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: “I mentioned last weekend how I like to take on sides who have had an away outing in the Europa League on a Thursday night backed up by a tough weekend domestic fixture.
“Last Sunday it was Rangers who had to travel to Easter Road after their foreign outing in Gibraltar and Hibs did grab the opening goal.
“Anyway it is more of the same this weekend with Celtic flying back late on Thursday following their narrow Europa League win against Latvian side Riga.
“And who should be waiting for them back in Scotland? You guessed it Jack Ross’ Hibs who sit third in the table behind the big two.
“Bookmakers are once again too big about Ross’ side who will be fresh and have had all week to prepare for Sunday's fixture.
“I wouldn’t want to take the 3-10 about Celtic whose last two domestic games were single-goal wins over St Mirren and Livingston. Hibs at 15-2 look too big and as a result are 11-4 to score the first goal.
“Christian Doidge was 50 minutes too late with his goal last weekend and hopefully the Welsh striker can start a bit earlier this time around and grab the opener at 9-1 with McBookie.
“Staying with the theme Aberdeen were dumped out of the Europa League at the same stage for the sixth time in seven seasons on Thursday night.
“The Dons had just 25 per cent of the possession against Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon and in a game of few chances exited with a 1-0 defeat.
“The result was hardly unexpected but it came hard on the heels of a 3-0 home defeat to Motherwell – a match in which Aberdeen failed to muster a single effort on target.
“Derek McInnes’ side had just a single shot on target in the Europa League as well and it is a brave man who would take them at odds on to win away to Ross County.
“The Staggies aren’t any great shakes themselves but go into this game on the back of a 1-0 away win at St Johnstone.
“Everything seems to be aligned for a Ross County win and they can be backed at 10-3 with McBookie.
“County are not the most prolific of scorers having netted more than once on a single occasion this season and striker Ross Stewart is their leading marksman in the Premiership this season with two just goals.
“But in what I expect to be a very tight game Stewart can be the game’s first and probably only goalscorer. He is 6-1 with McBookie to break the deadlock.
“Finally the bookies look to have over-reacted to Dundee United’s 2-1 win over St Mirren last weekend and Lawrence Shankland returning to the starting 11 with a goal. Prior to that result they had been thumped 4-0 by both Rangers and Killie.
“On Saturday they are just 21-20 for their trip to face Hamilton. In the Accies’ last four games they have beaten Livingston and Motherwell away, lost 2-0 at home to Rangers and lost 2-1 away to Killie. They look a huge price at 13-5 for the visit of the Tangerines.
“And I am really going to roll the dice for a first goalscorer in Hamilton defender Hakeem Odoffin who has scored twice already this season and is a massive 20-1 for the first goal on Saturday with McBookie.”
Damian's Diamonds
- Doidge (Hibs) 9-1
- Stewart (Ross County) 6-1
- Odoffin (Hamilton) 20-1
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.
Hi Damien, just to let you know that I’m on Odoffin too. He’s a massive 35/1 for first goalscorer and 16/1 anytime with 888sport/Unibet.