Home and Away: Plymouth to heap misery on Minstermen

1Apr 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner eyes two winners from the English leagues this Easter Monday....

We're taking a closer look at action in League One for our first pick of the week - and Sheffield United welcome Carlisle United to Bramall Lane, looking to cement their place in the top six with the end of the campaign in sight.

Danny Wilson's side have slipped down to fifth in the third tier of late, following some mixed performances - and are now just three points away from slipping out of the play-off positions.

That would be disastrous for the Blades, who have been there or thereabouts all season, and they will be keen to make the most of their home advantage in this tie - and secure their fourth game without defeat on the bounce.

But far from crisis time down in South Yorkshire, United have lost just one of their last nine - and four clean sheets from five suggests that they are comfortable enough at the back to hold out the threat of their Cumbrian opponents this afternoon.

Greg Abbott's side travel south without a win in five away from Brunton Park - and a 4-1 thrashing at Leyton Orient in their last outing on the road will have knocked confidence in the visitors camp.

That leaves Carlisle sitting 17th in the table - but with seven points grace on Oldham, who occupy the final relegation place, so times are not desperate for the away side just yet.

Just one loss from five suggests that the Cumbrians are not actually going too badly at the moment - and it is simply their away form which has been letting them down.

But nine goals conceded in their last three games suggests that they do have issues at the back - and that is something that the Blades will be looking to make the most of here.

Bet 1: Sheffield United (HOME) @ 1.66

Dropping a division to League Two now, as Plymouth travel to York City in a relegation six pointer.

John Sheridan's Pilgrims side have looked resurgent of late, and will be buoyed by an impressive Devon derby win over Exeter at the weekend.

That victory will have given the Green Army real hope that they can climb out of the mire and save their season - and a win against second bottom York here would move them seven points clear of the drop zone.

And three wins on the bounce ahead of this one suggests that the Devon side have more than enough in their locker to take maximum points from this clash - with three clean sheets from their last four indicating that they have solved the defensive issues which have plagued them for much of this season.

Hosts York go into this one without a win in 16 games - a run which stretches all the way back to New Years Day, and the appointment of Nigel Worthington at the helm doesn't seem to have stopped the rot for the Minstermen.

Times are becoming increasingly desperate at Bootham Crescent, as City are running out of games to secure their professional status - and three losses from their last four on their own patch suggests that they have not made their own patch a fortress this year.

Just two clean sheets from seven also points to weaknesses at the back, and 10 shipped in their last six outings at home is an indicator of why the home side find themselves in trouble at this stage of the season.

This is bound to be a tough and hard-fought encounter - but I can't believe that the visitors are priced this big, with such momentum and vigour about them of late.

Bet 2: Plymouth Argyle (AWAY) @ 3.3