THE only online bookmaker listing first-scorer prices on all SPFL games are McBookie .com.
It’s a great service they provide and we’ve teamed up with the Scots firm to look at some of the best bets from Scotland as the three lower leagues return to action.
Here is McBookie.com’s Damian Walker with his latest selections.
He says: “James Tavernier at 6-1 did the business for the column prior to the international break so it would be great to build on that now we have the full Scottish leagues back this weekend.
“I’ve been itching for the lower leagues to return as this is where I find most of my bets. First up in the Championship I think Queen of the South will be big strugglers this season. In fact I think they will finish bottom.
“The Doonhamers haven’t set the world alight with their recruitment to the squad in the break and I suspect the prolific Stephen Dobbie will struggle to live up to his incredible efforts of the past few seasons now he is approaching 38 years of age.
“Dobbie’s goals have played a huge part in Queen of the South maintaining their Championship status but I think they will need to rely less on him and I don’t see them scoring enough to stay up.
“They face a tough opener away to Ayr who ought to have another solid season ahead of them and comfortably finish in the top six.
“Dobbie and fellow player Willie Gibson will be in charge after manager Allan Johnston and his entire coaching staff were forced to isolate after a positive test.
“I think 4-5 about the Honest Men looks fair and I would have them more like 8-13 for this game.
“Aberdeen’s Bruce Anderson could be a tremendous loan signing at Somerset Park and scored two goals on his only outing in the League Cup.
“Anderson had a good goals-to-games ratio on loan at Dunfermline and he could be value at 5-1 with McBookie for the first goal.
“In League Two I have been impressed with the recruitment made by Stenhousemuir and McBookie had no hesitation in making them clear second favourites for the title despite their eighth placing some 26 points behind runners-up Edinburgh City in the 2019-20 campaign.
“The Warriors look especially strong going forward and I expect this team to score a lot of goals. And I’d go as far to say Stenhousemuir look a fantastic price at 23-20 away to Albion Rovers who look to have another tough season ahead.
“Greig Spence still has plenty of years ahead of him at 28 years of age and looks sure to play a big part this season. McBookie have him at 11-2 to score the opening goal of the game and that looks fair.
“Finally staying in League Two and Cowdenbeath have done extremely well in their three League Cup games against Premiership, Championship and League One opposition.
“And they finally get a level playing field on Saturday when they meet League Two opposition in the shape of Annan. The Galabankies don’t look to have strengthened their squad and I like the look of 13-10 about Cowdenbeath at home.
“David Cox has 17 goals in 57 games for Cowdenbeath which isn’t a bad strike rate given they have been at the wrong end of League Two for most of that time.”
Damian's Diamonds
- Anderson (Ayr) 5-1
- Spence (Stenny) 11-2
- Cox (Cowdenbeath) 10-1
In December 2020 we sadly 
