Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 28-29

Ten draws: Newcastle v West Brom, Norwich v Leeds, Nottingham Forest v Bristol City, Reading v Ipswich, Bradford City v Southend, Charlton v Blackburn, Crawley v Crewe, Newport v Cambridge, Port Vale v Carlisle, Stevenage v Exeter.

Best draws: Newcastle v West Brom, Norwich v Leeds, Reading v Ipswich, Bradford City v Southend, Port Vale v Carlisle.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Northampton, Wycombe, Barnet.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Manchester United, Burton, Wolves, Blackpool, Peterborough, Wigan, Luton, Barrow.


Pick of the draws: Although West Bromwich Albion have almost certainly left it too late to avoid relegation from the Premier League, their recent form under interim manager Darren Moore has been encouraging. They've beaten Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford and held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns. I fancy them to gain at least a point at Newcastle, who are no more than average. Two of the Championship's under-achievers, Norwich and Leeds, meet at Carrow Road. They have equal points from the same number of matches and are next to each other in the table. I rate this as the most likely draw on the whole 49-game coupon. Reading don't inspire confidence but will probably do just enough to stay up. They must be relieved they are only playing Ipswich, who have also had a disappointing season. A last-minute equaliser saved Bradford City from a shock League One defeat at Rochdale last Saturday. They face tougher opposition this weekend in Southend, who scored four without reply at home to MK Dons and won 3-0 at Oldham in midweek. A point at Mansfield last Saturday preserved Port Vale's League Two status. It was their 14th draw this season and No 15 is on the cards when they host mid-table Carlisle.

Away days: Chelsea, FA Cup finalists for the second consecutive season, have not given up hope of overtaking Tottenham in the Premier League and three points against relegation-fearing Swansea will help their cause. Champions Manchester City are determined to reach 100 points and finish the campaign with a flourish. If they play half as well as they did against Swansea when facing West Ham, then maximum points will follow. Portsmouth have probably missed out on the League One play-off places but should be backed at Bury, who are destined to finish bottom. Two wins in a row have improved Northampton's chances of avoiding the drop to League Two. I'm backing them to make it three on the bounce at Walsall, who are precariously placed themselves. Despite promotion-seeking Wycombe crashing 4-0 at home to prospective League Two champions Accrington last Saturday, they will surely bounce back at Chesterfield, who are going to drop out of the Football League. Barnet must win their two remaining matches to stay in League Two and are worth a wager at struggling Morecambe.

Homes sweet homes: One more victory in the Premier League should ensure Crystal Palace's safety and I've a feeling they'll be celebrating on Saturday after they have defeated Leicester, who have gone off the boil. Wins over Derby (3-1, home) and Sunderland (2-1, away) have given Burton a fighting chance of Championship survival. Another victory on Saturday will see them leapfrog Bolton, who are their visitors and woefully off form. Blackpool, 10th in League One, are on a roll at the moment and are recommended against Shrewsbury, who are now resigned to contesting the play-off positions after challenging for automatic promotion for so long.


Pools info: Fulham v Sunderland (match No 13 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Betting info: Five from six of my away selections last weekend were correct. Wolves, Aston Villa, Blackpool, Macclesfield and Woking all obliged.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 21-22

Ten draws: Stoke v Burnley, Birmingham v Sheffield United, Bristol City v Hull, Derby v Middlesbrough, Leeds v Barnsley, Doncaster v Oxford, Cambridge v Cheltenham, Wycombe v Accrington, Bromley v Boreham Wood, Dagenham & Redbridge v Maidenhead.

Best draws: Stoke v Burnley, Birmingham v Sheffield United, Bristol City v Hull, Derby v Middlesbrough, Bromley v Boreham Wood.

Best weekend away bets: Crystal Palace, Wolves, Aston Villa, Blackpool, Macclesfield, Woking.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Cardiff, Preston, Sunderland, Rotherham, Scunthorpe, Barnet, Notts County, Swindon, Leyton Orient.


Pick of the draws: Although Stoke's chances of remaining in the Premier League have probably vanished as a result of their 1-1 draw at West Ham on Monday, they have enough spirit and cussedness to make life difficult for Burnley on Sunday. Burnley are striving for a Europa League place next season but this is no easy assignment. Sheffield United, contenders for a Championship play-off place, have dropped quite a few points lately and I can see the same thing happening against Birmingham at St Andrew's. Birmingham, who are fighting to stay up, look a better proposition under manager Garry Monk and can nick a point here. I believe that Hull's 1-0 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday last weekend was only a temporary blip and I'm confident they can get something at Bristol City, who are not the force they were earlier in the season. Derby are having their usual late-season collapse. That shock 3-1 defeat at Burton last Saturday must have shaken them and will have encouraged their visitors Middlesbrough, who are fellow play-off candidates. Boreham Wood can strengthen their hold on the National League play-off positions by sharing the spoils at Bromley.

Away days: Crystal Palace, whose 3-2 home victory over Brighton last Saturday put them six points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, are recommended at Watford, who are ending the season lamely. Wolves, already assured of promotion to the top flight, will be in the mood to celebrate at Bolton, whose only concern is staying in the Championship. Fourth-placed Aston Villa must fancy themselves at Ipswich, who are marooned in mid-table with little to play for save pride. Blackpool are finishing the League One season with a flourish (three consecutive wins) and look a good thing at Gillingham, who seem to have switched off. A win for Macclesfield on Saturday will guarantee them promotion to the Football League and I think the National League leaders will realise their ambition at Eastleigh. Woking have slid into the National League relegation zone and are desperate for points. I believe they'll get them at bottom club Guiseley, who are doomed to relegation.

Homes sweet homes: The chances of Sunderland avoiding relegation for the second season in a row are almost zero but a home fixture against fellow sufferers Burton at least gives them the opportunity of recording their third home success of the Championship campaign. Barnet, second from bottom of League Two, have three matches left and really need to win all of them to have a realistic chance of avoiding relegation. They are worth backing against mid-table Newport. Leyton Orient have improved under manager Justin Edinburgh and are worth a punt against Wrexham, who are ending the season on a low.


Pools info: Everton v Newcastle (match No 4 on coupon) has been moved back to Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel. Millwall v Fulham (16) and Blackburn v Peterborough (21) are being played on Friday and Thursday respectively so are therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 14-15

Ten draws: Newcastle v Arsenal, Swansea v Everton, Nottingham Forest v Ipswich, MK Dons v Doncaster, Plymouth v Portsmouth, Walsall v Wimbledon, Accrington v Exeter, Crawley v Coventry, Newport v Swindon, Gateshead v Eastleigh.

Best draws: Newcastle v Arsenal, Plymouth v Portsmouth, Walsall v Wimbledon, Crawley v Coventry, Newport v Swindon.

Best weekend away bets: Derby, Northampton, Mansfield, Notts County, Barnet, Fylde.

Best weekend home bets: Crystal Palace, Liverpool, Hull, Queens Park Rangers, Wolves, Oldham, Wigan, Luton, Solihull Moors, Inverness Caledonian Thistle.


Pick of the draws: The sun is finally coming out for Newcastle after a troubled season. Consecutive wins over Huddersfield (1-0 home) and Leicester (2-1 away) enabled them to move into the top half of the Premier League and on Sunday they host Arsenal, who have already lost eight away matches this campaign and may be a bit "leggy" after their midweek Europa League trip to Moscow. Plymouth, who lie fifth in League One, were not wholly convincing in defeating Peterborough at home last weekend. This should encourage Portsmouth, who are only two places and one point behind them. Walsall and Wimbledon, two teams fighting to avoid relegation from League One, meet on Saturday and a point apiece is the likeliest outcome. Coventry's League Two play-off place has been endangered by defeats against Yeovil (6-2 home) and Notts County (2-1 away) but I think they'll salvage something at Crawley, who are more vulnerable at home than away. Newport have drawn more home games (10) than any other League Two side. Don't be surprised if that becomes 11 against Swindon, whose best results this season have come on their travels.

Away days: Promotion-seeking Derby are a "must" selection at Burton, who lost 5-0 at home to Hull in midweek and will almost certainly be saying goodbye to the Championship at the end of the season. Northampton's chances of escaping relegation from League One look bleak but there's an excellent opportunity of maximum points at Bury, who are rock bottom and seemingly doomed. Mansfield, in contention for a League Two play-off place, cannot buy a win at the moment but that should change at Chesterfield, who appear to be losing their battle to stay up. Notts County emerged from an indifferent spell by beating Coventry last Saturday and they are still in with a shout of automatic promotion. They are worth a punt at mid-table Colchester. Victory for Barnet at fellow strugglers Grimsby would put the cat among the pigeons in the League Two relegation scrap and I've a hunch that Martin Allen's team will do it. Fylde are in fine form in the National League and are recommended at lowly Maidstone.

Homes sweet homes: Crystal Palace have the goal power to ensure they stay in the Premier League and I'm backing them to defeat their fierce rivals Brighton on Saturday. Hull are making great strides in the Championship under manager Nigel Adkins - nine goals in their past two games - and are fancied to make Sheffield Wednesday their next victims. QPR can generally be relied on at home and are my tip to overcome Preston, whose play-off hopes have faded. Oldham, admittedly at the wrong end of League One, are capable of upsetting Gillingham, who seem to have forgotten how to score.


Pools info: Aston Villa v Leeds (No 9 on coupon) is now being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 7-8

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, Hull v Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Wimbledon v Scunthorpe, Blackpool v Bradford City, Oxford v Oldham, Colchester v Accrington, Grimsby v Chesterfield, Notts County v Coventry, St Johnstone v Motherwell.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham, Oxford v Oldham, Colchester v Accrington, Notts County v Coventry.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Burnley, Sheffield United, Charlton, Kilmarnock, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Leicester, West Bromwich, Derby, Leeds, Walsall, Wigan, Barnet, Port Vale, Rangers.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace's recent results have dragged them back into the Premier League relegation scrap. Although they were beaten at home by Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool, their performances deserved something better. They are due a change of luck and may get it at Bournemouth on Saturday. Fulham's chances of promotion from the Championship were enhanced over Easter when they defeated Norwich (away) and Leeds (home) but Sheffield Wednesday, their hosts on Saturday, have also struck form with victories over Preston (home) and Sunderland (away). The appointment of Karl Robinson as manager has not had a beneficial effect on Oxford so far and now they face Oldham, who are only three points behind them at the wrong end of League One. Accrington, who top League Two by three points, are probably the success story of the season, having done this well while operating on the tightest of budgets. However, their winning streak could end at Colchester, who are making a late charge for the play-off places. Coventry's 6-2 home defeat by Yeovil on Easter Monday was a huge upset. It feels like it was just one of those days and I expect them to bounce straight back at Notts County, whose hopes of automatic promotion are fading.

Away days: Tottenham, deserved 3-1 winners at Chelsea last Sunday and hot favourites to qualify for next season's Champions League, are an appealing proposition at Stoke, who cannot find the goals to lift them out of trouble near the foot of the Premier League. Burnley followed their 3-0 win at West Ham with a 2-1 away victory against doomed West Bromwich Albion. A hat-trick of triumphs on the road is on when they visit Watford, who are becalmed in mid-table. Sheffield United, who are still in Championship play-off contention, were annoyed not to have beaten Cardiff on Easter Monday  and I believe they'll take their anger out on relegation-threatened Barnsley. Since taking over as interim manager, Lee Bowyer has galvanised Charlton, who have won three League One games on the bounce. I believe they'll make it four in a row at Bristol Rovers. In the Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock look set for three points at bottom club Partick and Hibernian are strongly recommended at struggling Ross.

Homes sweet homes: Alan Pardew's disastrous managerial reign at the Hawthorns came to an end this week. It often happens that a team win their first match after the manager has been sacked and I've a hunch that will occur on Saturday when West Bromwich Albion, bottom of the Premier League by some distance, host Swansea, who could soon be back in the mire. Barnet, bottom in League Two, are effectively drinking in the last-chance saloon and anything less than three points against Forest Green will be greeted with despair. I've a hunch that Martin Allen's side will respond positively to the crisis and gain their second consecutive home victory. Port Vale, who are still not safe from the drop, were only denied an away win by Crewe's injury-time equaliser in the 2-2 draw on Easter Monday and I think they'll have better luck against Crawley.


Pools info: Cardiff v Wolves (No 13 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void. Northampton v Shrewsbury (27) and Lincoln v Wycombe (39) are postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Betting info: For the second week running eight of my nine home selections last weekend were correct. Arsenal, Newcastle, Birmingham, Fleetwood, Peterborough, Aberdeen, Falkirk and Raith obliged.