Pools tips for weekend of March 30-31

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Liverpool, Swansea v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Brighton, Peterborough v Cardiff, Hibernian v Inverness, Hamilton v Dumbarton, Forfar v Arbroath, Stranraer v Alloa, Alfreton v Lincoln, Hyde v Wrexham.

Best draws: Swansea v Tottenham, Nottingham Forest v Brighton, Peterborough v Cardiff, Hamilton v Dumbarton, Stranraer v Alloa.

Five aways: Leeds, Barnsley, Motherwell, Partick, Rangers.

Nine homes: Arsenal, Wolves, Ross, Queen of South, Stenhousemuir, Clyde, Peterhead, Queen's Park, Stirling.

Pick of the draws: The international break has probably helped Tottenham regroup after three consecutive defeats and I can see them steadying the ship at Swansea, who have gone slightly off the boil after winning the League Cup. If any team can halt the Nottingham Forest charge in the Championship it's Gus Poyet's Brighton, who look capable of filling one of the play-off places. Brighton's morale will have been boosted by beating fierce rivals Crystal Palace 3-0. Recent results have given Peterborough good cause to believe they can escape relegation and I think they will deny leaders Cardiff again. Remember that Peterborough caused one of the upsets of this season by beating Cardiff 1-0 away. Dumbarton's impressive away record has kept them afloat in the Scottish first division and they can hold inconsistent Hamilton. Alloa's form has dipped in the Scottish second division, which makes me believe that lowly Stranraer can get something from their match.

Away days: Ipswich have been gaining points in the Championship without looking convincing and I've a hunch their luck will run out against Leeds, who must take maximum points to keep their play-off hopes alive. Despite their lowly position, Barnsley are one of the form sides in this division and are worth a punt at fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday, who have lost their last two home games. Motherwell are making a strong claim for second place in the Scottish Premier League and will be confident of another three points at bottom club Dundee. In the Scottish first division, it's hard to see promotion-seeking Partick slipping up at struggling Cowdenbeath. Rangers can clinch the third division title with victory at Montrose.

Homes sweet homes: A comeback win against Bristol City has breathed life into Wolves as they try to escape relegation from the Championship and I fancy they will make it two in a row when Middlesbrough visit Molineux on Saturday. Boro have fallen away alarmingly after being in the play-off mix and Wolves are in the mood to take advantage. Clyde are my tip to win the battle of the basement clubs in the Scottish third division as East Stirling, defeated 9-1 a fortnight ago, now look destined to finish last. Stirling held Rangers to a goalless draw last weekend, confirming their remarkable climb up the table. They are well worth backing against Berwick, even though Stirling have 10 points fewer than their opponents.

Pools tips for weekend of March 23-24

Ten draws: Carlisle v Yeovil, Colchester v MK Dons, Shrewsbury v Oldham, Bradford City v Bristol Rovers, Rochdale v Southend, Alloa v Queen of South, Berwick v Peterhead, Braintree v Alfreton, Nuneaton v Woking, Boston v Bradford PA.

Best draws: Colchester v MK Dons, Shrewsbury v Oldham, Bradford City v Bristol Rovers, Berwick v Peterhead, Nuneaton v Woking.

Five aways: Walsall, Coventry, Exeter, Forfar, Clyde.

Nine homes: Bournemouth, Preston, Tranmere, AFC Wimbledon, Burton, Port Vale, Torquay, Dunfermline, East Fife.

Pick of the draws: MK Dons have drawn four of their last five away matches in League One. Another one is on the cards at Colchester, who are climbing away from the relegation zone. Oldham, under new manager Lee Johnson, moved out of the bottom four with a convincing win over Hartlepool. I fancy them to follow that up by holding Shrewsbury. It's hard to believe that Bristol Rovers were once threatened by relegation from League Two. They are now playing well enough to get something at League Cup finalists Bradford City, who are struggling to feature in the race for promotion. Peterhead's remarkable 6-0 away victory against Montrose last weekend in the Scottish third division will encourage them to believe they can match Berwick while Nuneaton, in the Blue Square Bet Premier, can confirm their improvement by drawing with Woking.

Away days: Walsall, thriving in League One, look a sound bet at relegation-troubled Hartlepool, who cannot buy a goal these days. A similar vote of confidence goes to Coventry, who travel to seemingly doomed Portsmouth. Coventry have won 11 times on the road this season. Exeter's excellent away form in League Two (11 victories) could prove decisive when they visit Rotherham, who are two places below them in seventh. In the Scottish second division, Forfar's claims at bottom club Albion cannot be ignored and I've a hunch that lowly Clyde will upset Elgin in the Scottish third.

Homes sweet homes: Preston have picked up under new manager Simon Grayson and look eager to finish their League One season with a flourish. They are worth a punt against Leyton Orient. AFC Wimbledon's revival in League Two suffered a setback at Accrington but I'm backing them to recover against Morecambe. Torquay ended a long, barren run by beating Chesterfield. I believe they'll make it two in a row against York, who have dropped into the bottom two. East Fife could do with some light relief near the bottom of the Scottish second division. I think they'll get it against Stranraer, who are wretched away from home.

Pools tips for weekend of March 16-17

Ten draws: Swansea v Arsenal, Blackburn v Burnley, Derby v Leicester, Middlesbrough v Birmingham, MK Dons v Tranmere, Yeovil v Swindon, Bristol Rovers v Rochdale, Wycombe v Northampton, York v Port Vale, Livingston v Falkirk.

Best draws: Derby v Leicester, MK Dons v Tranmere, Yeovil v Swindon, Bristol Rovers v Rochdale, York v Port Vale.

Five aways: Manchester City, Liverpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Barnet.

Nine homes: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Tottenham, Wigan, Blackpool, Wolves, Coventry, Doncaster, Notts County.

Pick of the draws: Neither Derby nor Leicester are doing themselves justice in the Championship at the moment and I cannot see either obtaining maximum points on Saturday. MK Dons have fallen out of promotion contention from League One and their opponents, Tranmere, are also wobbling. This looks one of the best draws on the coupon. Yeovil have been one of the surprise packets of the season and can sustain their promotion charge by holding Swindon. In League Two, Rochdale won so convincingly against Wycombe last weekend (4-1) that they will believe they can get something at upwardly mobile Bristol Rovers. Promotion-seeking Port Vale have hit the wall recently and have a tricky fixture at York, who have been boosted by the appointment of Nigel Worthington as manager. 

Away days: Everton will have been disheartened by their shock 3-0 FA Cup exit to Wigan at Goodison Park and Manchester City (5-0 winners over Barnsley) are in the mood to cash in. A top-four finish is a possibility for Liverpool and their hopes will be raised by victory at Southampton, who are still in the relegation mix. Bolton are making a bold bid for the Championship play-offs and they must fancy their chances at Ipswich, who are languishing at the other end of the table. Bournemouth ended their barren run in League One by beating Stevenage in midweek and appear a sound bet at struggling Oldham. In League Two, Barnet, under Edgar Davids' managership, are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel and are worth backing at bottom-of-the-table Accrington.

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa gained a crucial Premier League win over fellow strugglers Reading last Saturday and will be confident of following that up when they host basement club Queens Park Rangers. It's time relegation-troubled Wigan gave a performance in front of their own supporters. If they play half as well as they did in beating Everton in the FA Cup last week, it could come against Newcastle on Sunday. Wolves are in dire danger of suffering two consecutive relegations after falling to 23rd in the Championship. However, I've a hunch they will gain three welcome points at the expense of Bristol City, the only club below them in the table. 

Pools tips for weekend of March 9-10

Ten draws: Peterborough v Ipswich, Crawley v Notts County, Hartlepool v Yeovil, Chesterfield v Bristol Rovers, Torquay v Oxford, Brechin v Forfar, East Fife v Arbroath, Cambridge v Woking, Lincoln v Southport, Tamworth v Alfreton.

Best draws: Peterborough v Ipswich, Hartlepool v Ipswich, Torquay v Oxford, Brechin v Forfar, Tamworth v Alfreton.

Five aways: Coventry, Exeter, Wycombe, Livingston, Alloa.

Nine homes: Colchester, Portsmouth, Swindon, AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham, Northampton, Rotherham, Partick, Queen of South.


Pick of the draws: Peterborough are fighting hard to avoid dropping out of the Championship and I'm taking them to share the points with Ipswich, another team threatened by relegation. Hartlepool's improvement near the bottom of League One has been significant and they won't let promotion contenders Yeovil have things all their own way on Saturday. Torquay halted a wretched losing run in League Two with a goalless draw at Accrington last weekend. They can also frustrate visitors Oxford, who crashed 4-0 at home to Rotherham in midweek. Brechin have not drawn at home all season in the Scottish second division. I've a hunch that will change when they play Forfar, who are just below them. In the Blue Square Premier, the mid-table encounter between Tamworth and Alfreton looks one of the likeliest draws on the coupon.

Away days: Coventry are already into double figures in League One away wins and they are a good bet to add to their tally at Scunthorpe, who hover just above the relegation zone. League Two Exeter are also away specialists (11 wins so far) and they are worth a punt at Fleetwood, whose home form is indifferent. Wycombe's rise in the same division has not gone unnoticed and they must fancy themselves against Rochdale. In the Scottish first division, Livingston should be too strong for Raith and the same goes for second-placed Alloa at Stenhousemuir in the second division.

Homes sweet homes: Lowly Colchester have started picking up League One points again after appearing to be in free fall and mid-table Crewe should beware. Portsmouth, despite being doomed to relegation, have got out of the losing habit recently and I believe they will beat Bury, who are also struggling to stay up. Promotion-chasing Swindon, under the new management of Kevin Macdonald, ought to have enough to see off improving Walsall and in League Two, the bottom club, AFC Wimbledon, could upset York, who are completely out of sorts.