Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 14-15

Ten draws: Swansea v Manchester City, West Bromwich v Liverpool, Espanyol v Eibar, Sporting Gijon v Villarreal, AC Milan v Roma, Lazio v Fiorentina, Palermo v Verona, Hoffenheim v Schalke, Caen v Bordeaux, St Etienne v Lille.

Best draws: Swansea v Manchester City, West Bromwich v Liverpool, Sporting Gijon v Villarreal, AC Milan v Roma, Palermo v Verona.

Best weekend away bets: Leicester, West Ham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Hull, Dundee United.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Manchester United, Southampton, Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Juventus, Napoli, Werder Bremen, Aberdeen.


Pick of the draws: Manchester United's midweek defeat at West Ham leaves Manchester City needing only one point to secure Champions League football in 2016-17. I think they will achieve this at Swansea in the final weekend of the Premier League season. City played well last Sunday and arguably deserved better than a 2-2 home draw against Arsenal but Swansea have beaten Liverpool (3-1 at home) and West Ham (4-1 away) in their past two games and will not be accommodating opponents. In normal circumstances I would have had Liverpool down to win at West Bromwich Albion but they play in the Europa League final next Wednesday, which will be a distraction, and there are bound to be key players missing. West Brom will also be anxious to atone for recent home defeats against Watford and West Ham. Villarreal, fourth in the Spanish League, may not have recovered sufficiently from their Europa League semi-final defeat by Liverpool to beat relegation-threatened Sporting Gijon. Roma should at least share the spoils with AC Milan after their successful season in the Italian League. At the other end of the table, relegated Verona, shock 2-1 winners over champions Juventus last weekend, can nick a point off Palermo.

Away days: Premier League champions Leicester have been such a revelation this season that it is impossible to ignore their chances at mid-table Chelsea on Sunday. They have won more matches on the road than the other 19 top-flight teams and I believe they will round off an incredible campaign with another away victory. West Ham are another side whose best results this season have come away from home. Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are among the clubs who have been vanquished by the Hammers and I believe Stoke will suffer the same fate. The race for the Spanish League title goes to the last weekend of their season. Barcelona are in pole position and will surely beat struggling Grenada. Champions League finalists Real Madrid, one point behind Barcelona, will be just as confident of maximum points at Deportivo La Coruna. I believe that Steve Bruce's Hull will be more streetwise than Derby in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday. Although Dundee United have been relegated from the Scottish Premiership, they have shown more spirit than second from bottom Kilmarnock, whom they play on Saturday, and are worth a punt.

Homes sweet homes: I suspect that Europa League finalists Sevilla will play with the handbrake on at Athletic Bilbao, who have enough quality to take advantage. Still in the Spanish League, Valencia gave Real Madrid a searching test last weekend before succumbing 3-2 away. A repeat of that form should see them prevail over the better-placed Real Sociedad. Werder Bremen need a win to be certain of avoiding relegation from the German League and I'm confident it will come against lowly Eintracht Frankfurt.

Pools and betting info: That's my lot for this season. Normal service will be resumed in August. Enjoy the summer and the Euros.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of May 7-8

Ten draws: Sunderland v Chelsea, Tottenham v Southampton, Cardiff v Birmingham, MK Dons v Nottingham Forest, Preston v Leeds, Bury v Southend, Colchester v Rochdale, Port Vale v Walsall, Luton v Exeter, Portsmouth v Northampton.

Best draws: Sunderland v Chelsea, Tottenham v Southampton, Cardiff v Birmingham, Preston v Leeds, Luton v Exeter.

Best weekend away bets: Newcastle, Burnley, Brighton, Burton, Crewe, Cambridge.

Best weekend home bets: Bournemouth, West Ham, Hull, Wolves, Oldham, Peterborough, Accrington, Bristol Rovers, Morecambe, Plymouth.


Pick of the draws: Sunderland's stoppage-time equaliser at Stoke last Saturday may be the point that keeps them in the Premier League. I can see them gaining another against Chelsea. Although the west Londoners' season is ending in anti-climax, they showed their spirit in a fractious derby with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge last Monday when they came back from 2-0 down to draw. The Spurs players, in their vain pursuit of the Premier League title, completely lost their discipline and composure in that match and could feel the effects on Sunday against Southampton, who on their day are a match for the best top-flight teams. Cardiff's faint hopes of a play-off place in the Championship disappeared last weekend when they lost 3-0 at Sheffield Wednesday and they will probably be demotivated against Birmingham. Preston are no stranger to home draws this season and I believe they will share the spoils with Leeds, a side of similar ability. Luton's home form in League Two hasn't done them any favours, which is why I think Exeter will hold them.

Away days: Newcastle have Premier League survival in their sights after beating Crystal Palace at home last Saturday. The victory moved them out of the relegation zone and puts them in good heart for their game at doomed Aston Villa on Saturday. Poor old Villa, whose relegation was confirmed the previous weekend, cannot buy a draw, let alone a win at the moment and will end the season with an embarrassingly low points total. Burnley will replace Villa in the top English division next season and will surely celebrate their promotion by defeating Charlton, who are going down rather than up. The match of the day is probably at Middlesbrough, who have a shoot-out with Brighton to determine who gains automatic promotion to the Premier League. A draw will be sufficient for Boro but I've a hunch that Brighton will be equal to the task and obtain the victory they need. Burton are odds-on favourites to join Wigan in the Championship next season and I'm taking them to finish the job at Doncaster, who are all but down from League One. Although relegated Crewe have had a dreadful season, they may be worth a punt at lowly Fleetwood, who are still not safe from the drop. Crewe got in the mood last Saturday by beating Doncaster 3-1, their first win in ages. Cambridge's up and down season in League Two should end in victory at Mansfield, who have faded out of contention.

Homes sweet homes: Bournemouth's results have gone awry since they made certain of Premier League safety but they have a chance to stop the rot against West Bromwich Albion, who have also switched off since reaching 40 points. Now that Sheffield Wednesday have qualified for the Championship play-offs, they may take their foot off the gas at Wolves, who will be eager to finish their disappointing season with a win at Molineux. Oldham have enjoyed a much better second half to the season under new manager John Sheridan and look good value to end their League One campaign with three points against underperforming Coventry.

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

Ten draws: Southampton v Manchester City, Swansea v Liverpool, Bristol City v Huddersfield, Chesterfield v Bury, Rochdale v Swindon, Carlisle v Oxford, Hartlepool v Portsmouth, Leyton Orient v Mansfield, Barrow v Wrexham, Bromley v Aldershot.

Best draws: Swansea v Liverpool, Carlisle v Oxford, Hartlepool v Portsmouth, Leyton Orient v Mansfield, Bromley v Aldershot.

Best weekend away bets: Sunderland, Hull, Sheffield United, Doncaster, Bradford City, Bristol Rovers.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Newcastle, Watford, Ipswich, Leeds, Barnsley, Barnet, Cambridge, Dagenham & Redbridge, Braintree.


Pick of the draws: Although Liverpool are in a rich vein of form, their minds may be more on the Europa League than the Premier League. You suspect that Villarreal in the two-legged semi-final will be more of a priority than the trip to Swansea next Sunday and I can see the hosts nicking a point. Carlisle's League Two play-off ambitions may have vanished but they are good enough to hinder Oxford's chances of automatic promotion and I believe they'll take something from this fixture. A couple of months ago Hartlepool looked on their way out of the Football League but they have made a remarkable recovery. Indeed, they have improved so much that a draw against Portsmouth on Saturday is not out of the question. Leyton Orient and Mansfield have missed the play-off boat in League Two and two disappointed teams seem set for a point apiece. Bromley's form in the National League has dipped and as Aldershot, their opponents on Saturday, are better away than at home, I'm predicting a share of the spoils.

Away days: Stoke, becalmed in mid-table, appear to have little interest in the rest of this season and Sunderland, fighting for their Premier League lives, can take full advantage. Hull, who are assured of a place in the Championship play-offs, need a win against already relegated Bolton to restore confidence and I think they will get it. Sheffield United are not giving up on a League One play-off place and will have more desire than mid-table Coventry, who have faded badly. Home wins over leaders Wigan and Coventry have given Doncaster a fighting chance of escaping relegation and they could have no more suitable opponents than bottom club Crewe, who just cannot buy a positive result. Nobody is playing better than Bradford City at the moment and I expect them to prevail at Southend, whose second half of the season has been far worse than the first. Perhaps the biggest away banker is Bristol Rovers, aiming for their second consecutive promotion, at York, whose relegation from League Two was confirmed at the weekend.

Homes sweet homes: Newcastle, with two of their last three fixtures at home, can see an escape route from Premier League relegation, especially after a fine comeback to earn a 2-2 draw at Anfield on Saturday. I'm taking them to gain maximum points against Crystal Palace, who have reserved their best displays for the FA Cup.  Cambridge, 7-0 home winners over Morecambe in League Two last week, host promotion-seeking Plymouth, who were on the wrong end of one of the upsets of the season on Saturday - a 3-2 home defeat by bottom club Dagenham & Redbridge. Cambridge are well worth backing here. Although Dagenham & Redbridge are doomed to relegation, they can end their home programme on a winning note against off-colour Crawley.


Pools info: Chelsea v Tottenham (No 2 on coupon) is being played next Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. Birmingham v Middlesbrough (11) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

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

Ten draws: Fulham v Nottingham Forest, Doncaster v Coventry, Peterborough v Scunthorpe, Sheffield United v Barnsley, Morecambe v Stevenage, Notts County v Cambridge, Aldershot v Southport, Eastleigh v Tranmere, Gateshead v Bromley, Wrexham v Braintree.

Best draws: Fulham v Nottingham Forest, Peterborough v Scunthorpe, Sheffield United v Barnsley, Aldershot v Southport, Wrexham v Braintree.

Best weekend away bets: Brighton, Brentford, Burton, Northampton, Dover, Hibernian.

Best weekend home bets: Bournemouth, Manchester City, Sunderland, Cardiff, Huddersfield, Wigan, Accrington, Luton, Plymouth, Lincoln.


Pick of the draws: Fulham and Nottingham Forest, who have both had disappointing seasons, are among the draw specialists of the Championship and I think they'll continue the habit when they face each other at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Scunthorpe are one of the most improved sides in League One to such an extent that they have given themselves an outside chance of making the play-offs. However, they will have their work cut out at Peterborough, who are also running into form. Sheffield United are also making a late surge into play-off contention but Barnsley, their opponents on Saturday, are in an even stronger position and below Gillingham only on goal difference. Nobody in the National League has lost more home fixtures than middle-of-the-table Aldershot but they should at least avoid defeat against Southport, who are of similar mediocre quality. Braintree are bang in form and well placed to contest the play-offs. I'm backing them to share the spoils at Wrexham.

Away days: Brighton, edged out of the automatic promotion places in the Championship only by goal difference, are the team on a roll. They showed their intent with a 4-0 beating of Queens Park Rangers in midweek and they are a confident selection to prevail at Charlton, whose relegation to League One has been confirmed. MK Dons are almost down and have lost their past three home games, so Brentford will go there full of confidence. Burton, second in League One, have stumbled recently but I believe they'll get back on the winning track at Colchester, whose upturn in form will not save them from relegation. Northampton are already champions of League Two and heading for a huge points total. They should have few problems at 20th-placed Yeovil. Dover are the surprise promotion challengers in the National League and will surely triumph at relegated Kidderminster. Hibernian, third in the Scottish Championship, will have gained confidence from reaching the Scottish Cup final and they are recommended at Morton, who have little to play for except pride.

Homes sweet homes: Bournemouth have had an encouraging first season in the Premier League and will fancy their chances against Chelsea, who were desperately poor in losing 3-0 at home to Manchester City last weekend and may struggle to finish in the top half of the table. Sunderland have played the best of all the teams threatened by relegation from the Premier and gained a crucial victory at Norwich last Saturday. They host Arsenal on Sunday and will probably have too much passion and desire for the dispirited Gunners, whose season has been one long anti-climax. Few sides are more unpredictable than Huddersfield, of the Championship, but they are a match for anybody on their day. I've a hunch they'll have too much for Birmingham, whose play-off ambitions have bitten the dust.


Pools info: Preston v Burnley (No 10 on the coupon) is being played on Friday and is therefore void. Five of my draw selections were correct last weekend: Everton v Southampton, Leicester v West Ham, Brentford v Bristol City, Burton v Barnsley and Fleetwood v Oldham. Next week's blog will appear earlier than usual - on Sunday.

Pools tips and best bets for weekend of April 16-17

Ten draws: Everton v Southampton, Leicester v West Ham, Birmingham v Burnley, Blackburn v Huddersfield, Brentford v Bristol City, Burton v Barnsley, Colchester v Peterborough, Fleetwood v Oldham, Swindon v Bury, Bromley v Torquay.

Best draws: Birmingham v Burnley, Brentford v Bristol City, Burton v Barnsley, Colchester v Peterborough, Swindon v Bury.

Best weekend away bets: Liverpool, Derby, Scunthorpe, Wigan, Bradford City, Barrow.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Norwich, West Bromwich, Preston, Rotherham, Accrington, Bristol Rovers, Exeter, Hartlepool, Portsmouth.


Pick of the draws: Promotion-seeking Burnley, of the Championship, would have hoped for an easier match on Saturday than a trip to St Andrew's. Birmingham slipped up at home to Leeds in midweek, having won at Reading last weekend, but I feel they will make life difficult for the division's second-placed team. Brentford are bound to miss Alan Judge, who was seriously injured in their 3-1 win at Ipswich last Saturday and fast-improving Bristol City, fresh from beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 at home, are in the mood to take advantage. League One promotion contenders Burton have lost their zip recently and may find Barnsley tricky opponents. Barnsley, winners of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Wembley two weeks ago, have a fighting chance of making the play-offs as well as a good away record. Colchester's revival has probably come too late to save them from relegation and they will be hard-pushed to defeat mid-table Peterborough. Two sides who have disappointed this season, Swindon and Bury, play each other on Saturday and stalemate looks the likeliest result.

Away days: When Liverpool are on song, as they were in beating Stoke 4-1 last Sunday and Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League in midweek, they are a formidable proposition and I believe they will come out on top at Bournemouth, who seem more vulnerable at home than away. Derby, flying high in the Championship, are rejuvenated after victories over Nottingham Forest and Bolton and shouldn't be inconvenienced by a trip to Charlton, who will almost certainly go down. Scunthorpe, of League One, are thriving under the management of Graham Alexander. They deserved their win over Burton last weekend and will surely chalk up another victory at bottom-of-the-table Crewe, whose relegation was confirmed after losing 3-0 at Port Vale last Saturday. There seems no stopping leaders Wigan, who are 10 points clear of League One's third-placed club Bradford City. I'm backing them to gain maximum points at Doncaster, whose survival hopes are fading. Bradford City are in great form and look too strong for relegation-threatened Shrewsbury. It's been hard to ignore Barrow's climb up the National League and they are a confident selection to prevail at Kidderminster, who are surely doomed to relegation.

Homes sweet homes: I fancy Norwich to triumph in their crucial Premier League relegation battle against Sunderland at Carrow Road on Saturday. Both teams are finding goals hard to come by but I think Norwich will make the most of ground advantage. Now that Northampton's promotion to League One has been confirmed, they may take their foot off the gas. If that happens, it will suit Exeter, who are making a late charge for the League Two play-offs on the back of some fine results. Portsmouth have their eye on automatic promotion from League Two. The momentum is more with them than Plymouth, their fading opponents on Saturday, and I'm going for a home win at what should be a packed Fratton Park.


Pools info: Stoke v Tottenham (No 9 on the coupon) has been switched to Monday and will be judged by the pools panel. Hull v Wolves (17) is being played on Friday and is therefore void.

Betting info: I scored four out of six with my away selections last week. Bournemouth, Oxford, Accrington and Portsmouth all obliged.