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Ten draws: Crawley v Gillingham, MK Dons v Doncaster, Mansfield v York, Northampton v Luton, Oxford v Carlisle, Raith v Hibernian, Dunfermline v Morton, Peterhead v Stranraer, Berwick v Queen's Park, Azerbaijan v Malta.
Best draws: Crawley v Gillingham, Mansfield v York, Northampton v Luton, Raith v Hibernian, Berwick v Queen's Park.
Best weekend away bets: Wycombe, AFC Wimbledon, Falkirk, Brechin, Grimsby, Iceland.
Best weekend home bets: Chesterfield, Leyton Orient, Peterborough, Rochdale, Hartlepool, Forfar, Albion, East Fife, East Stirling, Israel.
Pick of the draws: Excellent recent results have moved Crawley out of the League One relegation zone. On Saturday they host Gillingham, who have also shown considerable improvement since Christmas and this looks like one of the best three-pointers on the coupon. York, battling against relegation from League Two, have drawn more often (17) than any other team from the top four divisions. I believe they will add to that tally at Mansfield, who are not completely free from relegation worries themselves. Luton's hopes of automatic promotion have almost disappeared and it's mostly down to a barren run away from home. However, they can partially make amends at Northampton, who allowed 10-man Bury to beat them last weekend. Hibernian are well placed to claim the runners-up spot in the Scottish Championship but they could stumble at Raith, who have won two consecutive home games, including a 3-0 midweek defeat of Queen of the South. Queen's Park's hopes of automatic promotion from Scottish League Two are fading and I can't see them getting much joy from their visit to Berwick.
Away days: Wycombe's midweek victory at Luton was their 11th on the road in League Two this season and boosted their chances of automatic promotion. They will probably make it 12 at Dagenham & Redbridge, who are especially vulnerable at home. Struggling Tranmere have lost form at just the wrong time and I'll be surprised if visitors Wimbledon show them any mercy. Falkirk should have too much for Dumbarton in the Scottish Championship and I'm taking Brechin to prevail at second-from-bottom Ayr in Scottish League One. Grimsby are making a late charge for the Conference title and are strongly fancied to triumph at lowly Welling. This weekend sees the return of the European Championship qualifiers and improving Iceland are worth supporting at Kazakhstan.
Homes sweet homes: Leyton Orient's home form in League One has let them down this season, so Saturday's fixture against Port Vale looks a must-win if they hope to avoid relegation. I think they will rise to the occasion against a team who have little to play for except pride. Hartlepool seemed doomed a few weeks ago but League Two's bottom club have staged a remarkable comeback, winning their past three games. They are now only two points from safety. I've a hunch their situation will improve further after they've hosted Cambridge on Saturday. East Stirling have perked up in Scottish League Two and are well worth a wager against better-placed Arbroath, who have completely gone off the boil.
Pools info: Colchester v Swindon (No 4 on coupon) will be decided by the pools panel.
Ten draws: Liverpool v Manchester United, Stoke v Crystal Palace, Cardiff v Birmingham, Charlton v Reading, Peterborough v Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon v Portsmouth, Accrington v York, Plymouth v Newport, Partick v Inverness, Ross v Kilmarnock.
Best draws: Liverpool v Manchester United, Charlton v Reading, Peterborough v Chesterfield, Plymouth v Newport, Ross v Kilmarnock.
Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Leeds, Preston, Aberdeen.
Best weekend home bets: Aston Villa, Tottenham, Brentford, Coventry, MK Dons, Rochdale, Bury, Carlisle, Shrewsbury, Hibernian.
Pick of the draws: A few weeks ago I would have tipped Liverpool to beat Manchester United but United upped their game when defeating Tottenham 3-0 in the Premier League at Old Trafford last Sunday and a repeat of that performance should be enough to get them a draw at Anfield. Liverpool, by all accounts, were lucky to win at Swansea last Monday. Now that Reading have reached the FA Cup semi-finals, they can fully concentrate on the Championship for the next few weeks. They made short work of Bradford City last Monday and, at their best, are easily capable of coming away from Charlton with a point. Peterborough and Chesterfield, who meet on Saturday, are fiercely contesting League One play-off positions. Chesterfield roared back into the race with a convincing 3-0 victory over Gillingham in midweek and I'm backing them to deny Peterborough. In League Two, Newport appear to have recovered from their indifferent spell and I believe they will share the spoils at Plymouth. Ross are showing the most improved form of the teams threatened by relegation from the Scottish Premiership. They have not drawn at home in the league this season but I've a hunch they will salvage something from their match against Kilmarnock.
Away days: Manchester City's recent lapses have left the way clear for Chelsea to claim the Premier League title. Although Chelsea are looking less assured these days, they should have more than enough to see off Hull. Arsenal must recover quickly from their gallant Champions League exit against Monaco and I think they will do so at Newcastle, who have little to play for except pride. Everton are anxious to improve on their unexpectedly low placing and they have a great opportunity to do just that at Queens Park Rangers, who seem resigned to relegation. Leeds, mid-table in the Championship, are surely a banker at rock-bottom Blackpool, who are already preparing for life in League One next season. High-riding Preston are on a charge into the Championship, scoring loads of goals and conceding very few. They are well worth a punt at sixth-placed Barnsley. Aberdeen are Celtic's only challengers for the Scottish Premiership title and I'm tipping them to maintain the pressure by winning at Dundee.
Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa's confidence has soared since Tim Sherwood took over as manager and they will believe they can defeat Swansea. Reaching the FA Cup semi-finals and thrashing Sunderland 4-0 away in the Premier League last Saturday have transformed the mood in the club. Coventry are bubbling again after two consecutive away victories over Chesterfield and Fleetwood. I reckon they will climb further clear of the League One relegation zone by beating Doncaster. Carlisle are battling to avoid the drop from League Two but their 2-0 midweek win at Northampton should have done wonders for their morale and I'm tipping them to prevail over Morecambe.
Pools Info: Wolves v Derby (No 22 on coupon) and Motherwell v Hamilton (45) are being played on Friday and are therefore void. Luton v Wycombe (37) is being played next Tuesday and will be judged by the pools panel.
Three of my five best draw selections were correct last weekend: Leeds v Nottingham Forest, Cambridge v Stevenage and Oxford v Plymouth.
Ten draws: Manchester United v Tottenham, West Bromwich v Stoke, Leeds v Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough v Ipswich, Colchester v Crawley, Doncaster v Peterborough, Port Vale v Swindon, Cambridge v Stevenage, Oxford v Plymouth, Hamilton v Ross.
Best draws: West Bromwich v Stoke, Leeds v Nottingham Forest, Colchester v Crawley, Cambridge v Stevenage, Oxford v Plymouth.
Best weekend away bets: Aston Villa, Wolves, Sheffield United, Bury, Falkirk, Hibernian.
Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Everton, Leicester, Bournemouth, Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday, Chesterfield, Preston, Exeter, Morecambe.
Pick of the draws: West Bromwich Albion have improved under Tony Pulis but two consecutive defeats against Midlands rivals Aston Villa (in Premier League and FA Cup) have slowed their momentum. Stoke are enjoying a good season under Mark Hughes and can maintain their eighth position with a point at the Hawthorns. In-form Nottingham Forest have an outside chance of making the Championship play-offs but may have to settle for parity at Leeds. Leeds are in no man's land (safe from relegation and out of the reckoning for promotion) but will want to finish the season strongly. Colchester and Crawley, who meet on Saturday, appear to be on their way down to League Two. Neither team inspires confidence at the moment and it's hard to make a case for either of them escaping relegation. Stevenage are making a late charge for the League Two promotion play-offs and look good for at least a point at Cambridge, whose results since their FA Cup exit to Manchester United, have been largely disappointing. However, they did well to come away from second-placed Shrewsbury with a draw last weekend. Plymouth regained their place in the play-offs by deservedly beating Northampton 2-0 last Saturday. They travel to Oxford, who have a habit of drawing at home. I believe they will do so again.
Away days: There's a spring in the step of Aston Villa, who are showing some spirit under new manager Tim Sherwood. Two consecutive victories over West Brom have raised their morale and they are worth a punt at Sunderland, who are only one place above Villa and have won only twice at home this season. Wolves are just four points adrift of the Championship play-off positions and should triumph at Brighton. League One Sheffield United, in the play-off mix, have suffered two inexplicable home defeats and do better away. That's why I think they will return from Scunthorpe with maximum points. Bury, promotion candidates in League Two, surprisingly slipped up at home to Oxford last Saturday, so they will be eager to return to winning ways at Mansfield, who are not yet safe from the drop. In the Scottish Championship, Falkirk, who won at Queen of the South last Friday, are expected to prevail at struggling Alloa and second-placed Hibernian will surely confirm their improvement at lowly Cowdenbeath.
Homes sweet homes: Everton will be hoping their midweek Europa League match against Dynamo Kiev does not affect their energy levels when they take on Newcastle on Sunday. Everton are only six points clear of the relegation zone but their opponents are nothing to write home about and a win at Goodison Park in the Premier League is long overdue. Saturday's match against Hull is a must-win for bottom club Leicester, who are not playing badly but are failing to get the results they require. However, I've a feeling the tide will turn here. A 3-1 victory at Carlisle last weekend in League Two suggests that Exeter are back in business after a prolonged, poor spell. I'm taking them to gain another three points when they entertain AFC Wimbledon.
Pools Info: Swansea v Liverpool (No 9 on coupon) and Inverness v Dundee United (48) will be decided by the pools panel. Aberdeen v Motherwell (46) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.
Ten draws: Huddersfield v Rotherham, Gillingham v Doncaster, Carlisle v Exeter, Hartlepool v Burton, Plymouth v Northampton, Stevenage v Newport, Barnet v Forest Green, Braintree v Gateshead, Stenhousemuir v Peterhead, Queen's Park v East Fife.
Best draws: Huddersfield v Rotherham, Carlisle v Exeter, Plymouth v Northampton, Barnet v Forest Green, Queen's Park v East Fife.
Best weekend away bets: Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich, Bristol City, Preston, Arbroath.
Best weekend home bets: Liverpool, Derby, Nottingham Forest, Coventry, Peterborough, Rochdale, Sheffield United, Bury, Tranmere, Inverness.
Pick of the draws: Huddersfield's confidence will have been damaged by two consecutive heavy defeats and they may struggle to overcome Rotherham, who have a habit of drawing away in the Championship. Although Rotherham are battling relegation I think they'll share the spoils again. Carlisle climbed out of the League Two relegation zone with a midweek victory over Cheltenham and they are capable of holding Exeter, who are in terrible form. Plymouth's promotion challenge has stalled recently, whereas Northampton, their visitors on Saturday, have made great strides, including last weekend becoming the first team to win at Shrewsbury this season. Expect deadlock in this one. Forest Green are one of the most consistent sides in the Conference. Nine away draws have helped to put them in the play-off places and they have enough about them to deny second-placed Barnet on Saturday. East Fife are zooming up the Scottish League Two table and I believe they'll come away from high-flying Queen's Park with a point.
Away days: Reading have had a mixed bag of results under new manager Steve Clarke but I'm taking the Championship outfit to end Bradford City's run in the FA Cup when they travel to Valley Parade in the quarter-finals on Saturday. Although Bradford's giant-killing heroics are fresh in the memory, they are far from invincible at home and Reading are equipped to take advantage and book their place at Wembley in the semi-finals. Sheffield Wednesday gained a thoroughly deserved win over Championship leaders Middlesbrough last weekend and will surely follow that up by beating rock bottom Blackpool. Norwich look formidable at the moment and I certainly can't see Millwall denying them. The south London club are six points off safety after another bad week. League One leaders Bristol City have moved 10 points clear of the chasing pack and must be relishing a trip to relegation-haunted Crawley. Preston have climbed into second place, thanks mostly to their fine away record. They can improve on that by beating fellow promotion challengers MK Dons, who appear to be a fading force. In Scottish League Two, Arbroath recovered from 3-0 down against Elgin to force a 3-3 draw last Saturday. I suspect they will be too powerful for bottom club Montrose.
Homes sweet homes: Despite a midweek setback at Charlton, Nottingham Forest, under new manager Dougie Freedman, look a far more confident side these days. They are playing with purpose, conviction and style and are well worth a punt against promotion contenders Middlesbrough. Tony Mowbray is back in management at Coventry, who look a decent bet to surprise Port Vale. Coventry are only one point away from the League One relegation zone but I expect them to move nearer safety in the next few weeks. League Two relegation strugglers Tranmere have lost three consecutive games but I'm taking them to stop the rot against Dagenham & Redbridge.
Pools info: Bradford City v Chesterfield (No 7 on coupon) will be decided by the pools panel as Bradford City are playing Reading in the FA Cup this weekend.
