Ten draws: Bournemouth v Newcastle, Crystal Palace v Brighton, Leicester v Tottenham, Bristol City v Norwich, Queens Park Rangers v Millwall, Burton v Exeter, Peterborough v Bolton, Crawley v Crewe, Stevenage v Bradford City, Walsall v Leyton Orient.
Best draws: Bournemouth v Newcastle, Crystal Palace v Brighton, Bristol City v Norwich, Queens Park Rangers v Millwall, Stevenage v Bradford City.
Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Manchester United, Wolves, Middlesbrough, Stockport, Northampton, Queen's Park.
Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Manchester City, Burnley, Sheffield United, Watford, Barnsley, Ipswich, Mansfield, Raith, Livingston, Woking.
Pick of the draws: Although Bournemouth, second from bottom, are favourites to be relegated from the Premier League, they made Brighton work hard for their 1-0 win last Saturday and I won't be surprised if they deny fourth-placed Newcastle. Brighton could be playing European football next season. Crystal Palace, their bitter, if not nearest, rivals, won't relish that prospect and they'll be determined to halt the Seagulls' progress. Bristol City, through recent good results, have virtually banished fears of relegation from the Championship and should give Norwich, who crashed 3-0 at home to Burnley last weekend, a stiff test. I think mid-table Queens Park Rangers, though out of sorts, will prevent Millwall from climbing into the Championship play-off positions. Bradford City, seeking promotion from League Two, are better away than at home and could come away with a point at second-placed Stevenage, whose home form is formidable.
Away days: Despite the surprising 2-2 result at Old Trafford in midweek, I expect Manchester United to this time beat Leeds, who are without a manager and floundering in the Premier League. Wolves received a considerable lift from their 3-0 triumph over Liverpool at Molineux last Saturday and will feel confident of coping at Southampton, who are bottom. There's just no stopping Middlesbrough's surge up the Championship and they look an away banker against Cardiff, who are at the other end of the table. After a dodgy start to the season, Stockport have moved into the League Two play-off positions and are expected to account for lowly Harrogate. Northampton, in fourth place, will surely prevail at bottom club Rochdale while Queen's Park, top of the Scottish Championship, have my backing at Morton.
Homes sweet homes: Watford, despite flying high in the Championship, are dropping points when you least expect it but Blackburn, their opponents on Saturday, are wobbling even more and seem there for the taking. Ipswich, third in League One, host leaders Sheffield Wednesday and I believe they will close the gap on their Yorkshire rivals. It was only a last-minute goal by runaway Championship leaders Burnley in midweek that knocked Ipswich out of the FA Cup. If there's a surprise in the Scottish Cup fifth round I've a hunch it will happen at Raith, midway in the Championship, who play struggling Motherwell, of the Premiership.
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