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

Ten draws: Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Leicester v Chelsea, Tottenham v Everton, Villarreal v Eibar, Cagliari v Lazio, Roma v Juventus, Hoffenheim v Werder Bremen, Amiens v Toulouse, Caen v Reims, Marseille v Lyon.

Best draws: Crystal Palace v Bournemouth, Leicester v Chelsea, Tottenham v Everton, Cagliari v Lazio, Roma v Juventus.

Best weekend away bets: Manchester City, West Ham, Charlton, Motherwell, Napoli, Freiburg.

Best weekend home bets: Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Southampton, Aston Villa, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Inverness, Mansfield, Real Betis.

Pick of the draws: Crystal Palace (12th) and Bournemouth (13th) are next to each other in the table and I don't believe they'll be anything to separate them on Sunday on the final weekend of the Premier League season. Both sides have flaws but both are capable of beating the best on their day. Chelsea guaranteed Champions League football next season with a 3-0 home win over Watford last Sunday but they face stiffer opposition in Leicester, who are playing well under Brendan Rodgers and gave leaders Manchester City such a fright on Monday. Tottenham need only a point to be mathematically certain of clinching a Champions League spot and should get it against Everton, despite the marked improvement of the Merseysiders. Mid-table Cagliari only lost in the last minute away to Napoli last weekend and they can take a point off the better-placed Lazio. Juventus have won the Italian League by a street, so they may take their foot off the pedal against highly rated Roma.

Away days: I'm taking Manchester City to win the most thrilling Premier League title race for years and maximum points at Brighton on Sunday will seal it. Although Brighton deserved their draw at Arsenal last weekend, I cannot see City slipping up at the final hurdle. West Ham have done much better recently and are recommended at Watford, who will probably be distracted by their participation in next week's FA Cup final. I fancy Charlton, the form team of League One, to win the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Doncaster and in the Scottish Premiership, Motherwell are worth a wager at St Johnstone, who are erratic. Napoli, the Italian League runners-up, look a good thing at SPAL, as do Freiburg at bottom club Hannover 96 in the German League.

Homes sweet homes: Relegated Fulham have won three of their past four Premier League games. I think they'll make it four out of five when Newcastle are the visitors to Craven Cottage on Sunday. Unfortunately, Fulham are finding their best form when it's too late to matter. Aston Villa are confident they will take the other promotion place after Norwich and Sheffield United and I'm backing them to beat rivals West Bromwich Albion in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final on Saturday. Mansfield's hopes of automatic promotion from League Two were dashed by three consecutive defeats. They'll probably take their frustration out on Newport in the second leg of their play-off semi-final on Sunday.

Pools info: St Etienne v Montpellier (No 49 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

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

Ten draws: Blackburn v Swansea, Brentford v Preston, Reading v Birmingham, Bristol Rovers v Barnsley, Wycombe v Fleetwood, Crawley v Tranmere, Forest Green v Exeter, MK Dons v Mansfield, Swindon v Notts County, Inverness v Dunfermline.

Best draws: Blackburn v Swansea, Reading v Birmingham, Wycombe v Fleetwood, Crawley v Tranmere, Swindon v Notts County.

Best weekend away bets: Leeds, Sheffield United, Wimbledon, Crewe, Newport, Carlisle.

Best weekend home bets: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Bury, Lincoln, Ayr, Elgin.

Pick of the draws: Blackburn's winning streak in the Championship was ended by Norwich last Saturday evening and they face another in-form side in Swansea this weekend. Although Swansea are not great on their travels I expect them to gain a point here. Reading will be in a happier frame of mind now that they've avoided relegation and they can end their troubled campaign by sharing the spoils with Birmingham. Wycombe need a point to be certain of staying in League One and I believe they'll get it against Joey Barton's Fleetwood. Tranmere's chance of automatic promotion to League One has almost gone and their visit to lowly Crawley will feel a bit of an anti-climax. Notts County need maximum points on the final day of the League Two season to have any hope of staying up but I think they'll fall short at Swindon, who are as up and down as a yo-yo.

Away days: Leeds, frustrated by their failure to gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, will surely take their disappointment out on rock-bottom Ipswich. In stark contrast, Sheffield United will probably celebrate their return to the top flight by winning at Stoke. Wimbledon, still not safe from the League One drop, will strive for three points at relegated Bradford City. Crewe, who have won their past four matches in League Two, are fancied to make it five at Grimsby, who are ending the season with a whimper. Newport, who have moved into the League Two play-off places, are highly recommended at Morecambe, as are Carlisle, who visit Yeovil, whose relegation was confirmed last weekend.

Homes sweet homes: Tottenham's minds are bound to be on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Ajax, which gives Bournemouth an opportunity to end their mixed Premier League campaign on a positive note. Anything less than victory for Cardiff on Saturday will surely see them relegated but I've a hunch they'll rise to the occasion and beat Crystal Palace. Whoever comes off second best in the Plymouth-Scunthorpe fixture will see them relegated to League Two. I fancy Plymouth, with ground advantage, to survive.

Pools info: Everton v Burnley (No 5 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void. Manchester City v Leicester (7) has been switched to Monday and will be assessed by the pools panel.

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

Ten draws: Brighton v Newcastle, Watford v Wolves, Swansea v Hull, Wimbledon v Wycombe, Burton v Luton, Oxford v Doncaster, Rochdale v Southend, Crewe v Forest Green, Tranmere v Bury, Dunfermline v Morton.

Best draws: Brighton v Newcastle, Swansea v Hull, Burton v Luton, Crewe v Forest Green, Tranmere v Bury.

Best weekend away bets: Brentford, Derby, Nottingham Forest, Peterborough, St Johnstone, Inverness.

Best weekend home bets: Fulham, Leeds, Norwich, West Bromwich, Barnsley, Scunthorpe, Carlisle, Northampton, Notts County, Partick.

Pick of the draws: Brighton have forgotten what it's like to score - seven consecutive goalless games now - and it's landed them in Premier League relegation trouble. I've a hunch they'll break their duck on Saturday but they'll be hard-pushed to beat Newcastle, who are ending the season strongly. Hull are smarting after a disappointing Easter in the Championship and I'm taking them to nick a point at Swansea, even though the Welshmen have been doing well at home. Nigel Clough's Burton have already frustrated Sunderland in League One and they can do the same to long-time leaders Luton, who were held to a home draw by lowly Wimbledon in midweek. No side in League Two has won more home matches than Crewe's 14 but their visitors, Forest Green, excel on the road with 12 victories, so a stalemate is very much on the cards. Bury climbed back into the automatic promotion places by beating Northampton 3-1 at home on Easter Monday and can stay there by sharing the spoils at Tranmere.

Away days: Brentford, who play with flair and imagination, look certs at Bolton, whose relegation from the Championship has been confirmed and whose season can't end quickly enough. Derby, who have squeezed into the play-off spots, are well worth a punt at Bristol City, whose nerve seems to have failed them at the most inopportune moment. Nottingham Forest have a good chance of improving their indifferent away record at Queens Park Rangers, who have completely tailed off. A League One play-off place is still on for Peterborough, who should approach their trip to struggling Walsall with confidence. St Johnstone, mid-table in the Scottish Premiership, will fancy themselves at second-from-bottom St Mirren while Inverness are tipped to increase Alloa's pain near the foot of the Scottish Championship.

Homes sweet homes: Relegated Fulham have just won two in a row. I believe they'll make it three against Cardiff, who appear to be fighting a losing battle to stay in the Premier League. It's now or never for Notts County, who are propping up League Two. I'm taking them to rise to the occasion against Grimsby as a win promises to lift them out of the relegation zone. By winning 1-0 at Ayr in midweek, Partick have probably saved themselves from relegation to Scottish League One and should be in the mood to celebrate when they host the same opponents on Saturday.

Pools info: Ross v Queen of the South (No 49 on coupon) has been brought forward to Friday and is therefore void.

I got five out of six aways on the April 20-22 coupon: Liverpool, Watford, Luton, Forfar, Annan.

I got eight out of 10 homes on the April 19-20 coupon: Middlesbrough, Swansea, Barnsley, Coventry, Carlisle, Mansfield, Dover, Wrexham.

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.