Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 28-29

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.