THERE’S an unusual feeling of optimism in the air at Tannadice this week after Dundee United snared Robbie Neilson as boss.
It’s a coup for the club to land the ex-Hearts gaffer and hopes are high among Arabs fans he can finally be the man to drag them out of the doldrums and back to the top flight.
Neilson flopped in his previous job at MK Dons but his Jambos stint showed what he’s capable of, cruising to the title ahead of Hibs and Rangers in 2014-15 then finishing third in the Premiership.
United’s eight-point deficit on table-toppers Ayr is far from insurmountable, especially if Neilson hits the ground running. The Terrors are 6-1 with McBookie for the title although going up via the play-offs is likely their best hope.
As fate would have it Neilson makes his debut today against the team he turned down this week.
Partick Thistle – who axed Alan Archibald after last Saturday’s home loss to Ross County – were snubbed by Neilson in favour of United and it could come back to bite them in the day’s only Championship game.
Relegated Jags’ start in the second tier has been a struggle. They’re only two points worse off than United but have lost more than half their games and failed to score in the last two.
United have copped back-to-back defeats but can benefit from their new manager bounce and are 9-5 with bet365 while a Jags victory pays 29-20 at Skybet and the draw is 5-2 at William Hill.
Thistle will be led today by chief exec Gerry Britton and academy head Scott Allison and the pair face a tough task. Jags have been woeful recently and I like United draw no bet at 103-100 with Marathonbet.
In the Irn-Bru Cup today goals is the way to go in this bizarre tourney. Motherwell’s kids can become the first colts team to reach the quarter-finals and they’re 4-1 at bet365 to KO Irish side Sligo Rovers.
League One East Fife have won six in a row, including the scalp of Partick in the last round. They face free-scoring Queen of South and btts appeals at 4-5 with bet365 who go same price for over 2.5 goals.
Ross County routed Raith 5-0 last time out and can ease past Montrose.
In December 2020 we sadly 
i think United are a great bet at that price for the title…at 1/5 the odds 1,2,3.they should manage one of the slots on the podium ..still plenty of time to reel in the squads that are in front of them yet….