St Mirren and Ayr United will battle it out for top spot in Group D in the Scottish League Cup on Sunday afternoon in Paisley.
St Mirren endured a tough start to their League Cup campaign, drawing 0-0 away at Gayfield against Arbroath, failing to even gain a bonus point after losing on penalties.
Stephen Robinson’s men ground out a 1-2 victory at Forfar in their next group match, before thrashing Annan Athletic 8-2 to help land Kevin Mac a full-house of winners.
Whilst The Buddies have improved as the group stage has gone on, Ayr have been impressive throughout, winning each of their opening three encounters in Group D by an aggregate score of 13-1.
Scott Brown’s men sit top of Group D, and know they require just a point to secure top spot and seal a place in the last-16.
How the bookies view it: Bookies back The Buddies
St Mirren have been installed as favourites here, with BoyleSports pricing them up at just 1/2.
The Honest Men are 9/2 to make it four wins from four in Group D, whilst the draw is 16/5.
Head to head: Eight unbeaten for Saints
St Mirren are unbeaten in each of their previous eight competitive clashes with The Honest Men (W6-D2-L0), with the most recent of those being a 0-2 success in the Scottish Cup at Somerset Park in 2022.
Players to watch: More goals for George?
Ayr striker George Oakley has been installed scintillating form in the group stage, scoring in all three matches, including a hat-trick against Annan. The ex-Morton man appeals to me to score here, but, it’s unlikely bookies will release goalscorer markets once again.
Mikael Mandron also scored a hat-trick against Annan in St Mirren’s 8-2 success last time out, as well as the winner up in Forfar. I also like the look of the Frenchman to score here, but unfortunately, no markets are likely to be available.
Predicted line-ups:
St Mirren made six changes last time out, and you’d expect Robinson to start a similar starting 11 after hitting Annan for eight, with hat-trick hero Mikael Mandron expected to lead the line, whilst new signing Shamal George may make his debut in goals.
Scott Brown is expected to name a similar starting 11 to the one that cruised to victory over Forfar, with George Oakley leading the line.
St Mirren: George, Fraser, Gogic, King, McMenamin, Phillips, Taylor, O’Hara, Tanser, Ayungu, Mandron
Ayr United: Mitchell, Dick, Want, Holt, Oakley, Main, Thomas, Bonnar, Walker, McKenzie, Watret
Anything else catch the eye?
The Goals have been flying in in Ayr’s opening three contests in Group D, with those matches averaging a whopping 4.67 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals landing in all three of them.
St Mirren’s previous two encounters have produced 11 goals, meaning I like the look of Over 2.5 Goals, which is priced at 7/10 at BoyleSports, as well as Over 3.5 Goals, which is a juicy 9/5 with the same firm.
With Ayr firing in 13 goals in their opening three group stage matches, and The Buddies’ scoring 10 in their last two, you’d fancy both to get on the scoresheet here, and that pays 4/5 at BoyleSports.
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