Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 26-27

 Ten draws: Brentford v Newcastle, Brighton v Aston Villa, Blackpool v Reading, Millwall v Sheffield United, Accrington v Wycombe, Wimbledon v Doncaster, Lincoln v Gillingham, Plymouth v Rotherham, Walsall v Hartlepool, Raith v Partick.

Best draws: Brentford v Newcastle, Brighton v Aston Villa, Millwall v Sheffield United, Accrington v Wycombe, Walsall v Hartlepool.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Ipswich, Harrogate, Northampton, Kilmarnock, Grimsby.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Southampton (Friday), Manchester United, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Peterborough, Cheltenham, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: Three wins and a draw from their past four Premier League games have given Newcastle renewed hope of avoiding relegation and they visit Brentford, whose form has deserted them. Brighton and Aston Villa, who meet on Saturday, will be anxious to recover from poor home results last weekend. Brighton lost 3-0 to Burnley and Villa went down 1-0 to Watford. I expect a stalemate. Although Sheffield United are contesting a Championship play-off placing, they may have to settle for a draw at Millwall, who beat promotion-seeking Queens Park Rangers 2-0 in their previous home match. Wycombe's League One promotion challenge is faltering and they go to Accrington, who are usually a tough nut to crack. Lowly Walsall's victory at League Two leaders Forest Green was perhaps the biggest upset last weekend. They play 12th-placed Hartlepool, who won at Colchester in midweek.

Away days: Manchester City's defeat against bogey team Tottenham last Saturday has ignited the Premier League title race. City will be anxious to resume winning ways as soon as possible and I believe they'll do that at Everton, whose top-flight status is threatened. I think Ipswich, mid-table in League One, will add to Morecambe's relegation worries. Harrogate, of League Two, seem more comfortable away than at home. They won 3-1 at Bradford City in midweek and I recommend them at Barrow. Northampton should strengthen their promotion challenge at Rochdale and I expect Kilmarnock to do likewise when they visit struggling Dunfermline in the Scottish Championship. Grimsby, of the National League, will be banking on three points at rock bottom Dover.

Homes sweet homes: Bournemouth's last two Championship matches have been postponed but I'm tipping them to shake off their rustiness and boost their chances of automatic promotion when they host Stoke. Peterborough's manager Darren Ferguson resigned this week, with Posh so far failing to win a league fixture in 2022. However, they will never have a better chance of arresting their slide towards relegation when they play out-of-sorts Hull on Saturday. Wigan's excellent midweek victory at Wycombe has put them in the driving seat for automatic promotion from League One and they are worth backing against Sunderland, who continue to drop points. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 19-20

Ten draws: Southampton v Everton, Wolves v Leicester, Luton v West Brom, Cambridge v Accrington, Charlton v Oxford, Fleetwood v Lincoln, Shrewsbury v Morecambe, Sunderland v MK Dons, Newport v Mansfield, Scunthorpe v Rochdale.

Best draws: Southampton v Everton, Wolves v Leicester, Luton v West Brom, Charlton v Oxford, Sunderland v MK Dons.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Swindon, Airdrieonians. 

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Brighton, Manchester City, Cardiff, Coventry, Stoke, Exeter, Forest Green, Hartlepool, Oldham.

Pick of the draws: Southampton have caught the eye by winning at Tottenham and holding Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford. However, their home form has been less convincing and a much improved Everton, under new manager Frank Lampard, can come away with a point. Wolves have scored only eight league goals at home this season, which makes me think that inconsistent Leicester have a chance of getting something at Molineux on Sunday. West Brom, ninth in the Championship, may have changed their manager but they are still goal-shy and go to Luton, who are just one place below them. Charlton's progress in League One has stalled recently and they may struggle to beat Oxford, who are pushing hard for the play-offs. Sunderland v MK Dons is a clash of promotion hopefuls and although Sunderland are formidable at home, I'm tipping the Dons, who have won eight away matches, to gain a point.

Away days: Chelsea, buoyed by their Club World Cup victory, will be eager to make up lost ground on Liverpool in the Premier League and they have a good opportunity to do that at mid-table Crystal Palace. Middlesbrough have become a Championship force under manager Chris Wilder and three points at Bristol City will strengthen their promotion challenge. The away banker of the day must surely be Portsmouth, who visit Crewe, the League One's bottom team who have lost their last six games and seem doomed to relegation. Plymouth, who gave Chelsea such a fright in the FA Cup and are in the promotion mix, are recommended at third from last Gillingham. Swindon, away specialists in League Two, look a good bet at struggling Carlisle while Airdrieonians, second in Scottish League One, will fancy themselves at lowly Peterhead.

Homes sweet homes: Cardiff continue to climb the Championship table after a disastrous start to the season and are worth backing against mid-table Blackpool. Hartlepool, of League Two, have won at Crawley and beaten Tranmere at home in their past two matches. I've a hunch they'll make it three in a row against high-riding Sutton, who have stumbled recently. The managerial appointment of John Sheridan has perked up Oldham, who can suddenly see an escape route from relegation. I believe they'll be even more optimistic after they've played Bradford City on Saturday.

Pools info: I correctly predicted six of ten draws last weekend: Brentford 0 Crystal Palace 0; Leicester 2 West Ham 2; Lincoln 1 Wycombe 1; Morecambe 1 Gillingham 1; Barrow 0 Stevenage 0 and Bristol Rovers 0 Mansfield 0.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 12-13

 Ten draws: Brentford v Crystal Palace, Leicester v West Ham, Blackpool v Bournemouth, Millwall v Cardiff, Lincoln v Wycombe, Morecambe v Gillingham, Barrow v Stevenage, Bristol Rovers v Mansfield, Leyton Orient v Salford, Arbroath v Hibernian.

Best draws: Blackpool v Bournemouth, Millwall v Cardiff, Morecambe v Gillingham, Bristol Rovers v Mansfield, Arbroath v Hibernian.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Liverpool, Manchester City, Luton, Fulham, Coventry, Forest Green.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Watford, Middlesbrough, Accrington, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Colchester, Newport, Swindon, St Mirren.

Pick of the draws: Bournemouth may not have entirely recovered from their FA Cup humiliation at the hands of non-League Boreham Wood and it won't surprise me if Blackpool, mid-table in the Championship, nick a point. Cardiff, thanks to wins over Barnsley (away) and Peterborough (home) have pulled well clear of the relegation zone and pose a threat to Millwall. Gillingham, third from bottom of League One, have perked up since appointing Neil Harris as manager and can share the spoils with Morecambe, who sit just above them. Mansfield's relentless progress in League Two could be checked by Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers. It's the Scottish Cup fifth round this weekend and Arbroath, the surprise leaders of the Scottish Championship, have a fighting chance against Hibernian, of the Premiership. 

Away days: Liverpool go from strength to strength and are expected to ease past bottom-of-the-table Burnley on Sunday. Norwich have come alive recently but I can't see them being a match for all-conquering Manchester City on Saturday. Luton are pushing hard for a Championship play-off place and I'm tipping them to gain another three points at Birmingham. Nobody can live with the Championship leaders Fulham, who are scoring goals for fun and will start firm favourites at Hull. I believe Coventry will inflict more damage on lowly Reading, who can't stop losing. Forest Green are proving untouchable in League Two and are worth backing at fellow promotion contenders Sutton. 

Homes sweet homes: I think Roy Hodgson's appointment as manager will have a beneficial effect on Premier League strugglers Watford and they are worth a wager against Brighton on Saturday. Sheffield Wednesday, moving ever nearer to the League One play-off positions, may give clear leaders Rotherham a bloody nose. Of all the sides near the foot of League Two, Colchester look the likeliest to get out of trouble. Recent results include a victory at Leyton Orient and a narrow defeat at Mansfield and they are recommended against fellow strugglers Carlisle. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 5-6

Ten draws: Southampton v Coventry, Tottenham v Brighton, Burnley v Watford, Hull v Preston, Burton v Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury v Fleetwood, Crawley v Stevenage, Leyton Orient v Colchester, Scunthorpe v Oldham, Livingston v Aberdeen.

Best draws: Tottenham v Brighton, Burnley v Watford, Burton v Sheffield Wednesday, Crawley v Stevenage, Scunthorpe v Oldham.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Queens Park Rangers, Blackburn, Bolton, Tranmere, Celtic, Clyde.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Cambridge, Everton, Stoke, Wolves, Ipswich, Milton Keynes Dons, Sunderland, Salford, Inverness, Stockport.

Pick of the draws: Brighton have lost only once away in the Premier League this season, a statistic that gives them a fighting chance of holding Tottenham on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round. Although results under new manager Antonio Conte have been good, Spurs have not looked totally convincing. The bottom-of-the-table clash between Burnley and Watford is the only Premier League fixture of the weekend and I can't see either of them coming out on top. Consecutive home wins have enhanced Sheffield Wednesday's League One promotion prospects and I believe they'll take something from their trip to Burton. Stevenage have climbed well clear of the League Two drop zone in recent weeks and it won't surprise me if they deny Crawley maximum points. Scunthorpe and Oldham are being cast adrift at the foot of League Two. A point is not much use to either of them but that's what I think they'll get when they play each other on Saturday.

Away days: I expect Queens Park Rangers to take their impressive Championship form into their FA Cup fourth-round tie at struggling Peterborough. Blackburn, well placed for automatic promotion to the Premier League, will be anticipating three points at Swansea, who have underperformed this season. Bolton have suddenly found a second wind in League One and they can follow their 6-0 thrashing of Sunderland at the weekend by winning at Morecambe. After losing 4-0 at home to League Two leaders Forest Green last Saturday, Tranmere's powers of recovery will be tested at Barrow but I think they'll come through. Celtic, who went to the top of the Scottish Premiership by beating Rangers 3-0 at home in midweek, will fancy their chances at Motherwell while Clyde, mid-table in Scottish League One, look a good bet at East Fife, who are rooted to the bottom.

Homes sweet homes: If there's a surprise in the FA Cup this weekend I think it will come at Cambridge, who have acquitted themselves so well in the higher division of League One. Although they face Luton, who have done well in the Championship, I sense an upset. The appointment of Frank Lampard as manager will probably give Everton an immediate and much-needed boost and I'm tipping them to knock out Brentford on Saturday. Salford are rapidly climbing League Two and closing in on the play-off places. They are worth backing against Port Vale, who seem to be heading in the opposite direction.