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.