Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 30-October 1

Ten draws: Tottenham v Liverpool, Millwall v Swansea, Queens Park Rangers v Coventry, Peterborough v Bristol Rovers, Reading v Burton, Colchester v Notts County, Forest Green v Morecambe, Gillingham v Mansfield, Salford v Newport, Morton v Airdrieonians.

Best draws: Millwall v Swansea, Colchester v Notts County, Forest Green v Morecambe, Gillingham v Mansfield, Salford v Newport.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Sunderland (Friday), Ipswich, Portsmouth, Stockport, Hearts.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Everton, Newcastle, Cardiff, Hull, Derby, Lincoln, Wimbledon, Crawley, Arbroath, Dundee United.

Pick of the draws: Swansea may have turned their Championship season around with that 3-0 home win over fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday and will be hopeful of collecting at least a point from their visit to inconsistent Millwall. Colchester are playing better than their lowly League Two position suggests. They were unlucky to lose at Crewe last weekend, so don't be surprised if they hold table-topping Notts County. Forest Green have lost all five home games but I think they'll end that dismal sequence when they host Morecambe. Third-placed Mansfield are one of only two unbeaten sides in League Two. They have drawn four away matches and I believe they'll make that five when they visit Gillingham, who are second. Salford v Newport is a clash between two teams who are woefully out of form.

Away days: Arsenal, despite a growing injury list, should have enough experience and knowhow to beat Bournemouth, who are without a win in the Premier League. Sunderland, fourth in the Championship, must be fancied to win at rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday, who have only two points. Ipswich, aiming for consecutive promotions, have a good chance of gaining their fifth away success of the season at Huddersfield. League One leaders Portsmouth are recommended at ailing Wigan and I'm tipping Stockport, climbing fast in League Two and 5-0 home winners over Wrexham last Saturday, to get the better of Accrington. Ross County came a 4-0 cropper at Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, which ought to encourage Hearts, their visitors.

Homes sweet homes: Everton, having broken their away duck at Brentford last Saturday, will feel confident about doing so at home when they entertain Luton, who are third bottom in the Premier League and crashed out of the League Cup to League One Exeter in midweek. Hull's high placing in the Championship is no fluke. They won 3-1 at Stoke last Sunday and I'm backing them to beat Plymouth, despite the Pilgrims scoring six at home to Norwich last Saturday. Mid-table Derby are trying to be more consistent at home in League One, having won only once on their own ground so far this season. They are worth a punt against Cambridge United, who are one place below them. 

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 23-24

Ten draws: Chelsea v Aston Villa, Plymouth v Norwich, Stoke v Hull, Cambridge v Port Vale, Carlisle v Derby, Charlton v Wycombe, Grimsby v Crawley, Tranmere v Accrington, Walsall v Wimbledon, Aberdeen v Ross.

Best draws: Chelsea v Aston Villa, Plymouth v Norwich, Cambridge v Port Vale, Grimsby v Crawley, Walsall v Wimbledon.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Preston, Reading, Stevenage, MK Dons, Dundee United, Falkirk.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Brighton, Burnley, Leeds, Leicester, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich, Portsmouth, Crewe, Notts County, Barnet.

Pick of the draws: Although Aston Villa have suffered heavy away defeats at Newcastle (5-1) and Liverpool (3-0) in the Premier League, they will be confident of getting something at Chelsea, who have impressed nobody so far this season. Plymouth have suffered consecutive losses at Preston (2-1) and Bristol City (4-1) in the Championship but they are more of a force at home and capable of holding Norwich. Apart from the unexpected midweek home defeat by Burton, Port Vale, of League One, have hardly put a foot wrong since crashing 7-0 at Barnsley on the opening weekend of the season and need not fear a visit to Cambridge. Against all expectations, Crawley are riding high in League Two and, on form, should avoid defeat at Grimsby. Most of Wimbledon's points have come away from home and I can see them collecting another at Walsall, who have been erratic.

Away days: Preston, the surprise Championship leaders, are doing the city proud and must be fancied for another three points at Rotherham, who look destined for a relegation battle. Reading will be feeling much better after beating Bolton 2-1 at home in League One last Saturday and then scoring nine without reply at Exeter in the midweek Papa John's Trophy. They are worth backing at Blackpool. Stevenage, riding high in League One, will surely return from Cheltenham with maximum points as the bottom-placed hosts are  without a goal from their first eight league games. I expect MK Dons to recover from recent League Two setbacks by defeating Sutton, who have sunk to the bottom. Dundee United, second in the Scottish Championship, are recommended at bottom club Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Falkirk, the Scottish One leaders, will start favourites at Kelty Hearts.

Homes sweet homes: Despite Burnley having only one Premier League point so far, they are worth a punt against Manchester United, who seem in disarray on and off the pitch. I'm going for Leeds, mid-table in the Championship, to gain their first home win of the season against Watford. That 3-0 away victory against Millwall last Sunday will have boosted the Yorkshire team's confidence. Few expected Middlesbrough to be bottom of the table at this stage but they have a fighting chance against Southampton, who are faltering after a bright start to the campaign. 

Betting info: For the second time this season I correctly predicted nine home wins out of ten last weekend.  The successful teams were Aston Villa, Fulham, Newcastle, Tottenham, Cardiff, Norwich, Barnsley, Crawley and Raith. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 16-17

 Ten draws: Manchester United v Brighton, Millwall v Leeds, Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland, Derby v Portsmouth, Peterborough v Leyton Orient, Wigan v Cambridge, Wimbledon v Crewe, Forest Green v Doncaster, Swindon v Walsall, Wrexham v Grimsby.

Best draws: Man Utd v Brighton, QPR v Sunderland, Wimbledon v Crewe, Forest Green v Doncaster, Wrexham v Grimsby.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Liverpool, Ipswich, Oxford, Mansfield, Dumbarton.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Fulham, Newcastle, Tottenham, Cardiff, Norwich, Barnsley, Crawley, Hartlepool, Raith.

Pick of the draws: Brighton, so impressive again, should at least get a draw at Man Utd, who have made an indifferent start to the Premier League season and are seemingly in disarray. Sunderland's 7-0 home win over Southampton two weeks ago may have kick-started their Championship campaign but they travel to QPR, who are also improving. Wimbledon v Crewe ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw in League Two season and it won't surprise me to see another stalemate on Saturday between two well-matched teams. Forest Green have lost all four of their home games so far but they should get something from the visit of Doncaster, who are bottom and without a league win this season. Wrexham are finding life harder in League Two than they imagined and I don't believe they'll have things all their own way against Grimsby, who deserved their point at Bradford City last weekend.

Away days: Although Arsenal's recent record at Everton is very poor, I think they'll overcome that handicap on Sunday. Liverpool are showing signs of getting into their stride and are worth backing at Wolves, who are still waiting for a home victory. Ipswich, second in the Championship after five fixtures, are warmly recommended at Sheffield Wednesday, who are struggling to adjust to a higher division. In League One, Oxford look a sound proposition at ailing Fleetwood. Mansfield, third in League Two, scoring freely and 3-0 winners at Accrington last weekend, start favourites at lowly Colchester. Dumbarton, high-flyers in Scottish League Two, will expect to return from Elgin with three points.

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa, although lower in the Premier League than their visitors, Crystal Palace, haven't yet done themselves justice but I'm tipping them to put that right on Saturday. Newcastle, apart from beating Villa 5-1 at home on the opening weekend of the season, have also been off the pace but they are formidable when they click and are worth a punt against Brentford. Cardiff and Swansea are both in the bottom half of the Championship but Cardiff appear in better shape and I predict they'll make the most of ground advantage. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 9-10

 Ten draws: Finland v Denmark, Romania v Israel, Accrington v Mansfield, Crawley v Newport, MK Dons v Notts County, Fylde v Aldershot, Oxford City v Hartlepool, Wealdstone v Ebbsfleet, Alfreton v Boston, Curzon Ashton v Chorley.

Best draws: Accrington v Mansfield, Crawley v Newport, MK Dons v Notts County, Oxford City v Hartlepool, Wealdstone v Ebbsfleet.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: England, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Slovenia.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Greece, Kazakhstan, Exeter, Stevenage, Wimbledon, Gillingham, Swindon, Wrexham, Barnet, Bromley.

Pick of the draws: Mansfield managed to draw against their League Two opponents Bradford City last Saturday, despite being depleted by injuries. I believe they can do the same at Accrington, who are one place below them. Crawley recovered well from their 6-0 pasting at Swindon by gaining a merited point in a 3-3 draw at Stockport last Saturday. As a result, they shouldn't be overawed by the visit of Newport. Second plays first in the MK Dons-Notts County fixture and I don't think either side will have the edge. Oxford City have rallied after a poor start to their National League campaign. They drew 3-3 at                 early front-runners Solihull Moors last weekend and I tip them to share the spoils with fourth-placed Hartlepool. A 4-1 home victory over York last weekend confirmed that promoted Ebbsfleet are in fine form and they can come away from mid-table Wealdstone with a point.

Away days: England, with maximum points from four European Championship qualifying games, can extend their lead at the top of the table by beating Ukraine. Belgium, handily placed in Group F, look a sure thing at Azerbaijan, who are bottom. Sweden have yet to click in the same group but I rate their chances against Estonia. Switzerland, who lead Group I, are worth backing at Kosovo, as are Serbia, who face Lithuania, who prop up Group G. In Group H it will be a major upset if Slovenia fail to beat San Marino, who have no points and no goals.

Homes sweet homes: Exeter are the unexpected leaders in League One and are in far better shape than their visitors, Leyton Orient. After a hesitant start to their League Two season, Wimbledon are beginning to move through the gears and are worth a wager against Stockport, who relinquished a two-goal lead at home to Crawley last Saturday and cannot get going. Bromley, of the National League, followed their 2-1 home win over Southend with a 2-1 away victory against Altrincham last Saturday. They'll be fancied to make it three in a row when they host Maidenhead.

Pools info: Barrow v Morecambe (No.19 on coupon) has been postponed because of international calls and will be assessed by the pools panel.