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

Ten draws: Manchester United v West Ham, Blackpool v Coventry, Chesterfield v Walsall, Peterborough v Port Vale, Rochdale v Bury, Swindon v Millwall, Accrington v Plymouth, York v Barnet, Dundee v Hearts, St Mirren v Queen of South.

Best draws: Manchester United v West Ham, Blackpool v Coventry, Peterborough v Port Vale, Swindon v Millwall, Accrington v Plymouth.

Best weekend away bets: Tottenham, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Wimbledon, Falkirk.

Best weekend home bets: Stoke, Hull, Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham, Bradford City, Burton, Exeter, Luton, Yeovil, Aberdeen.


Pick of the draws: West Ham have had some outstanding away results this season, which should serve them well in their FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. West Ham's scalps on the road include Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. I expect them to share the spoils and win the replay. Blackpool and Coventry, who meet on Saturday, are in wretched form at opposite ends of the League One table. Blackpool have slipped back into the relegation zone while Coventry have dipped below the play-off places. It sounds like a good recipe for a stalemate. Peterborough halted their rotten run of results with a creditable draw at Wigan last weekend but they may be hard-pushed to overcome Port Vale, who are punching above their weight. Swindon's match at Oldham last Saturday was postponed because of bad weather, so they will be fresh and eager for the visit of Millwall, who are more formidable away than at home. I am predicting deadlock between two in-form sides. Accrington's hopes of automatic promotion from League Two suffered a blow with a midweek home defeat by Portsmouth but they should be capable of at least holding third-placed Plymouth.

Away days: It is impossible to overlook Premier League title contenders Tottenham, who are at Aston Villa on Sunday. Villa, who are bottom and nine points from safety, appear to have given up the ghost and Tottenham won't want to lose further ground on top-of-the-table Leicester. Fourth-placed Manchester City won't be satisfied with anything other than victory at Norwich, whose efforts to avoid relegation are being hindered by a shortage of goals. Middlesbrough surprisingly lost at Rotherham in midweek to fall four points behind Championship leaders Burnley. They will be anxious to return to winning ways on Sunday against Charlton, who look doomed to relegation. Wigan are now strongly fancied to go up automatically from League One and will surely beat bottom club Colchester, whose hopes of escaping the drop are fading by the week. Wimbledon's away form in League Two stands up to scrutiny and I'm backing them to prevail at Morecambe, who have already lost 10 home games. Falkirk have overtaken Hibernian in the race for second in the Scottish Championship and they should have too much for Dumbarton.

Homes sweet homes: What a difference veteran manager Neil Warnock has made at relegation-troubled Rotherham!  They have won three on the bounce, including an uplifting triumph over promotion-seeking Middlesbrough in midweek. Rotherham face another high-flyer on Saturday in Derby and I've a hunch they'll win again. League Two Exeter have recently won at Stevenage and Cambridge to stop a worrying slide and although their home form is not so encouraging, I believe they will raise their game against Carlisle. Yeovil's late winner at Mansfield last weekend enabled them to move nine points clear of the relegation zone and they will relish taking on Notts County, who seem to be going in the opposite direction.


Pools info: The FA Cup quarter-final between Reading and Crystal Palace (No 3 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

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

Ten draws: Southampton v Sunderland, Watford v Leicester, Leeds v Bolton, Scunthorpe v Gillingham, Walsall v Barnsley, Carlisle v Northampton, Leyton Orient v Luton, Newport v Wycombe, Plymouth v Oxford, Altrincham v Macclesfield.

Best draws: Southampton v Sunderland, Leeds v Bolton, Walsall v Barnsley, Leyton Orient v Luton, Plymouth v Oxford.

Best weekend away bets: Bournemouth, Queens Park Rangers, Brighton, Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Wrexham.

Best weekend home bets: Manchester City, Brentford, Bristol City, Ipswich, Bury, Millwall, Wigan, Barnet, Boreham Wood, Torquay.



Pick of the draws: Sunderland are playing better than any of the other Premier League teams in relegation trouble. They have moved out of the drop zone and I fancy them to get something at Southampton, who have suffered two consecutive defeats. The mood at Leeds cannot have been helped by a crushing 4-0 reverse at Brighton on Monday. They are so unsettled on and off the pitch that there is no guarantee they will beat cash-strapped Bolton, who are second bottom in the Championship. Walsall missed a chance to improve their League One promotion prospects when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Scunthorpe in midweek. They won't find it any easier against Barnsley, who have won 10 of their past 12 games and climbed into the promotion reckoning. Luton's away record has served them well in League Two this season and I believe they will hold Leyton Orient, who are one of many clubs in contention for a play-off place. Oxford have leapfrogged Plymouth in the race for promotion thanks to a resounding 4-0 home success over York. The sides clash on Saturday and this fixture looks one of the best draws on the coupon.

Away days: Bournemouth have moved eight points clear of the Premier League relegation on the back of a 2-0 victory over their south-coast rivals Southampton. They should be in a relaxed frame of mind for their visit to struggling Newcastle. Things are at last looking up for Queens Park Rangers, who are now in the top half of the Championship. I think they will return from lowly MK Dons with maximum points. Few sides are playing better than Brighton, who are strongly challenging for automatic promotion and are well worth backing at Preston. Another team on a roll are Swindon in League One and I'm taking them to continue the good work against Oldham, who have won only twice at home this season. Bristol Rovers, in the hunt for promotion from League Two, will surely be too strong for ailing Notts County and I expect Wrexham, fourth in the National League, to defeat Guiseley.

Homes sweet homes: Lee Johnson's arrival as manager has galvanised Championship team Bristol City. They had a good 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest last Saturday and I believe they will put a dent in Cardiff's promotion ambitions. League One Bury are back on the winning track after a long, barren period and must fancy their chances of taking three points off Bradford City, who are inconsistent. Boreham Wood's morale must have been boosted by their fine 3-0 triumph at Southport in the National League at the weekend. It gives them a fighting chance of avoiding relegation and they can see off Barrow. Time is running out for Torquay in their attempt to escape the drop and their game against bottom club Kidderminster on Saturday is a "must win". I've a feeling they will rise to the occasion.


Pools info: Birmingham v Hull (No 11 on the coupon) and Middlesbrough v Wolves (17) are void. The Birmingham match is being played on Thursday and the Middlesbrough game is on Friday.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 27-28

Ten draws: Fulham v Middlesbrough, Huddersfield v Ipswich, Wolves v Derby, Blackpool v Bradford City, Peterborough v Swindon, AFC Wimbledon v Oxford, Morecambe v Carlisle, Wycombe v Bristol Rovers, York v Luton, Motherwell v Partick.

Best draws: Fulham v Middlesbrough, Blackpool v Bradford City, Peterborough v Swindon, AFC Wimbledon v Oxford, Wycombe v Bristol Rovers.

Best weekend away bets: Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Brentford, Millwall, Northampton.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester, West Ham, Brighton, Coventry, Gillingham, Wigan, Accrington, Dagenham & Redbridge, Newport, Stevenage.


Pick of the draws: Fulham are a difficult side to assess but at their best they threaten to be a match for Middlesbrough, who are much higher up the Championship table in third place. Blackpool's recovery in League One has come to an abrupt halt and I believe they will be held by Bradford City, whose results have perked up. Peterborough have lost three games in a row since their heroic FA Cup fourth-round exit to West Bromwich Albion on penalties, so their hopes of promotion have suffered a setback. Swindon, their opponents on Saturday, have climbed to mid-table safety and will not fear a trip to London Road. Oxford, in the hunt for automatic promotion from League Two, reverted to winning ways with a 4-1 midweek success at Exeter but nobody these days is relishing playing AFC Wimbledon, who have moved into the play-off spots thanks to victories over Barnet (away) and Carlisle (home). Bristol Rovers' hopes of achieving two successive promotions will be boosted if they take a point off Wycombe, who are also in promotion contention.

Away days: Chelsea are enjoying their football under Guus Hiddink and are worth a punt at Southampton, even though the Saints are in the top six of the Premier League and seven points ahead of the Londoners. Crystal Palace's unexpected win over Tottenham in the FA Cup fifth round last Sunday should have restored some belief. They are in better shape than their hosts West Bromwich Albion, who are struggling in front of goal and went out of the FA Cup to Reading, of the Championship. Burnley lie second in the Championship and will surely be too strong for Bolton, who are second last, eight points from safety. Mid-table Brentford gained a much needed victory against Wolves in midweek and I expect another three-point haul at Rotherham, who are struggling to stay up. Millwall's away record has kept them in the League One promotion race and they will be looking for maximum points at Doncaster, who have gone right off the boil. League Two table-toppers Northampton have won a record 10 consecutive matches. My money is on an 11th straight victory at relegation-troubled Hartlepool.

Homes sweet homes: Dagenham & Redbridge, bottom of League Two, are still waiting for their first home win of the season. I think they will get it against fellow strugglers Yeovil, who are only one place above the drop zone. By all accounts, improving Newport were unlucky not to win at Exeter last Saturday. Perhaps they'll have better luck this Saturday when they entertain promotion-seeking Mansfield. Stevenage made Carlisle work hard for their narrow victory last weekend and I've a hunch they will be too strong for Exeter, who seem to be on a downward spiral.

Pools info: Hull v Sheffield Wednesday (No 15 on coupon), Port Vale v Southend (28) and Hamilton v Celtic (46) are being played on Friday and are therefore void.

Betting info: I correctly forecast eight of 10 home selections last weekend. Chelsea, Reading, Burnley, Bury, Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Mansfield and Raith all obliged.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 20-21

Ten draws: Blackburn v West Ham, Brentford v Derby, Huddersfield v Wolves, Chesterfield v Crewe, Fleetwood v Scunthorpe, Walsall v Wigan, Barnet v AFC Wimbledon, Exeter v Newport, Kilmarnock v Dundee, Morton v Falkirk.

Best draws: Blackburn v West Ham, Brentford v Derby, Chesterfield v Crewe, Walsall v Wigan, Exeter v Newport.

Best weekend away bets: Everton, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Rangers.

Best weekend home bets: Chelsea, Reading, Tottenham, Burnley, Bury, Swindon, Bristol Rovers, Mansfield, Raith, East Stirling.


Pick of the draws: By all accounts, Championship side Blackburn played really well to beat Fulham 3-0 at home in midweek and they have a puncher's chance against West Ham in the FA Cup fifth round on Sunday. West Ham, seventh in the Premier League, are no slouches away from home but they have been weakened by injuries. Brentford and Derby, two out-of-form teams, play each other in the Championship on Saturday and I don't fancy either of them to produce something special. Crewe, third from bottom in League One, are unbeaten in their past six league games but five of them have been draws. Another stalemate looks likely when they travel to Chesterfield, who are just above the drop zone. Only one point and one place separates high-flyers Walsall and Wigan, who meet on Saturday. A draw is the likeliest result. Newport are pulling away from the League Two relegation zone and I'm backing them to hold Exeter, who are up and down like a yo-yo.

Away days: Everton's best Premier League results this season have come away, so they shouldn't be fazed by a trip to Bournemouth in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, especially as Bournemouth have lost two on the trot at home which must have shaken their confidence. Bristol City seem to be moving in the right direction under new manager Lee Johnson and are worth a punt at MK Dons, who are just above them in the lower reaches of the Championship. Higher up the table, Sheffield Wednesday's good form cannot be ignored and they will probably return from Preston with three more points. In League Two, Plymouth look certainties for promotion and I expect them to confirm their superiority over Crawley, who lost heavily at Accrington last weekend. Promotion-chasing Portsmouth gained an overdue victory last Saturday and they will be confident of carrying on the good work at lowly Yeovil. Rangers won their Scottish Cup fifth-round replay at Kilmarnock in midweek and the runaway Championship leaders are recommended at Queen of the South on Sunday.

Homes sweet homes: I rate Chelsea one of the best bets of this weekend when they host Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round. Chelsea have not lost in the league or cup since Gus Hiddink was appointed manager. Meanwhile, City seem on a downward spiral after two consecutive home defeats and don't appear to have an appetite for this competition. If there's an FA Cup upset this weekend, I can see Reading, of the Championship, providing it. Their opponents are West Bromwich Albion, who impressed nobody when edging past League One Peterborough in the last round and are finding goals hard to come by. East Stirling's 3-0 win at Queen's Park in Scottish League Two last Saturday raised a few eyebrows as it was the bottom club's first victory on the road this season. Their home record is much better and I'm taking them to get the better of Annan, who are slipping down the table.

Pools info: The FA Cup tie between Shrewsbury and Manchester United (No 6 on the coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be judged by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of February 13-14

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Watford, Manchester City v Tottenham, Sunderland v Manchester United, Swansea v Southampton, Leeds v Middlesbrough, Crewe v Walsall, Gillingham v Barnsley, Scunthorpe v Southend, Wycombe v Exeter, Hamilton v Dundee United.

Best draws: Sunderland v Manchester United, Swansea v Southampton, Scunthorpe v Southend, Wycombe v Exeter, Hamilton v Dundee United.

Best weekend away bets: West Ham, Cardiff, Birmingham, Swindon, Cambridge, Aberdeen.

Best weekend home bets: Bournemouth, Everton, Brighton, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Coventry, Doncaster, Accrington, York, Hearts.


Pick of the draws: Sunderland fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Liverpool last Saturday, having lost unluckily at home to Manchester City in their previous Premier League match. Although they are second bottom, they are showing bags of spirit and capable of holding Manchester United, whose hopes of finishing in the top four are fading. Swansea are moving clear of the relegation zone but face difficult opponents in Southampton, who have not conceded in their past five games. This includes a gritty goalless draw at Arsenal. Be prepared for another low-scoring encounter. Southend have put their blip behind them to become strong play-off contenders in League One and are on course for at least a point against mid-table Scunthorpe. Wycombe have climbed into the League Two play-off positions after their midweek victory at Dagenham & Redbridge. However, their home form is nothing to shout about, which is why I believe improving Exeter will come away with a point on Saturday. Dundee United's turnaround in fortunes has probably come too late to save them from relegation to the Scottish Championship but it should be enough to claim parity at Hamilton, who are in danger of the drop themselves.

Away days: West Ham's excellent chance of finishing in the top six of the Premier League should be enhanced by victory at Norwich, who are third from bottom after losing five consecutive matches. They are also leaking lots of goals. Cardiff, who lie ninth in the Championship, are a "must" selection at bottom club Charlton, who are in turmoil on and off the pitch. Birmingham, who are one place above Cardiff, must also be fancied at third-from-last Rotherham, who sacked manager Neil Redfearn after their 2-1 defeat by Bolton last weekend. Swindon gained a creditable point in a goalless draw at high-flying Gillingham in League One last Saturday. I'm taking them to get the maximum three from their visit to bottom-of-the-table Colchester. Cambridge have hauled themselves into League Two play-off contention with some good results and I expect them to maintain that run at lowly Stevenage. Aberdeen are giving Celtic a real run for their money at the top of the Scottish Premiership. They have won eight games on the road and I think they'll make it nine at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Monday.

Homes sweet homes: Bournemouth were disappointing when losing 2-0 at home to Arsenal last Sunday and they will be eager to make amends when they host Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday. Stoke have fallen away alarmingly since losing their League Cup semi-final to Liverpool and they are also missing their injured defender Ryan Shawcross. League One Doncaster are remarkably inconsistent but I've a hunch they will enjoy one of their good days against Sheffield United, who too often flatter to deceive. York, bottom of League Two, made leaders Northampton work hard for their 2-0 win last weekend. They are only four points from safety and in the mood to take three points from the visit of Notts County.


Pools info: Dundee v St Johnstone (match No 45 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Leeds v Middlesbrough (16) and Inverness v Aberdeen (48) are being played on Monday and will be judged by the pools panel.