Pools tips for weekend of April 27-28

Ten draws: Newcastle v Liverpool, Stoke v Norwich, Ipswich v Birmingham, Middlesbrough v Charlton, Millwall v Nottingham Forest, Stevenage v MK Dons, Tranmere v Bournemouth, Accrington v Oxford, Torquay v Bristol Rovers, Wycombe v Port Vale.

Best draws: Newcastle v Liverpool, Middlesbrough v Charlton, Stevenage v MK Dons, Tranmere v Bournemouth, Torquay v Bristol Rovers.

Five aways: Tottenham, Derby, Huddersfield, Yeovil, Portsmouth.

Nine homes: Chelsea, Manchester City, Reading, Wolves, Brentford, Carlisle, Crawley, Leyton Orient, Notts County.


Pick of the draws: Newcastle's home form will probably keep them in the Premier League and they will not have to face the suspended Luis Suarez, who is normally worth about three players to Liverpool. Middlesbrough are ending their Championship season with a whimper and will struggle to beat a revitalised Charlton. The League One play-off hopes of MK Dons have gone and I believe they will settle for a draw at Stevenage, who are also finishing the season on a downer. I've a hunch that Tranmere will end their alarming slump in League One by holding Bournemouth, who won promotion last weekend. Torquay need a point to be safe from relegation from League Two and I fancy they'll get it against Bristol Rovers, who are becalmed in mid-table.

Away days: Victory over Manchester City last Sunday was a huge boost for Tottenham's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League and they will be in the mood to punish Wigan, who again find themselves in the Premier League relegation zone. You never know what Derby are going to do from one week to the next but they are worth a punt at Blackpool, who are reeling from the 6-1 battering they received at Brighton last Saturday. Huddersfield will almost guarantee Championship safety by beating Bristol City, who are already relegated. Yeovil, still punching above their weight in League One, must be backed at demoted Bury. Now that Portsmouth's future is assured (at last!) they are likely to play without fear at Shrewsbury.

Homes sweet homes: Reading are my tip to win the battle of the Premier League basement boys. They have shown a bit more spirit than their opponents, Queens Park Rangers, recently, although both teams have resigned themselves to relegation. These are desperate times for Wolves, who are in the bottom three of the Championship and in danger of consecutive relegations. I think they'll lift some of the gloom at Molineux on Saturday with a priceless three points against Burnley, who are not completely safe themselves. Brentford (3rd) v Doncaster (2nd) is the match of the day in League One. Brentford have the best home record in the division; Doncaster are peerless away. Brentford will gain promotion at Doncaster's expense if they win and my money is on a home victory.