ABERDEEN have not exactly been the punters' friend this season with inconsistent displays all term. But they can get the job done against a St Mirren side in freefall.
Last season's third-place side have yet to put together any sort of run this campaign and appears to have been badly hampered by the additional strain and stress of European group-stage football, just as Hearts were last season.
The curious thing that as bad as some of their performances in the league have been, they didn't turn in a really bad one in Europe where they scored in all eight games and even beat Eintracht Frankfurt in an admittedly dead rubber last tie in the Europa Conference League.
The Dons were their own worst enemy in the Viaplay Cup Final against a Rangers side who were there for the taking. But it took them to go a goal down before they woke up from their slumbers and they failed to even muster a shot on target at Hampden, which is criminal.
It's unlikely current boss Barry Robson will ever win the fans back, but they are desperate to put together a run of form. All season Robson has whined about not having the time to work with his players, but has now had a break after two postponed games.
They face a Saints side who have scored in just one game out of their last seven and are particularly bad travellers despite an excellent start to the season.
And Aberdeen should add to their Festive gloom at evens with a win at Pittodrie.
PETERHEAD are surely just about the most solid shout on the card at 4/6 to win at struggling Elgin City.
It's hard to see Elgin maintain their Scottish League status after a turbulent campaign and they are now managed by ex-Huntly boss Allan Hale – the club's fourth manager in nine months.
They have now conceded ten goals in their last three games without scoring and the Blue Toon should get the job done.
DUMBARTON should have too much for Stranraer in League Two at 11/10.
The Sons have plenty of goals in them – they have scored 13 in four games – and only lost once in their last eight games to leaders Stenhousemuir.
Stranraer have won one in seven and were well beaten last week by Spartans.
SPFL Betting Tips
ABERDEEN evens
PETERHEAD 4/6
DUMBARTON 11/10.
Freelance Scottish Football journalist for all newspapers. Former Racing Post Scottish Football Correspondent and long-suffering Aberdeen fan.
