Ladbrokes SPFL: Wins for St Mirren and Dumfermline on the cards
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The disjointed fixture list continues throughout the Ladbrokes SPFL with a full Championship card being backed up by a pair of fixtures from both League 1 and League 2.
Rangers’ hold on the top spot of the second tier of Scottish football doesn’t look quite so secure anymore, while the pursuit for the play-off spots in the bottom two divisions has never looked hotter.
Here are our tips for the nine fixtures outside of the Premiership this weekend.
Alloa v Dumbarton
Defeat won’t be an option for Athletic who know that losing to the Sons could put them nine points adrift at the bottom of the table.
Their recent form doesn’t hint of a revival, with Danny Lennon’s men losing their last six matches scoring just one goal, and picking up just one point from their seven home games this term.
Luckily for them Dumbarton aren’t exactly free-scorers either, drawing a blank in four of their last five fixtures on the road.
Falkirk v Livingston
The Bairns are well and truly keeping pressure on the top two in the Ladbrokes Championship, although dropping two points in their last match won’t have been in the plan.
They’ve been firing in front of goal as well, netting two or more in their last six in all competitions, totalling 18 strikes.
Opponents Livi have been very in-and-out, following up two wins with a pair of defeats and then an excellent point at Ibrox. But with just two clean sheets in their last 17, they could be on the end of defeat again.
Greenock Morton v Hibernian
Hibs boss Alan Stubbs has been talking up the threat that Morton present and it’s easy to see why with the Ton unbeaten in five games in all competitions.
That is however usurped by the Leith outfit’s return of 14 wins in their last 15 fixtures that sees them constantly hounding Mark Warburton’s men above them.
Their opponents have only conceded one first half goal in their last seven matches in all competitions, so expect the hosts to keep it tight early before trying to nick it in the latter stages.
Raith Rovers v Rangers
Winless in two on the road, it’s all gone pear-shaped for Rangers. Well, by their standards at least.
Defeat to Hibs and a draw away at Livingston show that the Gers can be stopped, though whether Raith are capable of taking anything from this fixture is open to debate.
You can probably bank on goals at Stark’s Park though, with Rovers finding the back of the net in 23 of their last 24 fixtures in front of their home fans, while their Glaswegian visitors haven’t failed to score all season.
St Mirren v Queen of the South
Inconsistency sees St Mirren hovering above the relegation play-off place after a start to the season that Buddies fans wouldn’t have been expecting.
It’s a similar case of not being able to string a run together for Queens, with a promotion play-off spot eluding them at this point of the campaign.
With neither side inspiring a whole lot of confidence, picking a winner will be tough, but with the Dumfries outfit losing their last four visits to St Mirren Park, history doesn’t speak kindly of their chances.
Albion Rovers v Stranraer
Rovers have been flying high of late in League 1, closing the gap on the top two with their home form to thank after winning five of their last seven in front of their own fans.
Their visitors haven’t enjoyed the sweet taste of league success in two months now and find themselves in a dog-fight at the bottom of the table.
Three of their four wins have come on the road this season, so they could cause an upset, but with just one of Albion’s last home games seeing three or more goals, it could be a tight one.
Dunfermline v Brechin City
Brechin threatened to mount a climb up the table with a win over Forfar before securing a draw against Albion, but two defeats has put them back in the mire.
As for the Pars, the goals may have dried up in November somewhat, but Allan Johnston’s men are still solid title favourites this term.
Where they have continued to impress has been at the back, conceding just one goal in their last seven games in the league, indicating it could be a miserable day for the visiting City.
East Stirling v Clyde
Clyde are flying of late, winning their last three matches in League 2, bagging 12 goals in the process to keep the pressure on league leaders Annan.
The Bully Wee were rewarded for an excellent November with manager Barry Ferguson and midfielder David Gormley picking up the Ladbrokes Manager and Player of the Month awards.
Opponents East Stirling are more than capable of ending that run but with 30 goals in the two sides’ last three fixtures combined, it could be a better bet to assume that both goalkeepers will be very busy at Ochilview.
Stirling Albion v Elgin City
Elgin have been involved in three thrillers of late, with two 4-2 scorelines following a 3-2 victory over Annan, and will be looking to their prowess in the attacking third to stop the march of Stirling.
Albion have lost just one of their last six league games and can get to within two points of Saturday’s opponents with a win at Forthbank.
And while City are sitting pretty in third, their away form has been dire, losing seven of their last nine matches on the road. It could be that their play-off spot is looking a little more precarious come 5pm.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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