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.