Pools tips for weekend of March 15-16

Ten draws: Manchester United v Liverpool, Stoke v West Ham, Sunderland v Crystal Palace, Bournemouth v Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham, Coventry v Port Vale, Leyton Orient v Brentford, MK Dons v Peterborough, Hartlepool v Bristol Rovers, Northampton v Mansfield. 

Best draws: Manchester United v Liverpool, Stoke v West Ham, Sunderland v Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham, Leyton Orient v Brentford.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Newcastle, Blackburn, Wigan, Stevenage, Ayr.

Best weekend home bets: Everton, Swansea, Bolton, Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, Crewe, Rotherham, Wolves, Forfar.


Pick of the draws: Liverpool are on a roll as well as genuine Premier League title challengers. Manchester United, in sixth place, are not even certain of qualifying for the Champions League and need maximum points against their bitter Merseyside rivals. I think they will fall short of that but I believe pride will enable them halt Liverpool's charge. West Ham's dramatic revival has put them in the top half of the table and they must fancy their chances of leaving Stoke with at least a point. Sunderland's dreadful capitulation to Hull in the FA Cup will probably have an adverse effect on their Premier League results and their match against fellow relegation strugglers Crystal Palace has stalemate written all over it. Birmingham's away record in the Championship is far superior to their form at St Andrew's. That's why I believe they will get a point at Sheffield Wednesday. There's a fascinating three-horse race for automatic promotion from League One. Leyton Orient and Brentford are two of the sides involved and meet at Brisbane Road. I cannot separate them.

Away days: Despite what Jose Mourinho says, leaders Chelsea, eight points clear of Liverpool and Arsenal, are firm favourites to win the Premier League. They must also be firm favourites to win at Aston Villa, who have lost eight home matches this season. Fulham's hopes of avoiding relegation are fading fast and I expect Newcastle to pile on their agony. Blackburn were unlucky not to get anything out of their Championship fixture against Burnley last Sunday and are worth a punt at Huddersfield, who are wildly inconsistent. Wigan's FA Cup quarter-final victory at Manchester City was one of the results of the season and I can see the feel-good factor enabling them to win at Ipswich, thereby enhancing their prospects of promotion. Three wins and two draws from their past five games have given Stevenage a fighting chance to escape relegation in League One. They will be confident of returning from Carlisle with three points. Ayr, with five away wins in Scottish League One this season, are tipped to prevail at East Fife, who are deep in the relegation mire.

Homes sweet homes: Bolton, 5-1 winners at Leeds last Saturday and then holding Derby to an away goalless draw, are finally getting their act together and can climb the Championship table further by defeating play-off contenders Brighton. Consecutive away triumphs at Shrewsbury and Peterborough - the latter despite being down to 10 men - have put League One team Bristol City in great heart. The threat of relegation has almost vanished and I'm taking them to beat Swindon. A last-minute own goal denied lowly Crewe three points at Walsall in midweek. As long as they don't dwell on their disappointment they should get the better of Oldham, who are far from safe themselves. Stranraer, third in Scottish League One, have conceded nine goals in their past two games. Forfar scored four of them in midweek, so don't be surprised if they repeat their success in the return fixture on Saturday. 

Pools info: Preston v Sheffield United (match No 31 on the coupon) has been put back to Monday and will be adjudicated by the pools panel. Kilmarnock v Celtic (No 48) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.