Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 24-25

Ten draws: Southampton v Everton, Cardiff v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Blackburn, Watford v Bournemouth, Burton v Wimbledon, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Wigan v Plymouth, Bradford City v Newport, Colchester v Harrogate, St Johnstone v Dundee United.

Best draws: Southampton v Everton, Cardiff v Middlesbrough, Coventry v Blackburn, Sunderland v Portsmouth, Colchester v Harrogate.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Charlton, Forest Green, Leyton Orient, Celtic, Dunfermline.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Fulham, Liverpool, Wolves, Millwall, Doncaster, Oxford, Cheltenham, Exeter, Rangers, Dundee.

Pick of the draws: Southampton are going along nicely after a poor start to their Premier League season and will be encouraged by the way they fought back to draw 3-3 at Chelsea after falling two goals behind last Saturday. Also, top-of-the-table Everton will be without Richarlison, who was sent off in last weekend's Merseyside derby, and Rodriguez, who is injured. Middlesbrough's unexpected 1-0 midweek win at Bristol City knocked City off the top of the Championship. If Boro repeat that form on Saturday they will also frustrate Cardiff. A lack of goals has hindered Coventry, which is why I think they'll drop points against Blackburn. Sunderland deserve to be among the early pace-setters in League One but Portsmouth won well at Gillingham in midweek and could hold the northerners. Football League newcomers Harrogate are flying in League Two, so won't feel apprehensive about travelling to Colchester.

Away days: Manchester City achieved a welcome shut-out against Arsenal last weekend after their defensive problems. Because they are always a threat going forward, I believe they'll have enough to beat West Ham, although the Hammers will be buoyed by their fantastic late comeback at Tottenham last Sunday. Charlton have won their past two League One fixtures without conceding. I'm tipping them for a third consecutive success at Northampton. Although Forest Green lost in midweek, they are one of League Two's stronger teams and capable of seeing off Morecambe. Leyton Orient won at Tranmere in midweek and can do the same at Stevenage, who have not scored in their past four league games. In the Scottish Premiership, Celtic will be determined to bounce back from their 2-0 home defeat by fierce rivals Rangers and leave Aberdeen with maximum points. Dunfermline, of the Scottish Championship, have four wins from four in all competitions this season and must be fancied at Alloa. 

Homes sweet homes: Fulham, bottom of the Premier League, had much the better of their 1-1 draw at Sheffield United last Sunday and are well worth a punt against Crystal Palace, who are on a downward spiral. Oxford lifted themselves out of the League One drop zone by defeating Milton Keynes Dons 3-2  in midweek and they will probably climb higher after their home match with ailing Swindon on Saturday. I regarded relegated Dundee's 6-2 reverse at Hearts last Friday as a freakish result and I reckon they will make amends against Morton.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 17-18

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Brighton, Leicester v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Arsenal, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest, Luton v Stoke, Rotherham v Norwich, Charlton v Wigan, Fleetwood v Lincoln, Crawley v Morecambe, Livingston v Kilmarnock.

Best draws: Leicester v Aston Villa, Manchester City v Arsenal, Blackburn v Nottingham Forest, Luton v Stoke, Crawley v Morecambe.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Bristol City, Millwall, Gillingham, Hull, Sunderland, Cambridge.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Swansea, Bristol Rovers, Ipswich, Peterborough, Plymouth, Forest Green, Port Vale.

Pick of the draws: Aston Villa's 7-2 caning of champions Liverpool ensured that they have maximum points from three matches and will have done wonders for their morale. Leicester's tails were similarly up after winning 5-2 at Manchester City but they then lost 3-0 at home to West Ham. I wonder how that result has affected team spirit. Arsenal's recent record at leading Premier League clubs is appalling but they are more resolute these days, which gives them a fighting chance at Manchester City, who have been thrashed by Leicester and held by promoted Leeds. The appointment of Chris Hughton as manager should give struggling Nottingham Forest a badly needed lift in the Championship and I've a hunch they will surprise a few people at Blackburn. Luton are doing better than expected but Stoke have defeated Wolves and Aston Villa away on reaching the last eight of the League Cup and I can see them gaining a point. By leading League Two, Morecambe have turned last season's form upside down. I'll be very surprised if they stay there but they'll be confident of avoiding defeat at mid-table Crawley.

Away days: I expect Bristol City, the early Championship leaders, to continue their progress at the expense of lowly Barnsley. Although Millwall have stalled recently, they will still probably have too much for promoted Wycombe, who lie second from bottom. Gillingham are looking genuine promotion contenders in League One and will fancy their chances at Milton Keynes Dons, who prop up the table. I regard Hull's heavy defeat at Fleetwood last weekend as just a blip and believe they will make amends at Rochdale. Sunderland are recommended at Swindon, who have lost two in a row at home, while high-flying Cambridge, in League Two, will want to confirm their superiority over Scunthorpe.

Homes sweet homes: Everton, who have not beaten Liverpool in 10 years, will never have a better chance than this weekend. The blue half of Merseyside sit proudly at the top of the Premier League, having taken maximum points from four matches, while Liverpool's collapse at Aston Villa must have shaken their confidence. Neither Sheffield United nor Fulham, who meet at Bramall Lane on Sunday, have a point in the league this season and lie 19th and 20th respectively. I reckon that Sheffield United, with ground advantage, will get off the mark. Although Port Vale have lost their past two games in League Two, they are worth a gamble against Salford, who have sacked manager Graham Alexander, despite lying fourth and staying unbeaten this season. 

Pools info: West Brom v Burnley (No 9 on coupon) is being played on Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel. I correctly forecast five draws last weekend and three of my five best draws came up: Mansfield v Stevenage (0-0), Walsall v Colchester (1-1) and France v Portugal (0-0).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 10-11

 Ten draws: Crewe v Wigan, Barrow v Leyton Orient, Mansfield v Stevenage, Walsall v Colchester, England v Belgium, France v Portugal, Iceland v Denmark, Israel v Czech Republic, Northern Ireland v Austria, Lithuania v Belarus.

Best draws: Crewe v Wigan, Mansfield v Stevenage, Walsall v Colchester, England v Belgium, France v Portugal.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Peterborough, Forest Green, Exeter, Sutton, North Macedonia, Slovenia.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Doncaster, Lincoln, Plymouth, Cheltenham, Oldham, Port Vale, Croatia, Scotland, Serbia, Greece.

Pick of the draws: Wigan seem on the upgrade, having beaten Portsmouth (away) and Doncaster (home) in their past two League One fixtures. They should come away with something from Crewe, who sit just above the relegation zone. Stevenage have been on the wrong end of some close scorelines in League Two but they are doing better than Mansfield and will be disappointed to leave empty-handed. By all accounts Walsall were lucky to avoid defeat at Forest Green last Saturday and will probably find visitors  Colchester equally tough opponents. England beat Iceland and drew with Denmark in their two previous Euro Nations encounters but Belgium are on a different level and are favourites to top England's group. France, the World Cup holders, host Portugal, the European champions. This promises to be the best match of the weekend and I think it will end all-square.

Away days: Improving Peterborough have more momentum than Northampton, who have lost consecutive League One matches to Hull (home) and Bristol Rovers (away). I expect Forest Green to go higher than their present 10th position in League Two and three points at Scunthorpe will help them do that. Exeter look back in the groove after defeating Cambridge United 2-0 at home last weekend and must be backed at Southend, who appear destined for a season of struggle. Sutton, who have six points from their opening two National League fixtures, ought to have nine once they've played Weymouth on Saturday. In the Euro Nations programme North Macedonia and Slovenia are expected to confirm their superiority over Estonia and Kosovo respectively.

Homes sweet homes: Morecambe are one of the surprising front-runners in League Two and they could come unstuck at lowly Oldham, whose brave fightback at Colchester last weekend earned them a 3-3 draw. Oldham will be determined to build on that result and they are worth a punt. It's about time Croatia, who are bottom of their four-team Euro Nations group, showed their teeth and I'm taking the 2018 World Cup finalists to gain their first points of the campaign at Sweden's expense. Scotland, who lead their group, host Slovakia, who occupy last place, and should not be inconvenienced. 

Pools info: Sunderland v Blackpool (No 8 on coupon) has been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of October 3-4

Ten draws: Everton v Brighton, Manchester United v Tottenham, Reading v Watford, Rotherham v Huddersfield, Blackpool v Lincoln, Burton v Portsmouth, Rochdale v Fleetwood, Wigan v Doncaster, Carlisle v Barrow, Stevenage v Salford.

Best draws: Everton v Brighton, Rotherham v Huddersfield, Burton v Portsmouth, Wigan v Doncaster, Carlisle v Barrow.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Manchester City, Sunderland, Ipswich, Gillingham, Port Vale.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Wolves, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Hull, Colchester, Crawley, Newport, Tranmere, Hartlepool.

Pick of the draws: Brighton are playing well and were desperately unlucky to lose at home to Manchester United last Saturday. If they repeat that performance they are capable of holding Everton, one of the early Premier League front-runners on maximum points. Rotherham and Huddersfield, who meet in the Championship, are finding goals hard to come by and if any game draws a blank on Saturday it's likely to be this one. The pressure is on Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett to deliver after his team's bad start to the season in League One. Jackett and his players may go some way to doing that at Burton, who conceded four goals at Swindon last weekend. Wigan got their season up and running by winning 2-1 at Portsmouth but Doncaster, their opponents, are showing that they could be promotion contenders. Football League newcomers Barrow are without a win after three matches in League Two but they haven't been overawed in the higher division and I believe they'll deny Carlisle victory.

Away days: Premier League champions Liverpool have begun where they left off in 2019-20 and cannot be opposed, although, Aston Villa, their hosts on Sunday, are a trickier proposition this season. Manchester City's 5-2 home defeat by Leicester last Sunday was a big upset. Manager Pep Guardiola  will be anxious to bounce back as quickly as possible at Leeds and the Yorkshiremen could feel a backlash. Sunderland are among the early front-runners in League One and must be fancied at ailing Charlton. Leaders Ipswich are determined to improve on last season's mediocrity and will be confident of three points at lowly Milton Keynes. Gillingham, under manager Steve Evans, give little away and can return from Shrewsbury with a maximum haul. Port Vale, in second place, look as if they mean business in League Two and are worth a punt at Morecambe, who lie fifth.

Homes sweet homes: Middlesbrough are yet to get going in the Championship but three points are up for grabs against Barnsley, who seem likely to struggle again. It's about time that Tranmere, unluckily relegated to League Two last season on the predicted points per game basis, stopped feeling sorry for themselves and I'm taking them to spark into life against Scunthorpe. The National League fixtures start this weekend and Hartlepool look a good proposition against Aldershot, who probably won't enjoy the long journey home.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of September 26-27

Ten draws: Brighton v Manchester United, Crystal Palace v Everton, West Ham v Wolves, Millwall v Brentford, Northampton v Hull, Sunderland v Peterborough, Swindon v Burton, Oldham v Crawley, Southend v Morecambe, Celtic v Hibernian.

Best draws: West Ham v Wolves, Northampton v Hull, Sunderland v Peterborough, Southend v Morecambe, Celtic v Hibernian.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Blackburn, Swansea, Colchester, Carlisle, Kilmarnock.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Burnley, Tottenham, Bristol City, Cardiff, Crewe, Doncaster, Ipswich, Bolton, Cambridge, Cheltenham.

Pick of the draws: West Ham didn't deserve to go away from the Emirates empty-handed last Saturday and can collect their first point of the season against Wolves, who have lost at home to Stoke in the League Cup and Manchester City in the league. Northampton are adjusting well to the higher division of League One but relegated Hull will provide a stiff test and this match-up looks one of the most likely draws on the coupon. Two injury-time goals gave Peterborough a much needed victory over Fleetwood last weekend and should put them in the mood to get something at Sunderland, who are unreliable at home. Southend and Morecambe, who meet at Roots Hall on Saturday, are expected to be battling relegation from League Two and my hunch is for a low-scoring stalemate. Celtic had a far from comfortable home win over lowly Livingston in the Scottish Premiership last Saturday and may be vulnerable against Hibernian, who held Rangers 2-2 last Sunday.

Away days: I believe Chelsea will bounce back from Sunday's home defeat by Liverpool by beating West Brom, who are bottom of the Premier League and have conceded eight goals in their opening two league fixtures. In the Championship, Blackburn aren't the best travellers but they are worth a wager at Derby, who are struggling. Swansea will be confident of maximum points at Wycombe, whose stay in the Championship will probably be a short one. In League Two, on-form Colchester seem a good thing at newly promoted Barrow and Carlisle, having got off the mark against Southend, are fancied to win again at Scunthorpe. Kilmarnock beat Hamilton at home in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, despite being down to 10 men. I think they'll get another three points at St Mirren.

Homes sweet homes: I'm tipping Cardiff, 2-0 winners at Nottingham Forest last Saturday, to put Reading to the sword, despite Reading being top of the Championship. Crewe, promoted to League One, are pointless after two games but they can break their duck against MK Dons, who have also had a less than convincing start. No joy so far for Ian Evatt, newly appointed manager of Bolton in League Two. They host Newport, who knocked Watford, of the Championship, out of the League Cup in midweek. But the Welshmen may have an adverse reaction from the effort they expended on Tuesday, so have a punt on Bolton to gain their first win of the season.

Pools info: Huddersfield v Nottingham Forest (No 14 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.