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.