Pools guide and best bets for April 14-15 coupon

Ten draws: Brentford v Derby, Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers, Gillingham v Bristol Rovers, MK Dons v Scunthorpe, Peterborough v Fleetwood, Blackpool v Accrington, Grimsby v Cambridge, Hartlepool v Carlisle, Bromley v Barrow, Bishop's Stortford v Gosport Borough.

Best draws: Brentford v Derby, Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers, MK Dons v Scunthorpe, Grimsby v Cambridge, Hartlepool v Carlisle.

Best away bets: Birmingham, Brighton, Southend, Dagenham & Redbridge, Eastleigh, York.

Best home bets: Huddersfield, Nottingham Forest, Bradford City, Millwall, Shrewsbury, Swindon, Exeter, Newport, Dover, Forest Green.


Pick of the draws: Derby have found an extra gear under new manager Gary Rowett but Brentford have beaten some good teams in the Championship this season and won't succumb easily. Bristol City arrested their slump with a fine 3-1 home victory over Wolves but their opponents, Queens Park Rangers, will be anxious to halt a run of three consecutive defeats and will be disappointed not to take a point. The mood at Scunthorpe has improved after beating League One promotion rivals Bolton 1-0 at home last Saturday but their hosts MK Dons have also raised their game recently. The timing of manager Marcus Bignot's dismissal at League Two Grimsby was puzzling, coming straight after the 3-1 win at Blackpool last weekend, which must have been one of their best results of the season. Russell Slade has replaced Bignot and I expect him to start with a draw against Cambridge, who have revived their hopes of a play-off place. Newport's surge has put Hartlepool in danger of relegation. A few months ago you would have had their fixture against Carlisle as an away banker but the Cumbrian team have lost their way in the second half of the season.

Away days: Birmingham have been embarrassingly poor under Gianfranco Zola in this season's Championship but even they should come away with maximum points at Rotherham, who are already relegated. Brighton have an excellent chance of ending their campaign as champions and they appear to have the mental strength to cope with a trip to rapidly improving Wolves. Southend have been edged out of the League One play-off positions but the spirit at the club is good and they will be banking on three points at Chesterfield, who are as good as down. Promotion-chasing Dagenham & Redbridge in the National League look a good bet at Boreham Wood, who are becalmed in mid-table and Eastleigh must be fancied at second from bottom North Ferriby, who have lost 14 home games this season. Finally, York, who have made an astonishing recovery, are well worth a punt at Solihull Moors, who were thrashed 9-0 at Tranmere last Saturday.

Homes sweet homes: Shrewsbury, who lie one point above the League One drop zone, can climb further away from trouble by beating mid-table Walsall. Swindon are another club struggling to stay in the division but I'm backing them to get the better of Wimbledon, who seem to be just going through the motions. Newport have given themselves a real chance of avoiding relegation from League Two. Their win at promotion-seeking Exeter was one of the results of last weekend and they will confident of following that up against fast fading Yeovil.