Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 2-3

Ten draws: Sunderland v Southampton, Tottenham v Manchester City, Blackburn v Ipswich, Crawley v Coventry, Oldham v Peterborough, Exeter v Dagenham & Redbridge, Morecambe v Southend, Northampton v Wycombe, Alloa v Cowdenbeath, Dumbarton v Raith.

Best draws: Sunderland v Southampton, Blackburn v Ipswich, Crawley v Coventry, Northampton v Wycombe, Alloa v Cowdenbeath.

Best weekend away bets: Birmingham, Bournemouth, Preston, Hartlepool, Bury, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Aston Villa, Derby, Middlesbrough, Norwich, MK Dons, Port Vale, Wimbledon, Accrington, Luton, Partick.


Pick of the draws: It's hard to see relegation-troubled Sunderland obtaining more than a point from Southampton, who have a really good opportunity to finish in the top six of the Premier League. Ipswich need only a point to qualify for the Championship play-offs and I'm sure they will achieve that at Blackburn, who have nothing to play for except pride. Two late goals by Peterborough last weekend left Crawley in the League One relegation zone. A point against Coventry in their final match of the season may be enough to keep them up. Recent poor results mean Wycombe have probably lost out on automatic promotion to League One. They visit Northampton, who are strong at home and well equipped to share the spoils. Alloa, bottom of the Scottish Championship, play Cowdenbeath, who are third bottom. Neither team inspire confidence and stalemate is the likeliest outcome.

Away days: Birmingham are ending the Championship season much better than their hosts, Bolton, who last Monday were beaten more convincingly by Bournemouth than the 3-0 score suggested. Birmingham will want to finish in the top half of the table after their early-season slump and victory on Saturday will make that certain. Promoted Bournemouth will be eager to round off their remarkable season in style and I'm confident they will defeat Charlton. With MK Dons breathing down their neck in League One, Preston will probably have to win at third-from-bottom Colchester to claim the second automatic promotion spot. It will be a major surprise if they fail to do so. Hartlepool's astonishing escape from going out of the Football League may inspire them to gain maximum points at Carlisle, who are only two places above them in League Two. Promotion-seeking Bury look an away banker at Tranmere, who were relegated last Saturday, and Hibernian, contesting a runners-up place in the Scottish Championship, are worth a wager at Falkirk.

Homes sweet homes: Aston Villa were unlucky to lose at Manchester City last weekend. They have markedly improved under Tim Sherwood but still need wins to avoid relegation from the Premier League. I'm backing them to get three points against Everton, despite Everton's fine victory over Manchester United last Sunday. Now that League One Port Vale have finally seen off the threat of relegation, they may be able to relax, which could spell trouble for visitors Fleetwood on Sunday. Luton will be kicking themselves for losing form at just the wrong time in League Two as it has cost them possible promotion. However, in their last match of the season they can partly redeem themselves by beating local rivals Stevenage, who are assured of their play-off place.  

Pools info: Hull v Arsenal (match No 3 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and is subject to a pools panel judgment.

Betting info: I scored five out of six with my away selections last week. Swansea, Watford, Wolves, MK Dons and Shrewsbury all obliged.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 25-26

Ten draws: Arsenal v Chelsea, Burnley v Leicester, West Bromwich v Liverpool, Birmingham v Charlton, Reading v Brentford, Coventry v Crewe, Yeovil v Port Vale, Dagenham & Redbridge v Accrington, Oxford v Cambridge, Southend v Luton.

Best draws: Arsenal v Chelsea, Burnley v Leicester, Birmingham v Charlton, Yeovil v Port Vale, Oxford v Cambridge.

Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Watford, Derby, Wolves, MK Dons, Shrewsbury.

Best weekend home bets: Queens Park Rangers, Stoke, Cardiff, Sheffield Wednesday, Chesterfield, Fleetwood, Plymouth, Wycombe, York, Raith.


Pick of the draws: Chelsea, the Premier League champions elect, will be happy with a draw at the Emirates on Sunday and that's what I believe they will settle for. No team is better than Chelsea at grinding out results and I can see them frustrating second-placed Arsenal, who will be trying for a 10th consecutive victory. Leicester can suddenly see an escape route from relegation thanks to three wins on the trot but I think they will be denied a fourth at Burnley, who, as the bottom club, are as desperate for points themselves. Charlton are the Championship draw specialists with 18 stalemates this season. Don't be surprised if they make it 19 at Birmingham, who are also used to drawing, having shared the spoils on 15 occasions. Although Yeovil have been relegated from League One, they have won their past two games, against Sheffield United (home) and Swindon (away). I'm taking them to avoid defeat against Port Vale, who are just above the drop zone. In League Two, there is little to separate Oxford and Cambridge and a draw is the likeliest outcome.

Away days: I cannot ignore Swansea's claims at crisis club Newcastle, who are going from bad to worse and must be relieved to have picked up so many Premier League points earlier in the season. Watford are in the Championship driving seat as they are now leading the table. They will surely be too strong for Brighton, who have badly tailed off. When Derby are on song there are few better teams in this division. Victory at third from bottom Millwall will guarantee them a play-off place and I'm confident they will get it. It looks as though Wolves will fall short in their quest for the play-offs but they should still be too good for Wigan, whose wretched home record will probably result in relegation. MK Dons are breathing down Preston's neck in the race for automatic promotion from League One. With nine goals from their past two matches, they seem a good bet at Rochdale. Maximum points at relegation-haunted Cheltenham will confirm Shrewsbury's promotion from League Two and I'll be surprised if there is an upset in this one.

Homes sweet homes: Relegation-troubled Queens Park Rangers are well worth a punt in the London derby against West Ham, who look as though they cannot wait for the season to end. Recent results have given QPR a fighting chance of staying in the Premier League and I believe they will gain a  valuable three points. Bristol City, the runaway League One champions, may be tempted to take their foot off the pedal when they visit Chesterfield, for whom a win will confirm their place in the play-offs. York are ending the League Two season with a flourish under manager Russell Wilcox. They were unlucky to lose at Shrewsbury last weekend and are recommended against Newport, whose play-off hopes have faded.

Pools info: Bournemouth v Bolton (match No 12 on coupon) has been switched to Monday and the outcome will be decided by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 18-19

Ten draws: Newcastle v Tottenham, Stoke v Southampton, Charlton v Leeds, Colchester v Scunthorpe, Gillingham v Rochdale, Accrington v Stevenage, Morecambe v Burton, Portsmouth v Bury, Aldershot v Chester FC, Dover v Bristol Rovers.

Best draws: Newcastle v Tottenham, Stoke v Southampton, Gillingham v Rochdale, Portsmouth v Bury, Aldershot v Chester.

Best weekend away bets: Fulham, Derby, Chesterfield, Southend, East Fife, Woking.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Leicester, Manchester City, Brentford, Watford, Doncaster, MK Dons, Swindon, Tranmere, Wrexham.


Pick of the draws: If Newcastle thought they were safe from relegation they could be in for a nasty shock. But although they are in free-fall, they could obtain a point from the visit of Tottenham, who appear to be running out of steam as the season enters its final furlong. Stoke seem set to finish in the top half of the Premier League and will give Southampton something to think about. The Saints, however, give very little away these days and have the best defensive record in the division. This looks one of the best draws on the coupon. League One Gillingham are ending the season on a high but their opponents, Rochdale, have won eight away matches and are capable of nicking a point. Bury are making a late charge for automatic promotion from League Two but Portsmouth at Fratton Park are usually a tricky proposition, even when they are without a manager, and I'm expecting a stalemate. In the Conference, Aldershot's indifferent home form will encourage Chester to come away with something.

Away days: Fulham should banish any lingering relegation fears with victory at rock bottom Blackpool, who will be playing League One football next season. Promotion-seeking Derby look as if they have stopped their alarming slide in the nick of time and I fancy them to gain three Championship points at Huddersfield. League One Chesterfield are bang in form. They scored six without reply against Colchester in midweek and I believe they will follow that up by beating Oldham. High-riding Southend have won their last four games in League Two and I'm taking them to make it five against Exeter, whose hopes of a play-off place are fading. East Fife beat the Scottish League Two leaders Albion last weekend. If they play as well at Annan, they ought to come away with maximum points. Woking will probably have to win both their remaining games to reach the Conference play-offs. They will surely have too much for Nuneaton, who are already doomed to relegation.

Homes sweet homes: Leicester, with two consecutive Premier League wins behind them, can at last see an escape route from relegation and they will fancy their chances of a third victory in a row when they host Swansea. Doncaster, of League One, are one of the least predictable teams in the top four divisions but on their day they are a match for anybody. Although their home record may discourage you, they are well worth a punt against Fleetwood, whose play-off hopes have almost disappeared. These are desperate times for Tranmere, who are bottom of League Two and worryingly out of form. However, they can do themselves a power of good by defeating mediocre Oxford. 

Pools info: Norwich v Middlesbrough (match No 12 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Five of my forecast 10 draws were correct last weekend - the matches at West Ham, Derby, Barnsley, Doncaster and Cambridge.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 11-12

Ten draws: West Brom v Leicester, West Ham v Stoke, Bolton v Norwich, Derby v Brentford, Barnsley v Chesterfield, Doncaster v Rochdale, Scunthorpe v Crawley, Cambridge v Accrington, Kilmarnock v Aberdeen, Partick v Motherwell.

Best draws: West Ham v Stoke, Bolton v Norwich, Barnsley v Chesterfield, Scunthorpe v Crawley, Kilmarnock v Aberdeen.

Best weekend away bets: Arsenal, Wolves, Watford, Leyton Orient, MK Dons, Fleetwood.

Best weekend home bets: Liverpool, Southampton, Swansea, Ipswich, Nottingham Forest, Gillingham, Preston, Luton, Plymouth, Wycombe.

Pick of the draws: West Ham's season is finishing with a whimper and even with home advantage they will struggle to beat Stoke, who gave Premier League champions-elect Chelsea a really hard game at Stamford Bridge last Saturday. Norwich are gunning for automatic promotion to the Premier League but their progress may be checked by Bolton, who have done much better since Neil Lennon was appointed manager. A 3-0 away victory over Cardiff on Easter Monday shows what they are capable of. Four wins in a row have moved Chesterfield into the League One play-off places but they may have to settle for a point at Barnsley, who have exceeded expectations this season. Crawley are showing the spirit needed to avoid relegation and a point at Scunthorpe, who are also in danger, will do their cause no harm. Aberdeen dropped a couple of crucial points at home to Partick in the Scottish Premiership last weekend. Their pursuit of leaders Celtic looks forlorn and I won't be surprised if they slip up at Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Away days: It would take a brave man to bet against Arsenal right now. The Gunners boast 10 wins from their last 11 Premier League matches and must be fancied at Burnley, whose struggle to avoid relegation will probably go down to the last weekend of the season. Wolves are another team on a roll. They won both their Easter games to move into the Championship play-off places and they should have too much for mid-table Birmingham. Free-scoring Watford look a sound bet at Millwall, who are seven points from safety with only six matches remaining. There's a relegation "six-pointer" at Gresty Road where Leyton Orient visit Crewe in League One. The Londoners ought to be backed against a team who can't buy a goal at the moment. MK Dons have kept their automatic promotion hopes alive with victories over Swindon (3-0 away) and Scunthorpe (2-0 at home) and they are a confident selection at Port Vale, who have lost six in a row. Fleetwood have come into the promotion reckoning and are worth a punt at Walsall, who seem to have lost momentum after their defeat by Bristol City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley.

Homes sweet homes: Gillingham, who can beat the best on their day, are worth supporting against cup specialists Bradford City, whose chances of promotion to the Championship are receding. There's a top-of-the-table League One clash at Deepdale where second-placed Preston host runaway leaders Bristol City. I've a hunch that ground advantage will count in this one and I'm taking Preston to cut City's lead at the top. Luton ended a barren run in League Two by beating Tranmere away on Easter Monday. That result has revived their promotion hopes and I believe they will defeat leaders Burton on Saturday. 

Pools Info: Liverpool v Newcastle (match No 2 on coupon) is on Monday and will be adjudged by the pools panel. Brighton v Bournemouth (13) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Three of my five best draw selections were correct last weekend - Reading v Cardiff, Hamilton v St Johnstone and Arbroath v Annan. Five of my 10 draws were also correct.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 4-5

Ten draws: Everton v Southampton, Reading v Cardiff, Barnsley v Sheffield United, Hamilton v St Johnstone, Kilmarnock v Motherwell, Falkirk v Raith, Peterhead v Dunfermline, Arbroath v Annan, Elgin v East Stirling, Wrexham v Alfreton.

Best draws: Reading v Cardiff, Barnsley v Sheffield United, Hamilton v St Johnstone, Falkirk v Raith, Arbroath v Annan.

Best weekend away bets: Newcastle, Brentford, Chesterfield, Dumbarton, Forfar, East Fife.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Swansea, Bolton, Derby, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Port Vale, Aberdeen, Morton, Stranraer.


Pick of the draws: Cardiff have already drawn eight of their away matches in the Championship and I can see them making it nine at Reading, who, apart from their run to the FA Cup semi-finals, have underachieved this season. Barnsley's League One transformation from relegation possibles to play-off probables has been remarkable but their opponents on Saturday, Sheffield United, are formidable when they play their "A" game and can come away with a point. Hamilton, of the Scottish Premiership, are in steady decline and will struggle to overcome St Johnstone. Although Falkirk have climbed to fourth in the Scottish Championship, they are not guaranteed victory over Raith, who have perked up recently and beat second-placed Hibernian last Saturday. Two out-of-form sides, Arbroath and Annan, meet in Scottish League Two on Saturday and I wouldn't like to pick a winner.

Away days: If Newcastle play as well at Sunderland as they did in the second half of their recent Premier League home game against Arsenal, they will be rewarded with three points. Sunderland's home form (just two wins all season) has been wretched and they will have to improve significantly if they are to avoid relegation. Brentford's promotion challenge in the Championship owes much to a terrific away record. They have won nine games on their travels and I believe nine will become 10 after they've played Fulham, who have suffered eight defeats on their own ground. Chesterfield have jumped into the League One play-off positions after 1-0 wins over Walsall and Bradford City. They will surely prevail at bottom club Yeovil, where hopes of avoiding relegation are fading fast. Dumbarton, in the Scottish Championship, are a good bet to triumph at lowly Cowdenbeath while Forfar, third in Scottish League One, will fancy their chances at second-from-bottom Stenhousemuir. East Fife, fourth in Scottish League Two, are worth a punt at Clyde, who are especially weak at home.

Homes sweet homes: Leicester's situation at the foot of the Premier League looks almost hopeless but they are not going down without a fight and I fancy them to upset West Ham on Saturday. Leicester are also due a bit of luck, having been short of it in their 4-3 defeat at Tottenham last weekend. Bear in mind, too, that West Ham have tailed off badly in the second half of the season. Derby's hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League have been dealt a heavy blow recently but I'm taking Steve McLaren's players to bounce back with victory over second-placed Watford. Another Championship team, Leeds, look as though they are enjoying their football again, so don't be surprised if they leapfrog Saturday's opponents, Blackburn, after they've played them in the afternoon. Also, Blackburn may be distracted by next week's FA Cup home quarter-final replay against Liverpool.

Pools info: Crystal Palace v Manchester City (No 4 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. St Mirren v Celtic (21) and Einar v Rayo Vallecano (46) are void.

Betting info: Many of the weekend matches will be played on Good Friday rather than Saturday.