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

Ten draws: Leicester v Southampton, Liverpool v Tottenham, Norwich v Newcastle, Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest v Brentford, Blackpool v Southend, Sheffield United v Walsall, Swindon v Fleetwood, Hartlepool v Mansfield, Dundee v Ross.

Best draws: Leicester v Southampton, Liverpool v Tottenham, Huddersfield v Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon v Fleetwood, Hartlepool v Mansfield.

Best weekend away bets: Birmingham, Millwall, Wigan, Barnet, Leyton Orient, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Sunderland, West Ham, Cardiff, Hull, Rotherham, Burton, Peterborough, Accrington, Bristol Rovers, Dover.


Pick of the draws: Wins over Stoke (away) and Liverpool (home) have reignited Southampton's season and I believe they will take something from their visit to Premier League leaders Leicester on Sunday. Although Leicester have coped very well with the title pressure so far, I've a hunch they'll falter against the Saints. Liverpool v Tottenham on Saturday is a difficult match to call, given Liverpool's wild inconsistency. Second-placed Spurs recovered well from their Europa League exit with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bournemouth last Sunday but Liverpool at Anfield is a different proposition and a draw is the likeliest result. Championship team Huddersfield are coming off the back of a terrific 4-1 win at Leeds but Sheffield Wednesday have moved into the play-off places and will be disappointed not to come away with a point. Heavy League One defeats against Wigan (4-1  at home) and Scunthorpe (6-0 away) will have shaken Swindon's confidence, so don't be surprised if they are held by relegation-threatened Fleetwood. Hartlepool have almost banished the fear of relegation from League Two and look good for at least a point against Mansfield, who were beating runaway leaders Northampton 2-0 last Saturday before they had a player sent off.

Away days: Birmingham, six points off the play-off positions in the Championship, are overdue an away success and they will probably get it at Charlton, who are favourites to be relegated. Millwall, having defeated League One leaders Burton 2-0 at home on Easter Monday, will be confident of repeating that success at Colchester, who seem to have woken up too late in their attempt to escape the drop. Wigan are only one point off the top of League One after taking maximum points from their Easter holiday games and should be backed at Shrewsbury, whose home record is poor. Barnet, who lie mid-table in League Two, are well worth a punt at Morecambe, who have lost 11 times on their own ground. Leyton Orient had a wretched Easter but can make up for it by winning at York, who appear destined for non-League football next season. Hibernian, third in the Scottish Championship, have stalled lately but I'm backing them to return to winning ways at St Mirren.

Homes sweet homes: Of the four clubs battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, Sunderland look the most likely to succeed. Opportunity beckons on Saturday with a home match against West Bromwich Albion, who are safe from the drop and little but pride to play for. Too many home draws have cost Cardiff a higher placing in the Championship but they are still within reach of the play-offs and I can see them winning a tight encounter against fellow promotion contenders Derby, who have been anything but convincing recently. Rotherham, at one time odds-on to be relegated, have made a remarkable recovery under Neil Warnock's management and will relish the visit of Leeds, who are less than the sum of their parts.


Pools info: Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough (match No 20 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Barnsley v Oldham (23) and Oxford v Dagenham & Redbridge (42) have been postponed because of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday and will be judged by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 26-27

Ten draws: Germany v England, Bradford City v Millwall, Grimsby v Wrexham, Southport v Guiseley, FC Utd of Man v Chorley, Stalybridge v Gainsborough, St Albans v Eastbourne Borough, Whitehawk v Gosport, Morton v Raith, Stenhousemuir v Forfar.

Best draws: Bradford City v Millwall, Grimsby v Wrexham, Southport v Guiseley, Morton v Raith, Stenhousemuir v Forfar.

Best weekend away bets: Wimbledon, Plymouth, Carlisle, St Mirren, Stranraer, Elgin.

Best weekend home bets: Burton, Portsmouth, York, Chesterfield, Chester, Woking, Falkirk, Dunfermline, East Fife, Stirling.


Pick of the draws: Millwall are almost into double figures in away wins this season and they can strengthen their League One promotion claims with a point at Bradford City, who are just outside the play-off places. FA Trophy finalists Grimsby are also challenging for promotion in the National League but Wrexham seem to be coming into form at the right time and could deny them maximum points. Lower down the table, Southport's home record has let them down and it may hinder them again when they face Guiseley, who are just below them. Raith gained a morale-boosting home victory over Hibernian in the Scottish Championship last Saturday. A repeat of that display should see them get a point at Morton, who also won well at the weekend. Forfar, who are fighting to escape relegation from Scottish League One, can build on last Saturday's fine 3-1 home win over Ayr by holding Stenhousemuir, who are also in danger of the drop.

Away days: I'm taking Wimbledon to boost their League Two promotion claims at lowly Hartlepool. Plymouth dropped out of the automatic promotion positions with a surprise home defeat by Luton last Saturday. However, I believe they'll recover from that setback by winning at Morecambe, who have lost 10 matches at home this season. Draw specialists Carlisle need wins at this stage of the campaign to realise their promotion ambitions and I'm backing them to obtain maximum points at Yeovil, who are virtually safe from relegation and have little to play for. Improving St Mirren are a confident selection at bottom club Alloa, who have managed only 14 points in the Scottish Championship. In Scottish League One, Stranraer are worth a punt at Ayr, who were surprisingly beaten at Forfar last weekend. Elgin, who are second in Scottish League Two, will have high hopes of success at Berwick, who have had an indifferent campaign.

Homes sweet homes: York are seven points from safety in League Two with nine matches left. These are desperate times but they should give themselves a glimmer of hope against Crawley, who are none too convincing on the road. Chesterfield can make their terrible home record in League One slightly more respectable by defeating Fleetwood, who are struggling to pull away from the relegation zone. Chester are below Barrow in the mid-table section of the National League but I've a hunch they will come away with all three points on Saturday.


Pools info: The matches at Braintree (No 6 on coupon), Forest Green (9), Gateshead (10), Dartford (27), Havant (28) and Weston-Super-Mare (33) are all void as they being played on Good Friday. Hibernian v Dumbarton (37) has been postponed and will be judged by the pools panel.

Betting info: Please note that some of my selections are for Good Friday as well as Easter Saturday.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 19-20

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Leicester, Southampton v Liverpool, Bury v Shrewsbury, Doncaster v Peterborough, Millwall v Sheffield United, Southend v Gillingham, Barnet v Oxford, Crawley v Hartlepool, Notts County v Exeter, Dundee United v Dundee.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Leicester, Bury v Shrewsbury, Millwall v Sheffield United, Barnet v Oxford, Crawley v Hartlepool.

Best weekend away bets: Sunderland, Brighton, Barnsley, Accrington, Portsmouth, Clyde.

Best weekend home bets: Everton, Swansea, Tottenham, Birmingham, Bristol City, Crewe, Scunthorpe, Walsall, Leyton Orient, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: Although Leicester are in the driving seat in the race for the Premier League title, their progress may be checked by Crystal Palace on Saturday. Palace's success in reaching the FA Cup semi-finals could inspire them to do better in the league. They are not completely safe from relegation and a point against the prospective champions at home will help their cause. League One Shrewsbury reserve their best for when they play away and must fancy their chances of a point at Bury, who have faded into mid-table mediocrity. Sheffield United returned to form with a 3-0 home thumping of Oldham last weekend. A repeat of that performance and there is every chance of their holding Millwall, who sit in the League One play-off places. Oxford boosted their League Two promotion credentials by defeating Dagenham & Redbridge 4-0 in midweek but they'll find Barnet harder nuts to crack. Barnet's home record is respectable and they can relax in the knowledge that they are safe from relegation. Hartlepool have benefited from the appointment of Craig Hignett as manager and they are capable of taking a point off Crawley.

Away days: Sunderland have enjoyed plenty of success against Newcastle in recent years and I believe that trend will continue on Sunday, even though Newcastle have appointed Rafa Benitez as manager for the rest of the season. Championship promotion candidates Brighton are not playing particularly well but they are grinding out results, as seen in their narrow home victory over Reading in midweek. They should be too strong for struggling MK Dons, who have lost eight matches on their own ground. Barnsley surprisingly lost at home to Southend last Saturday but their spirit is good and I think they will bounce straight back at Fleetwood, who are just above the drop zone and have lost two on the bounce. Accrington, chasing automatic promotion in League Two, look a sure thing at bottom-of-the-table Dagenham & Redbridge. Fellow promotion contenders Portsmouth were shock 3-0 losers at home to Newport last Saturday. They are more comfortable away from Fratton Park and I'm tipping them to win at Mansfield. In Scottish League Two, Clyde must be supported at East Stirling, who are marooned at the bottom.

Homes sweet homes: Everton's FA Cup sixth-round win over Chelsea last Saturday should have done wonders for their morale and they are a confident selection against Arsenal, whose season has imploded. League One strugglers Crewe have won only three matches at home all season but they'll never have a better chance of making it four against Blackpool, who are in even worse form and have slipped back into the relegation zone. Tranmere are trying to return to the Football League at the first attempt. Their recent form is encouraging and they are worth a punt against Forest Green, who are contesting automatic promotion from the National League with Cheltenham.


Pools info: Middlesbrough v Hull (match No 18 on coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 12-13

Ten draws: Manchester United v West Ham, Blackpool v Coventry, Chesterfield v Walsall, Peterborough v Port Vale, Rochdale v Bury, Swindon v Millwall, Accrington v Plymouth, York v Barnet, Dundee v Hearts, St Mirren v Queen of South.

Best draws: Manchester United v West Ham, Blackpool v Coventry, Peterborough v Port Vale, Swindon v Millwall, Accrington v Plymouth.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Wimbledon, Falkirk.

Best weekend home bets: Stoke, Hull, Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham, Bradford City, Burton, Exeter, Luton, Yeovil, Aberdeen.


Pick of the draws: West Ham have had some outstanding away results this season, which should serve them well in their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. West Ham's scalps on the road include Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. I expect them to share the spoils and win the replay. Blackpool and Coventry, who meet on Saturday, are in wretched form at opposite ends of the League One table. Blackpool have slipped back into the relegation zone while Coventry have dipped below the play-off places. It sounds like a good recipe for a stalemate. Peterborough halted their rotten run of results with a creditable draw at Wigan last weekend but they may be hard-pushed to overcome Port Vale, who are punching above their weight. Swindon's match at Oldham last Saturday was postponed because of bad weather, so they will be fresh and eager for the visit of Millwall, who are more formidable away than at home. I am predicting deadlock between two in-form sides. Accrington's hopes of automatic promotion from League Two suffered a blow with a midweek home defeat by Portsmouth but they should be capable of at least holding third-placed Plymouth.

Away days: It is impossible to overlook Premier League title contenders Tottenham, who are at Aston Villa on Sunday. Villa, who are bottom and nine points from safety, appear to have given up the ghost and Tottenham won't want to lose further ground on top-of-the-table Leicester. Fourth-placed Manchester City won't be satisfied with anything other than victory at Norwich, whose efforts to avoid relegation are being hindered by a shortage of goals. Middlesbrough surprisingly lost at Rotherham in midweek to fall four points behind Championship leaders Burnley. They will be anxious to return to winning ways on Sunday against Charlton, who look doomed to relegation. Wigan are now strongly fancied to go up automatically from League One and will surely beat bottom club Colchester, whose hopes of escaping the drop are fading by the week. Wimbledon's away form in League Two stands up to scrutiny and I'm backing them to prevail at Morecambe, who have already lost 10 home games. Falkirk have overtaken Hibernian in the race for second in the Scottish Championship and they should have too much for Dumbarton.

Homes sweet homes: What a difference veteran manager Neil Warnock has made at relegation-troubled Rotherham!  They have won three on the bounce, including an uplifting triumph over promotion-seeking Middlesbrough in midweek. Rotherham face another high-flyer on Saturday in Derby and I've a hunch they'll win again. League Two Exeter have recently won at Stevenage and Cambridge to stop a worrying slide and although their home form is not so encouraging, I believe they will raise their game against Carlisle. Yeovil's late winner at Mansfield last weekend enabled them to move nine points clear of the relegation zone and they will relish taking on Notts County, who seem to be going in the opposite direction.


Pools info: The FA Cup quarter-final between Reading and Crystal Palace (No 3 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 5-6

Ten draws: Southampton v Sunderland, Watford v Leicester, Leeds v Bolton, Scunthorpe v Gillingham, Walsall v Barnsley, Carlisle v Northampton, Leyton Orient v Luton, Newport v Wycombe, Plymouth v Oxford, Altrincham v Macclesfield.

Best draws: Southampton v Sunderland, Leeds v Bolton, Walsall v Barnsley, Leyton Orient v Luton, Plymouth v Oxford.

Best weekend away bets: Bournemouth, Queens Park Rangers, Brighton, Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Wrexham.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Brentford, Bristol City, Ipswich, Bury, Millwall, Wigan, Barnet, Boreham Wood, Torquay.



Pick of the draws: Sunderland are playing better than any of the other Premier League teams in relegation trouble. They have moved out of the drop zone and I fancy them to get something at Southampton, who have suffered two consecutive defeats. The mood at Leeds cannot have been helped by a crushing 4-0 reverse at Brighton on Monday. They are so unsettled on and off the pitch that there is no guarantee they will beat cash-strapped Bolton, who are second bottom in the Championship. Walsall missed a chance to improve their League One promotion prospects when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Scunthorpe in midweek. They won't find it any easier against Barnsley, who have won 10 of their past 12 games and climbed into the promotion reckoning. Luton's away record has served them well in League Two this season and I believe they will hold Leyton Orient, who are one of many clubs in contention for a play-off place. Oxford have leapfrogged Plymouth in the race for promotion thanks to a resounding 4-0 home success over York. The sides clash on Saturday and this fixture looks one of the best draws on the coupon.

Away days: Bournemouth have moved eight points clear of the Premier League relegation on the back of a 2-0 victory over their south-coast rivals Southampton. They should be in a relaxed frame of mind for their visit to struggling Newcastle. Things are at last looking up for Queens Park Rangers, who are now in the top half of the Championship. I think they will return from lowly MK Dons with maximum points. Few sides are playing better than Brighton, who are strongly challenging for automatic promotion and are well worth backing at Preston. Another team on a roll are Swindon in League One and I'm taking them to continue the good work against Oldham, who have won only twice at home this season. Bristol Rovers, in the hunt for promotion from League Two, will surely be too strong for ailing Notts County and I expect Wrexham, fourth in the National League, to defeat Guiseley.

Homes sweet homes: Lee Johnson's arrival as manager has galvanised Championship team Bristol City. They had a good 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest last Saturday and I believe they will put a dent in Cardiff's promotion ambitions. League One Bury are back on the winning track after a long, barren period and must fancy their chances of taking three points off Bradford City, who are inconsistent. Boreham Wood's morale must have been boosted by their fine 3-0 triumph at Southport in the National League at the weekend. It gives them a fighting chance of avoiding relegation and they can see off Barrow. Time is running out for Torquay in their attempt to escape the drop and their game against bottom club Kidderminster on Saturday is a "must win". I've a feeling they will rise to the occasion.


Pools info: Birmingham v Hull (No 11 on the coupon) and Middlesbrough v Wolves (17) are void. The Birmingham match is being played on Thursday and the Middlesbrough game is on Friday.