Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 13-14

 Ten draws: Manchester United v West Ham, Birmingham v Bristol City, Derby v Millwall, Nottingham Forest v Reading, Blackpool v Fleetwood, MK Dons v Accrington, Crawley v Mansfield, Forest Green v Harrogate, Morecambe v Newport, Yeovil v Woking.

Best draws: Derby v Millwall, Nottingham Forest v Reading, Blackpool v Fleetwood, Crawley v Mansfield, Morecambe v Newport.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Tottenham, Manchester City, Norwich, Preston, Cambridge, Bolton.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Leicester, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Charlton, Ipswich, Lincoln, Exeter, Bromley, Hartlepool, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: Wayne Rooney's Derby are making hard work of climbing the Championship table and they could have chosen easier opponents than Millwall, who seldom accept defeat easily. Consecutive defeats to Luton (home) and Watford (away) have dampened Nottingham Forest's optimism and they will probably be grateful for a point against Reading, whose sights are on the Premier League. Fleetwood, in League One, make the short trip to Blackpool on the back of three successive victories but Blackpool, three places above them, are also playing well. Crawley's lean spell in League Two looks to be over after wins against Tranmere (away) and Salford (home) but Mansfield, their opponents, beat leaders Cheltenham 3-1 at home in midweek and can gain a point. I've a feeling that Morecambe and Newport, two of the division's high-flyers, will cancel each other out.

Away days: Tottenham's Gareth Bale and Harry Kane are running into form at just the wrong time for Arsenal, who host the north London derby on Sunday. Spurs won the reverse fixture at their ground 2-0 last December and they must be quietly confident of completing the double over their fierce rivals. Fulham have recently defeated Everton (2-0) and Liverpool (1-0) away in their spirited fight to avoid relegation. They won't roll over against Manchester City but I still fancy the prospective Premier League champions. Norwich, the runaway Championship leaders, seem an away banker at Sheffield Wednesday, who are staring relegation in the face. Mid-table Preston are recommended at Wycombe, who are rooted to the bottom. Cambridge wasted the opportunity to top League Two when they were beaten 2-1 at Bolton in midweek but I think they'll make amends at Oldham. Bolton are one of the most improved sides in the Football League and will approach their visit to struggling Port Vale with confidence.

Homes sweet homes: Barnsley's seven-match winning run was ended in midweek when Derby held them to a goalless draw at Oakwell. The Yorkshire side may face another setback at Bournemouth, who host them on Saturday. The Cherries lost ground in the race for the play-offs when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Preston last weekend but I'm tipping them to bounce straight back. Second-placed Watford provide formidable opposition for hosts Cardiff but the Welsh side are going so well that it would be a brave man who bets against them. Exeter, eighth in League Two, are scoring freely again and they are worth backing against leaders Cheltenham, who surprisingly lost at Mansfield in midweek and have conceded five goals in their past two games.

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

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Wolves, West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle, Coventry v Derby, Preston v Bournemouth, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Wigan v MK Dons, Bradford City v Bolton, Colchester v Newport, Ross v Kilmarnock, Arbroath v Queen of the South.

Best draws: West Brom v Newcastle, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Bradford City v Bolton, Colchester v Newport, Ross v Kilmarnock.

Best weekend bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Fleetwood, Forest Green, Celtic.

Best weekend bets: Ten homes: Brighton, Manchester City, Tottenham, Reading, Stoke, Sunderland, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Salford, St Johnstone.

Pick of the draws: Lady Luck was with struggling West Brom last Saturday when Brighton, their opponents in distress, missed two penalties and had a goal disallowed. On Sunday West Brom host Newcastle, another side fighting for their Premier League life. Newcastle are the team most likely to get sucked into the relegation zone but I can see them pinching a point in what will probably be a low-scoring affair. Swansea's hopes of promotion from the Championship suffered a setback last weekend when they lost 3-1 at home to Bristol City. Middlesbrough, whose sights are on the play-offs, won at Coventry in midweek and can come away with a point. Bradford City and Bolton are on the rise in League Two and neither will want their momentum to be checked. Colchester won for the first time in 15 games when they beat Carlisle at home in midweek, which will encourage them against Newport, who have been goal-shy. Ross and Kilmarnock, who meet on Saturday, are near the foot of the Scottish Premiership and neither is playing well enough to be confident of three points.

Away days: Arsenal have had a week off since winning convincingly at Leicester last Sunday and I believe they'll use that to their advantage in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Burnley. Although League One leaders Peterborough were held to a goalless draw at Oxford in midweek, they should have enough to see off Burton. Portsmouth, also eyeing promotion, will want to make amends for their midweek defeat at Doncaster and I doubt whether lowly Northampton will stop them. Fleetwood, who had an excellent away victory over high-flying Lincoln, can make it two in a row by prevailing at Shrewsbury. Forest Green, third in League Two, had a rare off night when losing 3-0 at Stevenage in midweek but they are tipped to  recover against bottom club Grimsby. Celtic's hopes of catching Rangers in the Scottish Premiership have vanished but they are a better side than their hosts, Dundee United.

Homes sweet homes: Brighton played well against Crystal Palace (home) and West Brom (away) but on both occasions came away with nothing. They are better than their low Premier League placing suggests and I've a hunch they will upset Leicester, who have been weakened by injuries. Manchester City are running away with the title, having won their past 21 matches. They've already beaten Manchester United in the League Cup semi-finals this season and I think they'll again be too strong for their neighbours on Sunday. St Johnstone, who won the Scottish League Cup final against Livingston last Sunday, are worth a punt against the higher-placed Hibernian.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 27-28

Ten draws: West Bromwich Albion v Brighton, Barnsley v Millwall, Middlesbrough v Cardiff, Rotherham v Reading, Plymouth v Lincoln, Rochdale v Burton,  Kilmarnock v Dundee Utd, Sevilla v Barcelona, Mainz v Augsburg, Union Berlin v Hoffenheim.

Best draws: West Brom v Brighton, Middlesbrough v Cardiff, Rochdale v Burton, Kilmarnock v Dundee United, Mainz v Augsburg.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Fulham, Liverpool, Queens Park Rangers, Norwich, Blackpool, Exeter.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Leeds, Leicester, Tottenham, Preston, Peterborough, Swindon, Bolton, Forest Green, Newport.

Pick of the draws: Brighton were desperately unfortunate to lose 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace on Monday and it's hard to envisage another hard-luck story at West Brom. However, West Brom, second from bottom of the Premier League, were themselves unlucky not to win at Burnley last Saturday when their 10 men deserved more than a goalless draw. Mick McCarthy has transformed Cardiff from mid-table also-rans to Championship promotion contenders since he became manager but a trip to Middlesbrough may check their progress. Burton, the League One's bottom club, have defeated Hull (home) and Charlton (away) in the past few weeks and are in better form than their hosts Rochdale, who are only six places above them. Kilmarnock v Dundee United is a clash between out-of-form sides in the Scottish Premiership and neither will be confident of winning. Lowly Mainz caused an upset by beating Borussia Monchengladbach 2-1 away last weekend and could share the spoils with Augsburg in the German League.

Away days: Fulham's recent 2-0 victory at Everton, thoroughly deserved, gave them a much needed boost in their fight to avoid relegation to the Championship. Of the three teams in the Premier League relegation zone, Fulham have the best chance of staying up and are worth a wager against erratic Crystal Palace. It's hard to believe that Liverpool are now as low as sixth but they are fancied to stop the rot at struggling Sheffield United. Queens Park Rangers are improving each week and well capable of adding to Birmingham's misery near the foot of the Championship. Norwich, with a 10-point lead at the top, will surely prevail against relegation favourites Wycombe. If Blackpool, of League One, can come away from Portsmouth with maximum points, they can do likewise at Charlton, whose promotion hopes are fading. Exeter are back in the League Two promotion frame after beating Colchester in midweek and I think they'll see off Crawley.

Homes sweet homes: Manchester United's incredible away record in the Premier League - they have not lost all season - must end sometime and I believe it will at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Chelsea's tails are up and they have yet to lose under new manager Thomas Tuchel. Leeds are devilishly difficult to predict these days but they beat Southampton at home with something to spare in midweek and I'm tipping them to gain another three points against Aston Villa, who will be without the injured Jack Grealish. Swindon have moved out of the League One drop zone by defeating Crewe 2-1 (home) and drawing 2-2 at Lincoln, who have their sights on promotion. They can climb further away from danger with a win against Northampton, who are second from last. 

 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 20-21

Ten draws: West Ham v Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers v Bournemouth, Reading v Middlesbrough, Gillingham v Bristol Rovers, Motherwell v St Johnstone, St Mirren v Livingston, Valencia v Celta Vigo, AC Milan v Inter Milan, Genoa v Verona, Cologne v Stuttgart.

Best draws: Queens Park Rangers v Bournemouth, Gillingham v Bristol Rovers, Motherwell v St Johnstone, Valencia v Celta Vigo, AC Milan v Inter Milan.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Barnsley, Swansea, Sunderland, Plymouth, Harrogate.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington, MK Dons, Peterborough, Cheltenham, Salford.

Pick of the draws: Championship promotion contenders Bournemouth, still to appoint a new manager, were held to a goalless draw at Nottingham Forest last Saturday and improving QPR could also deny the south-coast side. The form of League One Gillingham resembles a yo-yo. Because of their inconsistency, I rate Bristol Rovers' chances of nicking a draw, especially as Rovers belied their lowly placing with a convincing 3-1 home victory over promotion-seeking Portsmouth in midweek. Motherwell crashed back to earth in the Scottish Premiership when they lost 4-1 at home to struggling Hamilton last Saturday. I can't see them getting more than a point against St Johnstone. Two draw specialists, Valencia and Celta Vigo, play each other in the Spanish League, which is a good reason for thinking this will end all square. First and second in the Italian League, Inter Milan and AC Milan respectively, meet in the San Siro, where a draw is the most likely outcome.

Away days: Manchester City, the Premier League's runaway leaders, have already beaten Arsenal twice this season - in the league and League Cup - and there's no reason why they shouldn't make it a hat-trick of wins at the Emirates on Sunday. City look invincible at the moment. Barnsley, mid-table in the Championship, played well in defeat against Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round last week and did even better when defeating high-flying Brentford away 2-0 last Sunday. As they also beat Blackburn at home in midweek, they'll start favourites at Bristol City, who have lost six games in a row. I expect Swansea to strengthen their promotion challenge by prevailing at Huddersfield, who are slipping dangerously close to the relegation zone. Sunderland's resounding 4-1 home victory over League One promotion rivals Doncaster was a sign they are finding top gear and they will visit bottom club Burton with confidence. Plymouth are one of the most improved teams in this division and look a good bet at Rochdale. In League Two, I believe Harrogate, who are steadily climbing the table, will have too much for Scunthorpe.

Homes sweet homes: Fulham's 2-0 triumph at Everton was one of the upsets of last weekend and I fancy them to win their "relegation six-pointer" against Sheffield United, who were well beaten at West Ham in midweek. Liverpool's recent lapses at Anfield have been astonishing but they had an excellent result against Leipzig in the Champions League  and I believe they'll return to winning ways in the Premier League against their fierce foes Everton. Sheffield Wednesday's attempts to avoid relegation to League One took a knock in midweek when they lost at Stoke but they are well worth a wager against Birmingham, who have slumped to second bottom in the Championship.

Pools info: I got five out of nine draws last weekend, with the matches at Brighton, Nottingham Forest, Eibar, Torino and Werder Bremen ending all square. My other draw selection, the match between Rotherham and Queens Park Rangers, was postponed.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 13-14

Ten draws: Brighton v Aston Villa, Leicester v Liverpool, Birmingham v Luton, Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth, Rotherham v Queens Park Rangers, Dundee United v Livingston, Eibar v Valladolid, Villarreal v Real Betis, Torino v Genoa, Werder Bremen v Freiburg.

Best draws: Brighton v Aston Villa, Leicester v Liverpool, Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth, Rotherham v Queens Park Rangers, Villarreal v Real Betis.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester United, Swansea, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Tranmere, Celtic.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Manchester City, Southampton, Brentford, Norwich, Charlton, Plymouth, Cambridge, Carlisle, Morecambe.

Pick of the draws: By beating Tottenham (home) and Liverpool (away), Brighton have put some distance between themselves and the Premier League's bottom three. They are playing well enough to deny Aston Villa, who are much improved from last season. Although Liverpool have lost that winning feeling at Anfield, they have recently won away at West Ham and Tottenham. They can hold on to fourth position by drawing at Leicester, who are just above them. Bournemouth, sixth in the Championship, caused an FA Cup upset by winning at Burnley in midweek but they may find Nottingham Forest a tougher proposition because Chris Hughton's team have revived recently. Rotherham, battling against relegation to League One, had a midweek setback against Cardiff but they should collect at least a point against Queens Park Rangers. In the Spanish League last weekend, Real Betis gave Barcelona a good game before going down 3-2. If they play as well at higher-placed Villarreal they'll get something.

Away days: Manchester United will be bitterly disappointed if they come away from woeful West Brom on Sunday with anything less than maximum points. Championship promotion challengers Swansea will deservedly start firm favourites at lowly Sheffield Wednesday. Home wins against Crewe (2-0) and Ipswich (2-1) have put League One Peterborough back in the promotion frame. I'm taking them to make it three consecutive victories when they visit Blackpool. Portsmouth, who are only one place below Peterborough, are better away than at home, which Crewe may discover. Promotion-chasing Tranmere, of League Two, surprisingly lost at home to Stevenage in midweek but I'm tipping them to make amends at bottom club Grimsby. The Scottish Premiership title may have gone but Celtic still have their pride and will probably see off St Johnstone.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton will be hurting after their 9-0 debacle at Manchester United and losing 3-2 to nine-men Newcastle and I have a feeling they'll take it out on Wolves. Inconsistency has let Charlton down in League One this season but they are still in with a shout for promotion and I think they'll be three points better off after playing Gillingham on Saturday. Plymouth followed a 2-2 draw at Portsmouth by winning 1-0 at Accrington in midweek and they'll fancy their chances against Fleetwood. 

Weekend pools info: Celta Vigo v Elche (No.27 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.