Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 7-8

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.