Ladbrokes League 1: Goals Galore as Airdrie travel to Dunfermline

Airdrieonians have their hands full when they make the journey to East End Park, to face the hot-shots of Dunfermline.

However, they have started the season well and boast a decent goal scoring record themselves. This eagerly anticipated clash could well be a humdinger, with plenty of goal action.

Elsewhere, top of the table Ayr host Peterhead, hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself. There is also a basement battle between Brechin and Cowdenbeath. Albion hope to edge out mid-table rivals Stenhousemuir, and finally Forfar hope to get back to winning ways against Stranraer.

Here’s your weekend preview…

Albion v Stenhousemuir

Both teams find themselves locked on ten points apiece, as encouraging starts see them in mid-table positions.

The hosts picked up an impressive first away win at Stranraer last weekend and this is a fixture where they have excelled in recent times. The Wee Rovers have won five of the last seven meetings, including the last three in-a-row.

Stenny will be reeling from a humbling 5-0 home defeat at the hands of the free scoring Dunfermline. The Warriors haven’t travelled well this season, only picking up a single point on the road, and went down to heavy 4-1 and 5-2 defeats in their last two away games.

The Coatbridge outfit have picked up a couple of wins at Cliftonhill already, and look well placed to make it a hat-trick in a keenly contested match.

Best Bet – Albion to win by 1 Goal at 16/5

Ayr v Peterhead

Ayr United were the latest side to take over at the top of the Ladbrokes League 1 table. The Honest Men are on an impressive run of results, with back-to-back away victories over fellow top four sides Dunfermline and Airdrie.

Ian McCall’s side recorded a thumping 5-2 win in their last league game at Somerset Park, and will be confident of another three points here.

Visiting Peterhead make the long journey south to Ayrshire low in confidence. The men from Balmoor are winless in four, and suffered a humbling defeat at home to basement boys Brechin last time out.

The only encouragement for the Blue Toon is their impressive record at Somerset Park down the years.

Incredibly the 14 meetings between the pair at this ground have yielded only two home wins, and the Highlanders have escaped with all three points on six separate occasions.

With this record in mind, and the fact the there appears to be a new leader every weekend, there could well be a shock on the cards in this one.

Best Bet – Peterhead Draw No Bet at 9/5

Brechin v Cowdenbeath 

Both these sides may be struggling at the foot of the table, but they picked up morale boosting and shock wins last time out.

Brechin claimed their first points of the season in a 3-2 away win at Peterhead, to ease the pressure on gaffer Darren Dods.

His side will be looking to build on this positive result, as they attempt to climb off bottom spot and give the loyal Glebe Park support something to cheer. In their four home games this season, they have lost them all and conceded 13 goals in the process.

Cowdenbeath were winless in three heading into a match against leaders Forfar, but the Blue Brazil upset the odds and the form book to record a much needed home win.  The visitors have yet to pick up a point away from their Central Park home, and a few of the defeats have been by eye watering margins, 4-2, 5-1 and 7-1.

The last meeting between the pair ended in a draw, and this one could follow a similar script.

Best Bet – Draw at 13/5

Dunfermline v Airdrieonians 

Two of the biggest names in the division go head-to-head, as the goal machines Dunfermline host fourth placed Airdrieonians in the game of the weekend. Goals look to be guaranteed as the nation’s top scorers face the highly competitive visitors.

The Pars were the only League 1 side in midweek action, and were forced to play an additional 30 minutes in an extra-time defeat at the hands of Dundee United. Providing this hasn’t taken too much out of their tank, they seem set to add to the astonishing total of 26 goals in their seven league games.

Airdrie’s four-game winning streak came to an end last weekend, as Ayr left the Excelsior with all three points. The Diamonds have both scored and conceded in their three away matches, and have found the net in all but one of their league matches to date, and this was in the opening fixture.

Both teams found the net in their three matches last term, and it is hard to see this not happening again here.

Best Bet – Both Teams to Score at 8/13

Forfar v Stranraer 

Forfar and Stranraer lock horns for the first time since the Championship play-offs in May. On that occasion it was the Loons who emerged victorious over the two legs, but suffered heart break in the final against Alloa to extend their stay in Ladbrokes League 1.

The Station Park outfit have put this set back behind them, as they aim to go one better this time round. They have opened the season with 13 points out of 21, and sit in third place, within touching distance of top spot. Dick Campbell’s men have lost two of their last three, but will be keen to get back on a positive run with this very winnable home fixture.

Stranraer are on a miserable run of form, which has seen them lose successive matches, and five of the last six in total. Brian Reid’s men are the division’s lowest scorers, with a poor disappointing return of five in seven

The score line was 3-0 when they last met in Angus, and with the gulf between the teams thus far this season,  it could be a similar margin of victory for Forfar here.

Best Bet – Forfar -1 at 37/20

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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