Big Saturday Multiple: Shrews value to hit hapless Hartlepool

Freescoring Shrewsbury will be eyeing goals at Hartlepool today

Jonno Turner gives us the run down on the best value from the bottom two divisions of English football...

After the frenzied start to the new campaign, it's a relatively quiet weekend on the domestic football front given the international break, but that's not to say there isn't value out there if you look hard enough.

We're off to Ashton Gate for our first selection of the day, as Bristol City line up on their own turf against Scunthorpe United, desperate to make the most of home advantage.

Steve Cotterill's Robins side have started proceedings with aplomb, and find themselves sitting third in the table after five outings, and unbeaten in League One so far this season.

Indeed, three wins and two draws, alongside two clean sheets, suggests that, if the home side sometimes lack a little cutting edge, they're certainly difficult to break down, and that will give them great confidence of holding out their guests this afternoon.

Scunthorpe, meanwhile, head into this clash languishing in the bottom four, but a win last time out will give them hope that they are in something of an upturn.

Russ Wilcox's side didn't adapt well to life in a higher division following their promotion from League Two last year, and began the new season with three consecutive defeats, but a draw and a win since then will have whet their appetite for more.

They haven't kept a clean sheet yet though, and that seriously damages their chances of putting together a similar 20-odd game unbeaten run to what saw them grab a top spot last year.

And to make matters worse, they've only managed one win from their previous five on the road at this level.

Bet 1: Bristol City (HOME) @ 1.574/7

Dropping a division now, to the fourth tier, as Carlisle United welcome AFC Wimbledon all the way north to Brunton Park.

The Cumbrians currently dangle on the edge of the relegation zone, having accumulated just a pair of points from their first five games this season, but having sacked manager Graham Kavanagh earlier this week, they'll be keen to draw a line in the sand here.

Club captain Paul Thirlwell took the reins, and his side ran out 3-1 winners away at Accrington Stanley the next day in the Football League Trophy - but the real test will be this afternoon, as the home side look to pick up their first win of the new campaign.

Just one loss from their last four certainly indicates that things are looking up, and in the bigger picture, they've lost just two of their last eight league outings in front of their own fans, grinding out four clean sheets to boot.

Visitors AFC Wimbledon make this long trip having begun the season in style, but two consecutive defeats on their own patch have seen them slip out of the top places.

Neal Ardley's charges shipped five goals in that three hours of football at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, and that permeable backline is something that he will be desperate to correct before his side drops out of the reckoning completely.

In fairness, their record on the road has been impressive, and two 1-0 travelling wins saw them full of confidence following the opening exchanges, but things have changed since then, and I fancy the momentum and motivation of their hosts to come good here.

Bet 2: Carlisle United (HOME) @ 2.45n/a

And staying in the north now, as we switch our attentions to Hartlepool United, who host Shrewsbury Town at Victoria Park.

Colin Cooper's side have endured a miserable start to the campaign, and find themselves sitting in 20th place in the table - following five defeats from their opening six outings.

A win away at AFC Wimbledon a fortnight ago raised Monkey Hanger hopes, but having followed that result up with a 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham, the hosts need to prove themselves once again here.

It's now 15 encounters without a clean sheet for Cooper's charges though, and as they prepare to welcome the division's highest scorers to their patch, that doesn't bode well.

Micky Mellon takes his squad north sitting fourth in the table, and he will be pretty happy with the positive response to his side's relegation last campaign.

Indeed, the Shrews are still unbeaten in the league, and actually only suffered their first defeat in any competition this week, as they trailed 1-0 to Preston North End in the Football League Trophy.

Five wins, two draws, and four clean sheets underline just how strong the Shropshire side are this season, and I reckon that they've got more than enough about them to take maximum points here.

Bet 3: Shrewsbury Town (AWAY) @ 2.01/1 

Please note: Prices quoted are based on our Sportbook product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.