Pools tips for this weekend March 5-6

Treble chance (home teams): Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Wolves, Coventry, Watford, Hartlepool, Hereford, Inverness, Partick.


Best draws: Birmingham, Liverpool, Wolves, Hereford, Partick.


Aways: Aston Villa, Swansea, MK Dons, Huddersfield, Chesterfield.


Homes: Arsenal, Fulham, West Ham, Derby, Portsmouth, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Sheffield Wednesday, Crewe.


Pick of the draws: The Premier League looks ripe for draws this weekend. Birmingham will be buoyed by their unexpected victory in the Carling Cup final, but West Bromwich Albion, with a 1-1 draw, had a good result themselves at Stoke on Monday and can gain a point at St Andrew's. Manchester United's defeat at Chelsea has blown the title race wide open, but they have enough character and resilience to get something from their trip to Liverpool, whose progress under Kenny Dalglish was halted by West Ham on Sunday. Wolves are playing well at Molineux and, after last Saturday's 4-0 rout of Blackpool, will be doubly determined to dent the Champions League hopes of Tottenham. Hereford (18th) and Bury (3rd), who play each other this weekend, are the in-form sides of League Two and I don't expect either to lose. In the Scottish First Division, I believe Dundee will halt Partick's run of consecutive home wins.


Away days: Aston Villa look transformed these days, so it's worth taking a chance on them at Bolton. Championship promotion candidates Swansea impressed everybody when they defeated Leeds 3-0 last weekend and should be backed to dish out similar treatment to relegation-threatened Scunthorpe. In League One, MK Dons have smartened up their act away from home and will boost their prospects of promotion by collecting maximum points at Rochdale. I'm taking third-placed Huddersfield, who visit lowly Yeovil, to register their second away win in five days. Chesterfield are running away with League Two and must be fancied to prevail at mid-table Cheltenham.


Homes sweet homes: Fulham deserved their point at Manchester City last Sunday and look good for the maximum against Blackburn, who are slipping nearer the relegation zone. West Ham were excellent in beating Liverpool 3-1 last Sunday and should have too much for Stoke, who are weak on the road, I've a hunch that Derby, who have lost five on the trot at home in the Championship, will stop the rot against Barnsley, who do not travel well. Conversely, Portsmouth, who have won five in a row, will probably continue their upward surge against struggling Sheffield United. In League One, underachieving Sheffield Wednesday have a great opportunity to improve their placing when they host bottom-of-the table Plymouth.