Back the Blades to bounce back in front of their own fans

12Jan 2013

Jonno Turner selects three sides to do the business in his Big Saturday Multiple today.

We're off to the North East for our first pick of this three team multiple - and it's a top six encounter as fourth placed Middlesbrough line up at the Riverside ahead of their clash with sixth placed Watford, looking to continue the formidable performances they have shown on their own patch of late. Tony Mowbray's side have been excellent of late, and go into this one having won eight of their last nine in front of their own fans - which will give them a massive boost ahead of what is sure to be a tough tie on Teeside. Three clean sheets from their last five at home suggests that Boro are more than capable of shutting their opponents out this afternoon, but credit must also be given to their attackers, who have smashed a whopping 14 goals in that time. And with gap to second place cut down to just two points, the hosts will be desperate to record three points here, and keep up the pressure on Hull City. Watford make the long trip north having lost their last two outings, and boss Gianfranco Zola will be keen to arrest that slump before it becomes a season-wrecker. The Hornets have surpassed expectations so far this campaign, but it remains to be seen whether they can continue this momentum over a longer period - and with the rest of the top ten breathing down their necks, they really need to take a positive result from this one. But six goals shipped in their last couple suggests issues with the visitors rearguard, and they will need to correct those defensive flaws quickly if they are to keep out free-scoring Boro.

Bet 1: Middlesbrough (HOME) @ 2.25

Dropping to the fourth tier now, and Torquay make the long trip to Burton Albion, looking to correct a slide which has seen them slip to 16th in the table. Martin Ling's side are in miserable form going into this tie, and have failed to win in eight of their last 10 outings - which will have knocked confidence in the Devon side. And their form away from Plainmoor is even worse - with just two wins from 16 on the road, suggesting that they may struggle travelling to a side who are renowned for their consistent home performances. Burton began the campaign in blistering form, but have slipped out of the play-offs of late. The Brewers have lost just one of their last 12 at the Pirelli Stadium though, and that impressive run shows just how Gary Rowett's sides away form is wrecking their promotion hopes. The Staffordshire side have secured two clean sheets from their last three on their own patch, and will be keen to extend that run here. A 2-0 victory over high-flying Southend last time out showed that the hosts are more than capable of matching any side in League Two, and Rowett will be keen for his side to build on that here.

Bet 2: Burton Albion (HOME) @ 1.95

Over to South Yorkshire now, and Sheffield United host Yeovil at Bramall Lane, looking to make amends for their 3-2 loss to Hartlepool in their last outing on their own patch. That was Danny Wilson's sides first loss in 13 encounters in front of their own fans, and the Blades will have been rocked by defeat to League One's bottom side. But the hosts are undefeated since then, and that gives me confidence that the Red and Whites have successfully overcome that result - as shown by a comfortable win at Oxford in the FA Cup last weekend. Four clean sheets from their last six shows just how confident the home side have looked at the back of late, and that indicates that Yeovil won't get many opportunities this afternoon - so it's down to the Blades forwards to do the business and secure three points. And a dozen goals scored in five clashes suggests that they are more than capable of punishing their opponents from the South West.

Yeovil travel north having failed to win in three of their last four on the road, and boss Gary Johnson will be keen for his side to correct that slide here.

But the Glovers have failed to score in two of their last three away from home, and that doesn't suggest that there will be many goals for the Somerset side when pitted against a defence as in-form as their hosts.

To make matters worse, seven goals conceded in four games indicates that the visitors are likely to ship at least one, and I think it could be an uphill battle for Johnson's side today.

They're short odds for the win - but I just can't see past Danny Wilson's men today.

Bet 3: Sheffield United (HOME) @ 1.65