Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 29-30

 Ten draws: Hull v Swansea, Luton v Blackburn, Peterborough v Sheffield United, Bolton v Sunderland, Doncaster v Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, Bradford City v Crawley, Colchester v Swindon, Dundee v St Mirren, Queen's Park v Airdrieonians.

Best draws: Hull v Swansea, Luton v Blackburn, Bolton v Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, Colchester v Swindon.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich, Rotherham, Sutton, Cove.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Derby, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers, Lincoln, Exeter, Newport, Port Vale, Tranmere, Aberdeen, Solihull.

Pick of the draws: Hull's new owners have sacked manager Grant McCann, despite Hull beating Championship promotion contenders Blackburn (home) and Bournemouth (away) in their past two matches. Their hopes of three consecutive wins may be denied by Swansea, who held high-flyers Queens Park Rangers to a goalless draw in midweek. Blackburn have climbed into the automatic promotion spots but won't underestimate their task at Luton, who defeated Bournemouth at home recently. Bolton, of League One, have suddenly hit form and have a fighting chance of continuing that against second-placed Sunderland, who are by no means invincible on their travels. Fast-improving Ipswich are contesting a play-off place and I believe they'll come away from Sheffield Wednesday with a point. Although Swindon's superb away record has kept them in the League Two promotion hunt, I fancy lowly Colchester, unexpected 3-0 winners at Salford last Saturday, to take a point.

Away days: Bournemouth, third in the Championship, lost 1-0 at home to Hull last Saturday and will be anxious to return to winning ways. They will surely do so at bottom side Barnsley, who seem doomed. Nottingham Forest are the team on the up in this division and are warmly recommended at struggling Cardiff. West Brom needed that 3-0 home victory over Peterborough last weekend and as a result will travel to mid-table Millwall with more confidence. Rotherham, third in League One, look an away banker at goal-shy Crewe and Sutton, seeking promotion from League Two, shouldn't slip up at Carlisle. Cove Rangers, the runaway Scottish League One leaders, will start firm favourites at second-from-bottom Dumbarton. 

Homes sweet homes: This season has been a nightmare for Derby, second last in the Championship and beset by financial problems, but they may have something to smile about hosting unimpressive Birmingham on Sunday. Away wins at Sunderland (3-1) and Plymouth (2-1) have sent Lincoln galloping up the League One table and I rate their chances against Burton. Forest Green, who top League Two by seven points, are unbeaten away but I've a hunch their run will end at Tranmere, who are second and gathering momentum.

Pools info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Leicester v Brighton (1-1), Sutton v Northampton (0-0) and, in the Scottish Cup, Kilmarnock v Dundee United (1-1 after 90mins). 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 22-23

Ten draws: Leicester v Brighton, Man Utd v West Ham, Coventry v QPR, Sheff Utd v Luton, Swansea v Preston, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Crawley v Tranmere, Rochdale v Bradford City, Sutton v Northampton, Kilmarnock v Dundee Utd.

Best draws: Leicester v Brighton, Man Utd v West Ham, Coventry v QPR, Sutton v Northampton, Kilmarnock v Dundee Utd.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Huddersfield, Fulham, Wycombe, Newport, Inverness, Falkirk.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Leeds, Birmingham, Bournemouth, West Bromwich, MK Dons, Rotherham, Wigan, Leyton Orient, Livingston, Grimsby.

Pick of the draws: Remarkably, Brighton have lost only one Premier League away game this season. Six of those matches have ended in draws and I can see them chalking up another one at Leicester, who are just behind them in the table. West Ham's home loss against Leeds last Sunday was an unexpected setback to their hopes of a top four spot but they should avoid defeat at Manchester United, who fail to inspire confidence. Coventry will be greatly encouraged by their 4-1 victory at Peterborough last weekend but Queens Park Rangers look a better bet for promotion from the Championship and can share the spoils. Sutton's first season in the Football League could end in promotion but Northampton, their visitors on Saturday, are also strong contenders and won't lie down easily. It's the Scottish Cup fourth round this weekend and Kilmarnock, third in the Championship, are equipped to force a draw against Dundee United from the Premiership.

Away days: Huddersfield, just outside the Championship play-off positions, must be fancied at Reading, who go from bad to worse. Leaders Fulham have scored 19 goals in their past three matches - firepower that should be enough to see off Stoke, their hosts. I'm tipping Wycombe, surprising but deserved leaders in League One, to maintain their winning run at lowly Morecambe while League Two high-flyers Newport will be disappointed not to get three points at second from bottom Scunthorpe. Inverness, seeking promotion from the Scottish Championship, are recommended at struggling Dunfermline and Falkirk, mid-table in Scottish League One, look a good bet at East Fife, who are bottom.

Homes sweet homes: Although Leyton Orient will probably be rusty owing to recent lack of action in League Two, they may still have enough to beat Port Vale, who are slipping down the table. Livingston defeated Dundee 2-0 at home in a midweek Scottish Premiership fixture and I'm expecting them to hand out similar treatment to Ross in the Scottish Cup on Saturday. Grimsby, with a 2-0 home victory over Altrincham last weekend, seem to have arrested their slide in the National League and they are worth backing against higher-placed Bromley.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 15-16

 Ten draws: Tottenham v Arsenal, Hull v Stoke, Millwall v Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich, Lincoln v Cambridge, Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth, Bristol Rovers v Hartlepool, Carlisle v Crawley, Northampton v Forest Green, Ayr v Morton.

Best draws: Millwall v Nottingham Forest, Lincoln v Cambridge, Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth, Bristol Rovers v Hartlepool, Carlisle v Crawley.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Blackpool, Ipswich, Wigan, Rotherham, Burton, Leyton Orient.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Newcastle, West Ham, Derby, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Exeter, Tranmere, Stenhousemuir.

Pick of the draws: Nottingham Forest did not have to play especially well to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup last Sunday and may find Millwall a harder nut to crack in this Championship fixture. Cambridge, of League One, are on a high after their FA Cup giant-killing at Newcastle but their hosts Lincoln have just recorded two consecutive victories and can force a draw. Promotion contenders Plymouth, fresh from eliminating Birmingham from the FA Cup, are in better form than their opponents Sheffield Wednesday and will be disappointed not to come away with at least a point. League Two Hartlepool achieved another FA Cup upset when they beat Blackpool, from the Championship, last weekend and can share the spoils at Bristol Rovers. Carlisle and Crawley are both on the upgrade and I'm expecting a stalemate.

Away days: On chances created, Blackpool should never have lost to Hartlepool in the FA Cup last Saturday and I believe they'll bounce back straight away by winning at second-from-bottom Barnsley. League One looks the best division for aways this weekend. Fast-improving Ipswich are recommended at fast-fading Bolton while fourth-placed Wigan will be odds-on to defeat bottom team Doncaster. Leaders Rotherham look good for another three points at Fleetwood, as do Burton at crisis club Gillingham. In League Two, Leyton Orient have stumbled recently but should still have enough to beat basement club Oldham.

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa were unlucky to lose their FA Cup tie at Manchester United on Monday and I'm tipping them to gain immediate revenge on Saturday. Derby, rooted to the foot of the Championship because of their big points deduction, are showing plenty of spirit in adversity and they are worth a punt against mid-table Sheffield United. Although Peterborough are also threatened by relegation, I fancy their chances of causing an upset against Coventry.

Pools info: I correctly forecast six of my ten draws last weekend, including three of my five best draws. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of January 8-9

 Ten draws: Boreham Wood v Wimbledon, Cardiff v Preston, Swansea v Southampton, Wigan v Blackburn, Wolves v Sheffield United, Accrington v Milton Keynes Dons, Cheltenham v Burton, Colchester v Rochdale, Inverness v Raith, Albion v Stenhousemuir.

Best draws: Boreham Wood v Wimbledon, Cardiff v Preston, Swansea v Southampton, Wolves v Sheffield United, Inverness v Raith.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Plymouth, Brentford, Bournemouth, Oxford, Kilmarnock, Notts County.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Barnsley, Hull, Luton, Newcastle, Peterborough, Stoke, Doncaster, Stevenage, Tranmere, Halifax.

Pick of the draws: Boreham Wood, promotion contenders in the National League, haven't lost at home all season. That will encourage them to keep League One Wimbledon at bay for 90 minutes in Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie. Cardiff and Preston both had good results this week (Cardiff drawing at West Brom, Preston winning at Stoke) and these Championship sides appear well matched. I believe Southampton will overcome their FA Cup hurdle at Swansea but they may need extra time before doing so. Wolves come into their cup tie on the back of a fine 1-0 victory at Manchester United but they are not scoring many goals and Sheffield United, perhaps the Championship's biggest improvers, can take advantage. Inverness, second in the Scottish Championship, have not drawn at home this season but could be held by Raith, who are just below them.

Away days: Anybody looking for an FA Cup upset could do worse than take a chance on League One high-flyers Plymouth to win at Birmingham, who are hardly setting the Championship alight. Brentford, who have adapted well to the Premier League, are strongly recommended at Port Vale, of League Two, and Bournemouth, top of the Championship, should also progress to the next round, despite non-League Yeovil's past FA Cup heroics. Oxford, contesting promotion in League One, look too strong for relegation-troubled Lincoln. In the Scottish Championship the higher-placed Kilmarnock will start favourites at Queen of the South and Notts County, of the National League, will surely prevail at basement club Dover.

Homes sweet homes: Although Hull are nearer the bottom than the top of the Championship, they are worth a punt against Everton, who continue to flounder in the Premier League and look vulnerable to an early FA Cup exit on Saturday. Doncaster, bottom of League One, can give themselves a lift by beating Fleetwood, who sit just above the drop zone, and in League Two lowly Stevenage are worth considering against mid-table Walsall because their new manager Paul Tisdale, who did so well at Exeter, will probably get them out of the mire.