MARK Walker looks ahead to the weekend in Scotland and has three bets over even-money to get your teeth into.
Ayr United v Abroath
Ayr United continue to fly under the bookies' radar and they look very favourably priced at 6/4 to win at Championship bottom dogs Arbroath this weekend.
Mark Kerr's men are plugging along nicely in the play-offs position and have particularly impressed defensively – they haven't lost a goal in the league in their last four games.
In contrast, Dick Campbell's Arbroath have struggled this season after last term's exploits. The table tells its own story and just two draws from seven league games isn't good.
They've played four times at what used to be Fortress Gayfield and scored just a solitary goal. Ayr also boast an impressive record there – they are unbeaten in their last six visits to the windswept ground and have scored at least three goals in five of those games.
With Tom Walsh set to return for the Honest Menn too and Arbroath still not up to full strength, United should have too much.
Alloa v Inverness
CALEY THISTLE were pegged back by Dundee last week, but they can take advantage of a tired Alloa at the Indodrill.
The Wasps came very close to stinging another capital big-hitter in the League Cup quarter-final when they took the lead against Hibs. And it must have taken up a fair amount of effort trying to maintain their advantage which was in vain as the Easter Road side came back to win 2-1.
It was a deflating result and Inverness are not the ideal side to bounce back against…they've netted at least twice in four of their last five matches.
The last time Alloa excelled in the League Cup when they stunned Hearts, they crashed back to earth in their next game against Ayr.
ICT romped to a 3-0 win in their last away game at Queen of the South who are on a similar level to Alloa and anything above evens is perfectly acceptable.
Celtic v Hearts
Take a chance on HEARTS scoring two or more goals in Sunday's Scottish Cup Final at 14/5.
Celtic are on the brink of making history with a quadruple treble and there are small signs they are coming back to
something approaching normal service.
But they still look very shaky at the back and they can be got at.
There's little doubt Hearts would be challenging Aberdeen and Hibs for third spot if they were in the top flight with a squad brimming of internationals and top players.
Liam Boyce hasn't yet fired in all cylinders this season, but his double last week will have boosted him and with Steven Naismith too, they have firepower throughout their team and are capable of scoring twice at Hampden.
Recommended Bets
- Ayr United 6/4 (McBookie)
- Inverness 21/20 (McBookie)
- Hearts to Score Over 1.5 Goals 14/5 (McBookie)
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
