Big Saturday Multiple: Preston should maintain home superiority

Simon Grayson's side will be eyeing a win on home turf here

In the midst of an international break, Jonno Turner switches his attentions to action down the bottom end of the English footballing pyramid - plucking two picks from League One, and one from League Two...

We're heading to the north west for our first selection of this three team multiple, as Bradford City travel to Preston North End in League One.

The hosts line up for this one sitting second in the third tier, five points behind leaders Bristol City - and that will have them desperate for the win in this clash.

Despite their lofty position, Simon Grayson's side go into this game having lost their last couple of league outings, but a comfortable 3-0 victory over Havant & Waterlooville last time out should have raised morale in the Whites' dressing room.

And forget that two game blip, North End's home form remains impressive - indeed, 10 unbeaten, including five straight wins up to today, underlines just how strong they are on their own turf.

Visitors Bradford City meanwhile sit in 14th position - but with just four points separating them from the dropzone, they can't afford to rest on their laurels.

The Bantams have lost four of their last five encounters going into this clash, and it's been their leaky defence which has come out worst from that run, shipping 11 goals in their last 450 minutes of League One football.

Phil Parkinson's side are also looking a little travel sick of late. Four without a win away from the Coral Windows Stadium indicates that they aren't likely to be heading back across the Pennines with much to cheer about this afternoon.

Bet 1: Preston North End (HOME) @ 1.618/13

Staying in the third tier now, as an in-form Walsall welcome Peterborough United to the Banks Stadium, eyeing their fourth win in five attempts.

Dean Smith's side have not enjoyed the best of starts this campaign, but the last couple of weeks have been largely positive, with three wins and a pair of clean sheets seeing them move into 16th place in the table, and knock Sheffield United out of the Football League Trophy.

In fact, despite their earlier troubles, their record at home has remained pretty much intact - just a single defeat in their last eight in the Black Country suggests that they're a force to be reckoned with on their own patch.

Visitors Posh make this trip placed in seventh position and flirting with the top six, but it would appear that all is not well down at London Road.

Darren Ferguson's charges have lost their last three leagues games, conceding half a dozen goals, and with the chasing pack breathing down their necks, they desperately need to start chalking up the points once again or they risk slipping out of play-off contention.

In fact, their return on the road is far from impressive. Four losses from five, including two goalless returns in that time, points to a lack of momentum away from home, and that is something that the guests will be keen to put right.

But recent history favours the hosts in this encounter. Last time these two sides met in the Midlands, it ewas Walsall who stole the points, with a 2-0 victory nearly a year ago to the day.

Bet 2: Walsall (HOME) @ 2.77/4

Dropping a division to League Two now, as third-placed Shrewsbury Town aim to continue their five game winning run, at home to Mansfield Town.

The hosts have smashed a whopping 13 goals in their last quintet of outings, and only narrowly lost 2-1 to Chelsea in their last clash at the Greenhaus Meadow - a result which will give them much confidence as they prepare to take to their own pitch once again.

Micky Mellon's side now sit just three points off top spot, and their League Two record in front of their own fans is pretty remarkable - seven wins from eight this campaign, and no losses since March 2011.

Their Nottinghamshire opponents line up for this clash languishing in 18th place, and seven without a win is a miserable return which will have manager Paul Cox shifting nervously in the dug out.

The Stags' record on their travels is even worse, though. Just a single victory in 10 trips away from the One Call Stadium, and five goalless returns in that time, underlines just how far off the pace they've been in recent weeks.

To boot, Mansfield haven't won in Shropshire in three clashes - and I don't reckon they'll get any joy from this trip, either.

Bet 3: Shrewsbury Town (HOME) @ 1.558/15

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