While all eyes are on the international scene Mark Walker focuses on the Scottish lower leagues for his best bets this weekend.
Ayr Utd v Partick Thistle
PARTICK THISTLE proved they are serious Championship contenders with last week's win at title favourites Kilmarnock and they can keep the good times going at Firhill with a victory at Ayr United.
Ian McCall takes his Jags side back to his former club and there's extra spice with former Thistle hero Jim Duffy now in charge of Ayr, of course.
Thistle have seen plenty of money trickling in for them this week and they have been cut to 7/5 and that's not surprising given they have kept four clean sheets in a row, The last goal they conceded was against Hamilton…but Thistle rattled in six!
They beat Ayr 4-1 in Glasgow just over a month ago and in Brian Graham and Zak Rudden, have arguably the best strikeforce in the league.
Ayr have had one win in seven and that was at home to struggling Queen of the South and the Maryhill Magyars should get the better of the Honest Men.
Morton v Kilmarnock
Morton chalked up a fine win last week at Dunfermline, but KILMARNOCK should be too strong for them this week at Cappielow.
Killie were beaten by Thistle last week and will be desperate to make amends for that.
Tommy Wright's side have lost three league games this season – all at Rugby Park. They seem to do their best work on the road where they are unbeaten, having won four of their six games away from home.
In contrast, Morton have yet to win in Greenock all season in the league and the Ayrshire side should be too strong for the hosts, whose two wins in the Championship this season both came away from Inverclyde. Evens is a fair price for Killie.
Forfar Ath v Kelty Hearts
Finally, take a chance on FORFAR ATHLETIC inflicting Kelty Hearts' first league defeat of the season at New Central Park.
Forfar are going great guns having chalked up four wins in a row in all competitions. They held Kelty to a 2-2 draw at Station Park earlier this season.
Kevin Thomson's big-spending Kelty narrowly edged out bottom dogs Cowdenbeath last week, but it took a defensive error for them to score late on.
They've drawn two of their last four home league games and appear to have slowed down from their swashbuckling early season form.
And the 17/4 for Forfar looks too big to pass up.
Scottish Tips
- Partick Thistle 7/5 McBookie
- Kilmarnock evens McBookie
- Forfar Athletic 17/4 McBookie
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
