Pools tips for weekend of March 1-2

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Norwich, Everton v West Ham, Huddersfield v Barnsley, Ipswich v Birmingham, QPR v Leeds, Coventry v Shrewsbury, MK Dons v Sheffield United, Northampton v Bristol Rovers, Rochdale v Oxford, Aldershot v Lincoln.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Norwich, Everton v West Ham, Huddersfield v Barnsley, MK Dons v Sheffield United, Northampton v Bristol Rovers.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Arsenal, Wigan, Brentford, Bury, Scunthorpe.

Best weekend home bets: Hull, Swansea, Tottenham, Millwall, Bradford City, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Preston, Rotherham, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: Norwich get a positive result every time the position of their manager Chris Hughton seems under threat. They earned their Premier League victory over Tottenham last Sunday and I believe they will avoid defeat at Aston Villa, who are terrible at home. Four consecutive wins have considerably eased West Ham's relegation worries. In contrast, Everton appear to have lost their way, having fallen further behind the top four clubs. Don't be surprised if they fail to beat the revitalised Hammers. In the Championship, one never knows which Huddersfield team is going to turn up. They entertain Barnsley this weekend and if the visitors show the grit they displayed when defeating Millwall last Saturday they'll probably nick a draw. That FA Cup run has done wonders for Sheffield United's form in League One. Victory over Colchester in midweek shot them five places up the table and I'm taking them to deny MK Dons maximum points. Two home wins in a row have boosted Northampton's chances of League Two survival but their opponents, Bristol Rovers, are also on the upgrade. Stalemate is the likeliest outcome.

Away days: Liverpool are scoring for fun in their quest to land the Premier League title for the first time and it's difficult to see Southampton halting their charge. Arsenal will be eager to return to winning ways on their travels after being soundly beaten at Anfield and only drawing at Southampton. I fancy them to prevail at Stoke, who are only three points off the relegation zone. Wigan are challenging strongly for the Championship play-offs and are worth a punt at Nottingham Forest, who have been hit by injuries. Brentford lost the League One leadership after going down 3-0 to Wolves at home last weekend but they will be confident of bouncing back at Carlisle, who have one of the worst home records in the division. Bury are one of the in-form sides of League Two and are highly recommended at Cheltenham. Second-in-the-table Scunthorpe are looking good for three points against fast-fading Newport.

Homes sweet homes: I suspect that Hull, buoyed by their run to the FA Cup quarter-finals and a crushing 4-0 away victory against Cardiff, will have too much for troubled Newcastle. I've a hunch that Championship strugglers Millwall will upset play-off contenders Brighton and that Crewe, unlucky in defeat against Stevenage in midweek, will do the same to Swindon, whose League One play-off challenge has stalled. Tranmere, however, are going in the right direction and should be too strong for erratic Oldham. 

Pools tips for weekend of February 22-23

Ten draws: Cardiff v Hull, Chelsea v Everton, West Ham v Southampton, Bolton v Watford, Charlton v QPR, Middlesbrough v Leeds, Oldham v Gillingham, Exeter v Rochdale, Mansfield v Fleetwood, Kilmarnock v Hibernian.

Best draws: Cardiff v Hull, Chelsea v Everton, Bolton v Watford, Oldham v Gillingham, Mansfield v Fleetwood.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Aston Villa, Millwall, Peterborough, Hartlepool, Dundee.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Liverpool, West Bromwich, Blackpool, Derby, Bradford City, Leyton Orient, Walsall, Newport, York.


Pick of the draws: Cardiff have regressed since sacking Malky Mackay. Second bottom of the Premier League, I cannot see them taking more than a point from their home match against Steve Bruce's Hull. Leaders Chelsea were soundly beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend and it may have affected their confidence. Everton have lost only three matches on the road this season and they are well equipped to frustrate the Londoners. Bolton and Watford are the draw specialists of the Championship. Bolton have drawn nine times at home; Watford nine times away. Don't be surprised if both teams make it 10 on Saturday. Oldham and Gillingham, who meet at Boundary Park, seem destined for mid-table finishes in League One and there is little to choose between them. League Two Mansfield played better than their 3-0 defeat at Oxford suggested last weekend and I fancy they will hinder Fleetwood's promotion hopes.

Away days: Manchester United have been unlucky recently. I believe they will put that right at Crystal Palace, who are still in the Premier League relegation mix. The fact that Newcastle are on a downer should give Aston Villa all the encouragement they need. Villa are more effective away from home anyway and are worth a punt for maximum points. Championship strugglers Millwall have won only once on their travels this season but they will probably add to that at Barnsley, who are in danger of being cut adrift. In League One, Peterborough can celebrate reaching the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final with victory at bottom club Stevenage. Hartlepool are not out of the play-off reckoning in League Two. They will surely further their cause by winning at Northampton, who are effectively six points from safety. Scottish Championship leaders Dundee are a confident selection to triumph at Cowdenbeath, who have already lost eight home fixtures.

Homes sweet homes: It's anybody's guess what on earth is going on at Fulham, who prop up the Premier League table. Like Newcastle, they are in turmoil and I make their opponents, West Bromwich Albion, one of the best home bets of the weekend. There are signs that Blackpool are starting to halt their slide down the Championship table. They could have had three points at Ipswich last Saturday and I believe they will see off Birmingham. League One Bradford City gained their first win in 14 games by defeating Port Vale in midweek and I think they will leave MK Dons empty-handed as well. York are one of the most improved sides in League Two and capable of beating a fading Southend.


Pools info: Dundee United v Motherwell (match No 46 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips for weekend of February 14-15

Ten draws: Plymouth v York, Southend v Exeter, Dumbarton v Falkirk, Queen of South v Dundee, Ayr v Rangers, Annan v East Stirling, Bradford PA v Gainsborough, Worcester v Barrow, Basingstoke v Chelmsford, Whitehawk v Farnborough.

Best draws: Plymouth v York, Dumbarton v Falkirk, Queen of South v Dundee, Ayr v Rangers, Annan v East Stirling.

Best weekend away bets: Southampton, Bradford City, Aberdeen, Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline, Queen's Park.

Best weekend home bets: Doncaster, Peterborough, Rotherham, Swindon, Chesterfield, Fleetwood, Hartlepool, Portsmouth, Rochdale, Raith.


Pick of the draws: Plymouth and York are two teams on the up in League Two. As Plymouth have already drawn six at home and York six away, stalemate looks the likeliest result. Falkirk appear to be faltering, despite lying second in the Scottish Championship. I'll be surprised if they get more than a draw from their trip to Dumbarton, who are making  progress in league and cup. Queen of South are one of the in-form sides of the Championship. They beat Falkirk at home last Saturday and are capable of holding leaders Dundee. Runaway League One leaders Rangers have not dropped a point on their travels but I've a hunch they will be denied by improving Ayr. East Stirling have had some fine away results in League Two and will not lack confidence when visiting second-placed Annan.

Away days: Southampton have played even better than recent results suggest and I'm tipping them to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals by winning at Sunderland on Saturday. Bradford City, mid-table in League One and three times on target against Crewe last Saturday, are worth a punt against Coventry, who seem to have gone off the boil. Aberdeen, of the Scottish Premiership, will be full of beans after knocking Celtic out of the Scottish Cup last weekend. They must be fancied to gain maximum points at lowly St Mirren. There's a bottom-of-the-table clash - Morton v Cowdenbeath - in the Scottish Championship. Cowdenbeath's form has been much better, so put your faith in them. Dunfermline's terrific away record in League One should see them prevail over Forfar. Queen's Park are rock bottom of League Two but if they can win anywhere it is probably at Montrose, who are  off-colour.

Homes sweet homes: Peterborough's stunning late win at Leyton Orient last Saturday has enhanced their promotion hopes and I think they will carry on the good work against Walsall, who sit just below them in League One. Hartlepool have found a new lease of life in League Two and are worth backing against Newport, who have been badly affected by postponements. Portsmouth's lowly position does not do them justice and three points against inconsistent AFC Wimbledon will help their fight to avoid relegation. Raith's victory at Hibernian in the Scottish Cup - Championship triumphs over Premiership - was one of the upsets of the weekend and I believe they will go on to defeat Championship promotion contenders Hamilton. 


Pools info: Three of my five best draw selections - Bradford City v Crewe, Exeter v Portsmouth and Wycombe v Accrington - obliged last weekend.

Pools tips for weekend of February 8-9

Ten draws: Liverpool v Arsenal, Tottenham v Everton, Charlton v Birmingham, Bradford City v Crewe, Carlisle v Gillingham, Notts County v Coventry, Exeter v Portsmouth, Wycombe v Accrington, Braintree v Nuneaton, Forest Green v Barnet.

Best draws: Liverpool v Arsenal, Bradford City v Crewe, Exeter v Portsmouth, Wycombe v Accrington, Forest Green v Barnet.

Best weekend away bets: Wigan, Leeds, Rotherham, Wolves, Southend, Chesterfield.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Manchester United, Southampton, Sunderland, Blackpool, Burnley, Leicester, Oldham, Walsall, Queen of the South.


Pick of the draws: Liverpool have dropped only four points at home this season but leaders Arsenal are unbeaten since their 6-3 defeat at Manchester City in December and making a genuine Premier League title challenge. They have won on their last two visits to Anfield and although victory may be beyond them this time, I believe they will come away with a point. Thirteen draws have hindered rather than helped Bradford City in League One. Their slide down the table has been gradual and I can see them sharing the spoils with Crewe, who are making a spirited attempt to avoid relegation. Too many draws has also been Portsmouth's undoing in League Two and I don't think their luck will change at Exeter. Off-colour Wycombe are in a relegation dogfight and I doubt whether they will find Accrington obliging opponents. Barnet may struggle to reach the Skrill Premier play-offs following the departure of their player-manager Edgar Davids and I'll be surprised if they gain more than a point from their trip to Forest Green.

Away days: Wigan snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against Charlton last Saturday and believe they can make the Championship play-offs. They will fancy their chances at Huddersfield, who crashed 5-1 at Leeds last weekend. Talking of Leeds, they look good for maximum points at bottom-of-the-table Yeovil as long as they can forget their off-field worries. Rotherham's away record in League One is formidable and they should be too strong for mid-table Colchester. Wolves have moved into the automatic promotion placings and will expect to defeat bottom club Stevenage. Phil Brown's Southend are challenging for automatic promotion in League Two and are a confident bet overcome Mansfield, who have only won twice at home. In-form leaders Chesterfield are capable of winning their match against fellow high-fliers Scunthorpe.

Homes sweet homes: Manager Gus Poyet is working wonders at Sunderland, who have climbed away from the Premier League relegation zone. They face Hull, who are just above them but have a terrible away record. I expect Sunderland to have moved above Hull by Saturday night. Blackpool's slide in the Championship has been alarming - no wins in their past 12 games. But all bad runs have to end sometime. Blackpool gave a much improved display in their 2-0 defeat at Blackburn last Saturday  and I've a hunch they will upset promotion-seeking Nottingham Forest. Queen of the South are steadily climbing the Scottish Championship and may surprise leaders Falkirk. This is well worth a punt.

Pools info: Derby v QPR (match No 17 on the coupon) is now being played on Monday and will therefore be adjudicated by the pools panel.