Big Saturday Multiple: Forest to heap more misery on Foxes in Midlands derby

4May 2013

England - The Championship

 

Jonno Turner picks three Championship home selections to make up a treble at odds of nearly 6s.

 

We're off to the East Midlands for our first pick of this three team multiple - and it's a huge game for both Nottingham Forest and Leicester City at the City Ground.

These two sides are still within touching distance of the play-offs - but they must win and hope that Bolton Wanderers slip up at home to Blackpool.

Forest boss Billy Davies will be desperate for that top six place just three months after returning to the club - and the Scot has been in this position many times before, having made the final cut with different clubs five times in the last eight years.

And the hosts have all of the momentum ahead of this clash.

Eleven unbeaten from their 13 since Davies returned shows that he has instilled a determination about this Reds side - but they will need a certain cutting edge this afternoon, and three consecutive draws on their own patch won't do.

Visitors Leicester have suffered a spectacular fall from grace in recent weeks.

Following nearly a whole campaign spent at the right end of the table, the Foxes appear to have imploded - and they go into this important clash having won just one of their last 12.

Nigel Pearson will be feeling the pressure of the slump, and no wins on the road since early January shows the extent of the King Power Stadium sides woes.

Alarming to Pearson will be the fact that his side have not kept a clean sheet since February - and those defensive weaknesses could be costly against a Forest side which is full of momentum and vigour.

 

Bet 1: Nottingham Forest @ 2.25

 

Switching our attentions to the north west now - as Bolton Wanderers welcome Blackpool to the Reebok Stadium, looking to secure their place in the play-offs.

Dougie Freedman's side go into this game in pole position of all the play-off pretenders - occupying sixth place in the division - and know that their future is in their own hands.

That is a massively priveleged position to be in at this stage of the season, and you'd have to fancy the hosts to take the spoils here, having won their last eight on the bounce in front of their own fans.

Five clean sheets from their last six shows just how dominant Freedman's side have been of late, and they will be keen to use that momentum to their advantage here.

Blackpool make the short trip down the M55 with their season already over - and at worst, Paul Ince's side will avoid relegation by a point or two.

It's been a largely inconsistent campaign for the Seasiders - but having gone through three managers, they will be glad that they have their second tier status tied up before the final game.

Just one win from seven on the road suggests that it is unlikely that the visitors will put up much of a fight here - and they haven't kept a clean sheet on the road since November.

I fully expect Bolton to book their place in the play-offs.

 

Bet 2: Bolton @ 1.5

 

We're focussing on action down in the capital now, as Watford line up against Leeds United at Vicarage Road, desperate for the win in order to pile the pressure on second placed Hull - and keep their automatic promotion dreams alive.

The Hornets are in good form on their own patch, and have lost just one of their last nine in front of their own fans, which will give them confidence in this all-important clash.

Gianfranco Zola's side secured a 4-0 victory in their last home outing, and will be keen to maintain that momentum as they welcome a Leeds side with nothing to play for to Hertfordshire.

The visitors sit in 16th place in the table, and are in miserable form ahead of this one - without a win in 13 league games on the road.

Brian McDermott's side will be desperate to avoid their fourth away loss on the bounce here, but with their hosts eyeing a place in the top tier, I don't envisage them taking any points back up the M1.

 

Bet 3: Watford @ 1.4

 

Bet HERE

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Keywords: Big Saturday Multiple, Forest, Fox, Midland, derby

Source: Betfair

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