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.