The Big Saturday Multiple: Back Rams to heap more woe on Wolves

16Feb 2013

Betfair

Jonno Turner looks to extend the form which has seen him pick three winners from his last four Home and Away tips, as he turns his attentions to a domestic Big Saturday Multiple today.

We're off to Pride Park for our first pick of the day - and Derby County welcome struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers, looking to extend the excellent home form they have shown in recent weeks.

Nigel Clough's side have been a little off-colour in their last couple of outings - a draw at Sheffield Wednesday and a narrow loss at Hull delivering them just one point from two games - but the Rams return to their own patch this afternoon aiming to put that slide to an end.

Just one loss in 11 Championship games in front of their own fans suggests that the hosts are well set to take three points here - and a comfortable 3-0 win over Huddersfield Town in their last Pride Park clash will have boosted confidence in the home dressing room.

Wolves' woes have been well publicised this season, and the Midlands club have struggled since their relegation to the second tier last campaign - prompting the board to remove boss Stale Solbakken from his post, and replace him with Dean Saunders.

The new incumbent has not engineered a turnaround at Molineux just yet - and the visitors line up for this one having failed to win any of their last nine.

Three losses from their last four on the road suggests that they may struggle in this tie, and in the bigger picture that makes just two wins from 11 away from home.

And just one clean sheet in that time indicates that the Wolves side - which is missing influential defender Roger Johnson through suspension today - is likely to present their hosts with a chance or two this afternoon.

Clough does have a few players missing himself - and with the likes of Shaun Barker, Mark O'Brien and James O'Connor missing due to injury, he is set to offer the likes of Kieron Freeman and Valentin Gjokaj a chance to shine once again.

Bet 1: Derby County (HOME) @ 2.05

A quick trip up the M1 now, as a resurgent Sheffield United side host Colchester United at Bramall Lane.

The Blades have been there or thereabouts all season, but underwent a blip a couple of weeks ago and have lost their last three on their own patch.

But boss Danny Wilson has led his side to two consecutive wins since then, and the hosts will be keen to extend that form with the end of the campaign in sight.

And the pressure is on the South Yorkshire side to take the full three points here, with the likes of Yeovil on the fringes of the play-off positions and ready to pounce.

Colchester travel north having lost 10 of their last 13 games, and boss Joe Dunne will know that his side must improve on that return if they are to move away from the relegation zone.

The U's sit in 20th place in the division, but just one win from nine away from Layer Road suggests that they may struggle to take anything from this one.

More alarmingly for Dunne might be the fact that his side have failed to score in four of their last five on the road - their only goals coming against lowly Portsmouth in a narrow 3-2 win at Fratton Park.

The last time these two sides met at Bramall Lane, Sheffield United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, and I'm backing the home win here too.

Bet 2: Sheffield United (HOME) @ 1.61

Staying in the third tier now, and League One leaders AFC Bournemouth travel north to Preston North End, looking to extend their formidable recent form.

The south coast side have charged to the top of the table following the return of Eddie Howe as boss, and five wins on the bounce - and just one loss in 21 - will have the Cherries high in confidence.

The Dean Court side have been impressive on their travels too, securing three consecutive wins away from their own patch and smashing seven goals in that time, making it just one loss in 10 in the bigger picture.

Hosts Preston removed Graham Westley from his post earlier this week following a miserable run which has seen them win just once in 11.

That leaves the Lancashire side sitting 18th in the table, and in serious danger of slipping out of this league unless their next managerial appointment proves to be inspired.

Six without a win on their own patch will have the Deepdale faithful biting their nails, and 13 goals shipped in that time suggests that they could be punished by free-scoring Bournemouth here.

Bet 3: AFC Bournemouth (AWAY) @ 2.0