IN the week Lawrence Shankland won a Scotland call-up his old boss Ian McCall is continuing to work miracles.
McCall lost last season's 34-goal striker to Dundee United yet his Ayr side managed to keep pace with the Tangerines.
He left them in good shape and guided Partick Thistle to their first league win of the season last week after replacing Gary Caldwell.
The Jags handed Inverness their first home loss with an impressive 3-1 success and McCall can make it two out of two today at home to Queen of the South.
With the Old Firm playing tomorrow there should be a few neutrals at Firhill as well as fans who had deserted the team.
Thistle are a best 11-10 with McBookie against a side that's netted in goal in nine away games. To win to nil the Jags are 11-4 at Sky Bet but I'll stick with the straight win.
Veteran striker Kenny Miller was on target last week and McCall will be looking to him to provide a Shankland type of return and he is 11-2 at BetVictor to score first.
Dundee are well off the pace set by Dundee United and Ayr but should beat Arbroath at home today.
Dee are boosted by the signing of Graham Dorrans and while the Smokies have started well the home men have taken seven points out of nine at Dens and look decent value at 4-5 with bet365.
Ayr started life after McCall with a fine 3-0 win at Alloa and face a big test when Inverness visit looking for a fourth successive win at Somerset.
It's a tough one to call but as there have been over 2.5 goals in those matches back that again at 17-20 with William Hill.
Now to the Premiership where today's four games look tough to call – it doesn't happen often but there could be four draws at 142-1 at William Hill.
The games are Aberdeen v Hibs, Hearts v Killie, Motherwell v St Mirren and Ross County v St Johnstone. All could go either way and I don't have a strong opinion on any of them.
Tomorrow it’s Livingston v Celtic and Rangers v Hamilton so a tougher one for Neil Lennon’s men although Stevie Gerrard’s side were the ones on their travels on Thursday.
Celtic played well to beat Cluj but it won’t find it easy on the plastic against tough opponents. Best bet here could be Celtic to win by one at 11-4 with bet365.
Rangers suffered a blow with a last-gasp defeat to Young Boys but should beat Hamilton with plenty to spare. Bets to consider include Gers to win to nil at 3-5 with Marathonbet or the home men -2 at 11-10 with Paddy Power.
In League One top game is Raith v Falkirk and every chance they'll cancel each other out with a draw paying 11-4 at McBookie.
East Fife remain unbeaten after a creditable draw at Falkirk last week and are 8-13 at Marathonbet to beat Stranraer at home.
Should be goals here with the last four seeing both scoring while Stranraer's only blank in six was at Falkirk. Take East Fife and over 2.5 match goals at 6-5 with Sky Bet.
In League Two I can't ignore Cove. They've provided me with winners every week and the go-to bet is Cove and over 2.5 match goals at 5-6 with Sky Bet away to Stenny.
Recommended Bets
- Partick Thistle (11-10, McBookie)
- Dundee (4-5, bet365)
- Ayr v ICT over 2.5 goals (17-20, William Hill)
- Raith v Falkirk draw (11-4, McBookie)
- East Fife & over 2.5 goals (6-5, Sky Bet)
- Cove & over 2.5 goals (5-6, Sky Bet)
- Celtic to win by one (3-1, betfair)
- Rangers -2 (11-10, Paddy Power)
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.
