CSABA LASZLO'S been brought in to win Dundee United promotion – an Irn-Bru Cup defence is way down on the list of priorities.
However, the ex-Hearts boss will know defeat at home to Crusaders in today's quarter-final tie won't help get supporters on side after the club's slightly left-field appointment.
United are only behind St Mirren on goal difference at the top of the Championship thanks to Laurie Ellis taking maximum points after the sacking of Ray McKinnon.
After a successful spell with the Jambos the Hungarian coach has been much travelled and managed in Belgium, Lithuania and Slovakia as well as his homeland.
He seems to have a knack of quickly improving sides but not lasting long in any job. The first factor will be more relevant to United and he should start with a win today.
Ellis stays as his No.2 and that's a good move. He'll help him pick the team and I'm sure United will put out a strong line-up.
They are a best 6-5 at Marathonbet when I expected them to be odds on against the Northern Irish side who lie third in the table nine points behind Coleraine – although they've won five in a row in all competitions.
It's difficult to compare leagues but a leading Championship team should be better than the Irish and there could be goals too as seven of their last eight matches have gone over 2.5.
Marathonbet go over 2.5 goals at 9-10 with while United and over 2.5 pays 23-10 at Ladbrokes.
Today's other games between Dumbarton and Raith and Inverness and Falkirk look tougher to call.
Inverness have stop conceding under John Robertson and six clean sheets in a row is a tremendous feat.
Falkirk though have improved since Paul Hartley replaced Peter Houston and have suffered one defeat in six.
If pushed I'd back ICT at a best 23-20 with bet365 and they are 11-4 at McBookie to win to nil.
Dumbarton picked up a vital win at Brechin last week and will hope to make home advantage pay against League Two Raith.
The Sons have a good record against the Kirkcaldy men at The Rock, losing one in eight, but four of those games were draws.
I'm backing the home at a best 17-10 with Marathonbet and in fact they make the teams joint favourites despite being a league apart. Raith have a big League One match against Ayr in midweek and could have one eye on that so keep an eye on their line-up.
The final quarter-final sees Queen of the South travel to TNS on Sunday – or TSN as Tony Cascarino would say.
He knows as much about Scottish football as I do the Welsh variety but I do know Queens are good on the road having won their last three at Morton, Brechin and Montrose.
Queens look worth the gamble at a massive 3-1 with bet365 and at that price we can back them draw no bet at 9-5 with Unibet.
In League One back Alloa to make it four wins in a row at an Albion Rovers side without a win in four. Rovers won 5-2 at Recreation Park in September but the Wasps can wreak revenge at a ground where they've won three out of four and netted 13 goals. Alloa are a biggest 11-8 at McBookie.
Arbroath have lost back-to-back games against Ayr and East Fife but should get back on track at Queen's Park. They've netted 18 goals in three wins against bottom-three sides so consider the away and over 2.5 goals at 6-4 with Betway.
In League Two Stirling can win at Clyde but best bet is both to score as all but one of the Bully Wee's league games have brought up the market. It pays 1-2 at bet365.
And take Montrose, going for five wins on the spin, to beat Annan at 36-25 with Marathonbet.
Recommended Bets
- Dundee United (1pm)
- Dumbarton
- Inverness (5.15pm)
- QoS draw no bet (Sun, 2.45pm)
- Arbroath & over 2.5 goals
- Clyde v Stirling btts
- Montrose
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
