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

 Ten draws: Sunderland v Millwall, Derby v Sheffield Wednesday, Milton Keynes Dons v Burton, Wycombe v Portsmouth, Rochdale v Harrogate, Cove v Partick, Elgin v Stenhousemuir, Forfar v Albion, Barnet v Wealdstone, Eastleigh v Boreham Wood.

Best draws: Sunderland v Millwall, Milton Keynes Dons v Burton, Wycombe v Portsmouth, Forfar v Albion, Barnet v Wealdstone.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Stockport, Morton, Alloa, Dumbarton, Stirling, Chesterfield.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Forest Green, Carlisle, Gillingham, Mansfield, Northampton, Ayr, Dunfermline, Gateshead, Southend, Woking.

Pick of the draws: Millwall, in the only Championship fixture of the weekend, have a habit of foiling supposedly superior opponents and I'm tipping them to frustrate Sunderland, who continue to disappoint. MK Dons and Burton, both in the bottom four of League One, are in danger of being cast adrift from the rest and this looks one of the likeliest draws on the coupon. Portsmouth are drawing too many games as they strive for promotion and I can see them being held again when they visit Wycombe on Sunday. Forfar, bottom of Scottish League Two, host Albion, who went out to non-League Stirling University in the Scottish Cup last weekend. This is another match that has stalemate written all over it. Wealdstone convincingly won the corresponding fixture at Barnet in the National League last season but Barnet have improved since then and I believe the spoils will be shared.

Away days: Stockport, of League Two, confirmed their progress by forcing an FA Cup replay with Charlton, of League One, last Saturday. That makes them firm favourites to beat Hartlepool, who are bottom of the Football League. Morton, lying second in the Scottish Championship, appear too strong for lowly Arbroath. Montrose, of Scottish League One, suffered a heavy cup defeat at home last Saturday, which makes them vulnerable to Alloa, who are one place below them. Dumbarton, the Scottish League Two leaders, will travel to League newcomers Bonnyrigg Rose with confidence and the same can be said for second-placed Stirling, who go to Stranraer. National League high-flyers Chesterfield, who knocked Wimbledon out of the FA Cup at Plough Lane last weekend, shouldn't have too many problems at Halifax.

Homes sweet homes: I'm taking Forest Green, bottom of League One, to gain a rare home win against Cambridge, who are in free-fall and lost at home to League Two Grimsby in the FA Cup last weekend. I'm also suggesting a punt on League Two strugglers Gillingham. They host Salford, who are woefully off-form and slipping down the table. Gateshead, with an unexpected home victory over Southend and an away draw at Torquay, are making a spirited attempt to avoid relegation from the National League. They have a fighter's chance against Aldershot. 

 

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

 Ten draws: Walsall v Carlisle, Albion v Stirling University, Formartine v Stenhousemuir, Altrincham v Eastleigh, Dorking v York, Yeovil v Halifax, Bradford Park Avenue v Boston, Kettering v Southport, Cheshunt v Oxford City, Hampton & Richmond v Dover. 

Best draws: Walsall v Carlisle, Formartine v Stenhousemuir, Dorking v York, Yeovil v Halifax, Cheshunt v Oxford City.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Alloa (Friday), Fleetwood, Harrogate, Arbroath, Elgin, Maidenhead.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Bristol Rovers, Burton, Dagenham & Redbridge, Forest Green, Ipswich, Clyde, Dundee, Morton, Wealdstone, Leamington.

Pick of the draws: The emphatic nature of Carlisle's 4-1 win at Salford in League Two last weekend should serve them well when they visit Walsall in the FA Cup second round on Saturday. Carlisle, having moved into the play-off positions, look good for at least a replay. Stenhousemuir's results in Scottish League Two have been nothing special this season and it won't surprise me if Formartine, of the Highland League, force a draw in the Scottish Cup third round. Despite the unexpected sacking of manager John Askey, York gave a good account of themselves when losing to Wealdstone in the National League last Saturday. I'm tipping them to deny Dorking in this mid-table tussle. Halifax, who beat Boreham Wood 1-0 at home last weekend, continue to climb the National League table and can leave Yeovil with a point. Although second from last in the National League South, Cheshunt have played better than results suggest and they have a fighting chance against Oxford City.

Away days: Alloa, of Scottish League One, should win with something to spare against the non-League club Open Goal Broomhill in the Scottish Cup on Friday evening. Although Ebbsfleet top the National League South, they've lost their past two home games and I can't see them posing any problems for League One Fleetwood in the FA Cup third round. Lowly Harrogate, of League Two, gave their best display of the season when defeating Mansfield 3-0 at home last Saturday. That may give them the edge over bottom team Hartlepool. Arbroath can forget about their travails in the Scottish Championship by beating Highland League side Fraserburgh in the Scottish Cup. Elgin, of Scottish League Two, will surely be too strong for minnows Hill of Beath Hawthorn while Maidenhead, of the National League, will fancy their chances at Maidstone, who are in a relegation struggle.

Homes sweet homes: Gillingham, second from bottom of League Two, have not won away all season and look terribly vulnerable to an FA Cup upset at Dagenham & Redbridge, who are in the top half of the National League and tough to beat at home. Clyde, despite fighting relegation from Scottish League One, are showing plenty of spirit and I'm backing them to make more progress in the cup when they host Dumbarton, the Scottish League Two leaders. Leamington are lower in the National League North than Peterborough Sports, their visitors, but I've a hunch they'll come out on top.

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 19-20

 Ten draws: Bristol Rovers v Peterborough, Cheltenham v Wycombe, Exeter v Ipswich, Newport v Gillingham, Sutton v Rochdale, Tranmere v Wimbledon, Raith v Queen's Park, Annan v Elgin, Dorking v Bromley, Halifax v Boreham Wood.

Best draws: Cheltenham v Wycombe, Exeter v Ipswich, Sutton v Rochdale, Tranmere v Wimbledon, Raith v Queen's Park.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Plymouth, Charlton, Mansfield, Falkirk, Dunfermline, Southend.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Barnsley, Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Barrow, Walsall, Dundee, Partick, Dumbarton, Maidstone, Woking.

Pick of the draws: Cheltenham's 1-1 draw at League One high-flyers Ipswich was a genuine coupon-buster last Saturday and it should inspire them to get something from their home match against Wycombe. Two late goals enabled Exeter to beat Peterborough 3-2 last weekend. It's hard to bet against them when they are at home and I fancy them to hold Ipswich. Sutton are on the slide in League Two and, even with ground advantage, could struggle to defeat Rochdale, who are three places below them. Wimbledon's  deserved 2-0 midweek home victory over leaders Leyton Orient was an encouraging sign and they won't fear a trip to Tranmere, whose progress has stalled. Raith, in the Scottish Championship, have yet to draw at home this season but don't rule it out when they play Queen's Park on Saturday. 

Away days: League One leaders Plymouth have a five-point cushion to the third-placed side Sheffield Wednesday and I don't see that changing after they've visited second-from-bottom Burton on Saturday. Charlton will want to convert their many away draws into wins and they have a good chance to do that at Port Vale, who crashed 4-0 at Oxford last Saturday. Mansfield's 1-0 victory at Rochdale last Saturday moved them back into the League Two play-off positions. They have more wins away than home ones and will feel confident of their sixth success on the road against struggling Harrogate. Falkirk, second in Scottish League One, look a sound bet at lowly Clyde and the same applies to leaders Dunfermline, who travel to bottom side Peterhead. Southend, who are soaring in the National League, will surely prevail at  Gateshead, who seem destined to go down.

Homes sweet homes: Little has gone right for Partick in the Scottish Championship recently but they can change that when they host ailing Arbroath. Dundee, unlike their fierce rivals, Dundee United, are enjoying their football these days. They lie third and will start firm favourites against Hamilton, who prop up the Championship table. Oldham, fourth from last in the National League, are woefully short of confidence and although Maidstone are only one place above them, the omens favour the home team.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 12-13

 Ten draws: Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace, Coventry v Queens Park Rangers, Hull v Reading, Norwich v Middlesbrough, Accrington v Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood, Shrewsbury v Barnsley, Newport v Stockport, Salford v Wimbledon, Kilmarnock v Hibernian.

Best draws: Coventry v Queens Park Rangers, Norwich v Middlesbrough, Accrington v Sheffield Wednesday, Newport v Stockport, Salford v Wimbledon.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Leicester, Watford, Portsmouth, Barrow, Wrexham.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham, Huddersfield, West Brom, Ipswich, Grimsby, Stevenage, Airdrieonians, East Fife.

Pick of the draws: Championship high-fliers Queens Park Rangers have lost consecutive home games to sides in the relegation zone - West Bromwich Albion (1-0) and Huddersfield (2-1). They will want to put that right on Saturday but will have work cut out at Coventry, who have shot out of the drop zone and into the top half of the table. Middlesbrough look more confident under Michael Carrick's managership and had a fine 3-0 away victory against Blackpool in midweek. They can get something at Norwich, who are still not entirely convincing. Accrington stopped the rot by beating Crawley 4-1 away in the FA Cup first round last Saturday. The lowly League One team are a match for anybody when they click and I'm tipping them to hold promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday. Newport and Stockport, of League Two, booked their places in the FA Cup second round last weekend with routine victories and both show signs of progress. Wimbledon, who are on a high after defeating League Two leaders Leyton Orient 2-0 at home in midweek, can hold the better-placed Salford.

Away days: Arsenal will be determined to go into the World Cup break as Premier League leaders. They were very impressive in winning 1-0 at Chelsea last Sunday and a repeat of that form will surely see off the challenge of struggling Wolves. Leicester, with wins at Wolves (4-0) and Everton (2-0), look as though they have regained their mojo and I reckon they'll complete a hat-trick of away victories at West Ham. Although Watford's form in the Championship is hard to fathom, I'll be surprised if they slip up at Bristol City, who are in a downward spiral. Portsmouth, fifth in League One, are a confident selection at ailing Morecambe and Barrow, fourth in League Two, should have too much knowhow for Crawley. Wrexham, favourites to become National League champions, are strongly recommended at Wealdstone.

Homes sweet homes: The biggest upset in midweek was Huddersfield, bottom of the Championship, prevailing at Queens Park Rangers. That should give them an enormous boost when they host mid-table Swansea on Saturday. West Brom, also deep in relegation trouble, have given their long-suffering fans some hope with successive wins in the Championship against Blackpool (home) and Queens Park Rangers (away). They are well worth a punt against Stoke, who are erratic at the best of times. Grimsby are below Doncaster in League Two but will fancy themselves, especially after thrashing League One leaders Plymouth 5-1 at home in the FA Cup first round last Saturday.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of November 5-6

Ten draws: Everton v Leicester, Tottenham v Liverpool, West Ham v Crystal Palace, Stoke v Birmingham, Barrow v Mansfield, Bolton v Barnsley, Chesterfield v Northampton, Maidenhead v Dagenham & Redbridge, Port Vale v Exeter, Hearts v Motherwell.

Best draws: Everton v Leicester, Tottenham v Liverpool, Stoke v Birmingham, Bolton v Barnsley, Chesterfield v Northampton.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle, Gillingham, Wimbledon, Stirling.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers, Swansea, Watford, Burton, Charlton, Crawley, Fleetwood, Solihull, Stockport.

Pick of the draws: Although Leicester are back in the Premier League relegation zone, there were encouraging signs in their performance when losing narrowly at home to Manchester City last Saturday. I believe they'll get a point at Everton, who were hanging on at Fulham last weekend. It's astonishing that we're in November and Liverpool have still to win away from home. They may have to wait a little longer, for they travel to third-placed Tottenham, who have just won two away games on the trot. Birmingham, one of the most improved sides in the Championship, go to Stoke, who will be anxious to reverse their poor home record. It's the FA Cup first round this weekend and Bolton, sixth in League One, host Barnsley, who are eighth in what looks one of the likeliest draws in the competition. Chesterfield, third in the National League, have struck form at just the right time and will not fear Northampton, even though the Cobblers have lost only once away in League Two this season.

Away days: Manchester United have recovered well from their embarrassing 6-3 defeat at Manchester City last month and have a remarkable record at Aston Villa, who crashed 4-0 at Newcastle last Saturday. Premier League leaders Arsenal, who returned to winning ways in impressive style against Nottingham Forest last Sunday, will be aiming for their third consecutive victory at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea have been none too convincing. Newcastle are a team on the up and have climbed into the Champions League qualifying positions. I fancy they will make further progress at lowly Southampton on Sunday. I reckon  Gillingham, struggling in League Two, will win their first away game of the season at non-League Fylde in the FA Cup and I strongly recommend Wimbledon at Weymouth, who prop up the National League South. Stirling, the Scottish League Two leaders, seem a sound bet at ailing Albion.

Homes sweet homes: League Two Crawley have enjoyed some good results recently and are worth a punt at home to Accrington, who are hovering just above the League One relegation zone. Solihull, fourth in the National League, are another team who could spring an FA Cup surprise. They entertain Hartlepool, who have only won twice in League Two this season and that was at home. Promoted Stockport are at last adapting to the demands of League Two and could upset the higher-placed and free-scoring Swindon.