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.