SlipsTips examines the Bet Builder market ahead of Livingston's Scottish Premiership encounter with Hibernian on Saturday.
Livingston vs Hibernian (Saturday, 15:00)
Livingston will be desperately looking to arrest their downward slide when they welcome Hibernian to the Tony Macaroni Arena in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.
David Martindale’s side have long punched above their weight in the Scottish top-flight but their current six-game losing streak has seen them tumble to the bottom of the table.
Hibs, on the other hand, have shown signs of improvement under Nick Montgomery to move up to fifth spot in the standings, though their three-game winning run came grinding to a halt in a 4-1 hammering at Celtic midweek.
While a trip to basement boys Livingston represents a good opportunity for Hibs to get on track, I’m going to bypass the 1×2 market and instead head to Sky Bet's BuildABet feature.
Combining a minimum of one Hibs goal alongside 20+ Livingston Booking points will bring about an enticing 5/6 (SkyBet) play.
Livingston’s success in recent season's has stemmed from a solid defensive foundation but those standards have slipped this term, with the Lions earning just two clean sheets across their opening 14 league games of the season.
In fact, David Martindale's side have silenced their opponents in just nine of their last 52 Scottish top-flight assignments, which doesn’t augur well ahead of a visit from a Hibs side who have been upwardly-mobile under Nick Montgomery’s management.
Only Celtic and Rangers have beaten the Hibees across their last 13 league matches, not to mention the capital club are the division’s top scoring side outside of the Old Firm.
With that in mind, coupled with the fact that Livingston have leaked at least one goal in 13 of their last 14 matches across all competitions, I’m more than happy to back Hibs to strike at least once once on Saturday.
To bolster the odds, I’ll also back relegation-threatened Livingston to pick up at least 20+ Booking Points during this Tony Mac tussle.
David Martindale’s Lions are averaging in the region of 2.5 yellow cards per-game in the Scottish Premiership this season and I see no reason to oppose that trend on an afternoon where a bumper Hibs away support could impose influence over referee Grant Irvine.
This particular Bet Builder would have proved profitable in nine of Livi’s 14 league games this season so far – one of which was against Hibs in the reverse fixture – and siding with the same wager in West Lothian this weekend looks the way to go at 5/6 (SkyBet).
Recommended Bet
- Hibs 1+ Goal
- Livingston 20+ Booking Points
- Bet Builder – 5/6 (SkyBet)