Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 25-26

 Ten draws: Leeds v Southampton, Tottenham v Chelsea, Preston v Wigan, Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn, Stoke v Millwall, West Brom v Middlesbrough, Forest Green v Lincoln, Barrow v Stockport, Doncaster v Bradford City, St Johnstone v St Mirren.

Best draws: Tottenham v Chelsea, Preston v Wigan, Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn, Barrow v Stockport, Doncaster v Bradford City.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Arsenal, Luton, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich, Partick.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Everton, West Ham, Burnley, Norwich, Bolton, Fleetwood, Portsmouth, Crewe, Gillingham, Dundee.

Pick of the draws: Although little is going right for Graham Potter's Chelsea, they aren't conceding many goals and if their attack clicks they could get something from their Sunday visit to Tottenham, who have yet to draw at home this season. Wigan are showing signs of escaping from the Championship drop zone and can take a point at mid-table Preston, who struggle at Deepdale. Queens Park Rangers, dropping like a stone, are badly in need of a lift and the appointment of Gareth Ainsworth as manager will probably spur them to greater heights against play-off contenders Blackburn. Barrow arrested their League Two slide with a 1-0 victory at Bradford City and may frustrate Stockport, the division's most in-form team. Bradford City, with seven wins on the road, are stronger away than at home and likely to share the spoils at Doncaster, who are two places behind them.

Away days: Manchester City were deposed as Premier League leaders by Arsenal when they were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest last weekend. However, they had enough chances to win three matches and will surely be more ruthless at lowly Bournemouth. Arsenal's 4-2 victory at Aston Villa gave them a huge boost after an indifferent spell and they will be confident of beating Leicester. Luton's impressive away form in the Championship could be decisive when they visit Birmingham. I believe Sheffield Wednesday, the new League One leaders, will prevail at mid-table Charlton and Ipswich, up to third place, shouldn't have too many problems at MK Dons. Partick, who won at third-placed Ayr in the Scottish Championship last Saturday, will fancy their chances at bottom side Arbroath.

Homes sweet homes: Everton's spirited battle against relegation from the Premier League will be strengthened by a win over Aston Villa, who have conceded 11 goals while losing three consecutive games. West Ham dropped into the bottom three after last weekend's results but I'm tipping them against Nottingham Forest, who, despite their heroics against Manchester City, have been depleted by injuries. There is no more improved side than Gillingham, who are pulling away from the League Two relegation zone. They have won five of their past seven matches and I reckon they will add Wimbledon to their recent list of scalps.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 18-19

Ten draws: Brighton v Fulham, Everton v Leeds, Blackpool v Stoke, Rotherham v Coventry, Cambridge v Oxford, Morecambe v Peterborough, Wycombe v Bolton, Harrogate v Crewe, Sutton v Doncaster, Cove v Arbroath.

Best draws: Brighton v Fulham, Everton v Leeds, Cambridge v Oxford, Wycombe v Bolton, Sutton v Doncaster.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Manchester City, Shrewsbury, Barnsley, Gillingham, Mansfield.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Chelsea, Manchester United, Huddersfield, Hull, Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Bradford City, Leyton Orient, Stockport, Inverness.

Pick of the draws: Brighton continue to impress but the emphatic manner of Fulham's win over Nottingham Forest last weekend also caught the eye and they can come away with a point. After their deserved victory over Arsenal, Everton reverted to type when losing 2-0 at Liverpool last Monday and they host Leeds, who are in just as much trouble near the foot of the Premier League. Cambridge are in grave danger of relegation from League One but Oxford, their visitors, don't have much to shout about either. Both lost in midweek, so a draw looks the most likely result. In contrast, Wycombe and Bolton are playing really well at the right end of the table and it's hard to pick a winner. Although Sutton, 2-1 home winners over Swindon in midweek, are steadily climbing League Two, there is no guarantee they will beat Doncaster, who are moving closer to the play-off positions.

Away days: The priority for Arsenal now is to arrest their worrying slump. They won't find easy at Aston Villa in Saturday's early kick-off but I think they'll return home with maximum points. I also expect Manchester City, the new Premier League leaders, to overcome an injury-weakened Nottingham Forest. Shrewsbury, performing well above expectations in League One, will rate their chances at Accrington, who languish in the drop zone. Barnsley, who won last Saturday and again in midweek, are sixth and will be just as confident going to Cheltenham. Lowly Gillingham's revival in League Two continued with a midweek home victory over Grimsby and I'm tipping them to win again at Rochdale, who are in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom. Mansfield's resounding 4-0 midweek triumph at the home of fellow promotion contenders Carlisle will send their spirits soaring and I reckon Tranmere, their hosts, will suffer as a result.

Homes sweet homes: Neil Warnock has returned to management with Huddersfield at the age of 74. Despite Huddersfield being second bottom of the Championship, I believe he'll make a winning return at the expense of wildly inconsistent Birmingham. Hull's steady progress up the table was halted when they lost 3-1 at Norwich in midweek but they are worth a punt against Preston, who seem to have lost their way. League Two play-off contenders Stockport are retaining the winning habit and I have a feeling they will topple second-placed Stevenage, who have experienced a slight wobble.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 11-12

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Newcastle, Crystal Palace v Brighton, Leicester v Tottenham, Bristol City v Norwich, Queens Park Rangers v Millwall, Burton v Exeter, Peterborough v Bolton, Crawley v Crewe, Stevenage v Bradford City, Walsall v Leyton Orient.

Best draws: Bournemouth v Newcastle, Crystal Palace v Brighton, Bristol City v Norwich, Queens Park Rangers v Millwall, Stevenage v Bradford City.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Manchester United, Wolves, Middlesbrough, Stockport, Northampton, Queen's Park.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Manchester City, Burnley, Sheffield United, Watford, Barnsley, Ipswich, Mansfield, Raith, Livingston, Woking.

Pick of the draws: Although Bournemouth, second from bottom, are favourites to be relegated from the Premier League, they made Brighton work hard for their 1-0 win last Saturday and I won't be surprised if they deny fourth-placed Newcastle. Brighton could be playing European football next season. Crystal Palace, their bitter, if not nearest, rivals, won't relish that prospect and they'll be determined to halt the Seagulls' progress. Bristol City, through recent good results, have virtually banished fears of relegation from the Championship and should give Norwich, who crashed 3-0 at home to Burnley last weekend, a stiff test. I think mid-table Queens Park Rangers, though out of sorts, will prevent Millwall from climbing into the Championship play-off positions. Bradford City, seeking promotion from League Two, are better away than at home and could come away with a point at second-placed Stevenage, whose home form is formidable.

Away days: Despite the surprising 2-2 result at Old Trafford in midweek, I expect Manchester United to this time beat Leeds, who are without a manager and floundering in the Premier League. Wolves received a considerable lift from their 3-0 triumph over Liverpool at Molineux last Saturday and will feel confident of coping at Southampton, who are bottom. There's just no stopping Middlesbrough's surge up the Championship and they look an away banker against Cardiff, who are at the other end of the table. After a dodgy start to the season, Stockport have moved into the League Two play-off positions and are expected to account for lowly Harrogate. Northampton, in fourth place, will surely prevail at bottom club Rochdale while Queen's Park, top of the Scottish Championship, have my backing at Morton.

Homes sweet homes: Watford, despite flying high in the Championship, are dropping points when you least expect it but Blackburn, their opponents on Saturday, are wobbling even more and seem there for the taking. Ipswich, third in League One, host leaders Sheffield Wednesday and I believe they will close the gap on their Yorkshire rivals. It was only a last-minute goal by runaway Championship leaders Burnley in midweek that knocked Ipswich out of the FA Cup. If there's a surprise in the Scottish Cup fifth round I've a hunch it will happen at Raith, midway in the Championship, who play struggling Motherwell, of the Premiership. 

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 4-5

Ten draws: Aston Villa v Leicester, Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Millwall v Sunderland, Preston v Bristol City, Accrington v Lincoln, Oxford v Shrewsbury, Port Vale v Wycombe, Colchester v Barrow, Sutton v Stevenage, Arbroath v Raith.

Best draws: Nottingham Forest v Leeds, Preston v Bristol City, Accrington v Lincoln, Oxford v Shrewsbury, Sutton v Stevenage.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Manchester City, Ipswich, Peterborough, Dundee, Annan, Wrexham.

Weekend's best football bets: Ten homes: Manchester United, Newcastle, Hull, Middlesbrough, Bolton, Derby, Carlisle, Doncaster, Hearts, Dunfermline.

Pick of the draws: This may be a good time for Leeds to play Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Leeds will be pleased to reach the FA Cup fifth round, whereas Forest will be disappointed to make such a meek exit from the League Cup semi-final. Preston's poor home record has hindered their Championship progress and they could drop more points against Bristol City, who were boosted by their fine 3-0 home victory over West Brom in the FA Cup fourth round. Accrington, who have slipped into the League One drop zone, host draw specialists Lincoln, who have finished level on 13 occasions this season. This has the feel of another stalemate. Oxford's 2-0 away defeat against Burton last Saturday was a big setback and it could affect their morale against Shrewsbury, who, against the odds, are pushing for a play-off place. Stevenage, aiming for the League Two leadership, could be thwarted by Sutton, who have done well recently.

Away days: Manchester City, having lost the Manchester derby and been knocked out of the League Cup by Southampton, seem to be back on track and in the mood to complete a Premier League double over Tottenham on Sunday. Ipswich, third in League One, had the better of their home goalless draw against Championship leaders Burnley in the FA Cup and are recommended at fast-sinking Cambridge. Peterborough, winners of their past two matches, will be confident of making it a hat-trick at bottom team Forest Green. Dundee, third in the Scottish Championship, look a sound bet at bottom-of-the-table Hamilton while Annan, in Scottish League Two, will fancy themselves at ailing Bonnyrigg Rose. Wrexham, high-flyers in the National League who took Sheffield United to a replay in last weekend's FA Cup, will start favourites at Altrincham.

Homes sweet homes: Newcastle, third in the Premier League, should celebrate reaching the League Cup final with a win over West Ham. Defence has been Newcastle's forte and it's hard to see the Hammers making much of an impression. Hull's comfortable 3-0 home win over Queens Park Rangers last Saturday virtually banished fears of relegation to League One and I'm expecting a repeat victory against struggling Cardiff. Derby, who are odds-on to secure a play-off place in League One, shouldn't be too inconvenienced by Morecambe, despite Morecambe's resounding 5-1 home success against Bristol Rovers last Saturday.