PREMIERSHIP action resumes today and our game needs a lift after the kicking Scotland took on the international break.
And it could get it with two potential crackers – Celtic v Hibs and Hearts v Aberdeen.
The capital clubs fill the top two slots but if they both lose Celtic will take over at the top.
It's tight and tense with seven points separating the top seven but I'm backing the Jambos to stay in front although they may need to settle for a draw in what has the feel of a low scorer.
Craig Levein's men lost their 100 per cent record at Rangers last time out and have been hit by a double blow with centre-half John Souttar and centre-forward Uche Ikpeazu both out for five months.
Hearts are 29-20 with Ladbrokes but I'm taking them draw no bet at 4-5 with Marathonbet.
Celtic and Hibs both won 6-0 last time out so will be confident ahead of their meeting at Parkhead.
Neil Lennon's men have given the champs some tough tests recently but are winless in Glasgow's east end – three defeats and two 2-2 draws. The obvious call is to go for goals but both have been keeping plenty of clean sheets. Both to score though is a nice price at 19-20 with bet365.
Brendan Rodgers's side needed a big win to get them going and I can see them following up with victory at 4-11 with Betfred.
Hibs have lost just once in eight and can't be written off and I'm sure there fans will grab 15-2 at Unibet while a draw pays 4-1 at betfair.
James Forrest fired four against St Johnstone and is 7-1 at bet365 to bag the opener and 23-10 at Unibet to net.
Dundee finally caved into pressure and sacked Neil McCann last week with the more experienced Jim McIntyre taking over.
He has a tough baptism at Livingston who have conceded just one goal at home and picked up three wins and a draw in four outings. Livi look decent to me at 19-20 with Coral.
Rangers are in action in the live game on Sunday at Hamilton and will expect to run up a big win against a side hammered 6-0 at Hibs last time out.
Alfredo Morelos is worth a look at 7-2 with bet365 to score first and fellow striker Kyle Lafferty is out after Northern Ireland invoked FIFA's five-day rule after he withdrew from their squad to play in Bosnia last week.
Rangers are no bigger than 4-11 at Ladbrokes so goals could be the way to go with the Ibrox men netting 11 on their last three visits to New Douglas. They conceded in all three and Gers and both to score pays 21-10 at McBookie.
Every Championship game looks tough to call but match of the day is second v first as Ross County welcome Ayr.
I can see County edging this at 10-11 with Betfred and leapfrogging their rivals.
East Fife have won four in a row to nil, including last week's Irn-Bru Cup success against Queen of the South, and are surprisingly big at 23-20 with Sky Bet at home to Brechin in League One.
There are no League Two games due to Scottish Cup ties and there are some interesting match-ups such as Beith v Linlithgow, Cove v Auchinleck and Albion Rovers v Formartine.
Last season Beith v Rose would have been a Scottish Junior Cup tie and I'd have backed the Ayrshiremen. I don't think much has changed despite Linlithgow moving to the senior set-up. Cove should be too strong for Talbot but it won't be easy while Formartine look a big price at 5-2 at Albion Rovers.
Edinburgh City have been a favourite of mine in recent weeks and should see off Civil Service Strollers with plenty to spare. Civil Service have conceded four to East Stirling and Kelty in their past two games and I like City -3 at 12-5 with Coral.
Kelty suffered a blow when boss Thomas Courts quit and Peterhead should beat them by at least two at 4-6 with bet365. Former Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson is the new Kelty boss but won't take over until next week.
Recommended Bets
- Celtic v Hibs btts
- Livingston
- Rangers & btts
- Ross County
- East Fife
- Edinburgh -3
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Hi Mr F . And forum .
Where are you with Rothes v Annan??
Anan away win 5/6. I see that as a considered price and feel it’s decent .
Also I like in Scottish league 1
Full Time Result Arbroath to win and Both Teams To Score – Arbroath v Dumbarton
2/1
Annan should win but I don’t know much about Rothes to back it seriously.
Reckon both will score at Arbroath but not sure about a home win – Dumbarton are performing well below their potential so could get going at some point.
Rothes used to be the whipping boys of the Highland league , they nearly went to the wall but were saved by a local businessman. I would expect Mackessack Park to be very soft today after the weather up in this area. Not sure what Annan’s travel arrangements are but it would be a bit of a hike for them. Saying that 5/6 looks a good price.
I’m going to the Rothes v Annan game today, followed Rothes when I was a lad. Mackessack park I would imagine will be soft underfoot. Rothes have improved significantly the last two seasons due to a new management team, who seems to have good connections with the Inverness area I believe a few young lady from the Inverness Caley and Ross County youth system. All backed by investment from a local businessman. I’m hoping for a tangerine’s win, but couldn’t see past the 5/6 Annan, which has now gone.
Cheers for that, enjoy the game.
Enjoy the match too . Thanks
Hi thanks for comments and info
I took the 5/6 with Annan late last night and added to a couple of uk accas already made
One thing I do note about Annan is they do have goals in their matches btts both home and away in league has been a regular occurrence
I will on advice then do btts
In Arbroath Dumbarton, Rothes v Annan and Celtic v Hibs in building a btts accca.
Noted that league 1 Brechin have scored in 4/5 of their away matches
East Fife and Btts is 14/5 maybe this is a better than the Arbroath match to take ?
Thank you for any ones thoughts on that
Desmond’s tipped btts at East Fife – I’d rather take the home win but certainly agree Brechin can score.
I’ve just seen the Scottish Both to Score Treble
Alloa v Partick Thistle
Arbroath v Dumbarton
Montrose v Airdrie
So will take them and add the others mentioned above
Also to be clear I meant seemingly East Fife win and Btts a ‘better bet ‘ than Arbroath win and Btts?
Personally I feel both could land but I like to do a Btts and win acca for value single and as Mr F tips up East Fife the hope then is Brechin score .
Well, that was an enjoyable afternoon, even though my team lost. Annan will never be so lucky to be in the next round as Rothes were the better team and squandered several good chances, in fact they had more good chances than Annan. Factor in an incompetent referee who along with his linesman miss the Annan No. 6 poleaxe a Rothes forward in the first ten minutes and then just minutes before they scored with a decent free kick, one of their forwards went right through the Rothes goalie while in mid air holding the ball. As clear a red card as you’ll see, not even a booking. Rothes can take great heart from this game despite losing as you wouldn’t e known which was the league team and which was the Highland league team.
Nae luck – at least for me East Fife won and Clydebank too.
Apart from that it was a poor day with some funny results.