Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 1-2

Ten draws: Hull v West Ham, Leicester v Stoke, Watford v Sunderland, Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday, Wolves v Cardiff, Millwall v Scunthorpe, Mansfield v Exeter, Yeovil v Carlisle, Dumbarton v Morton, Queen of South v Dundee United.

Best draws: Hull v West Ham, Watford v Sunderland, Wolves v Cardiff, Mansfield v Exeter, Yeovil v Carlisle.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Fulham, Portsmouth, Wycombe, Aldershot, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle, Preston, Bolton, Southend, Newport, Notts County, Coventry.


Pick of the draws: Hull's home win over Swansea the Saturday before last could not have been more timely in their attempt to stay in the Premier League and West Ham, their visitors this weekend, will have to work hard to return to London with a point. Watford are one of the Premier League clubs who could get sucked into a relegation scrap and although bottom club Sunderland's away record is terrible, I'm taking them to gain a point. Three consecutive victories have given Wolves some breathing space in the Championship but they will have to raise their game to defeat Cardiff, whose results under Neil Warnock have been even more impressive. Mansfield are handily placed to climb into the League Two play-off positions but they face Exeter, who last Saturday scored three times in the closing minutes of their home match against Yeovil to force a 3-3 draw. Exeter also boast a proud away record with 11 victories to their credit. Carlisle's decline has been astonishing. They have now slipped out of the play-off slots, having previously been favourites for automatic promotion. Carlisle have also gone seven games without scoring but I believe they will lay that bogey on Saturday as well as sharing the spoils at Yeovil.

Away days: It's becoming increasingly difficult to make a case for Arsenal, who look like finishing outside the top four for the first time since 1995. Manchester City, Arsenal's opponents on Sunday, have already won 10 away matches and they must be fancying their chances of making it 11. Fulham have missed a couple of chances to move into the Championship play-off places but they will surely not pass up the opportunity at Rotherham, who are as good as relegated. Although Portsmouth suffered a 3-0 reverse at Stevenage last weekend, they are on course for automatic promotion from League Two and will probably find lowly Hartlepool less testing opposition. Wycombe's home defeat by Notts County last Saturday was disappointing but their fixture at demoralised bottom club Leyton Orient looks an away banker. In the National League, Aldershot will be seeking to continue their improvement at Solihull Moors while Hibernian, the runaway Scottish Championship leaders, are recommended at Dunfermline.

Homes sweet homes: Although Newport are seven points from safety in League Two, they have not given up the struggle. They made Portsmouth work hard before losing 2-1 at Fratton Park last Saturday and they are well worth a punt against Crawley, who have trouble stringing wins together. The mood is much better at Notts County after two successive 1-0 victories over Barnet and Wycombe respectively and maximum points against Colchester will make them virtually safe. It's been a miserable season for the players and supporters of Coventry, who are preparing for life in League Two next season. However, I've a hunch they'll be smiling on Sunday after they've beaten Oxford in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 25-26

Ten draws: Scotland v Slovenia, Northampton v Oxford, Scunthorpe v Bradford City, Cambridge v Stevenage, Colchester v Luton, Bromley v Chester, Eastleigh v Gateshead, Guiseley v Dover, Woking v Maidstone, Ayr v Dumbarton.

Best draws: Scotland v Slovenia, Scunthorpe v Bradford City, Cambridge v Stevenage, Colchester v Luton, Guiseley v Dover.

Best weekend away bets: Fleetwood, Rochdale, Bristol Rovers, Bolton, Mansfield, Boreham Wood.

Best weekend home bets: Portugal, Wimbledon, Gillingham, Accrington, Blackpool, Exeter, Portsmouth, Wycombe, Sutton, Tranmere.


Pick of the draws: Scotland face an uphill task to qualify for next year's World Cup finals and I don't think their situation will improve after their match against Slovenia at Hampden Park on Sunday. Of the League One promotion candidates, Bradford City look a better bet than Scunthorpe at the moment and City can stay above their rivals with a point on Sunday. Stevenage's away record is the main reason for their high placing in League Two and I'm backing them to carry on the good work at Cambridge, whose home form is nothing to shout about. Luton, also in the promotion shake-up, have drawn nine away matches this season. I've a hunch they'll make it 10 at Colchester, who appear to be a fading force. Guiseley once seemed certain to be relegated from the National League but they've improved so much since the new year that I can see them getting something from the visit of promotion-seeking Dover.

Away days: Fleetwood's hopes of automatic promotion from League One have taken a knock recently but they should get back on course at Bury, who are not yet safe from the drop. Although Rochdale's poor away form has held them back, a trip to Chesterfield, who look doomed, ought to hold no fears, especially as Dale have rediscovered their attacking flair. Bristol Rovers have coped well with the departure of their ace striker Matt Taylor and will be eager to put more points on the board at bottom club Coventry on Saturday. Bolton's rich vein of form looks like continuing at Shrewsbury, who are only two points off the relegation zone and Mansfield, ninth in League Two, will be fancying their chances at Morecambe, who slumped to their 12th home defeat of the season in midweek. Boreham Wood, mid-table in the National League, beat FA Cup giant-killers Lincoln 2-0 at home in midweek. That should send their confidence soaring when they visit bottom club Southport.

Homes sweet homes: Although Southend have moved into the League One play-off places, an away game against Wimbledon is always a banana skin and I've a hunch Wimbledon will cause an upset here. Gillingham have underachieved this season but so have their Saturday opponents Peterborough, whose hopes of promotion via the play-offs have almost disappeared. Ground advantage may be the crucial factor and I believe the Gills will take maximum points. It's admirable how Accrington keep punching above their weight in League Two. They've now a real chance of ending the season in the top half of the table and I'm tipping them to defeat Grimsby, who are just three points better off.


Pools info:  The matches Charlton (No 15 on coupon) and Walsall (23) have been postponed because of international calls and will be decided by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 18-19

Ten draws: Burton v Brentford, Cardiff v Ipswich, Leeds v Brighton, Oxford v Scunthorpe, Southend v Walsall, Cheltenham v Cambridge, Hartlepool v Wycombe, Luton v Exeter, Stevenage v Portsmouth, Kilmarnock v Partick.

Best draws: Cardiff v Ipswich, Leeds v Brighton, Oxford v Scunthorpe, Luton v Exeter, Stevenage v Portsmouth.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester United, Leicester, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Doncaster, Accrington.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Everton, Bolton, Bristol Rovers, Fleetwood, Rochdale, Grimsby, Mansfield, Plymouth, Inverness.


Pick of the draws: Mick McCarthy's Ipswich are the draw specialists of the Championship - 15 in total - and I think they'll get another one at Cardiff, who are only two places and three points above them. Only goal difference stops Brighton from leading the Championship table. Normal service was resumed with their 3-0 home defeat of Derby last Friday and they have enough about them to avoid defeat at Leeds, who dropped two points in a goalless stalemate against Queens Park Rangers at Elland Road last Saturday. Scunthorpe's hopes of automatic promotion from League One were revived with a midweek home victory over Rochdale and I believe they will gain something at Oxford, whose recent results have been mixed. Luton and Exeter occupy two of the play-off places in League Two. Although Luton have ground advantage, Exeter's away record is so good - 11 wins on the road - that I'll be surprised if they come away with anything less than a draw. Stevenage v Portsmouth is possibly the best draw on the coupon. Stevenage's 1-0 loss at Blackpool in midweek was their first defeat in nine matches while Pompey have recorded two consecutive 4-0 victories, moving them into the automatic promotion slots.

Away days: I can't ignore Manchester United's claims at Middlesbrough on Sunday. Boro look certain to be relegated from the Premier League unless they start scoring. They have only 19 league goals to their credit this season. Leicester have an extra bounce in their step since Craig Shakespeare took charge and they worth backing at West Ham, even though they have yet to record an away league win this season. Championship leaders Newcastle were beaten 3-1 at home by Fulham last weekend but they usually recover well from setbacks and I'm taking them to return to winning ways at Birmingham, who have lost their last three at home. Aston Villa should improve their indifferent away form by gaining maximum points at Wigan, who have sacked their manager and lie second from bottom. League Two leaders Doncaster seem an away banker at Leyton Orient, who have sunk to the bottom and are wearing the look of doomed men. Accrington have pulled right away from the drop zone and a win at Yeovil appears well within their capabilities.

Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace, fourth from bottom in the Premier League, will have gained great encouragement from winning 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion and will be disappointed if they don't beat Watford, who could be sucked into the relegation zone if they are not careful. Mansfield have stumbled in League Two recently but not as much as their visitors Carlisle, who have seen their hopes of automatic promotion take a dive. Two 3-0 home defeats by Portsmouth and Cambridge haven't helped their cause and Mansfield could add to their misery. It's very tight at the foot of the Scottish Premiership and I've a hunch that bottom club Inverness Caledonian Thistle will get the better of fourth-from-bottom Ross County.


Pools info: Port Vale v Shrewsbury (No 26 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 11-12

Ten draws: Bournemouth v West Ham, Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday, Preston v Reading, Charlton v Walsall, Chesterfield v Shrewsbury, Mansfield v Plymouth, Notts County v Hartlepool, Celtic v Rangers, St Johnstone v Dundee.

Best draws: Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday, Preston v Reading, Mansfield v Plymouth, Notts County v Hartlepool, Celtic v Rangers.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Swansea, Bradford City, Portsmouth, Blackpool, Falkirk.

Best weekend home bets: Everton, Liverpool, Cardiff, Wigan, Wolves, Port Vale, Crewe, Leyton Orient, Hearts, Arbroath.

Pick of the draws: Aston Villa's number of draws in the Championship (12) this season has put paid to their hopes of a play-off place and I can't see them getting more than a point from the visit of Sheffield Wednesday, who deserve to be in promotion contention. Manager Jaap Stam has improved Reading to such an extent that they will be expecting at least a draw at Preston, who are among the Championship's better teams. Plymouth, second in League Two, have had some strange results lately, none stranger than their 3-0 midweek home defeat by Blackpool. However, the Pilgrims are into double figures with away victories and I believe they'll nick a point at Mansfield. Consecutive home wins have given Hartlepool a big boost in their battle to avoid relegation and they can break their losing away sequence by sharing the spoils at Notts County, who are also struggling. Celtic, runaway leaders in the Scottish Premiership, are overwhelming favourites to win the Old Firm derby but I've a hunch that Rangers, 6-0 victors over Hamilton in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals last weekend, will find something extra and deny their bitter rivals.

Away days: Despite being held to a goalless draw by Stoke, Manchester City are looking better with each passing week and are strongly fancied to knock Middlesbrough out of the FA Cup on Saturday. After their last-gasp win over Burnley last weekend, Swansea are five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and I'm backing them to come away from second bottom Hull with another three points. Coventry, rock bottom of League One, sacked manager Russell Slade this week but I doubt whether that will affect the expected outcome of their match against Bradford City, who will probably add to their seven away wins this season. Portsmouth, like more than a few sides in League Two, are happier on the road than on their own ground. They won 2-0 at Crawley in midweek to put them in the automatic promotion places and can register another victory at Colchester. Blackpool were surprise 3-0 winners at Plymouth in midweek and I'm backing them to follow that up by beating Wycombe. Falkirk, the nearest challengers to Hibernian in the Scottish Championship, seem a sound bet at lowly Ayr.

Homes sweet homes: A 1-0 midweek away win at Birmingham has breathed new life into Wigan's hopes of avoiding relegation from the Championship. They are worth a wager against Nottingham Forest, who rarely strike fear into anybody. Port Vale gained a merited point in a 1-1 draw at Southend last Saturday. They host Swindon, who are in just as much trouble near the foot of League One and I expect Vale to make ground advantage count. Leyton Orient are a League Two club in crisis and off the pitch but they gave a spirited response last weekend by defeating bottom side Newport 4-0 away. They host mid-table Grimsby on Saturday and my money is on them winning again.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 4-5

Ten draws: Swansea v Burnley, Bristol City v Burton, Derby v Barnsley, Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff, Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich, Northampton v Charlton, Scunthorpe v Fleetwood, Walsall v Oldham, Cambridge v Colchester, Braintree v Wrexham.

Best draws: Bristol City v Burton, Derby v Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich, Walsall v Oldham, Braintree v Wrexham.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, Southampton, Brentford, Aston Villa, Doncaster, Luton.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester United, Stoke, Tottenham, Blackburn, Reading, Bury, Shrewsbury, Southend, Newport, Portsmouth.


Pick of the draws: There is every chance that Bristol City, sliding ever nearer to the Championship relegation zone, will find it tough going against Nigel Clough's Burton, who have drawn six matches on their travels and are not intimidated by anybody. Steve McLaren's Derby have faded alarmingly after looking certain to contest a play-off place and have almost forgotten how to score. Barnsley held on-form Huddersfield to a draw at Oakwell last Saturday and will be fancying their chances of at least sharing the spoils this weekend, particularly as they do better away than at home. Two consecutive defeats to Brentford and Leeds may have damaged Sheffield Wednesday's confidence and I won't be surprised if they falter against Norwich, who still have hopes of getting into the play-offs. Oldham  have improved since John Sheridan was appointed manager and they are now four points clear of the League One drop zone. They won at Northampton in midweek and I believe they will nick a point at Walsall, whose midweek fixture was a victim of the wet weather. Braintree's 5-0 midweek away triumph in the National League made a few people sit up but bear in mind that Bromley, their opponents, had two players sent off early in the game. Wrexham will surely be made of sterner stuff.

Away days: It's impossible to ignore the claims of Manchester City at Sunderland on Sunday. City have won the most away matches - nine - in the Premier League while bottom-of-the-table  Sunderland have averaged less than a goal a game and are favourites to be relegated. Southampton were the better team for long periods of the League Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley last Sunday and were unlucky to lose. If they play half as well against Watford this Saturday they will probably be rewarded with maximum points. Brentford, mid-table in the Championship, have already found the net 50 times this season, unlike their goal-shy hosts Ipswich, who have managed only 34. I'm banking on Brentford's attacking flair to win the day. Aston Villa have quelled crowd unrest with back-to-back home victories. A match at doomed Rotherham gives them an opportunity to improve their poor away record. Doncaster, six points clear at the top of League Two, should have too much for Crawley and much the same can be said for Luton at Yeovil.

Homes sweet homes: Some of the gloom at Ewood Park has been lifted by Tony Mowbray's appointment as manager. The midweek home win over Derby has put Blackburn level on points with Bristol City at the wrong end of the Championship and another three points on Saturday should see them pull away from the relegation zone. I believe Blackburn will gain the maximum return from the visit of Wigan, why lie second from bottom. Bury are another team doing their best to avoid the drop,  this time from League One. Saturday's win at Charlton was followed by another at home to Coventry in midweek and I'm backing Bury to make it three in a row against Gillingham. Newport, the League Two's bottom club, will be relieved to be facing Leyton Orient, who are only three points better off and arguably in an even worse state. A third home win of the season for the Welsh club is well worth a punt.