Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 3-4

 Ten draws: Manchester United v Arsenal, Wolves v Southampton, Rotherham v Watford, Bolton v Charlton, Exeter v MK Dons, Forest Green v Shrewsbury, Colchester v Hartlepool, Gillingham v Swindon, Northampton v Barrow, St Johnstone v St Mirren.

Best draws: Rotherham v Watford, Exeter v MK Dons, Forest Green v Shrewsbury, Colchester v Hartlepool, St Johnstone v St Mirren.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers, Aberdeen, Barnet, Wrexham.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Norwich, Preston, Port Vale, Carlisle, Salford, Sutton, Motherwell, Southend.

Pick of the draws: Although Watford are in good shape to make a quick return to the Premier League, they will have their work cut out at Rotherham, who have also made a good start to the Championship season. League One Exeter have suffered a blip recently. Not so their visitors, MK Dons, who are rapidly climbing the table and knocked Watford out of the League Cup. Forest Green, thrashed 5-0 at Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday, are struggling near the foot of the division and may not have enough to overcome the challenge of Shrewsbury. Hartlepool, second from last in League Two, made table-topping Leyton Orient work hard for their 4-2 victory last weekend and I fancy them to hold Colchester, who are also in trouble. St Johnstone played well despite losing 3-2 at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership last Sunday and should at least take a point off St Mirren.

Away days: Going behind doesn't seem to bother Manchester City in the slightest and it's hard to see them being inconvenienced by Aston Villa, who are just not clicking at the moment. Sheffield United moved to the top of the Championship by beating Reading 4-0 at home in midweek and are recommended to win again at Hull. Consecutive successes over Watford (away) and Hull (home) have changed the mood at Queens Park Rangers and I believe they'll make it a hat-trick of triumphs at ailing Swansea. Aberdeen, 5-0 home winners over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, are a confident selection at lowly Ross County. Barnet have got off to a flyer in the National League and should be backed at bottom club Aldershot while Wrexham will want to show their promotion credentials by winning at Dorking.

Homes sweet homes: Brentford are playing better than their Premier League placing suggests and they are worth a wager against high-flying Leeds. Preston, after seven matches, have still to concede a goal in the Championship. It's difficult to see that changing when they host Birmingham, who are really struggling. Mind you, Preston would be higher in the table if they hadn't been involved in so many goalless draws - five to date. Although Port Vale's League One form is nothing to write home about, they look to have the measure of Cheltenham, who are in the relegation zone.

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

 Ten draws: Brighton v Leeds, Blackpool v Bristol City, Millwall v Reading, Derby v Peterborough, Morecambe v MK Dons, Port Vale v Portsmouth, Wycombe v Charlton, Wimbledon v Barrow, Northampton v Doncaster, Salford v Stevenage.

Best draws: Brighton v Leeds, Derby v Peterborough, Wycombe v Charlton, Wimbledon v Barrow, Salford v Stevenage.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Burnley, Newport, Crawley, Swindon, Celtic, Notts County.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Watford, Cambridge, Ipswich, Bradford City, Leyton Orient, Rangers, Bromley.

Pick of the draws: Who would have thought that Brighton and Leeds would be unbeaten after their opening three matches and in the top five of the Premier League? Strange things happen at the start of the season and after Saturday's game I believe that both teams will remain undefeated. Second-placed Peterborough, favourites for an instant return to the Championship, won't have things all their own way at Derby, who knocked West Brom out of the League Cup in midweek. Wycombe halted their League One slide with a convincing 3-0 victory at Barnsley last Saturday but I think they'll find Charlton tougher opposition. Barrow, third in League Two, are probably the surprise packet of the season so far and can come away from Wimbledon with a point. The rise of Stevenage, who have climbed to second, is almost as unexpected. They specialise in scoring late goals and netted another when beating League One Peterborough at home in the League Cup. I fancy them to halt Salford.

Away days: Although relegated Burnley have not set the Championship alight, I believe they are due a change of fortune and could get it at Wigan. In League Two, Newport will be feeling much better after beating Portsmouth at home in the League Cup. They also won in the league last Saturday and can make it a hat-trick at Harrogate. Crawley, who are second from bottom, will have an extra spring in their step after their League Cup giant-killing against Fulham and are recommended at Rochdale, who are still pointless. Swindon are moving through the gears and are worth a punt at Stockport, who are struggling to adapt to life in a higher division. Scottish Premiership table-toppers Celtic look an away banker at ailing Dundee United while Notts County, of the National League, will travel to bottom side Halifax with confidence.

Homes sweet homes: I reckon that Watford's surprising League Cup home loss to lowly MK Dons, of League One, was only a blip and they'll return to winning ways in the Championship when Queens Park Rangers visit on Saturday. Bradford City, 11th in League Two, are capable of much better and should gain three points against a Crewe side who are depleted by injuries to key players. National League Bromley are on the up and will fancy themselves against Scunthorpe, who are travelling in the opposite direction. 

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

 Ten draws: Preston v Watford, Sheffield United v Blackburn, Bolton v Sheffield Wednesday, Burton v Port Vale, Fleetwood v Derby, MK Dons v Accrington, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Doncaster v Salford, Newport v Tranmere, Edinburgh v Falkirk.

Best draws: Preston v Watford, Sheffield United v Blackburn, Bolton v Sheffield Wednesday, Colchester v Leyton Orient, Newport v Tranmere.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Bradford City, Dunfermline, Dumbarton.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Leicester, Tottenham, West Brom, Charlton, Exeter, Oxford, Grimsby, Swindon, Celtic, Airdrieonians.

Pick of the draws: Watford extended their unbeaten start to the season in the Championship with a 1-1 draw at Birmingham in midweek. Another draw looks on the cards at Preston, who have yet to concede after four matches. Blackburn, the surprise but merited Championship leaders, crashed 3-0 at Reading in midweek. I'm expecting a positive reaction on Saturday at Sheffield United, who have just beaten Sunderland at home. A narrow home victory over Morecambe in midweek put Bolton in the League One play-off positions but they will probably find Sheffield Wednesday a tougher test. Colchester, of League Two, are better than their match facts suggest and to prove it they defeated Bradford City at home in midweek. On that evidence they'll give second-placed Leyton Orient a run for their money. 

Away days: Arsenal are one of only two sides to have gained maximum points from their opening two  Premier League fixtures. An away trip to newly promoted Bournemouth gives them a great opportunity to register three wins in a row. Middlesbrough have yet to click in the Championship this season but their match at Reading on Saturday would be a good place to start. Ipswich, the early front-runners in League One, are recommended at Shrewsbury. League Two Bradford City, under manager Mark Hughes, continue to disappoint. They lost to a late goal at Colchester in midweek but will be more hopeful of returning with three points from struggling Hartlepool. 

Homes sweet homes: Leicester are no great shakes these days but they seem in better shape than their visitors Southampton, who creak at the back - four conceded at Tottenham on the first Premier League weekend of the season and two more in the home game against Leeds last Saturday. Put your money on a home win. West Bromwich Albion have played better than their lowly Championship position suggests and are worth backing against Hull, who surprisingly find themselves challenging the leaders. Torrential rain caused Grimsby's League Two home fixture against Carlisle to be abandoned in midweek but the promoted team have shown enough zest to be confident of defeating Sutton, who have made a subdued start to the campaign. 

Pools info: Coventry v Huddersfield (No.8 on coupon) has been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel. 

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

Ten draws: Wolves v Fulham, Luton v Preston, Millwall v Coventry, Rotherham v Reading, Cambridge v Exeter, Derby v Barnsley, Lincoln v Forest Green, Wimbledon v Doncaster, Sutton v Barrow, St Mirren v Ross.

Best draws: Wolves v Fulham, Luton v Preston, Cambridge v Exeter, Lincoln v Forest Green, Sutton v Barrow.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Norwich, Fleetwood, Bolton, Gillingham, Airdrieonians, Scunthorpe.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Brighton, Manchester City, Wigan, Accrington, Sheffield Wednesday, Northampton, Walsall, Dunfermline, Halifax.

Pick of the draws: Wolves have lost one of their best players in Conor Coady and promoted Fulham, who held Liverpool to a 2-2 home draw in the Premier League last Saturday, can take advantage of his absence. Championship side Preston sprang to life when they won 4-1 at Huddersfield in the League Cup in midweek. At the same time, Luton, their opponents on Saturday, were knocked out by Newport, of League Two, and are still awaiting their first victory of the season. League One Exeter, 11 goals in their past two matches, look unstoppable but it would be foolish to underestimate Cambridge, who last week defeated Millwall in the League Cup. Lincoln held Portsmouth to a draw at Fratton Park last weekend before beating Doncaster 3-0 away in the League Cup. They won't be fazed by the visit of Forest Green. League Two Barrow, three wins from three games, are the surprise package of the season so far and I fancy them to extend their unbeaten start at Sutton. 

Away days: Relegated Norwich have failed to impress so far but they can get their Championship season up and running at Hull, who lost at League Two Bradford City in the midweek League Cup. Fleetwood, of League One, have defeated Plymouth and Wigan in their past two matches and I believe they'll make it three consecutive victories at Morecambe. Bolton, eight goals in their past two fixtures, have sent out a message and will probably be too strong for promoted Port Vale. Gillingham's 2-0 win at Wimbledon in the League Cup may be a turning point for them and I can see the Gills coming away from Tranmere with three points. Airdrieonians, top of Scottish League One and 4-0 home winners over Falkirk, look a sure thing at Queen of the South while Scunthorpe, who have dropped into the National League, are recommended at Maidenhead, who were well beaten at Notts County last Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: Manager Graham Potter continues to extract the maximum out of Brighton. Having won 2-1 at Manchester United last weekend, they can get the better of rejuvenated Newcastle. Walsall's top-of-the table placing in League Two is well deserved. On Saturday they host Stevenage, who have also won their opening three games. I believe ground advantage will be the crucial factor here. Halifax, of the National League, wouldn't have expected to lose 2-0 at Barnet on their opening weekend of the season but I'm tipping them to put things right against Torquay.

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

 Ten draws: Leeds v Wolves, Leicester v Brentford, Bristol City v Sunderland, Swansea v Blackburn, Bolton v Wycombe, Exeter v Port Vale, Shrewsbury v Accrington, Colchester v Carlisle, Newport v Walsall, Hibernian v Hearts.

Best draws: Leicester v Brentford, Swansea v Blackburn, Bolton v Wycombe, Exeter v Port Vale, Newport v Walsall.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient, Northampton, Wimbledon.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Newcastle, Tottenham, Burnley, Coventry, Barnsley, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Doncaster, Mansfield.

Pick of the draws: Leicester will want to improve on last season's Premier League showing but there's no guarantee they'll beat Brentford, who have a habit of upsetting the odds. Championship club Blackburn, with a new manager in charge, could be in the promotion mix this campaign and I fancy them to get something at Swansea. Wycombe are on top of League One after their emphatic 3-0 home win over Burton last Saturday and I believe they'll come away from Bolton with a point. Two promoted sides, Exeter and Port Vale, face each other in League One. They both had good results last weekend - Exeter drawing at Lincoln and Port Vale beating Fleetwood - and deadlock looks the likeliest outcome. Walsall, early leaders of League Two, got off to a flyer by thrashing Hartlepool last Saturday and can hold Newport.

Away days: Aston Villa will be disappointed if they don't defeat promoted Bournemouth, who are favourites to go straight back down to the Championship. Liverpool showed in last Saturday's Community Shield victory over Manchester City that their intensity hasn't dropped and are expected to gain maximum points at Fulham, last season's Championship champions. Bristol Rovers, promoted to League One, will be eager to make amends for last weekend's home defeat against Forest Green and I recommend them at Burton. In League Two, Leyton Orient look as if they could go places this season and are tipped to win at Crawley. Northampton, who were desperately unlucky not to be promoted, appear to have the measure of Football League newcomers Grimsby. Wimbledon, 2-0 home winners over Gillingham on the opening day, should relish a trip to Hartlepool.

Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that Everton, although beset by problems in the close season, will cause an upset against Chelsea. Everton manager Frank Lampard will be especially keen to put one over the club that he played for and managed. Doncaster, of League Two, did very well to force a goalless draw with 10 men at Bradford City last Saturday and will have the confidence to send Sutton home pointless. Despite Mansfield losing 2-0 at Salford, there were a lot of positives and I'm backing them to gain their first win of the season against Tranmere, who went down 2-1 at home to Stevenage.