SlipsTips has cast his eye over the latest slate of SPFL fixtures, sharing three selections from across the Scottish Championship and Scottish League One on Saturday.
Partick Thistle vs Ayr United (Saturday, 15:00)
Partick Thistle will be targeting a third Scottish Championship win in succession when they face Ayr United at Firhill on Saturday afternoon.
Kris Doolan’s third-placed side appear to be flirting with the idea of a late charge towards the title after putting Queen’s Park to the sword with a thumping 4-0 win last Friday night, in a game that brought up both of my bets.
As for Ayr United, their form is starting to look patchy, with their only win across their last four league games coming against basement boys Cove Rangers, and they could be susceptible to further wobbles in Glasgow’s west end.
Partick head into this third versus fourth clash as 21/20 (SkyBet) favourites and I’m prepared to back the home team to prevail at that price.
Jags legend Doolan has done a quietly impressive job since taking charge at Firhill with Thistle’s performance in last week’s pasting of Queen’s Park the pick of the bunch thus far.
That means the Maryhil outfit have yet to taste defeat on home turf under Doolan’s tutorship, having comfortably dispatched Raith Rovers and the Spiders either side of a stalemate with league leaders Dundee.
In fact, Partick Thistle have lost just once in nine outings since deciding to roll the dice with Doolan which is a stark contrast to Ayr United's form.
While the Honest Men have performed above expectations this season, they have started to wilt in the closing exchanges of the campaign, having won just three of their last 11 matches across all competitions.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Lee Bullen’s backline have demonstrated a fairly regular inability to keep the back door shut in recent times, with just three clean sheets to their name during the above-mentioned 11-game sample.
Given that in-form Thistle have racked up nine goals across their last two league games, they should have the tools to unlock Ayr United's defence, and that in turn makes the home team a tempting play at 21/20 (SkyBet)
On a similar line of thought to the above, I’ll also go with Partick Thistle to score two or more goals on Saturday at even-money with SkyBet.
The Jags are the joint-top scorers in the Scottish Championship at present and another double may be needed if they are to overcome the Somerset Park side.
Recommended Bets
- Partick Thistle to Win– 21/20 (SkyBet)
- Partick Thistle 2+ Goals – 1/1 (SkyBet)
Falkirk vs Airdrie (Saturday, 15:00)
Second meets third in Scottish League One on Saturday afternoon as Falkirk face off with Airdrie.
John McGlynn’s men cemented their place in second spot by snapping a four-game winless run with a well-deserved 2-1 at Montrose on Tuesday night.
Visiting side Airdrie are also course for the playoffs after making light work of the same opposition last weekend, as they earned a 3-0 win over the Gable Endies to bring up my Saturday selection.
It’s the Bairns who go into this bout as 17/20 (Bet 365) favourites but I fully expect this clash to be closer than the odds suggest with Both Teams to Score the more appealing play to support at 4/5 (Bet 365).
This fixture pits the two most potent attacks in the division against each other so there is plenty of scope for goals at the Falkirk Stadium on Saturday.
While these two teams are looking like shoe-ins for a top-four berth, both sides will be desperate to finish best of the rest as it would afford them home advantage in the second leg of a potential playoff semi-final between each other.
What’s more, Falkirk have only failed to score in three of their 16 Scottish League One home matches this season, while free scoring Airdrie have notched in 29 of their overall 32 league games this term, including 14 of their 16 road games.
It’s also worth pointing out that Both Teams to Score backers have been rewarded in 17 of the Bairns’ 32 third tier tussles this term, including each of their last two outings.
Rhys McCabe's men have also proven profitable for BTTS punters in recent times, with each team obliging in six of the Diamonds last nine league games.
With that in mind, coupled with the fact that the this bet has paid out in each of the last two meetings between the sides, going for goals at both ends here stands out at 4/5 (Bet 365).
Recommended Bet
- Both Teams to Score – 4/5 (Bet 365)
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