Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 24-25

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Newcastle, Birmingham v Barnsley, Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa, Bristol Rovers v Scunthorpe, Charlton v Shrewsbury, Oldham v Southend, Peterborough v Wimbledon, Port Vale v Newport, Yeovil v Carlisle, Hamilton v Partick.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Newcastle, Bristol Rovers v Scunthorpe, Oldham v Southend, Peterborough v Wimbledon, Yeovil v Carlisle.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Sheffield United (Friday), Gillingham, Swindon, Crawley, Exeter.

Best weekend home bets: Burnley, Leicester, Liverpool, Burton, Fulham, Plymouth, Rotherham, Wigan, Colchester, Lincoln.


Pick of the draws: Newcastle's unexpected 1-0 home win over Manchester United the Sunday before last has given them some breathing space in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League. A measure of confidence has also been restored and a point from their match at Bournemouth on Saturday will make their long journey to the south coast worthwhile. Bristol Rovers are the only League One side not to have drawn at home this season. I can see that sequence ending on Saturday when they entertain Scunthorpe, who have faltered recently in their attempt to gain promotion. New Southend manager Chris Powell is working wonders at the club with four wins and a draw from five games but he may have to be satisfied with a point at Oldham, who are making a spirited effort to escape the drop. Wimbledon's last-gasp home victory over Bristol Rovers at the weekend enabled them to climb out of the relegation places and should help them get something at Peterborough, who are maddeningly inconsistent. The mood at Carlisle, mid-table in League Two, is upbeat after two successive wins. They go to Yeovil, who don't give much away at home, and I believe the points will be shared.

Away days: Although Tottenham had an almighty scare at League One strugglers Rochdale in the FA Cup fifth round last Sunday, their Premier League form has been exemplary and they are favourites to beat an injury-ravaged Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Sheffield United are emerging from their blip in the Championship and I fancy them to prevail at lowly Hull on Friday evening. The Gillingham bandwagon keeps rolling. They held promotion-seeking Shrewsbury to an away draw in midweek and will be confident of three points against Bury, who look relegation certainties. Swindon's away record in League Two is second to none and they will surely add to it at Chesterfield, who are second from bottom. Crawley, under manager Harry Kewell, are the most improved side in the division and will rate their chances of success at Forest Green, who are fighting to stay up. Exeter scored twice in added time to win at Crewe in midweek. That should stand them in good stead at Grimsby, who are in free-fall.

Homes sweet homes: Burton gained a crucial victory at Barnsley in midweek which lifted them off the foot of the Championship. You can never write Nigel Clough's team off and they are capable of springing another surprise when they host mid-table Millwall. Table-topping Wolves are overwhelming favourites to be promoted to the Premier League but if any team can beat them it's Fulham, who host them on Saturday. Ask third-placed Aston Villa, who went down 2-0 at Craven Cottage last weekend. The transformation at Plymouth has been astonishing after their terrible start to the season and they now sit just outside the League One play-off positions. They are well worth a punt against Bradford City, who appear to have lost their mojo.


Pools info: Livingston v Dundee United (No 49 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.