WHEN a team enjoying home advantage comes face-to-face with a side just one point ahead of them in the league table, bookmakers tend to chalk the hosts up as favourites, and Saturday's encounter between Torquay and Shrewsbury at Plainmoor is no different. Skybet offer the hosts at 11/8, with the Shrews on 12/5 (Betfred).

Some punters may be licking their lips at the prospect of making 137% profit about three home points, especially if the Gulls continue their recent solid form. Another good start for United may also see them in front during the break at bet365's 21/10, though William Hill post 3/1 about them leading at the end of both halves.

While some may find the hosts' win odds tasty enough, there are a number of other opportunities in which punters can profit. Take the goals markets for instance, where Torquay have already won nine games this term by a narrow 1-0 or 2-1 scoreline – both of which are available at 7/1 (Ladbrokes) or 9/1 (Blue Square) respectively.

Should the goals once again arrive at Plainmoor, where a minimum of three goals were struck on eight occasions, then punters may take Skybet's 6/5 about 2.5 goals or more, though odds-on punters who see Martin Ling's back four keeping things tight can get 4/6 (Boylesports) about a maximum of two goals in 90 minutes.

A tight encounter may also see Torquay take all three points following a tense, level first half at William Hill's 5/1, though a more comfortable win may see the hosts triumph despite a one-goal deficit on the handicaps at Skybet's 4/1.

Home fans will not mind how the Gulls win, however, as long as three points are secured, though should Saturday's clash harvest only a point, then Betfred go 12/5 about a stalemate, with 11/2 for a 1-1 outcome (Ladbrokes).

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