THE only online bookmaker listing first-scorer prices on all SPFL games are McBookie .com.
It’s a great service they provide and we’ve teamed up with the Scots firm to look at some of the best bets from the Scottish Premiership.
Here is McBookie.com’s Damian Walker with his latest selections.
He says: “It seems an age since the last round of Premiership fixtures following the international break and there’s probably a good quiz question around the last time all six Premiership games kicked off at 3pm on a Saturday.
“Sadly Sky have cleared the deck for the return of the English Premier League so we have no live action from Scotland’s top league which says a lot about how much Sky values the game north of the border.
“Anyway, this column isn’t about football politics but winners so hopefully there are three to follow.
“First up are St Johnstone who have probably done all that could be expected of them this season – losing to Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibs (the latter two by just 1-0) and then winning against Kilmarnock and St Mirren and taking a point at Tannadice when a goal down and a man down after 45 minutes.
“The same can’t be said for Motherwell in the league who have racked up losses against Ross County, Dundee United and Hamilton as well as a 3-0 defeat against Celtic, plus drawing with Hibs and Livi.
“So having finished last season in third position Well now find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points.
“David Turnbull had started to get things ticking for them but his departure to Celtic at the end of last month will not help.
“And Motherwell’s Turnbull-less performance at home to Glentoran in the Europa League was not reflected in the 5-1 scoreline.
“The visitors had numerous chances to take the lead and even when down to 10 men Glentoran caused Stephen Robinson’s side all sorts of problems at the back.
“A better side would have made them pay and the late blitz of goals papered over the cracks for me.
“So I was extremely pleased to see odds of 2-1 about the Perth Saints winning at Fir Park this weekend.
“Michael O’Halloran didn’t hit the heights his £500k move from St Johnstone to Rangers four years ago suggested lay ahead for him and, after a spell playing in Australia, he returned to McDiarmid Park in January last year.
“At 29 years of age this is probably his last big chance in the Premiership and after seeing red in his opening game against Dundee United he scored the winner away to Kilmarnock. He looks generously priced at 11-1 with McBookie to score the opener on Saturday.
“St Mirren have done this column a couple of favours already this season but I am deserting the Buddies and tipping Hibs to take all three point on Saturday.
“Hibs had taken over at the head of the betting without Celtic and Rangers before losing 1-0 at home to Aberdeen. They were forced to cancel their Saturday training prior to Sunday’s Aberdeen game after Alex Gogic tested positive.
“Plus Martin Boyle gave away a penalty in unlucky circumstances when slow to clear from his own box which didn’t help matters.
“And Boyle should have put Hibs in front prior to that and in a game of few chances it was ultimately his mistake that cost Hibees their unbeaten start to the season.
“Hibs manager Jack Ross had said the first-half performance was just about their best of the season but going 1-0 down to the Dons suits the visitors' style of play.
“There is no doubt about that and I expect a bounce back at St Mirren where the visitors are good value at 5-6.
“I am tipping Boyle to make up for his error with the first goal on Saturday at 13-2 with McBookie.
“Finally, Rangers look to have returned to their pre-Christmas form of last season and a lot of that is down to Ryan Kent’s performances which were missing after their return from the winter break in the last campaign.
“I expect Rangers to comfortably beat Dundee United and Kent is 9-2 with McBookie to grab the opener.”
Damian's Diamonds
- O'Halloran (St Johnstone) 11-1
- Boyle (Hibs) 11-2
- Kent (Rangers) 9-2
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.
