Pools tips and best football bets for weekend of March 22-23

 Ten draws: Germany v Italy, Bradford City v Colchester, Fleetwood v Tranmere, Notts County v Crewe, Inverness v Alloa, Clyde v Bonnyrigg Rose, Edinburgh v East Fife, Eastleigh v Southend, Solihull Moors v Yeovil, Wealdstone v Woking.

Five best draws: Bradford City v Colchester, Fleetwood v Tranmere, Notts County v Crewe, Edinburgh v East Fife, Eastleigh v Southend.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: North Macedonia, Queen of the South, York, Forest Green, Tamworth, Boston. Ten homes: France, Spain, Czechia, Montenegro, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Port Vale, Ayr, Falkirk, Aldershot.

Pick of the draws: Colchester's astonishing 13-game unbeaten run has enabled them to climb into the League Two play-off positions. They have conceded less than a goal a game, a statistic that should serve them well at second-placed Bradford City. Two successive victories have halted Tranmere's alarming slide. They even won 1-0 at Bradford City last Saturday, so it will surprising if they don't get something from their trip to Fleetwood. Few sides have drawn more often than Crewe (15) and another stalemate is on the cards when they visit Notts County, who are only three places above them and four points better off. East Fife, the Scottish League Two leaders, crashed 3-0 at home to mid-table Stranraer last Saturday, so they will be wary of Edinburgh, who are third. Eastleigh and Southend are making a late push to qualify for the National League play-offs. They have the same number of points and I can't see that changing after Saturday.

Away days: North Macedonia will be kicking themselves if they don't gain maximum points against minnows Liechtenstein in their World Cup qualifier. Queen of the South, of Scottish League One, are worth backing at Dumbarton, who are rock bottom. York won't give up chasing the runaway National League leaders Barnet and a win at Braintree will be crucial to their prospects. Although Forest Green, in third, have faded recently, they should be too good for Fylde, who are in the relegation zone. Tamworth, improving by the week, are worth a punt at the higher-placed Gateshead, who have lost their past two home matches. Boston's remarkable escape from relegation is well and truly on. After winning 3-0 at Yeovil, they followed last Saturday's 1-0 victory at Braintree by beating Rochdale 3-2 away in midweek. A fourth consecutive away triumph - at mid-table Hartlepool - is not beyond them. 

Homes sweet homes: Cheltenham continue to impress in the second half of the League Two season and they will expect to beat the woefully out-of-touch Milton Keynes Dons. Chesterfield, 2-1 winners at promotion-challenging Notts County last weekend, have perked up lately and must be fancied against struggling Harrogate. Confidence seems to have been restored at Port Vale after a winter wobble. They saw off MK Dons 3-0 at home last Saturday and I expect a similar result against second-from-bottom Morecambe. 

Pools info (1): Salford v Doncaster (No.24 on coupon) has been postponed and will be assessed by the pools panel.

Pools info (2): For the second week running, three of my five best draws were correct last weekend: Manchester City v Brighton (2-2), Accrington v Gillingham (1-1) and St Johnstone v Aberdeen (0-0). 

Pools tips and best football bets for weekend of March 15-16

 Ten draws: Manchester City v Brighton, Coventry v Sunderland, Millwall v Stoke, Preston v Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United, Accrington v Gillingham, Carlisle v Wimbledon, Newport v Harrogate, Notts County v Chesterfield, St Johnstone v Aberdeen.

Five best draws: Manchester City v Brighton, Preston v Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United, Accrington v Gillingham, St Johnstone v Aberdeen.

Weekend football's best bets: Six aways: Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Burnley, Livingston, York. Ten homes: Bournemouth, Southampton, Blackburn, West Bromwich, Blackpool, Huddersfield, Wycombe, Bradford City, Arbroath, Gateshead.

Pick of the draws: Premier League sides are no longer frightened by Manchester City and Brighton's recent form - six successive victories - suggests they are a good bet to avoid defeat at the Etihad on Saturday. No Championship team have drawn more matches than Preston's 17 this season. It won't surprise me if that figure climbs to 18 after they've played Portsmouth, whose morale was boosted by beating Leeds 1-0 at home last Sunday. Normally, I would side with Sheffield United, automatic promotion contenders, to defeat mid-table and fierce rivals Sheffield Wednesday but Wednesday had a fine 3-2 midweek victory at Norwich and may be more up for this one. John Coleman, manager of League Two Gillingham, is returning to his old club, Accrington, who defeated Newport 5-0 at home in midweek. However, Gillingham, who upset high-flying Bradford City 1-0 at home last weekend, are in better shape than Newport and can come away with a point. St Johnstone may be bottom of the Scottish Premiership but, against all the odds, have reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals. I think this will inspire them to hold fourth-placed Aberdeen. 

Away days: I've a hunch that Newcastle will win their first domestic trophy since 1955 when they play the runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. Although Newcastle have been weakened by injuries to key players, Liverpool will find it hard to recover from their midweek Champions League exit by Paris Saint-Germain. Fatigue could also be a factor, considering that Liverpool were taken to extra time before losing the penalty shoot-out. Nottingham Forest, third in the Premier League, are a confident selection at third-from-bottom Ipswich, who have not won this year. Leeds will want to get last Sunday's Championship defeat at Portsmouth out of their system and should do that at Queens Park Rangers, while Burnley's now famous defence ought to see them through at Swansea. I don't foresee any problems for Livingston at bottom club Airdrieonians in the Scottish Championship and second-placed York can cash in on Yeovil's slump in the National League. 

Homes sweet homes: Southampton, rock-bottom of the Premier League and doomed to relegation, can upset the form book by taking maximum points off Wolves, who will still be without Matheus Cuena, their best player, who is serving a four-match suspension. Too many home draws have hindered Blackpool's progress in League One but they won 2-1 in midweek against lowly Cambridge and I believe they'll get another three points against Leyton Orient, who have lost their last five matches. In League One's top-of-the-table clash between Wycombe and Wrexham, my money is on the underrated hosts, who continue to play with a swagger.

 

Pools tips and best football bets for weekend of March 8-9

 Ten draws: Brighton v Fulham, Wolves v Everton, Portsmouth v Leeds, Swansea v Middlesbrough, Peterborough v Wycombe, Stevenage v Mansfield, Stockport v Charlton, Cheltenham v Colchester, Harrogate v Carlisle, Alloa v Arbroath.

Five best draws: Brighton v Fulham, Portsmouth v Leeds, Stevenage v Mansfield, Cheltenham v Colchester, Alloa v Arbroath.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Arsenal, Manchester City, Bolton, Reading, Bradford City, Inverness. Ten homes: Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Burnley, Norwich (Friday), Sheffield United, Watford, Leyton Orient, Wrexham, Falkirk, Barnet.

Pick of the draws: Fulham have done so well away from Craven Cottage this season that their FA Cup triumph at Manchester United last weekend was not unexpected. Although in-form Brighton, their Premier League hosts, will probably provide tougher opposition, I still think Fulham can come away with a point. Leaders Leeds are odds-on to win promotion from the Championship but three points at Portsmouth, who have markedly improved, are not guaranteed. Mansfield's decline in League One has beens surprising but at least they have avoided defeat in their past two matches. I believe they'll do the same at mid-table Stevenage, who are unpredictable. Colchester, unbeaten in 10 matches, are contesting a play-off place in League Two after rapidly climbing the table. They visit Cheltenham, who are three places below them. Alloa knocked Cove Rangers off the top of Scottish League One last Saturday by beating them 3-2. This time they face the new leaders, Arbroath, and can also frustrate them.

Away days: Arsenal's 7-1 midweek romp at PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League will restore some confidence before their Premier League fixture at Manchester United on Sunday. United are far from the force they once were and the Gunners should capitalise on their vulnerability. Manchester City's title hopes have long gone but they are a sound bet to finish in the top four. They are in slightly better form than the team they visit, Nottingham Forest, who sit third. I'm taking Bolton to follow their 3-1 home midweek victory over League One table-toppers Birmingham with another win at Burton, who are trying to escape relegation. Reading, like Bolton, are eying the League One play-offs and are a confident selection at lowly Crawley, who crashed 4-1 at Lincoln in midweek. Bradford City, now only two points behind leaders Walsall, are the form team in League Two and they look an away banker at Gillingham, who are sinking. In Scottish League One, Inverness, second from bottom, are worth a gamble at Dumbarton, who have amassed only eight points.

Homes sweet homes: In the Championship, Norwich are worth backing against Oxford, who can't buy a win and are slipping dangerously close to the drop zone. It's been a bad few days for Millwall, going out of the FA Cup at Crystal Palace last Saturday and then losing 2-0 at home to Bristol City in midweek. Watford, their hosts, will be eager to cash in. To most people's surprise, Leyton Orient have lost their last four League One games. As a result, their hopes of promotion have been damaged. However, I reckon they are due a change of luck against Northampton, who are struggling to stay clear of the relegation zone. 

Pools info: I got five out of ten draws last weekend and three of my five best draws were correct:  Newcastle v Brighton (1-1 at 90mins), Burton v Mansfield (1-1) and Wrexham v Bolton (0-0). 

Pools tips and best football bets for weekend of March 1-2

Ten draws: Newcastle v Brighton, Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United, Stoke v Watford, Burton v Mansfield, Exeter v Northampton, Leyton Orient v Charlton, Wrexham v Bolton, Chesterfield v Crewe, Harrogate v Accrington, Alloa v Cove Rangers.

Five best draws: Newcastle v Brighton, Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United, Burton v Mansfield, Leyton Orient v Charlton, Wrexham v Bolton.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Burnley, Portsmouth, Coventry, Port Vale, Celtic, Stenhousemuir. Ten homes: Aston Villa (Friday), Manchester City, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Doncaster, Walsall, Rangers, Arbroath, Forest Green, Gateshead.

Pick of the draws: Brighton's improvement has been so rapid that it suggests that they can at least take their FA Cup fifth-round tie at Newcastle on Sunday to extra time. Newcastle tend to blow hot and cold. They were outstanding in the first half against Nottingham Forest last weekend but nearly relinquished their 4-1 interval lead by the end. Sheffield United, second in the Championship, may not have fully recovered from their 3-1 home defeat by Leeds on Monday and mid-table Queens Park Rangers are quite capable of taking a point. Burton have recently looked the most impressive of the four League One relegation candidates and the odds on them getting something off Mansfield have gone down. Leyton Orient shouldn't be fazed by consecutive away defeats at Bolton (2-1) and Birmingham (2-0), despite Charlton, who are just below them, joining them on 53 points. Wrexham need maximum points to put more pressure on second-placed Wycombe but may not get them against Bolton, who are close to a play-off place. 

Away days: Burnley, having conceded only nine Championship goals all season, travel to Preston for an FA Cup fifth-round encounter on Saturday. They must be very confident, particularly as their forwards have also begun to click. Portsmouth are another Championship side on the upgrade and are a confident selection at bottom team Luton, who look dispirited and forlorn. Frank Lampard's Coventry, one place off the Championship play-offs, ought to prevail at Oxford, who need some shooting practice. It's hard to ignore the claims of Port Vale, sixth in League Two, at Tranmere, who are lurching from crisis to crisis.  Celtic, the runaway Scottish Premiership leaders, put five past Aberdeen in midweek, so don't be surprised if they are as convincing at St Mirren. Stenhousemuir, second in Scottish League One, must be fancied at rock bottom Dumbarton.

Homes sweet homes: Middlesbrough ended their dismal losing run with a 3-1 midweek victory at Stoke in the Championship. Derby, Boro's visitors on Saturday, are in an even worse state than Stoke, so put your money on the hosts. Barry Ferguson's interim appointment as Rangers manager should lift the mood at Ibrox and I expect them to beat Motherwell on Saturday. Promotion-seeking Forest Green, of the National League, have had a few setbacks at home recently but I believe they will stop the rot against Maidenhead, who are in the relegation zone. 

 

Pools tips and best football bets for weekend of February 22-23

 Ten draws: Newcastle v Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth v Queens Park Rangers, Bolton v Leyton Orient, Mansfield v Wrexham, Northampton v Bristol Rovers, Rotherham v Barnsley, Colchester v Wimbledon, Newport v Cheltenham, Port Vale v Salford, Ayr v Livingston. 

Five best draws: Portsmouth v Queens Park Rangers, Bolton v Leyton Orient, Colchester v Wimbledon, Newport v Cheltenham, Ayr v Livingston.

Weekend's best football bets: Six aways: Brighton, Blackburn, Stockport, Doncaster, Gillingham, Edinburgh. Ten homes: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Sunderland, Blackpool, Wycombe, Notts County, Swindon, Ross, Altrincham. 

Pick of the draws: Two consecutive Championship wins have moved Portsmouth away from the relegation zone but they may struggle to gain a third against QPR, who have recovered from a terrible start to the season to climb to mid-table. In League One, nothing seems beyond sixth-placed Leyton Orient at the moment, as shown when they won 2-1 at Wrexham in midweek. However, Bolton, who lie eighth, may provide sterner opposition. If any team can halt Wimbledon's steady progress in League Two it's on-form Colchester, who have now moved into the top half of the table. Colchester were further encouraged by their 1-1 midweek draw at promotion-seeking Notts County. Newport's four-match unbeaten run was ended by 10-man Bradford City last weekend. The Welsh club could also be denied by Cheltenham, who fought back from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home last Saturday. I have a feeling that Ayr, second in the Scottish Championship, won't have things all their own way against Livingston, who are third.

Away days: It will be a major upset if Brighton, convincing 3-0 home winners over Chelsea last Friday, don't collect another three Premier League points at Southampton, who have yet to reach double figures. Blackburn, in the Championship play-off positions, are thriving without a permanent manager and I fancy they will return from Swansea with maximum points. In League One, Stockport, aiming for successive promotions, will travel to bottom side Cambridge with confidence. High-flying Doncaster returned to winning ways in League Two with a 1-0 midweek success at second-from-bottom Morecambe and I expect them to come away from lowly Accrington with three points. Gillingham have a great opportunity to arrest their alarming slump at Carlisle, who are last. Edinburgh, who thrashed Spartans 5-0 at home in Scottish League Two last Saturday, shouldn't be fazed by a trip to Elgin, who lost 1-0 at Stranraer.

Homes sweet homes: Manchester City defied the growing number of doubters with a comfortable 4-0 home victory over Newcastle last Saturday. That should put them in the right frame of mind to face Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Swindon slipped up at Harrogate in League Two last Saturday but their form this year has been outstanding, which is more than I can say for Chesterfield, their higher-placed opponents. Ross, surprising 3-0 victors at Motherwell in the Scottish Championship last weekend, ought to see off Dundee, who are one place below them.

Betting info: I scored five out of six away wins last weekend with Arsenal, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Wrexham and York.