Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 1-2

 Ten draws: Bournemouth v Brentford, Crystal Palace v Chelsea, Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham v Wigan, Cambridge v Derby, Cheltenham v Shrewsbury, Wycombe v Plymouth, Swindon v Northampton, Tranmere v Barrow, Hamilton v Dundee.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Brentford, Cheltenham v Shrewsbury, Wycombe v Plymouth, Swindon v Northampton, Tranmere v Barrow.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Burnley, Barnsley, Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford City, Scunthorpe.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Reading, Burton, Ipswich, Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Mansfield (Friday), Dunfermline, Partick, Notts County.

Pick of the draws: Brentford were well below par when losing 3-0 at home to Arsenal in the Premier League. It's hard to see them playing as poorly again even if they won't have things all their own way at Bournemouth. Shrewsbury, ninth in League One, continue to punch above their weight and will be disappointed with anything less than a point at ailing Cheltenham. Plymouth, the new leaders, are far stronger at home than away, where they have twice lost. That will give hosts Wycombe the encouragement they need. Swindon, who have climbed just outside the League Two play-off places thanks to consecutive away wins, are threatening to give second-placed Northampton a run for their money. Barrow, in fourth position, found leaders Leyton Orient too big a mountain to climb last Saturday but they should share the spoils at mid-table Tranmere.

Away days: Burnley's hard-fought home victory over Bristol City has put them in the Championship promotion mix and they will feel confident of getting three points at Cardiff. Barnsley are raising hopes of making an instant return to the Championship. Having beaten Charlton 3-1 at home last Saturday, the Yorkshiremen will be aiming for a maximum return at Fleetwood. Peterborough arrested their League One slide slide by defeating Port Vale 3-0 at home last weekend and that should put them in a positive mood for their trip to Milton Keynes Dons. Fourth-placed Sheffield Wednesday look too strong for Port Vale. Bradford City, who have sneaked into the League Two play-off positions, are recommended at Harrogate, who have only six goals from 10 games. In the National League, Scunthorpe, who came from 2-0 down to beat Dorking 3-2 at home last Saturday, will fancy their chances at bottom club Torquay, who crashed 6-0 at Wrexham.

Homes sweet homes: The north London derby is usually worth watching and I'm going for Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, to end Tottenham's unbeaten run of seven matches in the early afternoon kick-off. Burton, bottom of League One, have not picked a point at home so far this season but I believe that will change when they entertain Forest Green, who are only two places above them and lost 4-0 at home last weekend. Ipswich v Portsmouth (second v third) promises to be one of the matches of the day and I've a hunch that the hosts will shade it. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 24-25

 Ten draws: Netherlands v Belgium, Czech Republic v Portugal, Scotland v Republic of Ireland, Crewe v Mansfield, Grimsby v Swindon, Newport v Carlisle, Sutton v Salford, Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet, Clyde v Caemarfon, Cove v Raith. 

Best draws: Netherlands v Belgium, Grimsby v Swindon, Newport v Carlisle, Sutton v Salford, Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Ukraine, Norway, Turkey, Stirling, Aldershot, Chesterfield.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Spain, Israel, Luxembourg, Moldova, Sheffield Wednesday, Barrow, Hartlepool, Northampton, Stevenage, Bromley.

Pick of the draws: Netherlands v Belgium features two well matched teams facing each other in the latest round of Nations League fixtures. Grimsby, promoted to League Two last season, have drawn all three home games so far and I can see another deadlock when they host Swindon, who have drawn most of their away matches. Carlisle are heading in the right direction, unlike their hosts Newport, who are hovering just above the relegation zone. However, I'm taking Newport to at least halt their run of home defeats. Sutton are two points off the play-off positions but may have to settle for a draw against sixth-placed Salford, who will be eager to make amends for their surprising home loss against Tranmere last Saturday. Dagenham & Redbridge scored four against Altrincham in the National League last weekend but I suspect that Barnet's defence won't be so generous.

Away days: Ukraine, disappointed to have missed out on World Cup qualification, will surely take out their disappointment on Armenia. Norway top their Nations League group and will be expected to beat bottom country Slovenia. Turkey have maximum points from their four matches and are firm favourites to defeat Faroe Islands. Stirling, third in Scottish League Two, should relish their trip to Forfar, having defeated Stranraer 4-1 at home last Saturday. Aldershot's 5-1 home rout of Halifax in the National League last weekend has put them in a healthier frame of mind and I'm backing them to win at bottom club Altrincham. Unbeaten Chesterfield lead the National League on merit and I believe they'll still be in first place after they've visited Maidstone. 

Homes sweet homes: Luxembourg used to be football's whipping boys but not so much now and I think you can rely on them to beat Lithuania. Barrow, second in League Two, are far exceeding expectations and I've a hunch they will end the unbeaten record of leaders Leyton Orient in the match of the division. Teams who sack their manager often win their next game. I reckon this will apply to Hartlepool, second from last in League Two, who will play Gillingham, the side immediately above them, on Saturday. 

Pools info: Dunfermline v Celtic B (No.41 on coupon) has been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 17-18

 Ten draws: Birmingham v Coventry, Huddersfield v Cardiff, Watford v Sunderland, Wigan v Reading, Cambridge v Barnsley, Portsmouth v Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, Bradford City v Stevenage, Newport v Barrow, Airdrieonians v Clyde.

Best draws: Huddersfield v Cardiff, Wigan v Reading, Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, Bradford City v Stevenage, Newport v Barrow.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Blackburn, Stoke, Swindon, Celtic, Wrexham.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Tottenham, Norwich, Bolton, Exeter, Forest Green, Northampton, Stockport, Rangers, Solihull.

Pick of the draws: Struggling Huddersfield are without a manager, having sacked Danny Schofield after losing at home to Wigan, but sheer desperation may be enough for them to get something from their home game against Cardiff, who surprisingly won 3-2 at Middlesbrough in midweek. Wigan, although in the top half, are without a home victory this season and may have to wait a bit longer after playing Reading on Saturday. Even at this early stage, League One leaders Ipswich are firm favourites to go up and capable of taking a point at Sheffield Wednesday, who returned to winning ways at Morecambe in midweek. Bradford City v Stevenage in League Two looks the likeliest draw on the coupon. Second-placed Stevenage have conceded only six goals so far while Bradford City are gradually improving. Barrow's latest triumph - 2-0 at home to Doncaster in midweek - has kept them third but they may have to settle for a point at Newport, who have underperformed so far.

Away days: Manchester City only need a draw to top the Premier League on Saturday but I believe they'll do better than that at goal-shy Wolves. Blackburn's midweek home success against Watford in the Championship ought to do them the power of good and they'll travel to Luton with confidence. Stoke had an even better midweek victory - 3-0 at Hull - and are worth backing at Queens Park Rangers, who are very up and down. Swindon, of League Two, will have noted that Doncaster, their hosts, have suffered  consecutive losses and they could win away for the first time this season. My last two selections should be away bankers. Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic will be odds-on to beat St Mirren on Sunday and  Wrexham, second in the National League, will fancy their chances at Southend.

Homes sweet homes: Everton are still without a win in the Premier League but they've improved lately and can take all three points against West Ham on Sunday. Bolton overtook Peterborough in League One by virtue of their 2-0 win at Milton Keynes Dons in midweek. Meanwhile, Peterborough lost 1-0 at home to Fleetwood. The force is with Bolton, who have moved into the play-off positions. Forest Green climbed clear of the relegation zone by drawing 1-1 at Charlton in midweek. I think they'll move further away from danger when they host second bottom Morecambe on Saturday. 

Pools info: Brighton v Crystal Palace (No.1 on the coupon) has been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel. 

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 10-11

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, West Ham v Newcastle, Birmingham v Swansea, Blackpool v Middlesbrough, Barnsley v Portsmouth, Shrewsbury v Oxford, Crawley v Gillingham, Mansfield v Bradford City, Walsall v Northampton, Dundee United v Hibernian.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, West Ham v Newcastle, Blackpool v Middlesbrough, Barnsley v Portsmouth, Crawley v Gillingham.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester United, Brentford, West Brom, Bolton, Leyton Orient, Dumbarton.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Liverpool, Manchester City, Bristol City, Cardiff, Queens Park Rangers, Peterborough, Plymouth, Barrow, Stevenage, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: Bournemouth will have been greatly encouraged by winning at Nottingham Forest last Saturday after being two goals behind at half-time. They will feel more confident about facing Brighton, particularly now that Graham Potter has left Brighton to manage Chelsea. West Ham didn't deserve to lose at Chelsea last weekend and Newcastle, their visitors on Sunday, merited more than a goalless draw at home to Crystal Palace. I predict a stalemate. Middlesbrough moved out of the Championship relegation zone by beating Sunderland 1-0 at home on Monday. I sense there is more to come from Chris Wilder's side and I believe they'll at least share the spoils with Blackpool. Barnsley's 2-0 victory at Sheffield Wednesday in League One was one of the upsets of last weekend but they will do well to repeat that feat against Portsmouth, who look a decent bet to go up. League Two strugglers Crawley and Gillingham play each other. Crawley did well to draw 2-2 at promotion challengers Salford and Gillingham held on for 80 minutes with 10 men at home to Swindon, who had to settle for a point. 

Away days: Manchester United have followed two consecutive Premier League defeats with four successive victories. The rot has been stopped and I think United will be too strong for Crystal Palace on Sunday. Brentford's strengths far outweigh their weaknesses. They were very impressive in beating Leeds 5-2 at home last Saturday and I'm backing them to defeat Southampton. Too many draws have hampered West Bromwich Albion in the Championship but they have an excellent chance to go one better at bottom club Coventry. League One Bolton, seven goals in their past two games, are highly recommended at lowly Cheltenham. Leyton Orient, the unbeaten League Two leaders, should stay that way after visiting Wimbledon on Saturday while Dumbarton, top of Scottish League Two with maximum points from six fixtures, cannot be overlooked at Stranraer.

Homes sweet homes: Tottenham are Manchester City's bogey side but I'm backing City to overcome their jinx in the Premier League's evening match on Saturday. With Haaland in such devastating goalscoring form, it's increasingly difficult to back against Pep Guardiola's men. Bristol City are the team to watch in the Championship. A 3-2 win at Blackburn last weekend took them up to fourth and I fancy them against goal-shy Preston (just two in eight matches). Although Cardiff find themselves in the bottom three, they are worth a wager at home to Hull, who have lost momentum recently.

Pools info: Tranmere v Stockport (No. 42 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void. A void match is worth two points.