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Ten draws: West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa, Birmingham v Reading, Bolton v Ipswich, Leeds v Fulham, Colchester v Rochdale, Notts County v Swindon, Scunthorpe v Crewe, Mansfield v Cheltenham, Hamilton v Dundee, Motherwell v Ross.
Best draws: Bolton v Ipswich, Leeds v Fulham, Colchester v Rochdale, Notts County v Swindon, Motherwell v Ross.
Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, Wolves, Tranmere, Luton, Berwick.
Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Charlton, Norwich, Watford, Bristol City, Leyton Orient, Oldham, Newport, Northampton.
Pick of the draws: Bolton have made great strides since Neil Lennon was appointed manager, so they shouldn't be fazed by the visit of Mick McCarthy's Ipswich, who have risen to second in the Championship. Ipswich have already clocked up five away draws and I believe they'll make it six on Saturday. Fulham's shock 5-0 home defeat by Watford last Friday was partly due to their goalkeeper being sent off after 15 minutes. However, that contradicted their recent good form and I'm tipping them to recover by holding Leeds at Elland Road. League One strugglers Colchester will have been cheered by their FA Cup second-round home victory over Peterborough and can get something from the visit of Rochdale, who are up one minute, down the next. Notts County v Swindon is a clash between two of League One's high-flyers. Notts County's indifferent home form and Swindon's fine away record suggest that the spoils will be shared. Motherwell, third from last, are having a wretched time in the Scottish Premiership and will probably struggle to overcome bottom club Ross, who are at least showing signs of improvement.
Away days: Although second-placed Manchester City will be without their injured star striker Sergio Aguero, they should still be too strong for basement club Leicester, who cannot buy a Premier League win at the moment. Nottingham Forest showed what they are capable of with a resounding
3-0 victory at Wolves in the Championship a few weeks ago. A repeat of that performance should see them prevail at Rotherham, who have been dragged into the relegation scrap. Everything is going wrong for Wolves but they were desperately unlucky to lose to Bournemouth last weekend after having two players controversially sent off. I've a hunch that the Wolves comeback will start at Sheffield Wednesday, where home wins are the exception. In League Two, second-from-last club Tranmere are worth a punt at Dagenham & Redbridge, who have lost six on their own ground, while promotion contenders Luton look a good thing at Morecambe. In Scottish League Two I'm taking Berwick to increase Elgin's anxiety at the foot of the table.
Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace, hovering just above the Premier League relegation zone, could consider themselves unfortunate not to gain maximum points at Tottenham last Saturday and I've a feeling they will take out their frustration on Stoke at Selhurst Park. Leyton Orient aren't pulling up any trees in League One but neither are their opponents Peterborough, who have fallen 11 points behind the automatic promotion places and were knocked out of the FA Cup last Sunday. Don't be surprised if Orient cause an upset here. Northampton may be only mid-table in League Two but I fancy them to defeat promotion hopefuls Plymouth, who are unconvincing on their travels.
Pools info: I scored four from six with my away forecasts last weekend. The successful teams were Celtic, St Johnstone, Forfar and Dover.
Ten draws: Hull v West Brom, Stoke v Arsenal, West Ham v Swansea, Nottingham Forest v Charlton, Wolves v Bournemouth, Aberdeen v Hamilton, Falkirk v Hibernian, Dunfermline v Ayr, Stranraer v Morton, Deportivo La Coruna v Malaga.
Best draws: Hull v West Brom, West Ham v Swansea, Wolves v Bournemouth, Falkirk v Hibernian, Stranraer v Morton.
Best weekend away bets: Birmingham, Brentford, Dover, Celtic, St Johnstone, Forfar.
Best weekend home bets: Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Cardiff, Derby, Millwall, Wigan, Partick, Raith, Albion.
Pick of the draws: Hull and West Brom are two teams on the slide and in danger of losing their Premier League status. I don't expect either to improve their position at the weekend. By way of contrast, West Ham and Swansea have exceeded expectations this season and are vying for Champions League places. Both gained three points in midweek and I'm finding it hard to pick a winner on Sunday. Wolves have suffered heavy defeats against Derby (5-0), Nottingham Forest (3-0) and Brentford (4-0) recently in the Championship but I'm backing them to stop the rot against Bournemouth, who, under the shrewd managership of Eddie Howe, are again punching above their weight. Hibernian have put their terrible start in the Scottish Championship behind them. Progress in the Scottish Cup will only have added to their confidence and they can take a point at Falkirk. Scottish League One leaders Morton have not drawn away this season but I can see that changing when they travel to Stranraer, who are also in the promotion reckoning.
Away days: Birmingham look a side on the upgrade, especially after their fine 2-1 home success over Nottingham Forest last Saturday. I expect them to prevail at Blackpool, who are rock bottom of the Championship, eight points away from the nearest team. Brentford have probably been the surprise packet in this division and confirmed their quality by giving Wolves a hiding last weekend. They must be fancied for another three points at Huddersfield. It's FA Cup weekend in England and I believe Dover, mid-table in the Conference, have the best chance of springing a second-round surprise at League Two Cheltenham, who have faded after starting the season well. Celtic made short work of Hearts in the Scottish Cup and have gone top of the Scottish Premiership. I cannot see struggling Motherwell causing them any problems. St Johnstone are recommended at St Mirren, who are having a dismal season and League One promotion hopefuls Forfar are worth a wager at Stenhousemuir, who are at the other end of the table.
Homes sweet homes: Millwall are showing the fighting spirit needed to avoid relegation from the Championship. They rescued a point at Bournemouth last Saturday after being two goals behind and I won't be surprised if they upset promotion-chasing Middlesbrough. Wigan are better than their 23rd position indicates. Six home draws have cost them dearly but I fancy them to take maximum points against Norwich, who are on a downward spiral. Partick sprung a surprise by defeating Hamilton in the Scottish Cup last Saturday. That should put them in the mood to send higher-placed Kilmarnock packing.
Pools info: Southampton v Manchester United (match No 7 on coupon) is being played on Monday and will be a pools panel verdict. Fulham v Watford (15) and Ross v Dundee United (27) are on Friday and therefore void.
Ten draws: Southampton v Manchester City, Tottenham v Everton, West Ham v Newcastle, Birmingham v Nottingham Forest, Leeds v Derby, Middlesbrough v Blackburn, Crawley v Chesterfield, Rochdale v Oldham, Shrewsbury v Burton, Barnet v Macclesfield.
Best draws: Southampton v Manchester City, Tottenham v Everton, Leeds v Derby, Crawley v Chesterfield, Shrewsbury v Burton.
Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Fulham, Doncaster, Preston, Oxford, Portsmouth.
Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Manchester United, Swansea, Bolton, Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Bury, Southend, Rangers.
Pick of the draws: Manchester City will have been heartened by their win over Bayern Munich, despite being outplayed for most of the match, and I believe they will halt Southampton's surge. Tottenham's away form is keeping them in the top half of the Premier League. However, at home they are struggling and Everton will be difficult opponents on Sunday. Leaders Derby look a class apart in the Championship but Leeds have improved and were unlucky to lose at Blackburn last weekend. This may be the kind of test they will relish. Crawley have drawn more League One games than they have won this season and I can see that trend continuing when they host mid-table Chesterfield. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's first two matches as Burton's manager have brought two victories in League Two. They've got momentum and I'm taking them to spoil Shrewsbury's excellent home record by coming away with a point.
Away days: Chelsea, the unbeaten Premier League leaders, are so dominant right now that it's hard to see anybody stopping them. It will be a major surprise if Sunderland, their opponents on Saturday, are the first to do it. Fulham gave a good account of themselves, despite losing narrowly at Brentford last Friday. A repeat of that form should be good enough to overcome Brighton, who just cannot get going in the Championship. No side has won more away matches than Doncaster in League One and they look a banker at bottom-of-the-table Crewe, who find goals so hard to come by. Promotion contenders Preston will be confident of defeating Yeovil, having beaten the higher-placed Oldham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy in midweek. In League Two, Oxford are worth a punt at Cheltenham, who have sacked their manager Mark Yates, and Portsmouth must fancy their chances at Tranmere, who are in danger of being cast adrift from the rest.
Homes sweet homes: Burnley's hopes of Premier League survival rose when they won at Stoke last Saturday and they will be looking forward to playing out-of-form Aston Villa. Bolton have upped their game since appointing Neil Lennon as manager, so don't be surprised if they see off Huddersfield in the Championship. Lowly Coventry's win at Colchester in League One last weekend came in the nick of time and will have boosted their confidence. It should put them in the right frame of mind to beat Walsall at the Ricoh Arena. It may not rate as a Scottish Cup fourth-round shock but I'm tipping Rangers, of the Championship, to knock out Kilmarnock, of the Premiership, when they meet on Sunday.
Pools info: Peterborough v Bristol City (match No 29 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. A void match is worth two points.
Ten draws: Hull v Tottenham, Leicester v Sunderland, Bournemouth v Ipswich, Rotherham v Birmingham, Peterborough v Swindon, Accrington v Cambridge, Burton v Luton, Northampton v Stevenage, Partick v Aberdeen, Alloa v Falkirk.
Best draws: Leicester v Sunderland, Bournemouth v Ipswich, Rotherham v Birmingham, Burton v Luton, Northampton v Stevenage.
Best weekend away bets: Bolton, Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Wycombe, Carlisle, Plymouth.
Best weekend home bets: Stoke, Blackburn, Norwich, Crawley, Fleetwood, Hartlepool, Oxford, Hamilton, Cowdenbeath, East Fife.
Pick of the draws: Out-of form Leicester have fallen into the Premier League relegation zone. They are in worse shape than their opponents Sunderland, who seem to have recovered from their 8-0 hiding at Southampton. Leicester have won only once at home this season and I don't think they will be adding to that tally on Saturday. Bournemouth's climb into second place in the Championship is one of the success stories of the season but I fancy fast-improving Ipswich to take a point off them. New manager Gary Rowett looks as if he is turning things around at Birmingham and there is a good chance they will come away from Rotherham with something. League Two promotion contenders Burton appointed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager last week and were immediately rewarded with a fine 3-1 victory at high-riding Wycombe. But they will have to do something special to beat leaders Luton, who have struck a rich vein of form. Northampton's slide down the table continues but they should check their descent by holding Stevenage.
Away days: Neil Lennon's Bolton look one of the best bets of the weekend. They travel to Blackpool, who even at this early stage seem doomed to relegation from the Championship. Blackpool are nine points behind Birmingham, the next-to-bottom club. With Derby having to go to Watford, Middlesbrough could be the division's new leaders at the weekend. All they have to do is defeat troubled Wigan, who are without a manager after Uwe Rosler's sacking. Barnsley are heading the right way in League One, whereas their opponents and hosts, Chesterfield, are going in the opposite direction. Barnsley have been strong on their travels and I'm taking them to register their fourth away win. Wycombe's League Two promotion hopes were damaged by their 3-1 home defeat to Burton last Monday but I believe they will recover quickly and that their hosts, Cheltenham, will feel the backlash. Struggling Carlisle are worth a punt at Dagenham & Redbridge, who are fading fast and were knocked out of the FA Cup by non-League Southport. Plymouth have earned their place in the play-offs and should be backed at Mansfield.
Homes sweet homes: Hartlepool may be bottom of League Two but my guess is that they are in better spirits than 21st-placed York, who cannot buy a win at the moment. My money will be on a home victory. Oxford have pulled seven points clear of the relegation zone and are beginning to look forward rather than behind them. Another three points on Saturday will put them in touch with League Two's mid-table sides and I reckon they will get them against AFC Wimbledon, who are nothing to write home about this season. Cowdenbeath are bottom of the Scottish Championship with only one home win to their name but they entertain Livingston, who are one point and one place above them and have failed to win away. Ground advantage gets my vote here.
Ten draws: Gillingham v Leyton Orient, Port Vale v Rochdale, Carlisle v Accrington, Stevenage v Cheltenham, Airdrieonians v Morton, Ayr v Peterhead, Albion v Arbroath, Altrincham v Grimsby, Chester v Gateshead, Torquay v Forest Green.
Best draws: Carlisle v Accrington, Stevenage v Cheltenham, Albion v Arbroath, Chester v Gateshead, Torquay v Forest Green.
Best weekend away bets: Notts County, Chesterfield, Bury, Hearts, Stranraer, Queen's Park.
Best weekend home bets: Oldham, Preston, Swindon, Walsall, Yeovil, Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, Raith, Clyde, England.
Pick of the draws: League Two strugglers Carlisle put up a terrific fight before going out of the FA Cup to a last-minute goal at League One Peterborough last Saturday. They are playing better than their league position suggests but their opponents, Accrington, have forced an FA Cup replay against high-riding Notts County and are also doing well. Stevenage have not drawn at home this season but there is a good chance of them doing that against Cheltenham, who have only one more point and are only three places higher than them. Arbroath's seemingly smooth progress to the Scottish League Two title was halted when they lost at home to Queen's Park. Expect a positive reaction when they visit third-placed Albion. Albion are strong at home but Arbroath have won all their away matches. Conference side Chester caused one of last weekend's FA Cup upsets by beating Southend away. They host promotion contenders Gateshead, who have lost only once on their travels. Also in the Conference, Forest Green continue to punch above their weight. They have drawn four times away from home and I can see them making it five at Torquay, who are steadily climbing the table.
Away days: The return to the Ricoh Stadium has not helped Coventry as much as they thought and they will be feeling especially low this week after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Worcester, of the Conference North, last Sunday. Coventry's opponents on Saturday are Notts County, who are unbeaten away and sixth in League One. It will be a surprise if they slip up here. Chesterfield emerged from their poor run of form with a 6-0 victory at Braintree in the FA Cup first round. They must be fancied to prevail at bottom club Crewe, who have averaged less than a goal a game from their 16 league fixtures. Bury are heavily involved in the League Two promotion shake-up and I believe they will defeat Morecambe, who have stumbled lately. Hearts, clear leaders in the Scottish Championship, must be fancied at mid-table Falkirk and Stranraer, fourth in Scottish League One, will be confident of beating bottom team Stirling. In Scottish League Two, I go for second-placed Queen's Park to inflict more misery on lowly Elgin.
Homes sweet homes: I've a hunch that League One leaders Bristol City will lose their unbeaten record at Swindon, who can beat anybody on their day. Although Swindon lost
5-0 at League Two Cheltenham in the FA Cup last weekend, they played with 10 men for most of the match and will be eager to make amends on Saturday. Peterborough have slipped out of the League One play-off places after being beaten by sides below them. Inconsistent Walsall come into this category and are worth a punt on Saturday. Yeovil, second bottom in League One, badly need maximum points and I think they will get them against Fleetwood, who have already lost six away league matches and bowed out of the FA Cup when they lost at League Two Cambridge last weekend.
Pools info: The results of Scunthorpe v MK Dons (No 7 on coupon) and Wycombe v Burton (18) will be decided by the pools panel.
