Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 27-28

 Ten draws: Norwich v Wolves, Hull v Millwall, Luton v Cardiff, Bolton v Cheltenham, Cambridge v Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe, Crawley v Mansfield, Northampton v Leyton Orient, Rochdale v Exeter, Dundee v Motherwell.

Best draws: Norwich v Wolves, Luton v Cardiff, Bolton v Cheltenham, Cambridge v Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Tottenham, Portsmouth, Charlton, Walsall, Dundee United, Stockport.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Peterborough, Burton, Forest Green, Sutton, Altrincham, Yeovil.

Pick of the draws: Consecutive victories over Brentford (2-1 away) and Southampton (2-1 at home) have moved Norwich off the bottom of the Premier League. It won't be easy when they host in-form Wolves on Saturday but morale has improved and they can nick a point. Luton are still punching above their weight in the Championship but Cardiff have already won three away matches and are tricky opposition these days. Bolton arrested their slide in League One by beating Doncaster 3-0 at home in midweek but opponents Cheltenham have adapted well to a higher division and cannot be discounted. Promotion hopefuls Sunderland don't relish playing away. They were held 1-1 by relegation-haunted Shrewsbury in midweek and I think Cambridge will also frustrate them. A marvellous 3-0 win at League One leaders Plymouth in midweek has revived Wycombe's promotion hopes and they will be a good test for Sheffield Wednesday, who defeated Accrington on Saturday and Milton Keynes Dons in midweek.

Away days: Tottenham, under new manager Antonio Conte, recovered well from a poor first-half display to beat Leeds at home last weekend. They will want to capitalise with another three points at lowly Burnley on Sunday. Portsmouth, thanks to wins over Wimbledon (2-1 home) and Lincoln (3-0 away), suddenly have a League One play-off place in their sights and they are strongly recommended at struggling Gillingham. Charlton, once relegation candidates, are the most improved side in the division and will rate their chances at Shrewsbury. In League Two, mid-table Walsall are tipped to beat second-from-bottom Carlisle. Dundee United, fourth in the Scottish Premiership, will surely be too strong for bottom club Ross while Stockport are on a roll in the National League and will travel to Wealdstone with confidence.

Homes sweet homes: Brentford stopped a run of Premier League defeats with an entertaining 3-3 draw at Newcastle last Saturday. I believe they'll go one better on Sunday against an off-form and injury-plagued Everton. Crystal Palace, more attacking these days, are not flattered by their 10th placing and they are worth a bet against Aston Villa, who only made sure of a home victory over Brighton in the closing minutes. Although Peterborough are precariously placed in the Championship, they are not doing as badly as Barnsley, their visitors on Saturday, and I think ground advantage will tip the balance.

Pools info: Five of my ten draws were correct last weekend: Burnley 3 Crystal Palace 3; Newcastle 3 Brentford 3; Bristol City 1 Blackburn 1; Swansea 1 Blackpool 1 and Bradford City 1 Northampton 1.

Betting info: I scored nine out of ten home wins last weekend when Norwich, Tottenham, Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Rotherham, Exeter, Mansfield and Raith all won.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 20-21

 Ten draws: Burnley v Crystal Palace, Newcastle v Brentford, Bristol City v Blackburn, Swansea v Blackpool, Accrington v Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton v Plymouth, Fleetwood v Morecambe, Wycombe v Bolton, Bradford City v Northampton, Newport v Swindon.

Best draws: Burnley v Crystal Palace, Accrington v Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton v Plymouth, Bradford City v Northampton, Newport v Swindon.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester United, West Ham, Cardiff, Lincoln, Halifax, Notts County.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Norwich, Tottenham, Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Rotherham, Exeter, Mansfield, Raith, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: The outlook for Crystal Palace, who are responding to Patrick Vieira's methods, appears bright but Burnley, unbeaten in their past three matches, look capable of climbing out of trouble and they can take a point at Turf Moor. It's hard to know what Accrington, mid-table in League One, will do next as their form greatly fluctuates. They were well beaten at home by leaders Plymouth last Saturday but may do better against Sheffield Wednesday, who went out of the FA Cup to Plymouth in midweek. Plymouth are setting a hot pace in League One but Charlton's recent rise, including 1-0 away wins at Sunderland and Burton, has been just as significant and I won't be surprised if they avoid defeat. Bradford City and Northampton, who suffered FA Cup replay defeats in midweek, are well matched in League Two and it's difficult to separate them. Swindon's away record (six wins and two draws from eight games) is exceptional but a change of manager has put a spring in Newport's stride and I can see this one ending all square.

Away days: Manchester United's shortcomings have been well documented but they should still have too much in the tank for Watford, who sit just above the relegation zone. West Ham's third placing in the Premier League is no fluke and they are unbeaten away. I believe that record will be intact after they visit Wolves on Saturday. I'm taking a chance on Cardiff, who have halted their slide in the Championship, to upset the better-placed Preston. Lincoln are tipped to assert their superiority over struggling Doncaster in League One and Halifax and Notts County, both promotion contenders in the National League, are recommended at Dover and Eastleigh respectively.

Homes sweet homes: This will be Dean Smith's first match as Norwich manager and I've a hunch they will give him the three points that he and the team desperately need for Premier League survival. Norwich's opponents are Southampton. Hull, in the Championship relegation zone, can cause a surprise against Birmingham, who are inconsistent. Mansfield seem to have turned a corner in League Two and are a confident selection to defeat bottom side Scunthorpe.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 13-14

Ten draws: Croatia v Russia, Spain v Sweden, Scunthorpe v Salford, Walsall v Harrogate, Hamilton v Raith, Albion v Stirling, Stenhousemuir v Annan, Altrincham v Boreham Wood, Notts County v Solihull Moors, Wealdstone v Barnet.

Best draws: Spain v Sweden, Scunthorpe v Salford, Altrincham v Boreham Wood, Notts County v Solihull Moors, Wealdstone v Barnet.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Portsmouth, Northampton, Kilmarnock, Airdrieonians, Grimsby, Wrexham.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Greece, North Macedonia, Portugal, Exeter, Tranmere, Inverness, Cove, Queen's Park, Chesterfield, Southend.

Pick of the draws: Sweden are usually obdurate opponents. They are top of their World Cup qualifying group and I believe they'll stay there after playing second-placed Spain on Sunday. Scunthorpe, bottom of League Two, may get an immediate lift from appointing Keith Hill as manager and I'm taking them to nick a point off Salford, who are underperforming. Boreham Wood are deservedly top of the National League but their progress may be checked by Altrincham, who don't give much away at home. Notts County and Solihull Moors, who face each other on Saturday, forced FA Cup first-round replays against higher-graded opposition. Notts County drew 1-1 at League Two Rochdale and Solihull did even better with a goalless draw at League One leaders Wigan. Wealdstone recently beat high-riding Grimsby while Barnet, their visitors, have pulled away from danger thanks to consecutive victories over Stockport (2-1, away) and Aldershot (2-1, home). The smart money is on a draw here. 

Away days: Although Portsmouth have done nothing exceptional this season, Wycombe, their League One hosts, seem to be faltering, which is why mid-table Pompey may be worth a punt. I expect Northampton, third in League Two, to maintain their winning form at Bristol Rovers. Despite losing at home to Partick last weekend, Kilmarnock, who lead the Scottish Championship, are a confident selection at Morton, as are Scottish League One table-toppers Airdrieonians at bottom club East Fife. In the National League I'm convinced Grimsby will return to winning ways against ailing Aldershot and Wrexham, 5-0 winners at Aldershot in midweek, will be disappointed not to come away from lowly King's Lynn with maximum points.

Homes sweet homes: I'm going for Portugal, no doubt inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, to defeat Serbia and  overtake them at the top of their World Cup qualifying group. Tranmere are two places lower than Sutton, their visitors, in League Two, so ground advantage may be the important factor here. Southend, relegated to the National League at the end of last season, are struggling in their new surroundings but I feel they will turn the corner, starting against Woking on Saturday.

Pools info: Swindon v Crawley (match No.23 on coupon) has been postponed because of international call-ups and will be assessed by the pools panel. 

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 6-7

Ten draws: West Ham v Liverpool, Blackburn v Sheffield United, Blackpool v Queens Park Rangers, Luton v Stoke, Bradford City v Exeter, Fleetwood v Burton, King's Lynn v Walsall, Morecambe v Newport, Rochdale v Notts County, Hearts v Dundee United.

Best draws: West Ham v Liverpool, Blackburn v Sheffield United, Fleetwood v Burton, King's Lynn v Walsall, Rochdale v Notts County.

Best bets: Six aways: Tottenham, Leicester, Fulham, Doncaster, Shrewsbury, Kelty Hearts.

Best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Brighton, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Ipswich, Milton Keynes Dons, Northampton, Port Vale, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan.

Pick of the draws: Liverpool dropped two points at home to Brighton last weekend and I won't be surprised if they are again denied victory on Sunday when they visit West Ham. The Hammers are in the Champions League positions on merit and were further boosted by winning 4-1 at Aston Villa last Sunday. Sheffield United responded to losing 1-0 at home to Blackpool last Saturday with a hard-earned Championship point at Nottingham Forest in midweek and I think they'll come away from Blackburn with something. It's the FA Cup first round proper at the weekend and it's anyone's guess how Fleetwood, of League One, will react. They fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 at home to promotion contenders Wycombe last Saturday, then saw a 2-0 lead turned into a 3-2 home defeat against leaders Wigan in midweek. I believe they'll hold their own against Burton in 90 minutes. King's Lynn are struggling in the National League but may raise their game against Football League opponents, such as League Two Walsall. Notts County, fresh from beating National League promotion favourites Grimsby 1-0 away, won't fear a trip to Rochdale, mid-table in League Two.

Away days: I believe Tottenham will get an instant lift from the managerial appointment of Antonio Conte and leave Goodison Park on Sunday with maximum points. Everton's injury problems have coincided with a loss of form. Although beaten 2-0 at home by Arsenal last Saturday, Leicester made enough chances to have won and I expect them to prevail at Leeds, who have disappointed. Free-scoring Fulham, 14 goals in their past three Championship matches, are a confident selection at lowly Peterborough. Go with Doncaster, second from bottom of League One, to triumph at Scunthorpe, bottom of League Two, in the FA Cup and Shrewsbury, also languishing in League One, should at least see off the challenge of non-League Stratford. Kelty Hearts, who top Scottish League Two, will surely be too good for struggling Cowdenbeath.

Homes sweet homes: The FA Cup is never short of surprises and it's worth a punt on Northampton, third in League Two and bang in form, to knock out Cambridge, mid-table in League One. There's also a good chance of Port Vale, second in League Two, upsetting League One Accrington. Sheffield Wednesday will be on cloud nine after defeating Sunderland 3-0 at home in midweek and will be in the mood to eliminate high-flying Plymouth.

Betting info: I scored five out of five with my away selections last weekend with Chelsea, Coventry, Bournemouth, Port Vale and Stockport. Hibernian, my sixth selection, had their match at Ross postponed.