Premier League and I believe they'll inflict Brentford's first defeat of the season. I can't imagine that Ipswich will stay in the lower half of League One for long. They are better than early results suggest and are worth a punt against Wimbledon. Sutton's low placing in League Two is misleading as they have yet to play at home. All that changes on Saturday when they host bottom club Oldham, who seem in no fit state to prevent a home victory.

Pools info: Five of my ten draws last weekend were correct, with the matches at Crystal Palace, Leeds, Derby, Carlisle and Hearts ending level. 

 

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

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Brentford, Leeds v Everton, Wolves v Tottenham, Derby v Middlesbrough, Preston v Peterborough, Crewe v Accrington, Fleetwood v Cheltenham, Carlisle v Leyton Orient, Tranmere v Newport, Hearts v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Brentford, Wolves v Tottenham, Preston v Peterborough, Crewe v Accrington, Carlisle v Leyton Orient.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth, Bradford City, Rangers.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Brighton, Manchester City, Cardiff, Fulham, Sheffield United, Charlton, Gillingham, Wycombe, Hartlepool, Stevenage.

Pick of the draws: Brentford's Premier League debut got off to a flying start when they beat Arsenal at home last Friday but they will surely be less dominant against Crystal Palace, who will be anxious to put some points on the board after losing their opening game 3-0 at Chelsea. Tottenham thrived without Harry Kane against the reigning champions Manchester City last Sunday and Spurs manager Nuno Espirito Santo won't want to be beaten by his old club. Although Wolves lost 1-0 at Leicester, they had their chances and look capable of sharing the spoils. Preston prop up the Championship after three consecutive losses but they should gain their first point of the season against promoted Peterborough. Accrington continue to confound expectations in League One and will expect at least a draw at Crewe, who have been weakened by illness. In League Two, Carlisle and Leyton Orient had convincing results against Swindon (2-1 away) and Exeter (3-0 home) respectively last weekend and it's hard to separate them.

Away days: Chelsea at Arsenal on Sunday has the feel of an away banker. Already this season Chelsea have added the Super Cup to their Champions League trophy whereas Arsenal are in disarray. It's hard to believe now but the Gunners did the double over Chelsea last season and they will have to match those displays to salvage even a point. Manchester United, early leaders of the Premier League after thrashing Leeds 5-1 at home last Saturday, are strongly fancied at Southampton, who lost 3-1at Everton. West Bromwich Albion's attempts at an instant return to the Premier League were strengthened by a 4-0 midweek home victory over Sheffield United, so hosts Blackburn have been warned. Leaders Portsmouth, yet to concede a goal in League One, are recommended at second-from-bottom Doncaster and League Two high-flyers Bradford City, 4-1 home winners over Stevenage in midweek, are worth a punt at Mansfield, who are just below them. In the Scottish Premiership, Rangers will be disappointed by anything less than a maximum haul at Ross on Sunday.

Homes sweet homes: I'm taking Brighton, deserved 2-1 winners at Burnley last weekend, to burst the bubble of promoted Watford, who edged Aston Villa. Charlton's low placing after three matches without a win in League One is surprising and I think they'll break their duck against visiting Wigan. Gillingham's 10 men battled back for a point in a 1-1 draw at Wimbledon in midweek and that sort of spirit will probably serve them well against promoted Morecambe.

Pools info: I scored eight out of ten with my home selections last weekend. Chelsea, Everton, Leicester, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion, Burton, Sheffield Wednesday and Barrow all obliged.

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

Ten draws: Burnley v Brighton, Newcastle v West Ham, Barnsley v Coventry, Swansea v Sheffield United, Morecambe v Shrewsbury, Plymouth v Gillingham, Wigan v Rotherham, Bristol Rovers v Stevenage, Port Vale v Tranmere, Sutton v Salford.

Best draws: Burnley v Brighton, Newcastle v West Ham, Plymouth v Gillingham, Wigan v Rotherham, Sutton v Salford.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Aston Villa, Fulham, Sunderland, Forest Green, Aberdeen.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Everton, Leicester, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich, Wimbledon, Burton, Sheffield Wednesday, Barrow, Swindon.

Pick of the draws: Burnley and Brighton were among the Premier League strugglers last season but managed to survive. I can see a similar outcome this campaign. I'll be surprised if West Ham match last season's position of sixth but they are more than capable of taking a point off Newcastle on Sunday. League One Plymouth made amends for a disappointing opening weekend by scoring four without reply at Peterborough in the League Cup on Tuesday. I suspect they won't find it quite as easy against Gillingham, who held high-flyers Lincoln to a 1-1 draw last Saturday. Rotherham's 2-0 margin of victory against Plymouth last Saturday sent them to the top of the League One table but hosts Wigan won't give much away. In League Two, Sutton's home fixture against Salford has been switched to the latter's ground as Sutton are having problems with their artificial surface. Despite this disadvantage I believe Sutton, who were unlucky to lose their first two matches, will earn a draw.

Away days: Liverpool are firm favourites to start the 2021-22 campaign with victory at promoted Norwich, who could scarcely have had a harder opening fixture. Aston Villa appear to have made some shrewd summer signings and will be optimistic about beating Watford, who have rejoined the top flight. Fulham, back in the Championship, should have had more than a point to show for their efforts at home to Middlesbrough last Sunday and I think they'll make Huddersfield pay. Sunderland, with two consecutive victories behind them, should make it three at MK Dons and in League Two, Forest Green are fancied at Walsall, who have yet to score. It's League Cup weekend in Scotland and Premiership club Aberdeen are recommended at Championship team Raith.

Homes sweet homes: Wimbledon to gain their third win in eight days when they host promoted Bolton. Wimbledon's previous victims were Doncaster (League One) and Charlton (League Cup), both away. Unfashionable Burton, of League One, don't fear anybody now, which is why I'm tipping them to defeat underperforming Ipswich. In League Two, Barrow look to have the edge over newcomers Hartlepool, who went down 1-0 at home to 10-man Crewe in the midweek League Cup. 

Pools info: Crawley v Harrogate (No.36 on coupon) has been postponed because of a Covid outbreak at Harrogate and the match will be assessed by the pools panel. Sutton v Salford (41) will be played at Salford's ground.

More pools info: I forecast the following five draws last weekend: Bristol City 1 Blackpool 1; Derby 1 Huddersfield 1; Gillingham 1 Lincoln 1; Carlisle 0 Colchester 0 and St Johnstone 1 Motherwell 1. Three of my five best draws were also correct: the matches at Bristol City, Derby and Gillingham.

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

Ten draws: Bristol City v Blackpool, Derby v Huddersfield, Doncaster v Wimbledon, Gillingham v Lincoln, Shrewsbury v Burton, Carlisle v Colchester, Hartlepool v Crawley, Scunthorpe v Swindon, St Johnstone v Motherwell, Dunfermline v Partick.

Best draws: Bristol City v Blackpool, Derby v Huddersfield, Gillingham v Lincoln, Shrewsbury v Burton, Hartlepool v Crawley.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Oxford, Portsmouth, Newport, Hearts, Kilmarnock.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Fulham, Preston, Bolton, Ipswich, Sunderland, Wycombe, Forest Green, Mansfield, Hamilton, Dumbarton.

Pick of the draws: Blackpool, promoted via the play-offs to the Championship last season, will have more momentum than Bristol City, who ended the 2020-21 campaign on a downer. A point is the least the Seasiders can expect. Derby and Huddersfield, who meet on Saturday, were two of last season's underachievers and it's hard to be optimistic about their chances this time. Lincoln, of League One, who came so close to going up last season, have a tricky opening assignment at Gillingham, who on their day are a match for anybody. Manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink worked wonders to turn things around at Burton last season and he won't fear a trip to Shrewsbury. Hartlepool, happy to be returning to the Football League, can share the League Two spoils with Crawley.

Away days: I expect Premier League champions Manchester City to carry on where they left off last season by winning the Community Shield against Leicester on Saturday. With a bit of luck they may even have new signing Tony Grealish playing for them. Oxford, League One high-flyers, should prevail at newly promoted Cambridge and Portsmouth will fancy their chances of opening with a victory at Fleetwood. Lady Luck deserted Newport in last season's League Two play-off final against Morecambe and they appear to have a less taxing task at Oldham. Last Sunday's 2-1 home win over Celtic will have given promoted Hearts plenty of belief and could give them the edge over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership. Relegated Kilmarnock, who began their Scottish Championship campaign by beating Ayr 2-0 at home on Monday, look good for another three points at Queen of the South.

Homes sweet homes: Bolton, newly promoted to League One, are well worth backing against Milton Keynes Dons, who are reeling from the loss of their manager, Russell Martin, to Swansea. Although relegated at the end, Wycombe did themselves proud in the Championship last season and their opening fixture back in League One should bring them maximum points against Accrington. Mansfield, of League Two, are confident of improving on last season's 16th placing and I'm tipping them to defeat Bristol Rovers, who finished bottom of League One in 2020-21.