There’s no hiding from what was a bad Saturday for us last week. Aberdeen surprisingly lost at home to a rejuvenated Inverness while we were undone by a poor refereeing decision at Perth when St Johnstone defender Steven Anderson was wrongly sent off in the first half thus costing us any chance of a clean sheet. Since then the red card has been downgraded to yellow but is obviously no use to us now!!
There are a few bets to go at this weekend!
Premier League
Ross County (-1 Asian) to beat Hearts
The Staggies have been transformed since the start of the year with major personnel changes to the team which has seen half the normal starting XI replaced by new players.
One in particular Filip Kiss a Slovakian on loan from Cardiff has made a major impact with three goals in his first three games for the club.
This is a player capable of the spectacular highlighted in last week’s 3-0 win over Dundee United where he fired a strike in from 35 yards out. County seem to have tightened things up in defence too and have won three of their last four since the turn of the year.
I don’t have to tell you any more about the problems Hearts have and it’s worse tomorrow with key player Ryan Stevenson suspended and the experienced Jamie Hamill doubtful.
I see the worse case scenario as a narrow one goal victory for County which would at least return stakes.
League 1
Dunfermline Draw No Bet to beat Brechin
The Pars suffered a blip last week in a home defeat against Airdrie but I expect them to bounce back on the road again where results have been better. Dunfermline have won seven from ten away which have included wins at tricky venues in Stranraer, Ayr and Stenhousemuir. This is a fit young team with some good players who are really championship level and who possess a never say die attitude, turning games around in the second half on several occasions this season. I was impressed by their fitness and all round play in a recent 3-0 win at Arbroath.
Brechin can be good on their day but you never seem to know when that day will be. This is a team with good players at this level especially in the forward areas and possibly in confident mode after two victories on the road. However the hedgemen’s last two games at Glebe Park has seen them lose to Stenhousemuir and more recently to neighbours Forfar when they were thrashed 5-1. A repeat of either of these performances will see the the fifers emerge from Angus with all three points.
Forfar to beat East Fife
Forfar have beaten East Fife on all three occasions this season and I see more of the same in Methil this weekend. The Loons are playing reasonably well at the moment and have picked up some good results on the road namely that 5-1 win at Brechin and a fine draw down at Dunfermline.
The forwards are playing well with the likes of Swankie, Templeman and especially Hilson all producing plenty in recent weeks and I see them again having success on the good pitch at New Bayview.
Despite having some good players at their disposal East Fife have struggled this season and their only recent win has come at bottom of the table Airdrie. The Fifers lack punch going forward but have added a couple of new players who should improve things but I still see them continuing to struggle against a team who seem to have their number this season.
Rangers to win to nil v Arbroath
The Gers have been better defensively away from home where they’ve only conceded in one match but I think they’ll be solid enough to keep out the Red Lichties tommorrow. Arbroath did score at Ibrox earlier in the season but have since lost a couple of decent forwards in Steven Milne and Lee Erskine and results on the road have been dire to say the least.
Rangers are usually reliable enough especially against teams from the lower half of the league and having seen Arbroath several times this season I don’t think they have enough going forward to trouble the Ibrox rearguard.
Happy punting this weekend.
