Pools tips and best bets for April 20-22 coupon

Ten draws: Bournemouth v Fulham, Everton v Manchester United, Newcastle v Southampton, Dumbarton v East Fife, Montrose v Airdrieonians, Elgin v Peterhead, Stirling v Cowdenbeath, Reims v St Etienne, Strasbourg v Montpellier, VVV v De Graafschap.

Best draws: Everton v Manchester United, Newcastle v Southampton, Montrose v Airdrieonians, Elgin v Peterhead, Stirling v Cowdenbeath.

Best away bets (Saturday unless stated): Liverpool (Sunday), Watford, Leicester, Luton, Forfar, Annan.

Best home bets (Saturday unless stated): Arsenal (Sunday), Manchester City, Wolves, Chelsea (Monday), Kilmarnock, Livingston, Falkirk, Partick, Stranraer, Clyde.

Pick of the draws: Manchester United's limitations were exposed when they went out of the Champions League to Barcelona. They may struggle to recover from that chastening quarter-final defeat. Everton, their hosts, beat Arsenal at home more convincingly than the 1-0 scoreline suggests. Newcastle and Southampton went a long way to Premier League safety with fine victories last weekend (Newcastle, 1-0 at Leicester, Saints, 3-1 at home to Wolves) and I don't see either side losing this relegation battle. Airdrieonians, mid-table in Scottish League One, are better away than at home and can hold Montrose, who are two places and five points better off. Although Peterhead are top of Scottish League Two, they have faltered lately, which should give Elgin, who are seventh, more of a chance. Stirling and Cowdenbeath are two teams who appear on the upgrade and a point apiece is the likeliest result here.

Away days: Liverpool seem an irresistible force in both Premier League and Champions League and will surely be too strong for Cardiff, even though the Welshmen raised hopes of avoiding relegation with a deserved 2-0 triumph at Brighton in midweek. Watford will be handicapped at Huddersfield by the absence of striker Troy Deeney, who is banned for three games, but should still be too good for the Premier League's bottom club. Watford's 10 men were better than Arsenal's 11 last Monday. Last weekend's defeat against Newcastle aside, Leicester have responded well to new manager Brendan Rodgers and they are worth a punt at inconsistent West Ham. Luton's long unbeaten run was ended by Charlton last Saturday but they are determined to clinch promotion to the Championship and victory at Accrington will bring them closer. In Scottish League One, Forfar, third, are tipped to prevail at Stenhousemuir, who are last, and I'm taking Annan, of Scottish League Two, to record their ninth away win of the season at Queen's Park.

Homes sweet homes: Manchester City, still reeling from the manner of their Champions League exit to Tottenham, play Spurs in the Premier League on Saturday and I fancy them to gain revenge. Kilmarnock have made great strides under Steve Clarke in the Scottish Premiership and will strengthen their hold on third place with victory over Aberdeen, who are fourth. If Partick, who are bottom of the Scottish Championship, can draw at leaders Ross, as they did last Saturday, then they can beat Alloa, who are only four points better off.

Pools info: Chelsea v Burnley (No 4 on coupon) will be judged by the pools panel and Ayr v Ross (11) is void.

Pools tips and best bets for April 19-20 coupon

Ten draws: Birmingham v Derby, Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn, Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers, Oxford v Charlton, Rochdale v Wycombe, Walsall v Southend, Newport v Bury, Tranmere v Forest Green, Gateshead v Chesterfield, Maidstone v Braintree.

Best draws: Queens Park Rangers v Blackburn, Wimbledon v Bristol Rovers, Oxford v Charlton, Tranmere v Forest Green, Gateshead v Chesterfield.

Best Good Friday away bets: Aston Villa, Peterborough, Swindon, Stevenage, Salford, Solihull.

Best Good Friday home bets: Leeds, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Barnsley, Coventry, Carlisle, Exeter, Mansfield, Dover, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: Queens Park Rangers emerged from their Championship slump by beating Swansea 4-0 at home last Saturday but Blackburn's 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest was equally praiseworthy. Just five points separate the teams and I don't think they'll be anything to separate them on Friday. Wimbledon have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation to League Two but they could have chosen easier opponents than Bristol Rovers, whose away record is very respectable. Four consecutive wins have revived Charlton's hopes of automatic promotion but Oxford are nearly safe from relegation and one of the most improved sides in League One. Tranmere have more home victories than anybody in League Two but their opponents, Forest Green, are equally efficient away and this looks one of the best draws on the coupon. Chesterfield's darkest days are well behind them in the National League and they can pinch a point at Gateshead, who are falling just short of the play-offs.

Away days: Aston Villa, who are ending the Championship season in style, are firm favourites to add Bolton to their list of scalps, especially as the Lancastrians seem resigned to relegation. Peterborough kept alive their faint chances of a League One play-off spot by defeating Blackpool 1-0 away last weekend and I believe they'll dish out similar treatment to Fleetwood, who are under a cloud after the accusations of assault against their manager Joey Barton. Swindon are a hard team to fathom but they are expected to be too strong for Cambridge, who were heavily defeated by Newport in their previous League Two home game. Stevenage, who are still chasing a play-off place, are recommended at Port Vale, who have little to play for. Salford, with a good chance of promotion to the Football League, are on course to take maximum points at Boreham Wood and third-placed Solihull Moors should do the same at Bromley.

Homes sweet homes: Swansea's 4-0 loss at QPR last Saturday was a major surprise and I'm taking them to bounce back against Rotherham, who are in the Championship relegation zone. Carlisle's hopes of going up suffered a setback when they crashed 3-0 at Stevenage last weekend but their Good Friday opponents, Lincoln, may take their off the gas now that promotion from League Two has been assured. Dover's 3-2 victory at Barrow last Saturday meant that they avoided dropping out of the National League. I expect them to celebrate with a win over Aldershot, who are one of the four clubs going down.

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

Ten draws: Brighton v Bournemouth, Aston Villa v Bristol City, Ipswich v Birmingham, Reading v Brentford, Blackpool v Peterborough, Gillingham v Shrewsbury, Southend v Wycombe, Stevenage v Carlisle, Tranmere v MK Dons, Barnet v Wrexham.

Best draws: Brighton v Bournemouth, Aston Villa v Bristol City, Blackpool v Peterborough, Southend v Wycombe, Barnet v Wrexham.

Best weekend away bets: Everton, Swansea, Norwich, Burton, Mansfield, Hartlepool.

Best weekend home bets: Leicester (Friday), Manchester United, Southampton, Tottenham, Derby, Sheffield United, Charlton, Doncaster, Portsmouth, Morecambe.

Pick of the draws: Although Bournemouth are on a downward spiral, they can arrest their Premier League slide at Brighton, whose plight is more precarious. Victories at Middlesbrough and Sheffield United have put Bristol City back in the Championship play-off mix. They claimed another prized scalp in West Bromwich Albion in midweek and I believe they'll hold their own at Aston Villa, who have eight home draws to their name. Blackpool have drawn their past three League One home games. I think they'll increase that tally to four when Peterborough come visiting. Both teams need a win to keep their play-off hopes alive but they will probably be disappointed. Southend v Wycombe is a battle of League One strugglers and at the moment neither is good enough to be confident of winning. Apart from a defeat at relegated Maidstone in midweek, Barnet are ending the season strongly and I'm taking them to frustrate Wrexham, who may have to settle for the National League play-offs.

Away days: Everton deserved to beat Arsenal by more than one goal at Goodison Park last Sunday and are belatedly running into form. The opposite applies to relegated Fulham and this is surely an away banker. Mid-table Swansea, who have recorded three consecutive wins in the Championship, are likely to make it four at Queens Park Rangers, for whom the season can't end quickly enough.  Norwich, the runaway Championship leaders, are tipped to make Wigan's life even more difficult on Sunday. Burton, of League One, earned an excellent point at high-flying Sunderland in midweek and should improve on that at Scunthorpe, who are looking nervously over their shoulders. Mansfield, second in League Two, have the momentum to obtain maximum points at Northampton while Hartlepool are expected to confirm Aldershot's relegation from the National League.

Homes sweet homes: Southampton will be hoping that Wolves have a hangover from their FA Cup semi-final heartbreak last weekend. If they do, Saints are well equipped to take advantage and three points will move them nearer Premier League safety. Luton, the clear leaders in League One, are long due a setback and it's worth taking a punt on their hosts Charlton to inflict some damage. Charlton have just won two away matches on the trot. A win for Morecambe should ensure their League Two safety and they'll be confident of getting it against Grimsby, who appear to have switched off.

Pools info: Leicester v Newcastle (No 5 on coupon) is void and Watford v Arsenal (10) will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 6-7

Ten draws: Blackburn v Stoke, Brentford v Derby, Burton v Barnsley, Coventry v Bristol Rovers, Plymouth v Charlton, Carlisle v Bury, Grimsby v Stevenage, Port Vale v Crewe, Dover v Chesterfield, Flyde v Eastleigh.

Best draws: Blackburn v Stoke, Brentford v Derby, Burton v Barnsley, Grimsby v Stevenage, Fylde v Eastleigh.

Best weekend away bets: Leicester, Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Forest Green, Tranmere, Harrogate.

Best weekend home bets: Bournemouth, Bristol City, Hull, Wimbledon, Fleetwood, Colchester, Macclesfield, Notts County, Swindon, Wrexham.

Pick of the draws: Blackburn and Stoke, who play each other on Saturday, are counting the cost of disappointing seasons. It looks as though both will finish below halfway in the Championship and it's hard to separate them. Brentford crashed 3-0 at Swansea in midweek but they are a different proposition at home and I can see them frustrating Derby, who are striving for a play-off place. Barnsley's 20-match unbeaten run has lifted them to second in League One but they won't have things their own way at Burton, who on their day are capable of matching the best. Stevenage's hopes of a play-off place in League Two are fading fast and they may have to settle for a point at Grimsby, who are nothing special. National League high-fliers Fylde, who have gone off the boil, take on Eastleigh, who fare better on their travels than at home. Eastleigh's tally of away wins is into double figures.

Away days: Brendan Rodgers has put a spring in the step of Leicester, who are ending the season strongly, and their Premier League fixture at relegated Huddersfield looks an away banker. Leeds, back to second in the Championship after beating Millwall 3-2 at home last Saturday, cannot be overlooked at Birmingham, who will probably be demoralised after being deducted nine points for breach of financial rules. A play-off position is now in Nottingham Forest's grasp and they will be disappointed not to come away from lowly Rotherham with maximum points. Forest Green's impressive away form in League Two should benefit them at ailing Crawley. I'm taking fifth-placed Tranmere to recover from their 2-0 midweek defeat at Oldham and beat inconsistent Newport while Harrogate, sixth in the National League, ought to be too good for Havant & Waterlooville, who are threatened by relegation.

Homes sweet homes: Wimbledon appear to be winning their fight to avoid relegation from League One and I'm taking them to defeat Accrington, who are falling rapidly. Sol Campbell's Macclesfield, bottom of League Two, will be greatly encouraged by their 1-1 draw at leaders Lincoln last weekend and three points against Morecambe on Saturday should lift them out of the relegation zone. Another side in distress, Notts County, are much more upbeat after winning 3-0 at Stevenage last Saturday and they are well worth a punt against mid-table Northampton.

Pools info: Chelsea v West Ham (No 2 on coupon) has been moved to Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel. Southampton v Liverpool (5) will be played on Friday and is therefore void.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of March 30-31

Ten draws: Brighton v Southampton, Middlesbrough v Norwich, Nottingham Forest v Swansea, Stoke v Sheffield Wednesday, Southend v Shrewsbury, Cambridge v Colchester, Forest Green v MK Dons, Morecambe v Crawley, Hearts v Aberdeen, St Mirren v Dundee.

Best draws: Brighton v Southampton, Stoke v Sheffield Wednesday, Southend v Shrewsbury, Forest Green v MK Dons, St Mirren v Dundee.

Best weekend away bets: Wolves, Preston, Brentford, Fleetwood, Ross, Clyde.

Best weekend home bets: West Ham, Aston Villa, Derby, Blackpool, Doncaster, Gillingham, Crewe, Northampton, Tranmere, Kilmarnock.

Pick of the draws: Southampton's 2-1 home win over Tottenham the Saturday before last has boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League and they'll be confident of holding Brighton, who are only one place and three points above them. The arrival of Steve Bruce as manager has seen an upsurge in the form of Sheffield Wednesday, who are now serious contenders for a Championship play-off place. They travel to Stoke, who have disappointed this season, and can return with a point. Southend's slide down League One has led to the sacking of manager Chris Powell. Their record at Roots Hall, where they have lost 11 times, doesn't bode well and they'll be hard-pushed to beat fellow strugglers Shrewsbury. MK Dons have recovered a lot of lost ground recently in their attempt to go up from League Two, climbing back into the automatic promotion places. They look good for at least a point at Forest Green, who are less certain at home than away. St Mirren and Dundee, the bottom two clubs in the Scottish Premiership by some distance, meet on Saturday when I expect a stalemate.

Away days: Having knocked Liverpool and Manchester United out of the FA Cup, Wolves won't be cowering at the prospect of a trip to Burnley, who have stumbled in the past few weeks. Preston's progress to the fringes of a Championship play-off place cannot be ignored and I'm backing them at Reading, who are just one place above the drop zone. Brentford are in Championship no-man's land - far too good to go down but not consistent enough to be involved in the promotion shake-up. They are, however, a better side than Wigan, who are too close to the relegation zone for comfort. Joey Barton's Fleetwood, with six away victories under their belt, are worth a wager at ailing Accrington while Ross, top of the Scottish Championship, look an away banker at wooden-spoonists Alloa. Clyde have thrust themselves into the automatic promotion race from Scottish League Two and are recommended at lowly Albion.

Homes sweet homes: In their previous fixture West Ham showed their battling qualities, overturning a 3-1 deficit at home to Huddersfield to win 4-3. That never-say-die spirit should serve them well against Everton, who are struggling to finish in the top half of the Premier League. Crewe hit Crawley for six in their last League Two home match and will look forward to the visit of Cheltenham, whose away form does not inspire confidence. Tranmere's 2-0 victory at Colchester last weekend confirmed their new lease of life in the play-off section of League Two and they get my vote for their match against Carlisle on Saturday.

Pools info: Portsmouth v Peterborough (No 28 on coupon) and Sunderland v Burton (31) will be assessed by the pools panel as Portsmouth and Sunderland are playing in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday.