Dundee will look to move themselves from danger as they welcome top-six hopefuls St Mirren to Dens Park on Saturday in what promises to be an entertaining encounter.
Following on from their derby delight before the international break, Dundee were on course for another impressive victory as they led Rangers 2-0 after 20 minutes and 3-1 just past the hour mark.
However, their defensive deficiencies were on show once again in the final 20 minutes, as they conceded three times to suffer an agonising 3-4 defeat on an evening where both of my selections landed.
That result still leaves them in the relegation playoff position, five points clear of bottom-side St Johnstone and a point behind 10th-placed Kilmarnock.
St Mirren emphatically put an end to their five-match winless run in the Premiership in front of their supporters as they thrashed poor-travelling Kilmarnock 5-1 last Saturday.
That result, coupled with Hearts’s loss at Celtic, means Stephen Robinson’s side sit one point and one and one place outside of the top-six with just two games to go.
How the bookies view it: Tight one to call
St Mirren travel to the city of discovery as marginal favourites, with Boylesports pricing them up at 7/5.
The same firm has Dundee at 8/5, whilst the draw is 9/4.
Head to head: Goals galore between the pair
Goals have been a feature of both previous meetings between the pair this season, with Dundee winning 1-2 in Paisley in their last clash, whilst the two shared four goals when they last faced off at Dens at the end of August.
Players to watch: High five for Simon
Simon Murray is the Dark Blues top scorer in the Premiership this campaign, with the boyhood Dundee fan netting on 13 occasions, including in each of his last five matches.
Toyosi Olusanya is The Buddies leading scorer in the Premiership with eight this season and will be available again after missing the thrashing of Kilmarnock through suspension.
Probable line-ups
Dundee will once again be without Scott Fraser and Antonio Portales, but Billy Koumetio did make the bench in their defeat to Rangers last time out.
The Buddies will have their top two scorers available again, with Mikael Mandron making the bench last week following his injury, whilst Toyosi Olusanya is available after serving his one-match suspension.
Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Shaughnessy, Donnely, Larkeche, Mulligan, Sylla, Robertson, Tiffoney, Adewumi, Murray
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, Taylor, Alebiosu, Boyd-Munce, O’Hara, Phillips, John, Idowu, Olusanya
Anything else catch the eye?
Dundee’s opening 31 contests in the Scottish Premiership this season have averaged a league-high 3.71 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals paying out in 23 (74%) of them, whilst 23 (74%) have also seen goals at both ends.
Those numbers rise even further when playing at home, with their 16 Premiership fixtures at Dens Park averaging a staggering 4.13 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals banking in 14 (88%) of them, with 14 (88%) also seeing both teams get on the scoresheet.
St Mirren’s opening 15 Premiership contests on their travels this campaign have averaged an eye-catching 3.27 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals banking in 12 (80%) of them, whilst nine (60%) have seen goals at both ends, including in 5/6 (83%) of their trips against bottom-half sides.
As already alluded to, the two previous meetings between the pair have produced seven goals, with Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals landing in both – including a 2-2 draw at this venue at the end of August – and I’m expecting the goals to flow once again.
This Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and St Mirren will be played on and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Dundee vs St Mirren prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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