DUNDEE UNITED and Kilmarnock are two of the teams in the mix for a Premiership dogfight, but they meet on Scottish Cup duty on Saturday and United can put down an early marker by winning.
United fans were far from happy at a poor transfer window and their inability to replace Tony Watt who went to St Mirren. And it was the same for Killie, who released Kyle Lafferty and allowed Oli Shaw to go to Barnsley.
But the home side should be backed to win here at Tannadice against a Killie team who appear to forget how to play when they travel outside the boundaries of Ayrshire.
Liam Fox's side were a goal up and looking good at Tynecastle last week before they had Ryan Edwards sent off which sparked a late collapse against Hearts.
Previously, they lost at Rugby Park after Steven Fletcher missed a penalty so they are due some luck.
They should find it against Derek McInnes' men who were taken apart at Livingston last week and have failed to win a single league game away from home this season. And United look a very backable price at 6/4.
Featured Scottish Cup Tips
- Fri 19:45 Hamilton Accies vs Hearts
- Sat 15:00 Dundee United vs Kilmarnock
- Sat 17:30 Celtic vs St Mirren
- Sun 16:00 Rangers vs Partick Thistle
As far as cup shocks go, RAITH ROVERS are screaming out to be backed at 13/5 to beat struggling Motherwell in Kirkcaldy.
Stevie Hammell's men look the least equipped to stay up this season. They are weak at the back, carry little goal threat and get overrun in midfield.
They have resorted to panic buying to try and maintain their top-flight survival, which has remained intact since 1985.
A visit to Fife to play a Raith Rovers side on their Stark's Park artificial surface is a distraction they could well do without.
Ian Murray's side are in the hunt for a play-off place in the Championship and are unbeaten in seven in the league and haven't lost a game at their home since the start of November.
They will be up for this and look a great price to pile on the misery for Well.
FORFAR ATHLETIC are one of the form teams in the country right now after being transformed by the appointment of Ray McKinnon and they can continue their winning streak by beating Stenhousemuir at Station Park.
The Loons have won four in a row and six out of their last seven. They have gone from being contenders for the bottom spot to fourth place and a play-off spot.
Stenny have only won two league games since the start of October and Forfar's evens price, which has been cut this week, looks a solid one.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
DUNDEE UNITED 6/4
RAITH ROVERS 13/5
FORFAR ATHLETIC evens
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
