Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 30-May 1

 Ten draws: Southampton v Crystal Palace, Wolves v Brighton, Blackburn v Bournemouth, Coventry v Huddersfield, Reading v West Brom, Cambridge v Cheltenham, Lincoln v Crewe, Northampton v Exeter, Scunthorpe v Hartlepool, Alloa v Montrose.

Best draws: Southampton v Crystal Palace, Wolves v Brighton, Reading v West Brom, Lincoln v Crewe, Scunthorpe v Hartlepool.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Sunderland, Leyton Orient, Bristol Rovers.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Aston Villa, Tottenham, Watford, Blackpool, Millwall, Wimbledon, Gillingham, Oxford, Swindon, Tranmere.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace's Premier League form has dipped since their FA Cup semi-final defeat by Chelsea but they should still get something from their trip to Southampton, who have also tailed off. As Brighton have recently won at Arsenal (2-1) and Tottenham (1-0), there's no need for them to fear a visit to Wolves, who are not scoring enough, having averaged only a goal a game. Reading are relieved to have avoided relegation from the Championship. They host mid-table West Brom, who have had a bitterly disappointing season but look good for at least one point on Saturday. Relegated Crewe are just playing for pride as the League One campaign ends this weekend but I've a feeling they'll escape defeat at Lincoln, whose home record is poor. Scunthorpe, relegated from League Two after finishing bottom, will be keen to end a wretched season on a positive note and I believe they'll hold Hartlepool, who have little to play for.

Away days: With Liverpool breathing down their necks in the Premier League title chase, Manchester City cannot afford to drop any points. I think they'll get a maximum haul at Leeds, who are not yet safe from the drop. Liverpool are looking invincible and must be fancied at Newcastle, even though the Geordies have won their past six home matches and manager Eddie Howe has worked miracles. Victories over Chelsea (away) and Manchester United (home) have restored Arsenal's confidence and on Sunday they  face a West Ham team who will probably have a Europa League semi-final on their minds. Sunderland will be determined to make sure of a League One play-off place in their final fixture of the regular season and I can't see them slipping up at lowly Morecambe. Consecutive away defeats at Mansfield (2-0) and Sutton (3-0) have abruptly halted Crawley's progress in League Two and a much improved Leyton Orient can take advantage. Bristol Rovers are well placed to qualify for the play-offs and victory at Rochdale will almost guarantee that.

Homes sweet homes: The momentum is with Burnley in the fight to stay in the Premier League but I suspect there will be a few more twists before the end of the season. On Saturday, Burnley visit Watford, who appear doomed to relegation but I've a hunch Roy Hodgson's players will spring a surprise and gain a rare home win. Although Wimbledon are effectively down from League One, they have an opportunity to sign off with a victory against Accrington, who are not half as good on their travels. The upset of the weekend could be at Gillingham, who host Rotherham. A draw may be enough to save the Gills from relegation to League Two but I'm tipping them to get maximum points against Rotherham, who, after leading the table for so long, are in danger of missing out on automatic promotion. 

 

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

Ten draws: Brentford v Tottenham, Leicester v Aston Villa, Hull v Reading, West Brom v Coventry, Accrington v Lincoln, Cheltenham v Bolton, Barrow v Sutton, Harrogate v Carlisle, Leyton Orient v Northampton, Aberdeen v Livingston.

Best draws: Brentford v Tottenham, Hull v Reading, Accrington v Lincoln, Barrow v Sutton, Leyton Orient v Northampton.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Newcastle, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Burton, Salford, Port Vale.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Liverpool, Manchester City, Bournemouth, Derby, Sheffield United, Fleetwood, Milton Keynes Dons, Bradford City, Exeter, Notts County.

Pick of the draws: Tottenham will be eager to make up for last Saturday's home lapse against Brighton but they meet a Brentford side in fine form and with an opportunity of climbing into the top half of the Premier League. I expect Reading to move nearer safety in the Championship by taking a point at Hull. Reading will be encouraged by their fightback at home to Swansea last Monday, coming from 4-1 down to draw 4-4. Lincoln, in League One, are playing better now the pressure is off. They beat Cheltenham 3-0 at home last Monday and I fancy they'll hold mid-table Accrington. A 4-0 home victory over leaders Forest Green and a 2-2 draw at Salford suggest that Barrow, scrapping to avoid relegation from League Two, have woken up in the nick of time. I believe they'll make life difficult for promotion-seeking Sutton. Leyton Orient's rapid improvement also cannot be ignored and it's given them a fighting chance against  Northampton, who are just outside the automatic promotion places.

Away days: Manager Eddie Howe has turned around the Premier League fortunes of Newcastle, for whom the threat of relegation is a distant memory. I'm tipping them to take maximum points at Norwich, who, in contrast, look certain to drop down to the Championship. Millwall are the dark horses aiming for promotion to the top flight and appear far too strong for Birmingham, who have conceded 10 goals in their past two fixtures. Nottingham Forest, still in the hunt for automatic promotion, have that away banker look at Peterborough, who are virtually down. In League One, Burton, surprise 2-0 home winners over high-flying Rotherham in midweek, will travel to second bottom Doncaster with confidence. Salford, ninth in League Two, will start firm favourites at second bottom Oldham while Port Vale, who are third, lost 3-1 at home to Bristol Rovers last Monday but are capable of returning to winning ways at Walsall.

Homes sweet homes: Because Fulham finally clinched promotion to the Premier League by beating Preston 3-0 at Craven Cottage in midweek, they may take their foot off the pedal at Bournemouth, who are well placed to go up with them. The Cherries played their best football this season to win 3-0 at Coventry last Monday. Although Derby's relegation to League One has been confirmed, it doesn't seem to have adversely affected their spirit and they are worth backing against the consistently mediocre Bristol City. Whoever wins the Fleetwood-Wimbledon game on Saturday will probably avoid relegation to League Two. As Fleetwood are in slightly better form I'm siding with them.

Pools tips and best bets for Easter weekend (April 15,16,17)

 Ten draws: Manchester City v Liverpool, Newcastle v Leicester, Dunfermline v Ayr, Partick v Raith, East Fife v Falkirk, Stranraer v Kelty Hearts, Sevilla v Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen v RB Leipzig, Borussia Monchengladbach v FC Cologne, Montpellier v Reims.

Best draws: Manchester City v Liverpool, Newcastle v Leicester, Partick v Raith, Stranraer v Kelty Hearts, Sevilla v Real Madrid.

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Brentford, Coventry (Friday), Fulham (Friday), Bolton (Friday), Montrose, Edinburgh City.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Manchester United, Huddersfield (Friday), Swansea (Friday), Crewe (Friday), Wigan, Hearts, Celtic (Sunday), Exeter (Friday), Leyton Orient (Friday), Maidenhead (Friday).

Pick of the draws: Manchester City and Liverpool, the Premier League's top two, have drawn twice when playing each other this season and I think it will take extra time and possibly penalties to separate them in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday. Leicester, who have moved into the top half, can come away with a point at Newcastle, whose 1-0 home win over Wolves last Friday virtually guaranteed their safety. Raith, fifth in the Scottish Championship, do better away from home and I fancy them to hold Partick, who are just above them. In Scottish League Two, Stranraer, 5-0 winners at Albion last Saturday, can, like Stirling last weekend, halt the progress of clear leaders Kelty Hearts. Real Madrid, the runaway Spanish League leaders, were tested to the limit by Chelsea when taken to extra time in their midweek Champions League quarter-final and may have to settle for a draw at Sevilla on Sunday.

Away days: Brentford have beaten West Ham (2-0, home) and Chelsea (4-1, away) in their past two Premier League matches, so they might not be too inconvenienced at second-from-bottom Watford, who have already lost 12 home games this season. A repeat of the way Coventry played when winning 3-1 at Championship leaders Fulham last Sunday will probably reward them with maximum points at Birmingham. Fulham will want to get straight back in the saddle after that shock result and they visit Derby, who seem doomed to relegation. Bolton, 11th in League One, are expected to increase Doncaster's worries near the foot of the table. Montrose, of Scottish League One, should confirm their superiority over Clyde and Edinburgh, in Scottish League Two, are tipped to do likewise at basement club Cowdenbeath.

Homes sweet homes: Crewe's relegation from League One was confirmed last weekend - hardly surprising after losing 15 of their last 16 matches - but a change of manager this week may bring a change of luck and they are worth a punt against Wimbledon, who could also go down. It's Scottish Cup semi-final weekend. Hearts, third in the Scottish Premiership, defeated Hibernian 3-1 in the Edinburgh derby last Saturday and I believe they'll prevail again. Celtic are six points clear of Rangers at the top of the table, having won at Ibrox two weeks ago, and I'm tipping them to come out on top again on Sunday against their fierce Glaswegian rivals.

Pools info: I got six draws out of ten last weekend and three of my five best draws were correct: Gillingham 1 Wycombe 1; Tranmere 1 Bristol Rovers 1 and Montrose 2 Airdrieonians 2.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 9-10

Ten draws: Preston v Queens Park Rangers, West Brom v Stoke, Bolton v Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster v Crewe, Gillingham v Wycombe, Shrewsbury v Ipswich, Carlisle v Exeter, Tranmere v Bristol Rovers, Dumbarton v Peterhead, Montrose v Airdrieonians. 

Best draws: West Brom v Stoke, Gillingham v Wycombe, Carlisle v Exeter, Tranmere v Bristol Rovers, Montrose v Airdrieonians. 

Weekend's best bets: Six aways: Tottenham, Plymouth, Wigan, Mansfield, Cove, Grimsby.

Weekend's best bets: Ten homes: Arsenal, Manchester City, Watford, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Reading, Rotherham, Forest Green, Stockport, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: West Brom and Stoke, who play at The Hawthorns on Saturday, have had desperately disappointing seasons in the Championship and the odds on a stalemate must be fairly short. Wycombe improved their League One promotion prospects with a fine 4-1 win at Cambridge in midweek but Gillingham, their hosts, were only beaten in the last minute at Sunderland last weekend and are making a good fist of trying to avoid relegation. Exeter, having won 1-0 at Newport last Saturday, are a decent bet for automatic promotion from League Two but may not have things all their own way at Carlisle, whose recent form is just as encouraging. Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers have come from nowhere to join the hunt for promotion and I'm tipping them to hold Tranmere, a team they have just overtaken. Airdrieonians, one of the high-flyers in Scottish League One, to share the spoils at Montrose.

Away days: Tottenham, who moved into fourth place in the Premier League after a 5-1 home rout of Newcastle last Sunday, are clicking at just the right time and will be confident of prevailing at Aston Villa, where they nearly always do well. By contrast, Villa are on the crest of a slump. On-form Plymouth, fourth in League One, are recommended at Burton, who have little to play for except pride while Wigan, the new leaders after beating Accrington 3-0 at home in midweek, should have too much for Lincoln. Nigel Clough's Mansfield, seeking promotion from League Two, are surely an away banker at bottom side Scunthorpe. Cove, the Scottish League One leaders, seem a good thing at Falkirk, who have faded. Grimsby, on the back of an outstanding 4-1 victory at Chesterfield in the National League last Saturday, are a confident selection at ailing Weymouth. 

Homes sweet homes: Manchester City v Liverpool is a clash of the Premier League giants on Sunday. Although Liverpool, one point behind City from the same number of games, have been the more impressive lately, I've a hunch that Pep Guardiola's players will make the most of ground advantage and come out on top. Nothing more than a win for relegation-threatened Watford will do on Saturday. They gave Liverpool a few scares before losing 2-0 at Anfield last week and they are worth a wager against Leeds. Reading's fortunes in the Championship have improved since Paul Ince was appointed interim manager. They now look likely to avoid relegation and I believe they'll get another three points when they host Cardiff. 

Pools info: Five of my six away selections were correct last weekend: Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Fleetwood, Port Vale and Airdrieonians.