Big Saturday Multiple: Alex looking to cap season to remember with homegrown XI

27Apr 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner looks at some end of season domestic action - and picks out three selections worth backing, at whopping odds of 18!

We're off to Staffordshire for our first pick of this three team multiple - and Gresty Road, as Crewe Alexandra look to cap a successful season with a home win against Walsall.

Steve Davis' young side has already lifted the Johnstone's Paint Trophy earlier this month, and he has announced that he is going to pick an 'academy XI' for this final outing - an announcement that caused many to lump on Walsall.

But a closer look suggests that his vision is not that extreme: of his regular starting eleven, nine or 10 of the players have come through the academy anyway - so in effect only one or two will be making their debuts today.

The likes of captain Luke Murphy and forward Max Clayton have been attracting interest from elsewhere all campaign, and will be keen to weigh in with a positive final performance if, indeed, they expect to be playing elsewhere come August.

And the Railwaymen line up for this one high in confidence following a 1-0 defeat of Sheffield United last time out, their fourth unbeaten in their last six on their own patch, and third clean sheet in five.

Walsall make the short trip north west unbeaten in 15 games - but just 6 wins in that time suggests that Dean Smith's side lack cutting edge.

The Saddlers go into this clash sitting eighth in the table - and six points off a play-off place - a return that they will be ultimately be pretty happy with.

And four draws on the bounce away from home will have the visitors wondering what could have been had they been able to turn one point into three on just a couple more occasions.

Both of these sides have nothing to play for - but I think that home advantage will be key here, and with a bumper crowd expected at Gresty Road to celebrate Alex's achievements this campaign, I think they will just edge it - at excellent value.

Bet 1: Crewe Alexandra (HOME) @ 3.4

Staying in the third tier now, and it's a case of do or die for Scunthorpe United, as they welcome Swindon Town to Glanford Park in a game they must win.

The Iron currently occupy the final relegation place - and are three points from safety, with nearest rivals Colchester facing a tricky trip to Crawley.

Brian Laws' side will be boosted by an impressive 1-0 win away at MK Dons in their last outing, and that has kept them within touching distance of a miraculous turnaround as we approach the most important 90 minutes of their season - as they look to secure their fourth game unbeaten in half a dozen on their own patch.

Visitors Swindon travel to Lincolnshire with their place in the play-offs already booked - and that suggests that Kevin MacDonald may be looking to action next week.

The away side look likely to face Yeovil Town in the semi-finals of the play-offs, and MacDonald may well look to change things around in order to keep his charges fit for those two games.

Either way, the Robins have hardly been in sparkling form of late, and four losses from their last five away from the County Ground suggests that they are suffering a bout of travel sickness which needs addressing.

Bet 2: Scunthorpe United (HOME) @ 2.8

Turning our attentions to the Championship for our final pick - and Wolves desperately need to make the most of their last home outing of the campaign, as they welcome Burnley to Molineux.

The relegation picture at the bottom of the second tier is remarkable, and with two games left there are still a whopping 10 sides scrapping for their lives.

Dean Saunders' side go into this one sitting in the final relegation place - but are in decent form on their own patch, and have won three of their last four, which will give them a lot of confidence here.

A 1-0 defeat of promotion chasing Hull City last time out shows that the Wanderers are more than capable of matching the more successful sides in this division, and they will be keen to take maximum points from this clash in order to give them another campaign in the Championship next year.

Sean Dyche's Burnley side travel to the West Midlands occupying 16th place in the table - and with a four point gap on the drop zone, are not yet safe themselves.

But just one win from their last nine shows a side in miserable form, and they have only taken maximum points once in their last eight on the road.

Two losses on the bounce away from Turf Moor has seen the Clarets fail to trouble the opposition keeper once - and Dyche will be desperate for his side to show more in the final third in this game.

I can't see Wolves missing the opportunity to climb out of the relegation places this afternoon - and I think we will see them take all three points.

Bet 3: Wolves (HOME) @ 1.9