Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 6-7

Ten draws: Arsenal v Manchester United, Bristol City v Birmingham, Burton v Reading, Norwich v Queens Park Rangers, Wolves v Preston, Newport v Notts County, Stevenage v Accrington, Wycombe v Cambridge, Stranraer v East Fife, Berwick v Edinburgh.

Best draws: Arsenal v Manchester United, Wolves v Preston, Newport v Notts County, Stevenage v Accrington, Wycombe v Cambridge.

Best weekend away bets: Derby, Leeds, Mansfield, Plymouth, Falkirk, Arbroath.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Hull, Liverpool, Swansea, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Luton, Portsmouth, Elgin.


Pick of the draws: Arsenal should really be favourites to defeat a Manchester United team depleted by injuries on Sunday but Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has never beaten United boss Jose Mourinho in a competitive fixture and morale at Arsenal is at its lowest for many years as they look certain to miss out on a top-four place in the Premier League. Wolves are ending their Championship season with a whimper and their home record is nothing to boast about. That gives Preston a good opportunity of coming away with a point. Newport play their final fixture of the season and I think they will avoid defeat against Notts County, which should be enough to keep them in the Football League. Their recovery from an almost impossible position at the bottom of the table has been one of the noteworthy achievements of the season. Stevenage have one last chance to claim a League Two play-off place after faltering recently but they face Accrington, who are no soft touch and have recorded some notable victories away from home. Wycombe and Cambridge have an outside chance of making the play-offs but I believe they'll cancel each other out and fall short.

Away days: Derby must be disappointed at not being in the Championship play-off mix and they'll probably take their disappointment out on Rotherham, who were relegated a long time ago. Dropped home points in a 3-3 draw against Norwich last Saturday ended Leeds' interest in promotion. They'll finish just outside the play-off positions but should still have too much for Wigan, whose relegation was confirmed last weekend. Mansfield, although only 12th in League Two, have won more away games than they've lost and I expect them to continue in that vein at Crawley, who have had an unhappy season and have just parted with their manager. Promoted Plymouth know a win will have them crowned as champions and I'm backing them to achieve that at mid-table Grimsby.  Falkirk, second in the Scottish Championship, are a good bet to prevail at Dumbarton. Arbroath, the Scottish League Two leaders, are also worth backing at Stirling as three points will confirm them as champions.

Homes sweet homes: Burnley eased any lingering fears of relegation from the Premier League with their first away success of the season at Crystal Palace last Saturday. They are fancied to build on that against West Bromwich Albion, who cannot buy a win or a goal at the moment. The odds are against Swansea staying in the Premier League but they deserved their draw at Manchester United last Sunday and are worth a punt against Everton, who have had two poor results in the last couple of weeks. Nottingham Forest need a victory to ensure they avoid relegation from the Championship. I think they'll get it against Ipswich, who even managed to lose against Rotherham recently.


Pools info: Chelsea v Middlesbrough (No 4 on coupon) has been rearranged for next Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. West Ham v Tottenham (10) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools info: Three of my five best draws were correct last weekend - Southampton v Hull, Barnsley v Burton and Wimbledon v Oldham.