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

Ten draws: Peterborough v Lincoln, Rochdale v Accrington, Crawley v Colchester, Exeter v Forest Green, Swindon v Plymouth, Stockport v Dagenham & Redbridge, Darlington v Boston, Denmark v Switzerland, Slovenia v Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina v Finland.

Best draws: Rochdale v Accrington, Crawley v Colchester, Exeter v Forest Green, Swindon v Plymouth, Denmark v Switzerland.

Six aways: Crewe, Port Vale, Bradford City, Hartlepool, Maidenhead, Croatia.

Ten homes: Bristol Rovers, Coventry, Portsmouth, Southend, Scunthorpe, Barrow, Eastleigh, Halifax, Yeovil, Poland.

Pick of the draws: Accrington twice fought back from a goal down in their drawn League One home fixture against Oxford last Saturday and are moving away from the relegation zone. I expect them to at least take a point at Rochdale, who have yet to win at home this season. Colchester, who sit just outside the League Two play-off positions, number Tottenham among their recent conquests and should come away from mid-table Crawley with a draw. Forest Green leapfrogged Exeter last weekend to become League Two's new leaders. They give very little away - only six goals conceded in 12 matches - and I think they will still be heading the table after Saturday's clash in Devon. Despite Swindon's seventh placing, their home form is nothing to write home about, which gives visitors Plymouth a sporting chance. The away teams will be strongly backed in this weekend's European Championship qualifying games but Denmark, who entertain Switzerland, may buck the trend.

Away days: Crewe's fine away record is mostly responsible for their top-four placing in League Two, so they should not fear a trip to lowly Carlisle. Port Vale's improvement has not gone unnoticed and I'm taking them to gain their first away victory of the season when they travel to Macclesfield. Morecambe's wait for their first home win is expected to continue as Bradford City, their high-flying visitors, look poised to take maximum points. A last-minute goal enabled Hartlepool to gain a morale-boosting home win over fast climbers Yeovil in the National League last Saturday and they will travel to Aldershot with confidence. Maidenhead, who are better away than at home, are recommended at bottom club Ebbsfleet and Croatia, last year's World Cup finalists, will probably be too strong for Wales in the European Championship.

Homes sweet homes: Portsmouth have yet to hit their stride in League One but they have played two fewer matches than most of the rest and their position is a false one. They have my backing against Gillingham on Saturday. Southend, second from last in League One, face Wimbledon, who are only one place above them. Although Southend are without a home win, I've a hunch that ground advantage will be the decisive factor here. Scunthorpe are in trouble in League Two but don't be surprised if they upset inconsistent Northampton, who are capable of losing to anybody.

Pools info: Burton v Bolton (No 3 on coupon), Cheltenham v Newport (10) and Wrexham v Chesterfield (30) have been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel.

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

Ten draws: Liverpool v Leicester, Norwich v Aston Villa, Watford v Sheffield United, Derby v Luton, Accrington v Oxford, Doncaster v Portsmouth, MK Dons v Burton, Bradford City v Swindon, Northampton v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Cheltenham.

Best draws: Liverpool v Leicester, Norwich v Aston Villa, Derby v Luton, Accrington v Oxford, Bradford City v Swindon.

Six aways: Chelsea, Blackpool (Monday), Ipswich, Sunderland, Coventry, Airdrieonians.

Ten homes: West Ham, Fulham, Huddersfield, Preston, Sheffield Wednesday, Tranmere, Cambridge, Plymouth, Port Vale, Walsall.

Pick of the draws: After seven matches Premier League leaders Liverpool have yet to drop a point but if any team can deny them victory it's third-placed Leicester, who are in a rich vein of form themselves. Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers will also relish returning to the club he once managed and will be determined to make a point. Norwich have failed to capitalise on their shock 3-2 home win over Manchester City, losing at Burnley and Crystal Palace since, and may have to settle for a draw against Aston Villa, who are playing better than their 18th position indicates. Derby, mid-table in the Championship, seem to be missing Frank Lampard's influence this season and could be held by promoted Luton. League One Oxford have scored 13 goals without reply in their past three games, including beating West Ham 4-0 in the League Cup, but Accrington often punch above their weight and I think they'll halt Oxford's surge. Swindon's fine away record is keeping them in promotion contention from League Two and that will face a stiff test at Bradford City, who are just outside the play-off places.

Away days: Chelsea's best displays have come on their travels and they look on course for their third Premier League away success at Southampton, who lost to 10-man Spurs last Saturday.  In League One, Blackpool will be disappointed not to come away from rock-bottom Bolton with three points and although the task of leaders Ipswich at Fleetwood is much harder, my money is on the Tractor Boys. Sunderland should be backed at Lincoln, who have been shaken by the managerial departure of the Cowley brothers, and promotion-seeking Coventry are a good bet at Rotherham. Airdrieonians, in Scottish League One, are doing better away than at home and will rate their chances at struggling Peterhead.

Homes sweet homes: Fulham have shot up the Championship table after two successive wins and I believe they'll make it three in a row against Charlton in the London derby. A lot of weight has been lifted from the shoulders of lowly Huddersfield after their 1-0 midweek away win over bottom club Stoke. It was their first victory of the season and I'm tipping them to follow it up by beating Hull. Cambridge deserved maximum points at Stevenage last weekend but had to be content with a 1-1 draw. They are likely go one better on Saturday when Macclesfield come to visit.

Pools info: Birmingham v Middlesbrough (No 10 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 28-29

Ten draws: Bournemouth v West Ham, Hull v Cardiff, Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich, Coventry v Doncaster, Rochdale v Wycombe, Shrewsbury v Fleetwood, Carlisle v Oldham, Mansfield v Plymouth, Salford v Forest Green, Swindon v Newport.

Best draws: Bournemouth v West Ham, Queens Park Rangers v West Bromwich, Coventry v Doncaster, Carlisle v Oldham, Swindon v Newport.

Six aways: Nottingham Forest (Friday), Colchester, Bradford City, Motherwell, Hearts, Peterhead.

Ten homes: Chelsea, Leicester, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Swansea, Blackpool (Friday), Peterborough, Portsmouth, Southend, Crawley.

Pick of the draws: Bournemouth and West Ham are two in-form teams - the midweek League Cup results excepted! - and deserve their top-six Premier League placing. I expect a high-scoring deadlock. West Brom are the only unbeaten side in the Championship. They have a tricky-looking fixture at fast-climbing Queens Park Rangers but I'm tipping them to keep their undefeated tag. Second-placed Coventry have won all five of their home matches at Birmingham's ground in League One but they may slip up against Doncaster, who are on the fringe of the play-off positions. With September drawing to a close, Carlisle and Oldham's main ambition is to avoid relegation from League Two. There's little to separate them in the table and I can't separate them here. Newport, who have only lost once, visit fellow promotion candidates Swindon, who are not as comfortable at home as they are on their travels.

Away days: Nottingham Forest, unbeaten away in the Championship, go to Stoke, who are without a win this season. I'm not expecting an upset in this Friday evening fixture. Colchester, fresh from their League Cup heroics against Tottenham, should not fear a League Two trip to Macclesfield and Bradford City are similarly recommended at ailing Scunthorpe. I believe Motherwell will put last weekend's home defeat by Ross behind them and defeat lowly St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. Hearts, who won the Edinburgh derby at Hibernian last Sunday, are on course for their second consecutive victory at St Mirren. In Scottish League One, Peterhead are fancied to return from Montrose, who are bottom, with three points.

Homes sweet homes: Barnsley, in the bottom three, fought gallantly before losing away to Nottingham Forest in the Championship last Saturday. A repeat of that form will see them beat Brentford. Huddersfield's dismal losing run surely cannot continue and I've a feeling their misery will end against inconsistent Millwall. Southend, who recorded their first League One win of the campaign at MK Dons last Saturday, are fancied to make it two in a row against fellow strugglers Accrington.

Pools and betting info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Bristol City 0 Swansea 0, Sheffield Wednesday 1 Fulham 1 and Newport 1 Exeter 1. I also had five out of six aways: Blackburn, Bristol Rovers, Ayr, Raith and Yeovil.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 21-22

Ten draws: Burnley v Norwich, West Ham v Manchester United, Birmingham v Preston, Bristol City v Swansea, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Wigan v Charlton, Accrington v Blackpool, Newport v Exeter, Northampton v Crawley, St Mirren v Hamilton.

Best draws: Burnley v Norwich, West Ham v Manchester United, Bristol City v Swansea, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Newport v Exeter.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Blackburn, Bristol Rovers, Sunderland, Ayr, Raith, Yeovil.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Leicester, Brentford, Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Fleetwood, MK Dons, Crewe, Grimsby, Hibernian.

Pick of the draws: Norwich sprung one of the surprises of the season so far by beating Premier League champions Manchester City 3-2 at home last Saturday. The victory was as deserved as it was unexpected and I believe they'll gain their first away point at Burnley on Saturday. Although Manchester United lie fourth, they haven't been convincing and will be hard-pushed to prevail at West Ham, who must be pleased with their progress. Beaten 1-0 at home by Nottingham Forest last weekend, Swansea have lost top spot in the Championship and their powers of recovery should be tested at Bristol City, who are among the early front-runners. Garry Monk's first match as Sheffield Wednesday manager ended in a 2-0 victory at struggling Huddersfield last Sunday but Fulham, their visitors, are surely made of sterner stuff. Unbeaten Exeter are the clear leaders in League Two and well capable of holding fellow promotion contenders Newport to a draw.

Away days: Blackburn seem back on course after a dodgy start to their Championship campaign and will be hopeful of coming away from Reading with three points. Bristol Rovers, who beat Lincoln
1-0 away last Saturday, face seemingly weaker opposition in Wimbledon, who are in League One's bottom three and without a win this campaign. Sunderland, in the race for promotion, look an away banker at Bolton, who, with a 12-point deduction, appear destined for the drop. I expect Ayr, second in the Scottish Championship, to strengthen their position after travelling to lowly Alloa while
free-scoring Raith, 4-0 home winners over Peterhead last weekend, are recommended at Airdrieonians. Yeovil, climbing rapidly in the National League, are the form tip at Fylde.

Homes sweet homes: Ambitious Leicester have their sights on a place in the Premier League's top four and Tottenham's visit in the early Saturday fixture will be a good test of their credentials. Leicester, who lost narrowly at Old Trafford last Saturday, won't want two disappointments in a row and I've a hunch they'll take maximum points against Spurs. Cardiff (14th) sit just below Middlesbrough (13th) in the Championship table but I'm tipping Neil Warnock's players to come out on top when the sides meet in Wales on Saturday. Neither of the Edinburgh teams in the Scottish Premiership is doing well so far but Hibernian's plight (4pts) isn't as serious as that of Hearts (2) who find themselves bottom after five games. Expect Hibs to increase their misery.


Betting info: Five of my six aways were correct last weekend. They were: Leeds (2-0), Bristol City
(2-1), Sunderland (3-1), Bradford City (1-0) and Cove Rangers (4-2).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Sept 14-15

Ten draws: Manchester United v Leicester, Wolves v Chelsea, Fulham v West Brom, Preston v Brentford, Gillingham v Wycombe, Lincoln v Bristol Rovers, Oxford v Tranmere, Crawley v Mansfield, Port Vale v Plymouth, Scunthorpe v Morecambe.

Best draws: Manchester United v Leicester, Fulham v West Brom, Gillingham v Wycombe, Crawley v Mansfield, Port Vale v Plymouth.

Six aways: Arsenal, Leeds, Sunderland, Cheltenham, Bradford City, Cove Rangers.

Ten homes: Liverpool, Sheffield United, Charlton, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Ipswich, Crewe, Forest Green, Swindon.

Pick of the draws: With four games played in the Premier League, Leicester look a reasonable bet to finish higher than Manchester United. They visit Old Trafford on Saturday and look good for at least a point. West Brom, unbeaten away in six Championship matches, won't be fazed by a trip to Fulham, even though the west Londoners are scintillating at their best. To see Wycombe top of League One is one of the most surprising things about the season so far, not that it isn't well deserved. However, Gillingham, on their day, are capable of upsetting anybody and I fancy them to gain a point. Mansfield's under-performance in League Two has been unexpected. They are better than they have shown and I'm taking them to hold Crawley. Early front-runners Plymouth slipped up at home to Oldham last weekend and I won't be surprised if they drop another couple of points at Port Vale, who are miserly at home.

Away days: Although Watford, bottom of the Premier League, have changed their manager, I don't think it will be enough to avoid defeat against Arsenal, who sit just below the Champions League qualifying places. Leeds have maximum points on their Championship travels and I'm tipping them to win at Barnsley, who are at the other end of the table. Sunderland are lower in League One than they would like but they can put that right by beating Accrington. Cheltenham, who have moved into the League Two play-off positions, are well worth a punt at newcomers Salford while Bradford City are predicted to inflict more pain on struggling Walsall. Cove Rangers, who lead Scottish League Two, have an excellent chance of further progress when they visit lowly Brechin.

Homes sweet homes: Sheffield United produced a stirring comeback to draw 2-2 at Chelsea two weeks ago, so they should be able to defeat Southampton, who have so far failed to shine. Huddersfield play Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship and both teams have new managers (Danny Cowley for Huddersfield, Garry Monk for Wednesday). I've a feeling Cowley will win this particular battle and Huddersfield will record their first victory of the season. Middlesbrough have yet to hit their stride, so they will be eager to climb the table at the expense of Reading, their visitors.

Pools info: Bury v Portsmouth (No 25 on coupon) is void. Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Tranmere v Gillingham (2-2), Morecambe v Salford (2-2) and Hartlepool v Woking
(1-1).