Pools tips for weekend of February 23-24

Ten draws: Newcastle v Southampton, Reading v Wigan, Bolton v Hull, Middlesbrough v Millwall, Bournemouth v Sheffield United, Oldham v Portsmouth, Aldershot v Fleetwood, Burton v Exeter, Dumbarton v Falkirk, Ayr v Forfar.

Best draws: Newcastle v Southampton, Reading v Wigan, Middlesbrough v Millwall, Bournemouth v Sheffield United, Aldershot v Fleetwood.

Five aways: Everton, Barnsley, Ipswich, Cheltenham, Port Vale.

Nine homes: West Bromwich, Charlton, Peterborough, Watford, Carlisle, Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Barnet, Northampton.

Pick of the draws: Southampton are moving clear of the Premier League relegation zone under their new manager and are well capable of holding Newcastle. Reading have already drawn six matches at home this season. I can see them making it seven against fellow relegation candidates Wigan, who won convincingly at Huddersfield in the FA Cup fifth round. I believe Millwall's heavy home defeat by the lowly Championship club, Peterborough, last night (Tuesday) was a one-off and they can get something at Middlesbrough, whose promotion hopes are fading. Back-to-form Sheffield United have climbed into the automatic promotion places in League One and are a fair bet to gain a point at leaders Bournemouth. Aldershot are fighting hard to avoid relegation from League Two and can surprise high flyers Fleetwood.

Away days: Everton, who have lost only three games on their Premier League travels, are fancied to prevail at Norwich, who have lost their mid-season sparkle. Nobody is playing better in the Championship at the moment than struggling Barnsley, who moved out of the relegation zone last night (Tuesday) by beating Wolves. That should give them the confidence to defeat bottom club Bristol City. Relegation-threatened Ipswich are worth following at Huddersfield, who have conceded 10 goals in their past two matches. I expect Cheltenham to confirm their superiority over Accrington, who have slipped into League Two's bottom two, while promotion-seeking Port Vale look one of the best bets on the coupon to prevail at ailing Torquay.

Homes sweet homes: Peterborough can follow up their terrific 5-1 win at Millwall with victory over Birmingham. MK Dons have faltered badly in League One over the past month as well as going out of the FA Cup, and Carlisle are well equipped to pile on more misery. Although Yeovil have won their last eight league games, I'm taking fellow promotion contenders Doncaster to end that run. I've a hunch that improving Barnet will upset the better-placed Rochdale in League Two.