Pools tips for weekend of February 16-17

Ten draws: Portsmouth v Carlisle, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Rotherham v Chesterfield, Southend v Northampton, Ross v St Johnstone, St Mirren v Hibernian, Airdrie v Hamilton, Stenhousemuir v East Fife, Montrose v Elgin, Fiorentina v Inter Milan.

Best draws: Portsmouth v Carlisle, Bristol Rovers v Wycombe, Rotherham v Chesterfield, Ross v St Johnstone, Montrose v Elgin.

Five aways: Coventry, Bournemouth, Bradford City, Barnet, Alloa.

Nine homes: Sheffield United, Yeovil, Cheltenham, Gillingham, Plymouth, Rochdale, Celtic, Morton, Arbroath.


Pick of the draws: Portsmouth ended their disastrous losing run in League One with a goalless draw at Hartlepool on Tuesday and that may spur them on against visitors Carlisle. Bristol Rovers and Wycombe, the two in-form sides in League Two, meet at Bristol and I cannot see either losing. Erratic Rotherham have yet to draw at home in the league this season but I've a hunch that sequence could be broken when they play equally inconsistent Chesterfield. St Johnstone have been punching above their weight in the Scottish Premier League but promoted Ross County are also no mugs and a stalemate is likely. In the Scottish third division, Montrose, who have drawn five at home, host Elgin, who have drawn seven away. As they are next to each other in the table as well, the temptation to predict a draw is overwhelming.

Away days: Although Coventry have lost their past two matches they have been unlucky on both occasions. I expect them to return to winning ways in League One against relegation-threatened Bury. New leaders Bournemouth are the success story of this division and I expect them to continue their remarkable winning run at Preston, who can't buy a result at the moment. Bradford City stopped the rot in League Two with a terrific win at Wycombe on Tuesday and they will surely gain three more points at the expense of bottom club AFC Wimbledon. Lowly Barnet have been playing better than recent results suggest and are worth a punt at York, who are wobbling and none too impressive at home. In the Scottish second division, second-placed Alloa are a confident selection to defeat Forfar.

Homes sweet homes: Struggling Plymouth received a much-needed boost with an away victory against Aldershot in League Two last Saturday and can gain another three points by beating Oxford. Rochdale are better than the league table suggests and I believe they will click against Torquay, who, if they are not careful, will be sucked into the relegation zone. I'm taking Scottish first division leaders Morton to make the most of ground advantage against their nearest challengers Partick and Arbroath to come out on top in their second division tussle with Brechin.