Pools tips for weekend of November 30-December 1

Ten draws: Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Derby v Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke v Burnley, Accrington v Swindon, Blackpool v Birmingham, Cambridge v Wigan, Morecambe v Bradford City, Walsall v Charlton, Kilmarnock v Dundee, Peterhead v Montrose.

Best draws: Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, Derby v Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington v Swindon, Cambridge v Wigan, Walsall v Charlton.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, West Brom, Doncaster, Aberdeen, Dunfermline, Crewe.

Ten homes: Brighton (Friday), Brentford, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Sheffield United (Friday), Watford, Wimbledon, Solihull Moors, Sutton.

Pick of the draws: Despite lying seventh in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest were poor in their two recent defeats against Newcastle (3-1, home) and Arsenal (3-0, away). Although third from bottom, promoted Ipswich have rarely been embarrassed this term and will feel that they can get something here. Sunday's clash between Derby and Sheffield Wednesday features teams who are mid-table in the Championship and will probably stay there for the rest of the season. It's FA Cup second round weekend. Accrington and Swindon, both at the wrong end of League Two, drew 2-2 earlier this month and there's no reason to suppose that Saturday's result will be much different after 90 minutes. I'm taking Cambridge, battling hard against relegation, to hold Wigan, who have won their past two matches in League One. Walsall, who look a good bet for promotion in League Two, will make life difficult for Charlton, who have underwhelmed in League One. 

Away days: Arsenal, with convincing wins over Nottingham Forest (3-0, home) and Sporting Lisbon (5-1, away) are ending November much better than they started it and are determined to end the month on a real high at West Ham on Saturday. West Brom, just outside the Championship play-off places, have my backing at Preston, chiefly because lowly Preston are averaging under a goal a game. Doncaster, flying high in League Two, are favourites to progress to the FA Cup third round at the expense of non-League Kettering. Aberdeen, who lost for the first time this season in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, will still feel confident of maximum points at struggling Hearts. In the Scottish Cup third round, Dunfermline, of the Championship, will be looking to advance at Edinburgh City, from League Two. Crewe's eight-game unbeaten run in League Two is fancied to continue at rock bottom Carlisle.

Homes sweet homes: It's first (Liverpool) versus second (Manchester City) at Anfield on Sunday and I'm banking on Arne Slot's side to take advantage of Man City's stuttering form by increasing their lead at the top of the Premier League. In a top-of-the-Championship fixture, Sheffield United are in better shape than  injury-ravaged Sunderland, who visit Bramall Lane on Friday and I expect Chris Wilder's side to confirm that. I feel Solihull Moors, mid-table in the National League but formidable on their day, have the best chance of causing an upset in the FA Cup second round when they host Bromley, promoted to League Two at the end of last season.

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

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, Bristol City v Burnley, Millwall v Sunderland, Preston v Derby, Swansea v Leeds, Lincoln v Wycombe, Northampton v Cambridge, Peterborough v Reading, Stevenage v Leyton Orient, St Johnstone v Kilmarnock. 

Best draws: Bournemouth v Brighton, Bristol City v Burnley, Millwall v Sunderland, Northampton v Cambridge, Peterborough v Reading.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Brentford, Stoke, Stockport, Birmingham, Doncaster, MK Dons. 

Ten homes: Arsenal, Fulham, Luton, Barnsley, Mansfield, Wrexham, Notts County, Swindon, Barnet, York.

Pick of the draws: Bournemouth, with recent home wins over Arsenal (2-0) and Manchester City (2-1) and Brighton, who are in the top six on merit, are both punching above their weight in the Premier League and this is shaping up to be a close-fought encounter. Burnley, though lying fourth in the Championship, have been goal-shy lately and may have to settle for a point at mid-table Bristol City. Leaders Sunderland, three games without a win, look vulnerable at Millwall, who have upset similarly fancied sides, including Leeds, recently. Although League One strugglers Cambridge came a 6-1 cropper at Peterborough in their previous away game, they are showing more spirit in their battle to avoid relegation and can deny Northampton. Reading played well when drawing 1-1 at Stevenage two weeks ago and a point should not be beyond them at Peterborough. 

Away days: Brentford always look like scoring and are one of the Premier League's entertainers. I think their attacking quality will give them the edge at Everton, who are less fluent. In the Championship, I have to fancy mid-table Stoke at bottom club Queens Park Rangers, who are in desperate straits. Stockport, fresh from beating Bolton (5-0) and Wrexham (1-0) at home, are highly recommended at Burton, who are second last in League One. Second-placed Birmingham look an away banker at bottom-of-the-table Shrewsbury. I believe Doncaster, third in League Two, will recover from the disappointment of only drawing 1-1 at home to Salford by defeating lowly Carlisle and I'm tipping MK Dons, who fought back from 2-0 down to beat Cheltenham 3-2 at home last Saturday, to win at Fleetwood.

Homes sweet homes: Arsenal know they cannot afford to drop many more points if they are to overtake Manchester City and Premier League leaders Liverpool. Despite a worrying injury list, I'm backing them to return to winning ways against Nottingham Forest, who are one place below them. Luton haven't stopped sliding since being relegated to the Championship at the end of last season. However, they will feel they have a chance against Hull, who are equally suffering. I'm going for Swindon, third from last in League Two but now managed by the eccentric veteran Ian Holloway, to come out on top when they host bottom club Morecambe. 

 

 

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

 Ten draws: Harrogate v Chesterfield, Newport v Grimsby, Livingston v Falkirk, Dumbarton v Queen of the South, Spartans v Stirling, Stranraer v Bonnyrigg Rose, Braintree v Fylde, Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet, Montenegro v Iceland, Turkey v Wales.

Best draws: Harrogate v Chesterfield, Livingston v Falkirk, Stranraer v Bonnyrigg Rose, Dagenham & Redbridge v Barnet, Turkey v Wales.

Weekend football's best bets: Six aways: Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Barnsley, Alloa, East Fife.

Ten homes: Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Stockport, Accrington, Doncaster, Elgin, Peterhead, Gateshead, Hartlepool.

Pick of the draws: You don't know what Harrogate, in League Two, are going to do next. After knocking League One high-flyers Wrexham out of the FA Cup, they lost at home to Morecambe, the Football League's lowest club. Their visitors Chesterfield are equally erratic, losing 3-0 at home to Accrington last weekend. If there's one side who can avoid defeat to Championship leaders Falkirk, it's second-placed Livingston, who won 3-1 at Hamilton last Saturday. Stranraer and Bonnyrigg Rose, who play each other in Scottish League Two, had good results against higher-placed teams last weekend, Stranraer winning 2-1 at East Fife and Bonnyrigg beating Elgin 2-0 at home. Barnet, third in the National League, aren't so formidable on their travels and could drop points at mid-table Dagenham. Craig Bellamy, Wales' new manager, seems to have his team fired up and I'm tipping them to deny group leaders Turkey on Saturday in the Nations League. 

Away days: Continuing the Nations League theme, Belgium look a sure thing at Israel, as do the Czech Republic at Albania. Group leaders Greece showed what they were capable of when deservedly beating England 2-1 at Wembley and are fancied to win again in Finland. Barnsley's fine away form has kept them in the League One promotion hunt and they travel to Cambridge, who crashed 6-1 at Peterborough last Saturday. Alloa, top of Scottish League One, go to crisis club Inverness, who have had 15 points deducted, and East Fife, second in Scottish League Two but surprisingly beaten at home last weekend, should recover quickly against struggling Clyde.

Homes sweet homes: Stockport, 5-0 winners at home to Bolton last Saturday, are worth a wager in their League One clash with promotion-seeking Wrexham. Lowly Accrington's 3-0 triumph at Chesterfield in League Two was one of the best results of last weekend and I'm tipping them to follow it up against Swindon, who sit just above the relegation zone. Veteran boss Lennie Lawrence, 76, has been appointed manager of Hartlepool, who are in the National League. They scored three goals in a 5-3 loss at leaders York last Saturday, which makes me think they have a good chance of beating Eastleigh, who have only two more points.

Pools info: Charlton v Peterborough (match No.2 on coupon) has been postponed because of international call-ups and will be assessed by the pools panel. 

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

 Ten draws: Brentford v Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v Fulham, Nottingham Forest v Newcastle, Stoke v Millwall, Sunderland v Coventry, Stockport v Bolton, Wrexham v Mansfield, Gillingham v Port Vale, Tranmere v Newport, Hibernian v St Mirren.

Best draws: Brentford v Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v Fulham, Stoke v Millwall, Sunderland v Coventry, Wrexham v Mansfield. 

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Everton, Lincoln, Huddersfield, Wycombe, Gateshead, Forest Green. Ten homes: Liverpool, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Sheffield United, Birmingham, Burton, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Salford.

Pick of the draws: Bournemouth showed their quality with Premier League home wins over Arsenal (2-0 and Manchester City (2-1). They go to Brentford, who are formidable on their own ground. Fulham's added-time goals to beat Brentford on Monday will have lifted the mood but Crystal Palace have also perked up recently, defeating Tottenham and knocking Aston Villa out of the League Cup. Millwall's startling improvement has seen them move into the Championship play-off places and they won't fazed about having to go to Stoke. At first glance, Sunderland look a home banker but Coventry have regained their mojo with victories over Luton (3-2, home) and Middlesbrough (3-0, away) and they could surprise the Championship leaders. Wrexham v Mansfield is a clash between League One high-flyers, which looks one of the likeliest draws on the coupon. 

Away days: Everton won 2-0 at Ipswich last month and could be similarly successful at West Ham, who don't inspire confidence. Lincoln are deservedly in the League One promotion shake-up and I rate their chances at Bristol Rovers. Although Huddersfield were on the wrong end of an FA Cup upset at Tamworth last Friday, I think they'll recover sufficiently to triumph at relegation-threatened Crawley. Wycombe are the new League One leaders after their remarkable 5-0 midweek away success at Stockport and are impossible to ignore at Wigan. In the National League, promotion-seeking Gateshead and Forest Green are recommended at Fylde and Maidenhead respectively. 

Homes sweet homes: The lack of a cutting edge is the main reason Portsmouth are bottom of the Championship, with only one victory to their name. However, I believe they'll score enough goals to beat Preston, who lie just above the relegation zone. Burton are bottom of League One and without a win in 12 league games. They'll never have a better opportunity to get off the mark against Shrewsbury, who are also in the drop zone and were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two Salford last Saturday. I think home advantage will be a decisive factor when League Two promotion contenders, Doncaster (fourth) and Notts County (third) play each other on Saturday.