Pools tips and best bets for March 31-April 2 coupon

Ten draws: Chelsea v Tottenham, West Ham v Southampton, Ipswich v Millwall, Sheffield United v Cardiff, Doncaster v Wimbledon, Oldham v Blackpool, Dunfermline v Queen of South, Morton v Dundee United, Alloa v Arbroath, Elgin v Stirling.

Best draws: Chelsea v Tottenham, West Ham v Southampton, Sheffield United v Cardiff, Dunfermline v Queen of South, Morton v Dundee United.

Best weekend away bets: Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Blackburn (Monday), Livingston, St Mirren, Ayr.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Brighton, Newcastle, Birmingham, Bradford City (Monday), Fleetwood (Monday), Peterborough (Monday), Aberdeen, Falkirk, Raith.

Pick of the draws: Tottenham look more likely to qualify for the Champions League than Chelsea. They are five points ahead of the Blues, having played the same number of Premier League matches, and I believe the situation will be unchanged after Sunday's London derby at Stamford Bridge. West Ham are in turmoil again after briefly reviving under David Moyes and may even struggle against third-from-bottom Southampton, who have appointed Mark Hughes as manager. The Saints have been boosted by reaching an FA Cup semi-final and should be in a better frame of mind. Neil Warnock's Cardiff are clear favourites to accompany Wolves to promotion to the Premier League but they cannot be guaranteed victory at Sheffield United, who remain in play-off contention in the Championship. Dunfermline v Queen of South is a mid-table clash in the Scottish Championship and it's hard to separate them. It's been a disappointing season for Dundee United, who were expected to challenge for promotion, and I can't see them getting more than a point at Greenock Morton, who are just above them in the Championship table.

Away days: I suspect Bournemouth, who are showing great fighting spirit under their manager Eddie Howe, will be more motivated than their hosts Watford, who seem to have switched off after reaching 36 points. Aston Villa, fourth in the Championship, will be itching to put things right after consecutive defeats by Queens Park Rangers (home) and Bolton (away) and I'm backing them to return to winning ways at Hull on Saturday. League One promotion contenders Blackburn will be disappointed if they fail to record their 12th away win this season at MK Dons, who are still stuck in the drop zone. Livingston, second in the Scottish Championship, are strongly recommended at Dumbarton, second from bottom, while runaway leaders St Mirren look a good call at Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Ayr, three points clear at the top of Scottish League One, should retain that lead after they visit East Fife.

Homes sweet homes: Brighton, who are gradually moving away from danger in the Premier League, must have a fighting chance against Leicester, whose hopes of winning the FA Cup for the first time were ended by Chelsea, who defeated them in the quarter-finals. Relegation-troubled Birmingham enjoyed a long-awaited success by beating Hull 3-0 at St Andrew's two weeks ago. That will encourage them against Ipswich, who have little to play for save pride. A point for Birmingham on Saturday will lift them out of the Championship relegation zone but I think they'll get more than that. Fleetwood's League One fortunes have improved since John Sheridan was appointed manager. They are now five points clear of the relegation zone and worth a punt against the higher-placed Bristol Rovers.

Betting info: Eight of my nine home selections last weekend were correct. Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Coventry, Luton, Aldershot, Wrexham, Ayr and Peterhead all obliged.

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

Ten draws: Bradford City v Gillingham, MK Dons v Blackpool, Southend v Rotherham, Exeter v Swindon, Dagenham & Redbridge v Fylde, Halifax v Solihull, Queen of South v Livingston, Airdrieonians v Raith, Forfar v East Fife, Berwick v Edinburgh.

Best draws: MK Dons v Blackpool, Southend v Rotherham, Exeter v Swindon, Halifax v Solihull, Airdrieonians v Raith.

Best weekend away bets: Wigan, Notts County, Mansfield, Lincoln, Dover, Alloa.

Best weekend home bets: Portsmouth, Shrewsbury, Coventry, Luton, Stevenage, Aldershot, Torquay, Wrexham, Ayr, Peterhead.


Pick of the draws: Consecutive home wins over Rotherham (3-2) and Bury (2-1) have raised hopes that MK Dons will avoid relegation from League One. However, I think mid-table Blackpool will prevent a hat-trick of home victories as their away form, which is reasonable, includes a recent 2-0 triumph at Portsmouth. Southend's surge up the table has been halted and they'll be hard-pushed to beat Rotherham, whose promotion claims were strengthened by a 3-0 win at Northampton last Saturday. Although Exeter climbed back into the League Two play-off positions by virtue of a 1-0 midweek away victory against Port Vale, Swindon, their opponents on Saturday, should be a match for them, having won 11 times on the road this season. Solihull's results in the National League have improved markedly since the new year. They now have a fighting chance of avoiding relegation and I'm taking them to deny Halifax victory. Raith may be second in Scottish League One but their away record is nothing special and I believe seventh-placed Airdrieonians will hold them.

Away days: Now they are out of the FA Cup, Wigan can concentrate solely on the league. Lying third in League One, their trip to bottom club Bury shouldn't give them any problems unless complacency sets in. Notts County, in contention for promotion from League Two, will be disappointed at anything less than a maximum haul at Chesterfield, who, although they have two matches in hand, are six points from safety. Mansfield's equaliser in the ninth minute of added time at Notts County last weekend will lift their confidence and their hosts, Forest Green, on Saturday could be the team to suffer. Lincoln, who are striving for successive promotions, look probable winners at lowly Morecambe while Dover, 2-0 home victors over National League leaders Macclesfield last Saturday, are strongly recommended at Barrow. In Scottish League One, Alloa are worth a punt at Albion, who have lost nine home games this season.

Homes sweet homes: Stevenage, under new manager Dino Maamria, are worth a wager against the better-placed Colchester in League Two. Numerous home draws have hindered Stevenage's progress this season but they can go one better here. Boreham Wood have exceeded expectations with their third place in the National League but despite losing only twice away, they could fall at Aldershot, who are also in the running for promotion. There's a bottom-of-the-table clash between Torquay and Guiseley and I'm backing Torquay, the former Football League club, to make the most of ground advantage.


Pools info: The following games will be assessed by the pools panel: Doncaster v Blackburn (No 4 on coupon), Oldham v Walsall (7), Accrington v Yeovil (13), Hartlepool v Bromley (29), Macclesfield v Gateshead (31), Inverness v Falkirk (36) and St Mirren v Dumbarton (39).

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 17-18

Ten draws: Stoke v Everton, Birmingham v Hull, Bolton v Aston Villa, Northampton v Rotherham, Oldham v Portsmouth, Plymouth v Bristol Rovers, Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury, Barnet v Wycombe, Cambridge v Swindon, Ross v Hamilton.

Best draws: Stoke v Everton, Birmingham v Hull, Northampton v Rotherham, Scunthorpe v Shrewsbury, Cambridge v Swindon.

Best weekend away bets: Southampton, Crystal Palace, Preston, Peterborough, Luton, St Mirren.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, Liverpool, Barnsley, Bristol City, Leeds, Wolves, Charlton, Accrington, Cheltenham, Port Vale.


Pick of the draws: I know Everton's away record is dreadful but they should be able to stop the rot at Stoke, who are second from bottom in the Premier League and have little going for them. Hull have had an excellent week in the Championship, beating Norwich and Ipswich and scoring seven goals in the process. They travel to Birmingham, who are deep in relegation trouble but may be lifted by the managerial appointment of Garry Monk. League One high-flyers Rotherham have just suffered consecutive losses to teams in the drop zone. On Saturday they play another relegation-fearing side, Northampton, but I believe they'll avoid a hat-trick of defeats. Scunthorpe have also been wobbling lately and they will have been relieved to gain a merited 3-3 draw at Wigan last weekend. I think they'll give promotion-seeking Shrewsbury a similarly thorough examination and I can see the match ending all square. Swindon, ninth in League Two, are much more accomplished away than on their own ground. They are the only team in the division to record double-figure victories on the road but Cambridge are no mugs at home and can deny them another three points.

Away days: Southampton's wretched Premier League season has led to the sacking of manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who has been replaced by Mark Hughes. As they are probably at their lowest ebb, Sunday's sixth-round FA Cup tie at League One Wigan should come as light relief. Wigan may have knocked out Manchester City in the previous round but I'm taking the Saints to forget their current plight and reach the semi-finals. Crystal Palace badly need a lift after slipping back into the Premier League relegation zone and I've a feeling they'll get it at Huddersfield, who are in peril themselves and failed to beat 10-man Swansea at home last weekend. Preston, ninth in the Championship, have lost only three times away and must be fancied to triumph at bottom club Sunderland, who are favourites to suffer two successive relegations. Wins over Charlton (4-1, home) and Bury (1-0, away) have propelled Peterborough into the League One play-off positions. They are in the mood to make it three in a row at Oxford, who are woefully out of form. League Two promotion contenders Luton, who fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Coventry in midweek, are taken to prevail at mid-table Newport while St Mirren, the Scottish Championship leaders, should be too good for Queen of South.

Homes sweet homes: I tipped Leicester to win the FA Cup at the start of the season, so I won't desert them now. They will be underdogs going into Sunday's quarter-final against Chelsea but they are capable of causing an upset. They are also facing a side that have lost their past five away games. Barnsley, who are hovering just above the Championship relegation zone, are playing better than their recent results suggest and I'm backing them to stop Millwall's winning sequence. Although League Two strugglers Port Vale are without a win in 11 matches, I believe they'll take three points from the visit of Stevenage, who are brittle away from home and have little incentive other than pride.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 10-11

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Tottenham, Everton v Brighton, West Ham v Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Peterborough v Charlton, Portsmouth v Gillingham, Crawley v Morecambe, Grimsby v Port Vale, Yeovil v Newport, Rangers v Celtic.

Best draws: Everton v Brighton, West Ham v Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton, Portsmouth v Gillingham, Rangers v Celtic.

Best weekend away bets: Swansea, Bristol City, Leeds, Oldham, Lincoln, Aberdeen.

Best weekend home bets: West Brom, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Shrewsbury, Southend, Wigan, Coventry, Exeter, Swindon, Kilmarnock.


Pick of the draws: Brighton have climbed into the top half of the Premier League after their fully merited victory over Arsenal last Sunday and have no reason to be apprehensive about a trip to Everton, who appear to be heading in the opposite direction. A heavy defeat at Swansea last Saturday means that West Ham have been dragged back into the relegation scrap. Burnley will no doubt be obdurate opponents, especially after returning to winning ways at Turf Moor last Saturday. Sheffield Wednesday are on the slide in the Championship and cannot be confident of defeating Bolton, who are even lower than they are. Portsmouth have disappointed in League One this season and may have to raise their game to get anything from the visit of Gillingham, who are on the upgrade. Rangers v Celtic in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday is a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup semi-finals. Nothing will stop Celtic from becoming title winners again but Rangers, who lie second, have improved lately and I've a hunch they'll deny their bitter rivals at Ibrox.

Away days: Swansea's transformation from relegation certainties to mid-table aspirants has been remarkable and I believe they'll keep up the good work at struggling Huddersfield, who are averaging under a goal a match. Bristol City have suffered a reaction in the Championship to their heroics in the League Cup but they must be fancied at second from bottom Burton, whose home form is wretched (13 losses). Although Leeds continue to underperform, they have more going for them than their hosts, Reading, who have won only three times at home and are nervously looking over their shoulders. Oldham's 2-0 away triumph at Scunthorpe in League One was probably the upset of a severely curtailed last weekend and they will be eager to follow that up by winning at bottom club Bury, who are seemingly doomed. Lincoln, who gained a good point in a 1-1 midweek draw at Mansfield, are recommended at relegation-threatened Chesterfield while the claims of third-placed Aberdeen at lowly Partick in the Scottish Premiership are hard to ignore.

Homes sweet homes: The odds are increasingly against West Brom staying in the Premier League but although they are seven points adrift of the nearest club, I think they could surprise Leicester at the Hawthorns. Most observers felt Alan Pardew's side were unlucky to go down to Watford last weekend while Leicester have faltered recently, being held to home draws by Stoke and Bournemouth. Aston Villa are really hitting their stride in their attempts to gain automatic promotion to the top flight. Wolves, their visitors on Saturday, put an indifferent spell behind them by beating Leeds 3-0 away in midweek. Wolves may be the Championship leaders but Villa are the team with the momentum. Southend's 3-0 home defeat to Walsall in League One last Saturday was unexpected but I believe they'll recover quickly and take it out on Doncaster.



Pools info: Stoke v Manchester City (No 8 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel. Hibernian v Hearts (46) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.