Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 23-24

Ten draws: Wimbledon v Gillingham, Plymouth v Bristol Rovers, Rochdale v Scunthorpe, Walsall v Barnsley, Colchester v Tranmere, Swindon v Morecambe, Airdrieonians v Forfar, Clyde v Annan, Malta v Faroe Islands, Wales v Slovakia.

Best draws: Plymouth v Bristol Rovers, Walsall v Barnsley, Colchester v Tranmere, Swindon v Morecambe, Clyde v Annan.

Best weekend away bets: Portsmouth, Lincoln, Bury, Exeter, Arbroath, Queen's Park.

Best weekend home bets: Coventry, Peterborough, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Mansfield, MK Dons, Port Vale, Partick (Friday), East Fife, Elgin.


Pick of the draws: Plymouth and Bristol Rovers may be 12th and 13th respectively in League One, but they are only a few points off the drop zone in a heavily congested bottom end of the division. Rovers have had some success on their recent travels and can gain another away point here. Although Walsall have slipped into the relegation places, they impressed when losing 2-1 at Sunderland last Saturday and it won't surprise me if they deny high-flying Barnsley victory. After a mid-season stumble Tranmere are back on track to contest the League Two play-off positions and can hold Colchester, who slipped below the dotted line after crashing 3-0 at Exeter last weekend. Morecambe's good form has enabled them to move nine points clear of relegation danger and they'll believe they can get something at Swindon, whose home record is indifferent. Clyde, third in Scottish League Two, may find fourth-placed Annan hard to overcome, particularly as Annan beat promotion-seeking Edinburgh City 3-1 at home last Saturday.

Away days: Portsmouth, the only League One team with as many as 10 away wins, should make it 11 at Shrewsbury, who are one of a cluster of clubs in danger of going down. Lincoln, the clear League Two leaders, look an away banker at Crawley, who are on a downward spiral, while high-scoring Bury are recommended at Grimsby. By defeating Colchester last Saturday, Exeter climbed back into the League Two play-off places and will surely have too much in their locker for bottom side Notts County. Scottish League One leaders Arbroath will be licking their lips at the prospect of a visit to lowly Stranraer and in Scottish League Two, Queen's Park, after their 4-1 home win against Elgin last Saturday, are well worth a punt at Cowdenbeath.

Homes sweet homes: Although Cheltenham are six places below Northampton in the League Two table, I believe their impressive home form will give them the edge. Port Vale are reviving in League Two under their new manager John Askey and I'm taking them to upset sixth-placed Forest Green, despite the visitors faring better away than at home. Relegation from the Scottish Championship is no longer a foregone conclusion for Partick, who are edging nearer safety. I think they'll beat middle-of-the-table Inverness.

Pools info: The following matches will be assessed by the pools panel: Fleetwood v Sunderland (No 5 on coupon), Wycombe v Charlton (12), Newport v Oldham (20), Ayr v Morton (24), Queen of the South v Falkirk (27) and Ross v Dunfermline (28). Partick v Inverness (26) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.