DEC 27: SCOTTISH FOOTBALL BETTING PREVIEW

IAN BARACLOUGH started his Motherwell career with victory at St Mirren last week and his influence has been talked up by players since he was appointed.

Well have a chance of making it two wins in a row – especially if they give midfielder Lionel Ainsworth a sniff at goal.

Baraclough may or may not know this but the Englishman has scored in the three matches he's played against the Jags. Last season he netted in two league meetings from his total of 11 goals. He's been less prolific this season but one of his three strikes came in a defeat at Firhill.

He's no Lionel Messi but a 100 per cent strike rate against any club is impressive. To score today Ainsworth is 16-5 at Paddy Power and to bag the opener is 9-1 at Paddy Power and bet365.

Last week I tipped John Sutton to hit Well's opener and he is 6-1 at William Hill to repeat the feat.

Thistle are 6-4 favourites with the likes of McBookie who are best price Well at 2-1. I don't see the Fir Park men losing and like the look of Well draw no bet at 11-10 with McBookie.

Celtic should bounce back from their shock defeat at Dundee United by seeing off Ross County at home. The champions are no bigger than 1-25 with the likes of Ladbrokes but you can understand the skinny offer.

That means we need to go elsewhere for value and Celtic minus two at 21-20 with bet365. It was 5-0 when the sides met in Dingwall and in their previous home game Celtic beat St Mirren 4-1 when it should have been many more.

If Leigh Griffiths starts consider him at 9-2 with Paddy Power to break the deadlock. He almost rescued Celtic last week with a goal off the bench and a shot off the post in the final minute.

Dundee Utd face a tough test in the Tayside derby against a St Johnstone side who have won five in a row. Saints took the festive fixture 3-0 last season and haven't lost at home to United in four.

They are a biggest 85-40 at McBookie while United are 7-5 favourites with McBookie and William Hill. With both sides in decent form I'm happy to take a punt on over 2.5 goals at 1-1 with McBookie.

Hamilton were another side I featured in my tips last week and I'll be on them again at Kilmarnock today. Killie have lost five out of six with little signs of improvement while Accies are going for three victories in a row after a blip. They are a best 13-8 at McBookie.

St Mirren are another side still struggling and I expect Dundee to beat them at Dens. Dundee are a best 10-11 at William Hill and interestingly there has been a goal scored in the last 10 minutes in each of the previous three meetings between the sides. A repeat of that pays 13-8 with Hills.

There should be a cracker between Inverness and Aberdeen on Sunday and I'm siding with the Dons at 6-4 with McBookie. ICT have lost two in a row – including a 4-0 defeat at home to Partick – and the Dons have players who can take advantage of defensive slip-ups.

Ex-ICT striker Adam Rooney is the only Aberdeen player to have scored away from home in the Dons' last four and is 9-5 at Paddy Power to net at any time.

In the Championship the big game is Hibs v Rangers. I'd favour Hibs if it wasn't for the fact Gers have a new boss in charge in Kenny McDowall and haven't lost in 13 visits to Easter Road.

Rangers are 23-20 favourites at Coral with Hibs as big as 13-5 with McBookie. I fancy a draw at 13-5 with Skybet.

Nicky Law has scored for Gers in both matches v Hibs this season and is 33-10 at 888sport to hit the target again.

Leaders Hearts travel to a Livingston side without a win in their last six home league matches. The Jambos netted five against the strugglers earlier in the season and can be taken minus one at 6-5 with Paddy Power.

Recommended Bets

Ainsworth to score
(16-5, Paddy Power)

Griffiths to score first
(9-2, Paddy Power)

Hamilton
(13-8, McBookie)

Hearts -1
(6-5, Paddy Power)

🔗 Share on Social Media