Big Saturday Multiple: Back the Gills to get back to winning ways

23Mar 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner has fought his way through the snow to bring three picks to make up his Big Saturday Multiple.

We're off to Lancashire for our first pick of this three team multiple - as a resurgent Preston North End side look to make it three wins on the bounce at Deepdale, by taking maximum points against Leyton Orient.

The hosts have lost just one of their last half a dozen outings, and boss Simon Grayson will be delighted with that return, which leaves his side sitting 16th in League One.

Eight points now separate PNE from the relegation places - and, with the end of the season in sight, another win or two should realistically see them safe following a disastrous start to the season.

And Grayson will be keen for his charges to make the most of home advantage here, where they have won their last two games 2-0, and looked comfortable victors against sides going well in the league (Bournemouth and Stevenage, respectively).

Leyton Orient travel north west sitting 10th in the division - and are just three points off the play-off places going into this clash.

But just one win from their last five away from Brisbane Road suggests that the O's are suffering a bout of travel sickness - and that threatens to derail their campaign at this late stage.

Russel Slade's side are going great guns on their own patch, and have won their last three in the capital, but they have kept just three clean sheets from their last 10 on the road, and those defensive weaknesses could play a major part in the outcome of this clash as they line up against a PNE side which has notched in all but three of their last 13 at Deepdale.

Bet 1: Preston @ 2.3

Dropping a division now, to League Two - and leaders Gillingham line up on their own patch, aiming to move three points closer to securing the title.

Martin Allen's side have been largely consistent this campaign, but four draws and a win from their last five suggests that they have lacked cutting edge, and their lead at the top of the table has been cut to five points.

It's worth noting that those four draws all came on the road, and the Gills have lost just two of their last six on their home patch - which will give them hope of taking maximum points here.

The hosts will be keen to make the most of their home advantage, with a tricky tie at Fleetwood on the horizon next week - and this could be the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways, with their visitors having lost eight of their last 10 on the road.

Accrington go into this one just two points clear of the drop zone, and will be keen to put further space between themselves and the bottom two in order to relieve some pressure.

But the Lancashire side have not even managed a goal in five of their last six on their travels, and that suggests that they may struggle to breach a Gillingham back line which has been miserly all season.

Leam Richardson's side have kept just two clean sheets in their last dozen outings away from the Crown Ground, and I reckon that the home side will have too much attacking quality for Stanley to cope with.

Bet 2: Gillingham @ 1.6

Staying in the fourth tier for our final selection, and Barnet host Cheltenham Town at Underhill, looking to secure their fourth win on the bounce in front of their own fans.

Edgar Davids' side now find themselves two points outside the relegation places - and this is a huge game for them, as they look to make the most of their home advantage in the capital.

The Bees have now lost just one of their last 12 in front of their own fans, and that makes them one of the most in-form sides at the wrong end of the table, which will give them much confidence ahead of this clash.

And incredibly, Davids' side have conceded just one goal in six outings on their own patch - a whopping nine hours of football.

Cheltenham travel to their hosts sitting fourth in the table - but just one win from their last eight away from the Abbey Business Stadium suggests that their league position is lying a little bit at the moment.

Mark Yates' side have kept just one clean sheet in 12 on the road, and a 3-1 defeat at Burton Albion last time out saw them comfortably beaten.

And with seventh placed Rotherham just three points behind the Robins, the pressure is on Yates' charges to secure a positive result here - but I think that the hosts are the real value bet of this tie.

Bet 3: Barnet @ 2.5