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.