Pools tips for weekend of May 4-5

Ten draws: Burnley v Ipswich, Derby v Millwall, Hull v Cardiff, Nottingham Forest v Leicester, Falkirk v Morton, Livingston v Raith, Arbroath v Alloa, Clyde v Stirling, Getafe v Real Sociedad, Sevilla v Espanyol.

Best draws: Burnley v Ipswich, Hull v Cardiff, Nottingham Forest v Leicester, Arbroath v Alloa, Clyde v Stirling.

Five aways: Aston Villa, Arsenal, Partick, Queen of South, Peterhead.

Nine homes: Liverpool, Tottenham, Bolton, Brighton, Charlton, Huddersfield, Watford, East Fife, Rangers.


Pick of the draws: Burnley keep drawing at home in the Championship while their opponents on Saturday, Ipswich, keep drawing away. There is nothing in the form of either of these sides to suggest that anything will change. Victory will see Steve Bruce's Hull go up to the Premier League but I don't think they will get it against Cardiff, who have already been promoted as champions. Hull have been wobbling and their confidence must have taken a knock in that 2-0 defeat at Barnsley last Saturday. A draw between Nottingham Forest and Leicester will probably leave both tantalisingly outside the play-offs in this the last weekend of the Championship season, but deadlock is the likeliest outcome between two well-matched teams. Second-placed Alloa have gained more points away than at home in the Scottish second division, which encourages me to believe they can hold fourth-placed Arbroath. Stirling's rise from the pits of the Scottish third division has been one of the stories of the season but they know they will have to work hard for a point at Clyde.

Away days: Aston Villa's resounding 6-1 win over Sunderland on Monday has put a different complexion on the Premier League relegation issue. They must now rate their chances of another three points at Norwich, who still need a victory to feel safe. Arsenal, chasing Champions League qualification, must be regarded as an away banker at doomed Queens Park Rangers and one feels that only the self-destruct button can prevent them winning at Loftus Road. Partick have won the Scottish first division by a street and they can celebrate their promotion by beating Dumbarton. Queen of South go up from the Scottish second as runaway champions. It is impossible to oppose them when they travel to bottom club Albion.

Homes sweet homes: Liverpool's 6-0 win at Newcastle last weekend (without Suarez) came right out of the blue and they have a great chance to make Everton feel blue in the derby at Anfield on Sunday. Another incentive is to finish as the top club on Merseyside. Victory would put Liverpool only two points behind their fierce rivals. I fear the worst for Barnsley, who face relegation from the Championship despite a remarkably high points total in the circumstances. They travel to Huddersfield for their final match of the campaign and I believe the on-form hosts will win, thereby guaranteeing their own safety. East Fife's attempts to avoid dropping into the Scottish third division received a boost with an away draw against second division champions Queen of South last Saturday. If they can hold table-topping Queen of South, they must fancy their chances against third-placed Brechin.