Pools tips for weekend of April 20-21

Ten draws: West Ham v Wigan, Birmingham v Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich, Colchester v Shrewsbury, Coventry v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Crawley, Oxford v Rochdale, York v Southend, Dunfermline v Cowdenbeath, Hamilton v Raith.

Best draws: West Ham v Wigan, Coventry v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Crawley, York v Southend, Dunfermline v Cowdenbeath.

Five aways: Leicester, Brentford, Sheffield United, Dagenham & Redbridge, Wycombe.

Nine homes: Liverpool, Sunderland, Watford, Bournemouth, MK Dons, Preston, Walsall, Yeovil, Bristol Rovers.

Pick of the draws: Will Wigan make their annual great escape from relegation? I believe they will and reaching their first FA Cup final will only have boosted morale. A point at West Ham is within their grasp. Leyton Orient will probably just miss out on the League One play-offs but they are playing well enough to get something at Coventry. At the other end of the table Oldham have almost certainly avoided relegation and a point against mid-table Crawley will confirm their escape. York need victory on Saturday to ease their worries about going out of the League but I think they will have to settle for a draw against Southend, who have won 10 matches on the road. Dunfermline's 10-point deduction in the Scottish first division has put them in relegation danger. Visitors Cowdenbeath are also not safe and this pairing looks one of the best draws on the coupon. 

Away days: Leicester ended a long, barren run in the Championship by beating fellow promotion contenders Bolton. They are worth a punt at Crystal Palace, who have gone to pieces and may even miss out on the play-offs. Brentford, third in League One and bang in form, look an away banker at relegated Hartlepool and managerless Sheffield United seem another sound bet at Portsmouth, who are also doomed. I fancy Dagenham & Redbridge will condemn bottom club Aldershot to relegation from League Two and I'm taking Wycombe (nine away wins this season) to keep Barnet in the drop zone.

Homes sweet homes: It's about time Liverpool took some of the many chances they've been creating in the Premier League. The visit of a jaded Chelsea on Sunday gives them a perfect opportunity to do so. Paolo Di Canio's impact on Sunderland has been instant, shown by their remarkable 3-0 victory in the Tyne-Wear derby last Sunday. I've a hunch they will move further away from the relegation zone by defeating Everton, who find wins hard to come by on their travels. Preston have made impressive progress in League One under new manager Simon Grayson and should be backed against Tranmere, who are ending the season with a whimper.