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

 Ten draws: Brighton v Chelsea, Fulham v Everton, Hull v Blackburn, Cheltenham v Milton Keynes Dons, Derby v Bristol Rovers, Port Vale v Lincoln, Doncaster v Gillingham, Tranmere v Carlisle, Dundee United v Motherwell, Raith v Partick.

Best draws: Brighton v Chelsea, Fulham v Everton, Hull v Blackburn, Derby v Bristol Rovers, Tranmere v Carlisle.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Watford, Stevenage, Grimsby, Ayr, Edinburgh, Solihull.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Brentford, Liverpool, Luton, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Walsall, Barnet (Friday), Notts County.

Pick of the draws: Brighton have played better than results suggest since the departure of manager Graham Potter to Chelsea and I've a hunch they'll raise their game when Potter returns to the Amex Stadium with fifth-placed Chelsea on Saturday. Fulham are coping well with the demands of top-flight football, as their seventh position indicates, but Everton's display when they beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at home last Saturday was their best yet this season and they can take a point away from Craven Cottage. Hull, with two consecutive away victories, have moved away from the Championship relegation zone and are in the mood to give third-placed Blackburn a hard match. Bristol Rovers came from 2-0 down at home to draw 2-2 against League One leaders Plymouth last weekend. If they continue their fine form they should at least leave Derby with something. Tranmere's steady climb up League Two was undermined by a 1-1 home draw against struggling Rochdale in midweek and they could drop more points when Carlisle come visiting on Saturday.

Away days: Watford showed what they are capable of when thrashing fierce rivals Luton 4-0 at home in the Championship last Sunday. They travel to Wigan, who are heading in the opposite direction. Stevenage responded to losing the leadership of League Two by winning 1-0 at Doncaster in midweek. They show no signs of fading and must be fancied at second-from-bottom Colchester. Grimsby suffered a rare away defeat to Barrow in midweek but they should find bottom club Hartlepool easier to deal with. Ayr, the new leaders in the Scottish Championship, are expected to make short work of lowly Arbroath and in Scottish League One, Edinburgh will surely be too strong for hapless Peterhead. Solihull Moors, third in the National League, aren't intimidated when they travel and there's no reason to believe that Gateshead will inconvenience them. 

Homes sweet homes: Brentford host Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday. The Bees have suffered a couple of embarrassing losses recently, being taken apart by first Newcastle and then Aston Villa. However, they should have too much in the tank for a sorry Wolves side. It may be wise to regard Luton's surprising 4-0 collapse at Watford last Sunday as a temporary setback. They still look in better shape than Sunderland, who have fallen into the bottom half of the Championship. I suspect that Portsmouth, who have won only three of their seven League One home fixtures, will go some way to rectifying that when they play Shrewsbury on Saturday.

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

 Ten draws: Wolves v Leicester, Blackburn v Birmingham, Swansea v Cardiff, Watford v Luton, Bristol Rovers v Plymouth, Cambridge v Port Vale, Carlisle v Leyton Orient, Grimsby v Bradford City, Newport v Colchester, Stevenage v Northampton.

Best draws: Blackburn v Birmingham, Swansea v Cardiff, Watford v Luton, Bristol Rovers v Plymouth, Newport v Colchester.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Burnley, Wycombe, Barnsley, Mansfield, York.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Leeds, Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham, Oxford, Rochdale, Salford, Swindon, Falkirk, Southend.

Pick of the draws: Blackburn have had a good three days, winning 2-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday and beating Sunderland 2-0 at home on Tuesday, but their progress in the Championship may be checked by Birmingham, who have been in fine form themselves, beating Bristol City 3-0 at home and winning 2-0 at Hull last Friday. Swansea v Cardiff looks a cracker of a Welsh derby. Swansea crashed 4-0 at Burnley last weekend but came from 2-0 behind to beat Reading 3-2 at home in midweek. From what I gather, Cardiff were right out of luck when losing at home to bottom club Coventry and will be eager to bounce back. Watford v Luton is another match where the rivalry is fierce. Luton have astounded everybody by challenging for promotion and I'm tipping them to hold Watford. Plymouth are setting a hot pace in League One but might have to settle for a point at Bristol Rovers, who are quickly climbing the table after a stuttering start. Newport v Colchester brings together two League Two strugglers and I'll be surprised if either gets the upper hand.

Away days: It's unlikely that Premier League leaders Arsenal, with nine victories from their first 10 games, will slip up at Southampton, who look to be in for a long, hard winter. Vincent Kompany's Burnley were very impressive when defeating Swansea 4-0 at Turf Moor last Saturday and they can strengthen their Championship promotion credentials with a win at Sunderland, who are dropping too many points. Wycombe were the only League One side to win at home last Saturday - 3-1 against Peterborough. I fancy them to win away this weekend against out of sorts Milton Keynes Dons. High-flying Barnsley were good enough to avoid defeat at Bolton last Saturday, so will start firm favourites at bottom club Morecambe. Mansfield, fourth in League Two, have already won four away matches and I believe they'll make it five at second from last Crawley. York, who are just getting into their stride in the National League, are recommended at Aldershot, who are in the relegation zone.

Homes sweet homes: Leeds gave Arsenal a fright before narrowly losing at Elland Road last weekend and a repeat of that form should see them to victory over Fulham on Sunday. Oxford, of League One, suddenly roused from their slumber by winning 4-2 at Exeter last Saturday. That should give them the confidence to hand out similar treatment to Peterborough, whose hopes of automatic promotion have taken a knock recently. Rochdale, at the wrong end of League Two, won at home for the first time this season when they beat Barrow. I'm backing them to win again when erratic Wimbledon come visiting on Saturday.

Betting info: I scored five out of six aways last weekend with Chelsea, Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Partick all obliging.

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

 Ten draws: Fulham v Bournemouth, Wolves v Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough v Blackburn, Watford v Norwich, Bolton v Barnsley, Cheltenham v Bristol Rovers, Wycombe v Peterborough, Crawley v Newport, Stockport v Grimsby, Kelty Hearts v Clyde.

Best draws: Fulham v Bournemouth, Watford v Norwich, Cheltenham v Bristol Rovers, Wycombe v Peterborough, Stockport v Grimsby.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Arsenal, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Dundee United, Partick.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Cardiff, Reading, Sheffield United, Ipswich, Carlisle, Rochdale, Swindon, Queen's Park (Friday), Dunfermline, Elgin.

Pick of the draws: Who would have thought promoted Bournemouth would be in the top half of the Premier League after nine matches? They have not lost since Gary O'Neil was appointed caretaker manager and can maintain their unbeaten run by taking a point at Fulham, who are faltering. Norwich, who lie second in the Championship, were surprisingly beaten 3-2 at home by Preston last Saturday but Watford, their hosts, also had a bad result, losing 3-1 at Blackpool. Signs are that this one will end in stalemate. Consecutive victories by Bristol Rovers over Cambridge (2-1 at home) and Milton Keynes Dons (1-0 away) in League One should serve them well at Cheltenham, who have also moved away from the drop zone. Peterborough climbed back into the play-off positions by dismantling Forest Green 4-1 at home in midweek but Wycombe are well equipped to deny them another three points. Stockport and Grimsby recorded fine wins in League Two last weekend but I've a hunch that both will have to settle for a point after they've faced each other on Saturday.

Away days: Manager Graham Potter is already making a positive difference at Chelsea and they are favourites to get the better of Aston Villa, who continue to disappoint. Another Sunday match-up pits Leeds against in-form Arsenal, who are expected to maintain their leadership of the Premier League. After defeating Cheltenham 3-0 at home in League One last weekend, promotion conscious Sheffield Wednesday will be eager to make their mark at Cambridge, who seem to have lost their way. Plymouth deservedly top the League One table and their journey to relegation-fearing MK Dons shouldn't pose them too many problems. Dundee United have lift-off in the Scottish Premiership, thanks to successive home wins over Aberdeen (4-0) and Hibernian (1-0). I believe they'll add Ross County to their list of victims. Partick, who top the Scottish Championship, are warmly recommended at Hamilton, who crashed 5-0 at Morton last Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: Carlisle have surprised some League Two opponents recently, including Hartlepool, who were beaten 3-1 at home last Saturday. I suspect the Cumbrians will be too good for Doncaster, who have fallen below them in the table. I predict that Rochdale, second from last, will cause one of the upsets of the day when they play Barrow and register their first home win of the season. A gutsy 1-0 win at Newport last weekend suggested that Rochdale may be over the worst and that Barrow could be the next team to suffer at their hands. I'm backing Dunfermline, second in Scottish League One and convincing 3-0 conquerors at Alloa last weekend, to come out on top against leaders Edinburgh. 

                                                                                                                                                             

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

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Leicester, Brighton v Tottenham, Birmingham v Bristol City, Millwall v Middlesbrough, Swansea v Sunderland, Oxford v Wycombe, Shrewsbury v Milton Keynes Dons, Barrow v Mansfield, Doncaster v Leyton Orient, Alloa v Dunfermline.

Best draws: Brighton v Tottenham, Swansea v Sunderland, Barrow v Mansfield, Doncaster v Leyton Orient, Alloa v Dunfermline.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Watford, Burnley, Bolton, Ipswich, Aberdeen, Falkirk.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Newcastle, Huddersfield, Norwich, Derby, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe, Newport.

Pick of the draws: Tottenham were clearly second best when Arsenal ended their unbeaten run in the Premier League at the Emirates last weekend. But Spurs may have better luck at Brighton, who could take a while to adapt to a new manager. Sunderland, after two disappointing home goalless draws in the Championship, need a lift. At least their defence seems reliable, having conceded less than a goal a game, and that should be good enough to earn them a point at Swansea, who won at West Brom last Saturday. Barrow have slipped below their lofty standards in League Two and they'll find it hard to return to winning ways against Mansfield, who are just below them. Leaders Leyton Orient lost for the first time this season at home to Newport last weekend and there's no guarantee they'll bounce straight back at Doncaster. Although Scottish League One leaders Dunfermline conceded two late goals at home to draw 2-2 against bottom club Peterhead last Saturday, I'm taking them to avoid another upset when they visit Alloa.

Away days: Watford, 4-0 winners at Stoke in the Championship last Sunday, must fancy their chances at Blackpool, who are even lower in the table. A late goal deprived Burnley of an away victory at Cardiff last Saturday. They will be determined not to make the same mistake at bottom side Coventry. Bolton's progress in League One was checked when they lost 1-0 at Cheltenham in midweek but I'm tipping them to recover at ailing Forest Green. Second-placed Ipswich have opened a four-point gap between themselves and Sheffield Wednesday, who are third. The Tractor Boys are highly recommended at bottom club Morecambe. Dundee United have been so bad in the Scottish Premiership this season that it would be risky to go against Aberdeen, their visitors on Saturday. I believe Falkirk, fourth in Scottish League One, will be too strong for struggling Peterhead.

Homes sweet homes: Newcastle should really have more Premier League points than the 11 they have gained. I can see them taking all three against Brentford, who have faltered recently. Huddersfield, 23rd in the Championship, did well to draw 3-3 at Luton in midweek and that means they are worth a punt on Sunday when they host Hull, who are sinking like a stone. Crewe v Gillingham, in League Two on Saturday, has the look of a dour, low-scoring affair. Neither of these relegated teams has excited so far this season but home advantage may give Crewe the edge.