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.