Falkirk will look to seal top spot in Group A as they welcome third-placed Spartans to the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
John McGlynn’s men made a perfect start to their league campaign, as they thrashed Highland League side Brechin City on an afternoon where two of my selections landed.
The Bairns were then held to a goalless draw away at Cove Rangers, but they returned to winning ways on Tuesday night as they came from a goal down to defeat Queen’s Park on an evening where SlipsTips landed another couple of winners.
Spartans have also had an impressive group stage so far, as they have defeated both Brechin City (2-0) and Championship side Queen’s Park (2-1) on home soil.
However, Douglas Samuel’s visitors lost 1-0 at Cove Rangers in their only away game so far, and you would expect them to suffer a similar fate away to the newly-promoted Premiership side.
How the bookies view it: Bairns bookies favourites
As expected, Falkirk are clear favourites to win here, with BoyleSports pricing them up at just 1/5 to win inside 90 minutes.
A shock victory for Spartans is priced at 17/2 with the same firm, whilst a draw is 5/1.
Head to head: Two from two for Falkirk?
These two clubs' only previous meeting came in the League Cup two seasons ago, in which Falkirk won 1-2 in the capital.
Players to watch: Ross to reign again?
Ethan Ross was Falkirk’s hero in midweek, as he scored the equaliser and also the second to put the Bairns ahead.
Brian Graham also scored his first Bairns goal against The Spiders on Tuesday night, and the ex-Partick Thistle man is always a danger. However, it’s unlikely the bookies will offer any goalscorer markets once again.
Predicted line-ups:
Scotty Arfield and Dylan Tait started the game in midweek against Queen’s Park on the bench, but the pair may come in from the start here.
Douglas Samuel made seven changes to his starting XI against Brechin City last Saturday, with the likes of Blair Henderson pushing for a recall.
Falkirk: Hogarth; Adams, McCann, Henderson, Spencer, Arfield, Neilson, Tait, Ross, Miller, Graham
Spartans: Carswell, Watson, Welsh, Dall, Dishington, Henderson, Nair, Sonkur, Walls, Stowe, Whyte
Anything else catch the eye?
With Falkirk heavy favourites to win here, it’s hard to find value, with The Bairns just 1/4 to score two or more goals.
However, John McGlynn’s hosts have scored 10 goals across their two victories over Brechin City and Queen’s Park, scoring 3+ in both of them, and a repeat here pays 4/5 at BoyleSports.
Falkirk to be winning at half time and at full time pays 3/4 (BoyleSports), and The Bairns to win both halves is a larger 7/5 (BoyleSports), and both selections also appeal to me here.
GambleAware