SlipsTips Tips: East Fife vs Dunfermline

SlipsTips returns to share a selection from the opening round of Scottish League Cup fixtures on Saturday.

East Fife vs Dunfermline (Saturday, 15:00)

Dunfermline Athletic make the short trip to East Fife on Saturday looking to make a winning start to their Scottish League Cup campaign.

The Pars endured a miserable season last time out, suffering relegation from the second tier via the Scottish Championship playoffs.

Similarly, East Fife have also dropped down a division, with Stevie Crawford’s side propping up the League One table last term.

Dunfermline are unsurprisingly short-priced 8/15 favourites here but can get some 42/41 (BetVictor) by backing the visitors to overcome a -1 hurdle on the Asian Handicap.

This selection means if the Pars prevail by two or more goals we will be paid out, if they win by a solitary strike then stakes are returned, and that looks like a nice angle of attack when you consider East Fife have seen no fewer than 19 players depart Bayview this summer.

Dunfermline, on the other hand, have managed to retain the bulk of their squad over the close season and are still very much a Championship standard team, not to mention they have made a couple eye-catching signings.

What’s more, there have been some encouraging signs in terms of the Pars’ attacking intent under new boss James McPake during pre-season.

The East End Park outfit recorded a 2-0 win at Cove Rangers a fortnight ago before cruising to an impressive 6-0 success at Forfar Athletic – a side amongst the frontrunners in the ante-post betting for the League Two title.

In contrast, East Fife head into their first competitive contest of the season off the back of a heavy 7-0 loss to Hearts and it's also worth noting that the hosts have failed to overcome both lowly Civil Service Strollers and Spartans in recent weeks.

With all this in mind, as well as the likelihood of Dunfermline being boosted by a large travelling support, backing the Pars to cover the -1 Asian handicap holds appeal at 42/41 (BetVictor).