Pools tips and recommended bets for weekend of April 26-27

Ten draws: Southampton v Everton, Stoke v Tottenham, Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers v Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Bradford City v Crawley, Carlisle v Oldham, Notts County v Swindon, Bury v Portsmouth, Fleetwood v Southend.

Best draws: Southampton v Everton, Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Carlisle v Oldham, Bury v Portsmouth.

Best weekend away bets: Leeds, Reading, Wolves, Bristol Rovers, Dundee, Falkirk.

Best weekend home bets: Fulham, Sunderland, West Bromwich, Derby, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Leyton Orient, Preston, Oxford, Plymouth.

Pick of the draws: Southampton are a match for any team on their day, which is bad news for Everton who will probably have to win their remaining four games to qualify for a Champions League spot. Bournemouth's chances of getting into the Championship play-offs faded over Easter, whereas Nottingham Forest's improved after victories over Birmingham (home) and Leeds (away). This match-up looks one of the best draws on the coupon. You never know what you are going to get with Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton. They are next to each other in the Championship and it's hard to separate them. Carlisle are in grave peril of relegation from League One and victory over mid-table Oldham may be beyond them. Bury and Portsmouth are League Two's most in-form sides and they meet at Gigg Lane, which has already played host to 11 stalemates this season. Don't be surprised if 11 becomes 12 on Saturday.

Away days: Birmingham have not won at home since October. It has put them in serious danger of the drop and I believe Leeds will become the latest team to prevail at St Andrew's. Reading moved back into the play-off positions by beating Middlesbrough and I think they will stay there. They should have too much for Doncaster, who are struggling to stay in the division. Wolves were confirmed as League One champions at the weekend and are determined to pass 100 points for the season. They will surely do this at Coventry, who are forced to play their home fixtures at Northampton's ground. In League Two, Bristol Rovers look better equipped to escape relegation than Saturday's opponents and rivals in distress, Wycombe. Have a punt on Rovers to come home with three points. In the Scottish Championship, I'm taking second-placed Dundee to recover from last Saturday's shock defeat by bottom club Morton by defeating lowly Alloa and third-placed Falkirk to also enhance their promotion challenge.

Homes sweet homes: Lowly Fulham have a fighting chance to gain three precious Premier League points at the expense of Hull, who are goal-shy and fragile on their travels. Two wonderful away results against title challengers Manchester City (2-2) and Chelsea (2-1) have given Sunderland a glimmer of hope in their fight against relegation. Three of their remaining four games are at home and they will be eager to face Cardiff, who are only one point better off. West Bromwich must stop throwing points away from winning positions if they are to avoid the drop. They have an opportunity to redeem themselves against mediocre West Ham at the Hawthorns on Saturday. 

Pools info: Arsenal v Newcastle (match No 1 on the coupon) has been put back to Monday and will be adjudicated by the pools panel. Brighton v Yeovil (13) and Port Vale v Sheffield United (30) are being played on Friday and will therefore be void.