Scottish Premier League Week 4 Preview

Scottish Premier League - Week 4 Preview

Outstanding weekend last week when the four tips all saluted, plus the tweeted u2.5 goals for the Aberdeen/Celtic game. Hope you followed the tips! (with perhaps a multi?)
This week we’re back to a full fixture, seeing all 12 teams in action.
As always, I have highlighted the better bets but a preview is provided for all games.

Celtic v Dundee United (Celtic @ $1.25, Celtic HT/FT Double @ $1.67)

Celtic are simply too good for the SPL. Celtic should accrue (and surpass) 100 points by the end of the season. They have far too many attacking options, are very strong in midfield and their defence is definitely good enough to withstand any SPL teams. The loss of Emilio Izaguirre is huge, but will affect them more in Europe than domestically.
Dundee United are a pretty decent team. The loss of Goodwillie definitely hurts, but they have options to provide the goals. They were lucky to draw with St Mirren last week, and that in itself is another reason they have no chance here. Load up on the Celtic win, and also the half-time/full-time double!

St Mirren v Motherwell (Draw @ $3.25)

This is a very interesting encounter. St Mirren have been outstanding so far this season. One win and two draws. For mine, they are somewhat unlucky they do not have 3 wins.
Motherwell have also looked good so far this year, and sit atop the SPL table. This has been mainly due to the rising star Jamie Murphy who has been outstanding. They were a touch lucky to get a win against Hearts last week (Hearts were down to 10 men before M’well took over).
If Hasselbaink was playing (suspended) I would have happily taken (and loaded up on) St Mirren to win, however, in his absence I’ll have to go with the draw.

Hearts v Aberdeen (Hearts @ $1.70)

Am leaning towards Hearts in this one. I really cannot see where Aberdeen’s goals will ever come from. While I think Hearts have taken a backwards step following the sacking of Jim Jefferies, they still have too many options. They were decent last week against Motherwell (until going to 10-men) and I think that form is more than good enough here.

Inverness CT v Rangers (Rangers @ $1.38)

This is the early game on Saturday. I’ve tossed and turned with this game. I still do not believe Inverness are travelling that badly, and it is common knowledge Rangers aren’t travelling that well. Inverness will be missing a few players for the game though and I think it would be just about sackable if McCoist could not get the 3 points here on that basis. If Inverness were fully fit, I’d probably be tipping a draw (may have a couple of dollars on that anyway).
The $1.38 for a Rangers win is hardly the right odds though. Hmmm…a draw for $4.35…

Kilmarnock v Hibernian (Kilmarnock @ $2.38)

This is a tricky game with both teams having last weekend off from SPL action. Killie have looked okay so far this season (including draws against Dundee United and Motherwell). Hibs have looked pretty ordinary in their two games, a loss to Celtic and a very very lucky win at Inverness. I have Hibs finishing in the bottom 3 this season.
So I’ve changed my mind just now to the Killie win! (originally thought a draw – oh don’t come back an haunt me!)

Other Game

St Johnstone v Dunfermline (Draw @ $3.25, Dunfermline @ $4)

Not confident about this one but have concluded the draw is the way to go. Cannot possibly back St Johnstone as $1.85 favourites, and was leaning to a Dunfermline win initially. The $4 on offer for a Pars win is outstanding odds, and worth a dollar or two.
St Johnstone did not play last weekend, and their form so far has been inconclusive (poor home draw, then okay at times in a 2-0 loss at home to a struggling Rangers). Dunfermline are the newly-promoted side that are still finding their way in the SPL. They did look fairly decent, and managed to score 3, in last week’s game at home to Inverness.

@wiggum7534