HIBS have turned what looked to be a car crash season around and continue their quest to challenge Hearts for an unlikely third-placed spot with a win at Livingston.
Lee Johnson was a man under serious pressure just a few weeks ago after a couple of humblings by Hearts inside a couple of weeks and when they played Aberdeen at Easter Road it looked like a toss-up between who would be sacked first between Johnson and Jim Goodwin.
Hibs' 6-0 annihilation of Aberdeen meant it was Goodwin hopping over the advertising boards to oblivion…or Tannadice apparently and the Leith side have gone from strength to strength since that romp.
They have won three out of their last four games and conceded just once. One of those games was a victory at St Mirren – something very few teams including the Old Firm can say they've done this season.
The Tony Macaroni Arena is a notoriously horrible place to go, but David Martindale's side are in something of a sticky patch after three defeats in a row and they have only scored in one of their last six games. Hibs look good value at 29/20.
ROSS COUNTY produced the easiest winner of the season here last week when they dismantled Dundee United and they can get the better of Motherwell at home again this week at 6/4.
Stuart Kettlewell has yet to taste defeat yet since he got the Well gig, but Kilmarnock should have been out of sight last week against them before conceding a last-minute equaliser.
Kettlewell will have a point to prove returning to his former club where he was sacked, but Malky Mackay's team are strong at home and this is another six-pointer.
They were helped considerably last week by a United team who had chucked it, but they should be full of confidence here and will be desperate to avenge a crushing 5-0 defeat in Dingwall by the same club – a fact Mackay will have drilled into them this week.
AYR UNITED'S form has dipped recently at the wrong time, but they should have enough to get them back on track at home at 17/20 to crisis club Caley Thistle.
Inverness' future was placed in jeopardy this week after more dire financial results and their fans were chanting against manager Billy Dodds despite a creditable draw at Dundee last week.
They have only won two league games since October and Ayr have had precious little luck recently in front of goal. It's a matter of time before Dipo Akinyemi and co. start scoring again.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- HIBS 29/20
- ROSS COUNTY 6/4
- AYR UNITED 17/20
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
