Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 1-3

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v West Ham, Everton v Brighton, Coventry v Luton, Reading v Derby (Monday), Shrewsbury v Sheffield Wednesday, Harrogate v Port Vale, Rochdale v Mansfield, Salford v Tranmere, Sutton v Exeter, Walsall v Newport.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v West Ham, Reading v Derby, Shrewsbury v Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale v Mansfield, Salford v Tranmere.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Tottenham, Fulham, Airdrieonians, Montrose, Cove, Forfar.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Blackpool, Bournemouth (Monday), Nottingham Forest (Monday), Stoke (Monday), West Brom, Ipswich, MK Dons, Oxford, Hartlepool.

Pick of the draws: West Ham halted their slide with a fine 4-1 victory at Watford but Crystal Palace also won well in midweek and have lost only once at home in the Premier League this season. Although Derby's points deduction dooms them to relegation from the Championship, they are showing great spirit, as seen in their 1-0 home win over promotion favourites West Brom and 2-1 away victory at Stoke. I'm tipping them to avoid defeat at Reading, who have also been hit by a points deduction. Lowly Shrewsbury's 3-0 triumph at Fleetwood in League One on Boxing Day will encourage them against Sheffield Wednesday, who crashed 5-0 at Sunderland in midweek. Rochdale, mid-table in League Two, have already drawn five at home this season and I think they'll make it six against a fast-improving Mansfield. Tranmere have climbed into the automatic promotion positions and look good for at least a point at Salford.

Away days: In what looks a poor weekend for potential away wins, Tottenham, unbeaten in their past seven outings, have as good a chance of any at Watford, who have lost five in a row. Fulham lost the leadership of the Championship after a 1-0 home defeat by Sheffield United but I expect them to bounce back by winning at Swansea. Scottish League One should provide three of my six aways. Third-placed Airdrie seem too strong for struggling Dumbarton, likewise Montrose, who visit bottom side East Fife. Cove, who top the table, are recommended at Peterhead. In Scottish League Two, look no further than second-placed Forfar, who will start warm favourites at second-from-bottom Elgin.

Homes sweet homes: Chelsea, with two consecutive away victories behind them, are worth backing against Liverpool, who lost ground in the Premier League title race by losing 1-0 at Leicester in midweek. In the Championship, Blackpool were winning at Huddersfield until they went down to 10 men. I believe they'll put that disappointment behind them when they host Hull. In League One, Ipswich appear to have stopped the rot and will probably take maximum points against visiting Lincoln.

Weekend pools info: the following games have been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel: Plymouth v Wimbledon (coupon No.27), Sunderland v Fleetwood (30), Celtic v Rangers (44), Dundee v Dundee Utd (45), Hibernian v Hearts (46), Livingston v St Johnstone (47), Ross v Aberdeen (48), St Mirren v Motherwell (49).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 26-27

Ten draws: Brighton v Brentford, Huddersfield v Blackpool, Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers v Bournemouth, Accrington v Rotherham, Wimbledon v Charlton, Gillingham v Ipswich, Lincoln v MK Dons, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Scunthorpe.

Best draws: Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest, Accrington v Rotherham, Gillingham v Ipswich, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Scunthorpe.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Blackburn, Sheffield United, Wigan, Celtic, Kelty Hearts.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Fulham, Peterborough, Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday, Stevenage, Tranmere.

Pick of the draws: Manager Steve Cooper has done a remarkable job at Nottingham Forest, who are now just outside the Championship play-off positions. However, Middlesbrough, their hosts on Sunday, are also on the rise and will probably share the points. League One leaders Rotherham look formidable but mid-table Accrington aren't afraid of anybody and will battle to the last. Lowly Gillingham desperately need a break and may get one against Ipswich, who lose to League Two Barrow in the FA Cup one week and hold League One promotion favourites Sunderland the next. Leyton Orient's away form in League Two is letting them down but they should get something at struggling Colchester. Oldham and Scunthorpe, who play each other, fill the relegation spots and will possibly cancel each other out.

Away days: Arsenal, nine goals in their past three Premier League games, are ending 2021 in style and will travel to bottom club Norwich with confidence. Blackburn look credible promotion contenders in the Championship and I believe they'll make Hull suffer. Sheffield United won 1-0 away at leaders Fulham on Monday and I expect their surge up the table to continue after they've played Preston. Wigan, second in League One, are strong favourites to beat bottom club Crewe, as are Celtic, who visit St Johnstone, last in the Scottish Premiership. Kelty Hearts, clear leaders in Scottish League Two, are recommended at Annan. 

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa have a new lease of life under Steven Gerrard's managership and are worth a punt against Chelsea, whose Premier League title challenge is fading. Peterborough, third from bottom of the Championship, will leapfrog their opponents Reading if they win and I'm tipping them to do that. Stevenage, who are struggling in League Two, played well despite losing at Salford last weekend and can defeat Crawley.

Pools info: The matches at Barnsley (No.9 on coupon), Cardiff (10), Bradford (33), Bristol Rovers (34), Exeter (36), Newport (38) and Northampton (39) have all been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 18-19

Ten draws: Watford v Crystal Palace, Bristol City v Huddersfield, Coventry v Stoke, Reading v Luton, Wimbledon v Portsmouth, Cambridge v Rotherham, Plymouth v Charlton, Carlisle v Bradford City, Colchester v Hartlepool, Tranmere v Leyton Orient.

Best draws: Watford v Crystal Palace, Wimbledon v Portsmouth, Cambridge v Rotherham, Plymouth v Charlton, Colchester v Hartlepool.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Leicester, Brentford, Chelsea, Wycombe, Crewe, Newport.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, West Ham, Blackburn, Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers, Oxford, Northampton, Port Vale, Sutton, Arbroath.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace looked very good when beating Everton 3-1 at Selhurst Park last Sunday but if Watford play as well as they did when unluckily losing at home to Chelsea, they can take a point. Portsmouth are gradually climbing the League One table but you must never underestimate Wimbledon, who held promotion-chasing Wycombe to a 2-2 draw last Saturday. Rotherham deserve to top the table but may not have things all their own way at Cambridge, who have adapted well to a higher division. Charlton continue to make rapid progress and a point at Plymouth is well within their capabilities. Hartlepool, who are mid-table in League Two, have scored only six away goals, which should encourage Colchester, their lower-placed hosts.

Away days: Leicester, emphatic 4-0 winners over Newcastle last Sunday, look a good bet to triumph at ailing Everton. Brentford are giving a good account of themselves in the top flight and are recommended to beat injury-ravaged Southampton. Chelsea will be eager to keep pace with Premier League leaders Manchester City and should prevail at Wolves, who are experiencing a goal drought. Wycombe, fourth in League One, are the form selection against out-of-sorts Bolton. Crewe, at the bottom, haven't won away all season but they'll never have a better chance at Gillingham, who are only two points better off. Fast improving Newport, fourth in League Two, will travel to Rochdale with confidence.

Homes sweet homes: Oxford, who have moved into the League One play-off positions, are worth a wager against second-placed Wigan, even though the latter are outstanding away. Port Vale, who are third in League Two, entertain Exeter, who are fifth, and I'm tipping them to make the most of ground advantage. Sutton, in their first season in the Football League, seem in better shape than Harrogate, who have slipped recently. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 11-12

 Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Everton, Birmingham v Cardiff, Luton v Fulham, Stoke v Middlesbrough, Accrington v Bolton, Doncaster v Shrewsbury, MK Dons v Oxford, Newport v Port Vale, Walsall v Colchester, Ross v Dundee.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Everton, Luton v Fulham, Stoke v Middlesbrough, Doncaster v Shrewsbury, MK Dons v Oxford.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: West Ham, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Swindon, Northampton, Forest Green.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, West Brom, Fleetwood, Portsmouth, Rotherham, Sunderland, Wigan, Hartlepool, Leyton Orient, Stevenage.

Pick of the draws: Everton ended their dismal losing run by beating Arsenal on Monday and will be in a better frame of mind for the visit to Crystal Palace, who have slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League. I believe Championship leaders Fulham won't have things all their own way at Luton, who gained a notable 3-0 victory at Blackpool last weekend and are a match for anybody on their day. Middlesbrough are a more formidable proposition now that Chris Wilder is manager and it won't surprise me if they come away from Stoke with a point. Although Doncaster have fallen to the foot of League One, they should get something from the visit of Shrewsbury, who have yet to win away. MK Dons and Oxford are both in the hunt for promotion and both playing well. This looks one of the likeliest draws on the coupon.

Away days: As West Ham have defeated Liverpool and Chelsea recently, they will be confident of three points at Burnley, who are third from last in the Premier League. Manchester United, eager to impress their new manager, look a sure thing at bottom club Norwich. Nottingham Forest's fine away record in the Championship gives them a fair chance of success at Swansea, who have disappointed. League Two high-flyers Swindon lost away for the first time this season in midweek but I'm tipping them to bounce back straight away at Barrow. Second-placed Northampton, 2-1 winners at Exeter in midweek, are worth a punt at Harrogate, whose home form is indifferent, while it's impossible to ignore the claims of runaway leaders Forest Green, who go to lowly Oldham.

Homes sweet homes: Fleetwood are my tip to win the battle of the League One strugglers. They host  Gillingham, who crashed 5-1 at Rotherham in midweek and are sinking like a stone. Sunderland's 5-0 home victory over Morecambe in midweek may give them the edge over promotion rivals Plymouth. Stevenage v Carlisle is a potential "six-pointer" at the wrong end of League Two. I think Stevenage have made a good managerial appointment in Paul Tisdale and I fancy them to come out on top.

Pools info: there were eight draws on last weekend's coupon and I correctly forecast five of them: the games at Leeds, Southampton, Barnsley, Reading and Aldershot. I also got three of my five best draws correct: Southampton 1 Brighton 1, Barnsley 1 Huddersfield 1 and Reading 1 Hull 1.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of December 4-5

Ten draws: Leeds v Brentford, Southampton v Brighton, Barnsley v Huddersfield, Cardiff v Sheffield United, Reading v Hull, Doncaster v Mansfield, Leyton Orient v Tranmere, St Johnstone v Ross, Aldershot v Altrincham, Dagenham & Redbridge v Grimsby.

Best draws: Southampton v Brighton, Barnsley v Huddersfield, Reading v Hull, Doncaster v Mansfield, Dagenham & Redbridge v Grimsby.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Shrewsbury, Halifax, Swindon, Celtic, Forfar, Stirling.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Manchester United, Newcastle, Blackburn, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Burton, Portsmouth, Yeovil, Barnet, Bromley.

Pick of the draws: Brighton haven't won for nine matches but Southampton, their hosts, are also in a bit of a rut, having lost 2-1 at Norwich and 4-0 at Liverpool. Barnsley, second from bottom in the Championship, are having a terrible season but at least they kept a clean sheet at Peterborough last weekend and I've a feeling they'll take a point off Huddersfield, whose progress has stalled. Reading's points deduction has left them just above the drop zone and they face a Hull side who have won their past four games. It's the FA Cup second round this weekend and as Mansfield, from League Two, won at Sunderland in the previous round, they won't fear a journey to League One Doncaster, who are battling relegation. Because Grimsby have slipped from top to fourth in the National League, they won't relish a trip to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Away days: Shrewsbury, without an away win in League One this season, are tipped to break their duck in the FA Cup when they visit lowly Carlisle, of League Two, on Saturday. Halifax, among the front-runners in the National League, should have too much knowhow for Kidderminster, who are a division below them. Swindon's superb away record in League Two - seven wins and no defeats - will surely work to their advantage at Walsall. Celtic appear to have turned a corner in the Scottish Premiership and are recommended at Dundee United. Forfar and Stirling, from Scottish League Two, ought to confirm their superiority over Albion and Cowdenbeath respectively.

Homes sweet homes: Newcastle are bottom and still without a win in the Premier League but their 10 men did well to take a point off Norwich in midweek and I've a hunch they'll gain three points at the expense of Burnley on Saturday. Sunderland's magnificent home form (seven wins out of eight) is the main reason I believe they'll beat Oxford in a League One clash. Non-League Yeovil are worth backing against struggling Stevenage from League Two in the FA Cup. Yeovil have a grand cup fighting tradition and gained a notable 2-0 victory at Wrexham in the National League in midweek. 

Pools info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Norwich 0 Wolves 0, Bolton 2 Cheltenham 2 and Sheffield Wednesday 2 Wycombe 2.