Scottish Premier League Week 5 Preview (@Wiggum7534)

Scottish Premier League - Week 5 Preview

Another outstanding weekend last week for the SPL bets, 8 of the 9 bets coming home – with, again, a last minute goal costing us a clean sweep.

Another full schedule of games on the weekend – three games Saturday, three games Sunday. Important to note Celtic, Hearts and Rangers are all playing on Thursday night (Friday morning AEST) in Europe.

As always, I have highlighted the better bets below, but a preview is provided for all games.

Motherwell v Rangers (Draw @ $3.50, Motherwell @ $5.50)

When I saw these odds go up I think I fainted. Motherwell, the top of the table team who have not yet conceded a goal, paying $5.50 the win? $3.50 the draw? Rangers, with all their injury woes plus their inability to find fluent football or form, paying $1.57 the win?
Needless to say I have dived very heavily into the draw and the Motherwell win. The draw is probably the most likely outcome for mine, but I cannot pass up the opportunity to get $5.50 for Motherwell when they are playing the type of football they are playing. Yes, I know they haven’t been fully tested by either of the Old Firm as yet, but they are definitely the in-form team.
In addition to this, Rangers have a tricky trip to Slovenia to get over during the week. I see them fatigued and, possibly, carrying more injuries into this game.
Very confident of these two bets. Cannot see Rangers winning this.

Celtic v St Johnstone (Celtic @ $1.18, Celtic HT @ $1.57)

I’m not convinced Celtic have yet found their proper form, yet they are still too good for the SPL. They do have injury worries and their defence looks incredibly fragile (will probably back Sion in their Europa League game), but they destroyed a quality SPL team last weekend in Dundee Utd. Yes the scoreline flattered them, but they are still too good with too many attacking options. They will own at least 65% of the ball in this one.
St Johnstone lost at home to Dunfermline last week, and they did not look overly good in the process. I’m leaning to a 2-0 or 3-0 Celtic win.
Note: Amusingly, Celtic to lead at half time and full time is only $1.50. Odd!

Dundee United v Dunfermline (Dundee United @ $1.70)

Finally a Saturday game to preview. Dundee United were embarrassed by a 5-1 score line last week in a horrible loss at Celtic Park. The loss wasn’t as bad as it appeared on paper as Dundee United had decent opportunities. They return home this week against a Dunfermline side that is travelling okay.
The Pars won away to St Johnstone last week, but I do not see a repeat result this week. The Pars are definitely not in Dundee United’s class and I do expect the home side to triumph comfortably.

Hibs v St Mirren (St Mirren @ $3.40, Draw @ $3.25)

Hibs are awful. Really awful. Its not just the fact that they are struggling for form, leadership from their manager etc, it is also that watching their last game against Killie, half the time players were not running back, there was no urgency (despite being smashed) and they generally spent most of their time complaining to each other.
St Mirren are one of the better teams in the SPL this season, and I have them sneaking into a top 6 finish (at this stage anyway). They were incredibly unlucky not to draw with Motherwell and that is the best form at this stage of the season.
On that basis I will take the St Mirren win, while saving on the draw.

Other Games

Aberdeen v Inverness (Draw @ $3.20)

An interesting fixture. In general I lean to Inverness with the win. They have not been that bad in any of their games, and are able to find the back of the net.
Aberdeen are the only team in the SPL that has failed to score a goal. They do return home here and unless they wish to be relegated, this is the sort of game they should at least get a point out of. For that reason only, I am taking the draw with this one.

Kilmarnock v Hearts (Draw @ $3.20)

Not massively confident here. Killie were outstanding against Hibs last week, while Hearts are a quality side. Hearts do, however, have a midweek European venture against Tottenham (what an absolute cracker that will be!) which I suspect will take a lot out of them.
Killie could possibly win this but I’ll be taking the draw at nice odds. Killie play a sensational style of football that other teams in the SPL could learn a lot from.


@Wiggum7534