Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Feb 29-March 1

Ten draws: Tottenham v Wolves, West Ham v Southampton, Blackpool v Ipswich, Bolton v Accrington, Coventry v Sunderland, Doncaster v Wycombe, Bradford City v Plymouth, Forest Green v Leyton Orient, Oldham v Newport, Boreham Wood v Hartlepool.

Best draws: West Ham v Southampton, Blackpool v Ipswich, Coventry v Sunderland, Forest Green v Leyton Orient, Boreham Wood v Hartlepool.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Burnley, Leicester (Friday), Leeds, Swindon, Crewe, Walsall.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Brighton, Luton, Millwall, West Brom, Gillingham, Oxford, Portsmouth (Friday), Rotherham, Cambridge, Port Vale.

Pick of the draws: West Ham's spirited display in their narrow defeat at Anfield on Monday will have boosted their confidence in the battle to stay in the Premier League but they face Southampton, who are better away than at home and have already won six matches on the road. League One Blackpool, without a manager since the sacking of Simon Grayson, gained a rare victory in midweek and they could pinch a point against Ipswich, who have dropped out of the play-off positions. Coventry, in second place, were held at home by leaders Rotherham in midweek and I can see a revived Sunderland, who sit fourth, sharing the spoils with them. Forest Green have lost their last five at home in League Two but they can get something from the visit of Leyton Orient, who are in the bottom half. Boreham Wood are the surprise packet in the National League but they may have to settle for a point against Hartlepool, who have climbed into play-off contention.

Away days: If Burnley can beat Manchester United on their travels then they must stand a good chance against Newcastle, who could get sucked back into the relegation struggle. Norwich, the Premier League's bottom club, are seven points from safety and hope is running out. I don't believe they'll be shown any mercy by third-placed Leicester on Friday. Leeds, second in the Championship, have regained their poise in recent weeks and I think they'll take maximum points at Hull. League Two leaders Swindon are firm favourites to triumph at lowly Mansfield. Crewe, who are two points behind Swindon, should maintain the pressure by defeating Morecambe and Walsall are odds-on to increase Stevenage's misery at the foot of the table.

Homes sweet homes: Brighton will move away from the Premier League drop zone with a win over their fiercest rivals Crystal Palace. The Seasiders gained an unexpected but deserved point at Sheffield United last Saturday. Luton, who looked doomed a few weeks ago, have won three of their last four in the Championship and are worth a bet against Stoke, whose away record is dire. Millwall are also worth backing against Bristol City, who appear to be on a downward spiral.

Pools info: Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest (No 13 on coupon) has been moved back to Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. Portsmouth v Rochdale (27) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

I got eight out of ten homes last weekend, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Wolves, Barnsley, Preston, Sunderland, Wycombe and Crewe all winning.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of Feb 22-23

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Leicester v Manchester City, Southampton v Aston Villa, Birmingham v Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton v Luton, Wigan v Millwall, Accrington v Rotherham, Fleetwood v Portsmouth, Northampton v Exeter, Walsall v Port Vale.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Leicester v Manchester City, Birmingham v Sheffield Wednesday, Accrington v Rotherham, Fleetwood v Portsmouth.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Cardiff, Gillingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Forest Green, Motherwell.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Manchester United, Wolves, Barnsley, Preston, Sunderland, Wycombe, Carlisle, Crewe, Aberdeen.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace and Newcastle, both in mid-table, are averaging under a goal a game in the Premier League and this fixture at Selhurst Park looks ripe for a low-scoring draw. This week's bad news will have shaken Manchester City and they'll be hard-pushed to get more than a point in the late Saturday match at Leicester. Sheffield Wednesday's startling decline in the Championship has put pressure on manager Garry Monk. They have a chance to stop the rot at Monk's old club Birmingham, who are none too convincing at home. It never pays to underestimate Accrington, who are climbing the League One table and capable of holding leaders Rotherham to a draw. Fleetwood have won their past four matches but they may have to settle for parity against Portsmouth, who are in great form themselves.

Away days: Cardiff, in touching distance of the Championship play-offs, should strengthen their case by beating Stoke, whose revival has come to an abrupt halt. Gillingham, of League One, are a side on the up and I rate their chances of victory at Lincoln, who seem to be travelling in the opposite direction. Second-placed Coventry will probably go top if, as expected, they prevail at struggling Rochdale. Doncaster will travel in confidence to Shrewsbury, for whom nothing has gone right since their heroic draw against Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup. League Two Forest Green are much better away than at home and are worth a punt at Scunthorpe, who are still adjusting to a change of manager. Despite the disappointment of a midweek Scottish Cup exit at the hands of St Mirren, Motherwell should take care of lowly Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership.

Homes sweet homes: Chelsea are not in the best frame of mind after their controversial home defeat to Manchester United on Monday but they can put that right in the early Saturday game against Tottenham, who have been weakened by long-term injuries to Kane and Son. Bottom-of-the-table Barnsley's 3-0 win at Fulham, third in the Championship, was one of the upsets of last weekend and I'm tipping them to gain another three points against Middlesbrough, who have lapsed into their old bad ways. Carlisle, 21st in League Two, will see their home fixture against Morecambe (23rd) as a good chance to move further away from the relegation zone.

Pools info: Derby v Fulham (No 15 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 15-16

Ten draws: Charlton v Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers v Stoke, Accrington v Lincoln, Gillingham v Doncaster, Oxford v Sunderland, Cambridge v Bradford City, Oldham v Forest Green, Plymouth v Crewe, Walsall v Northampton, Cove v Edinburgh.

Best draws: Charlton v Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers v Stoke, Oxford v Sunderland, Cambridge v Bradford City, Cove v Edinburgh.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Wycombe, Peterborough, Coventry, Exeter, Salford, Dundee United (Friday).

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Southampton, Derby, Fulham, Leeds, Ipswich, Portsmouth, Grimsby, Swindon, Hearts.

Pick of the draws: Charlton, of the Championship, eased their relegation fears with an unexpected but deserved 1-0 away win over promotion-chasing Nottingham Forest but Blackburn, their opponents on Saturday, also had a good midweek victory (3-0 at home) against Hull and will be hard to overcome. Queens Park Rangers are struggling at the moment and Stoke, who are just clear of the drop zone, will be hoping to take advantage. League One Oxford, who gave Newcastle such a scare before bowing out of the FA Cup, face another team from the north-east, Sunderland, who have revived their promotion challenge. A point apiece looks the most likely outcome. A change of manager has seen Cambridge shoot up the League Two table with three consecutive wins but Bradford City, their opponents, are back in play-off contention and can come away with a point. Cove, the Scottish League Two leaders, have won all 11 of their home games but that sequence could be ended by Edinburgh, who are just one place and three points behind them.

Away days: Wycombe have slipped out of the League One automatic promotion places thanks to a
1-0 midweek home defeat by Fleetwood but they will surely return to winning ways at doomed Bolton. There's no stopping second-placed Peterborough (six straight wins) right now and I believe they'll continue their remarkable run by beating Fleetwood. Coventry are also bang in the promotion reckoning and must be fancied at second bottom Southend. Two successive home wins have got Exeter back on the promotion trail in League Two and they should relish a trip to cash-strapped Macclesfield. Mid-table Salford are recommended at Stevenage, who are being cast adrift at the foot of the table. Dundee United, the runaway Scottish Championship leaders, are firm favourites to prevail at lowly Alloa.

Homes sweet homes: Arsenal, who must start turning those draws into wins, have an excellent opportunity to do that on Sunday when they host Newcastle, who are flattered by their 12th position in the Premier League and were relieved to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup against Oxford. Improving Southampton were unlucky to lose to Tottenham in an FA Cup fourth-round replay and I think they'll take it out on Burnley in the early match on Saturday. Hearts v Hamilton is a bottom-of-the-table battle in the Scottish Premiership and I believe Hearts will make the most of ground advantage.

Pools info: Hull v Swansea (No 6 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 8-9

Ten draws: Barnsley v Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall v West Brom, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Stoke v Charlton, Wimbledon v Fleetwood, Shrewsbury v MK Dons, Colchester v Plymouth, Salford v Crawley, Stenhousemuir v Cowdenbeath, Boston v York.

Best draws: Millwall v West Brom, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Stoke v Charlton, Stenhousemuir v Cowdenbeath, Boston v York.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Fulham, Rotherham (Friday), Portsmouth, Mansfield, Cheltenham, Airdrieonians.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Everton, Brentford, Huddersfield, Bristol City (Friday), Blackpool, Coventry, Wycombe, Exeter, Leyton Orient, Ayr.

Pick of the draws: Millwall made Leeds work hard for their recent 3-2 victory at Elland Road and they'll probably give Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion just as tough a test at The Den on Sunday. Promotion contenders Nottingham Forest and Leeds both had setbacks last weekend, Forest losing at Birmingham and Leeds beaten at home by struggling Wigan. There is little between them and it's difficult to pick a winner here. Stoke's hopes of avoiding relegation took a heavy blow when they crashed 4-0 at Derby last Friday. That may adversely affect them against Charlton, who also need the points. Although Cowdenbeath are third in Scottish League Two, their away record is poor. I think they'll be held by Stenhousemuir, who won 3-0 at Annan last weekend. York moved closer to the top of the Vanarama League North last Saturday but they have a fight on their hands at Boston, who are one place below them.

Away days: With West Brom and Leeds stumbling, Fulham's hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League have been revived. They can strengthen their case by winning at mid-table Blackburn. League One leaders Rotherham show no signs of flagging and are recommended in the Friday fixture at Lincoln, who provided Southend with a rare victory last Saturday. Portsmouth, eight consecutive wins in all competitions, look a sure thing at relegation-threatened Tranmere. I believe Mansfield, 21st in League Two, will just edge it at second-from-bottom Morecambe while Cheltenham, back in the play-off places, should have too much for ailing Scunthorpe. Airdrieonians, in Scottish League One, are more effective away and will be confident of prevailing at Dumbarton.

Homes sweet homes: Everton's comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Watford last Saturday will have bolstered their morale and they can build on that by defeating goal-shy Crystal Palace. Lowly Huddersfield gave a good account of themselves in their Championship defeat at Fulham and I'm tipping them for all three points against Queens Park Rangers, who appear to have hit a wall. It's Scottish Cup weekend and if you're looking for an upset it could happen at Championship high-flyers  Ayr, who I expect to trouble St Johnstone, in the bottom half of the Premiership.

Pools info: Five of my draws were correct last weekend: Leicester v Chelsea (2-2), West Ham v Brighton (3-3), Preston v Swansea (1-1), Mansfield v Carlisle (2-2) and Port Vale v Salford (1-1).