5 Ladbrokes SPFL players on fine form ahead of the break

After a flurry of fantastic games throughout August, the Ladbrokes SPFL takes a breather this weekend as Scotland head to Malta for the first of their World Cup 2018 qualifiers.

That means it’s time to give a shout out to the players across all three divisions who have really made the difference as their clubs look to dominate. And we start with the midfield maestro who has returned to Tayside…

Willo Flood (Dundee United)

With the Tangerines netting five times in their last two games, there’s no doubt who has helped deliver United’s *ahem* flood of goals, including a pair against a Raith Rovers side who hadn’t conceded more than once in any of their previous seven games this season.

The Irish midfielder, who spent two impressive years at Tannacide from 2011-13, has come back with a bang, with an incisive close-range finish against Ayr and a thunderous strike against Rovers taking his tally to two in two.

He’s also shown some slick passing since his return, bamboozling defences across the Ladbrokes Championship and chalking up a few assists in the process. If he keeps that form up, the 9/2 for United to win the title could prove to be fantastic value.

Derek Lyle (Queen of the South)

While most strikers see their goalscoring prowess gradually fade as their career reaches its twilight years, the 35-year-old is improving year on year – and recent form suggests this could be the most prolific season of the former Cowdenbeath man’s career.

Lyle has netted three times in his last trio of Ladbrokes Championship games, including a headed winner at Dunfermline Athletic which summed up the poacher’s instinct the Doonhamers star possesses.

Possessing real quality on the ball, as well as a knack for getting on the end of crosses, QotS’ recent good form can largely be attributed to their veteran goal machine.

Jim Goodwin (Alloa Athletic)

It’s fair to say Goodwin doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, as a player who does the unglamorous bits of the game with tireless energy and intelligent reading of the game.

A genuine ‘competitor’, the former Republic of Ireland international demolished the Stranraer midfield in a blistering performance as the Wasps raced into a 5-1 half-time lead at Stair Park.

And the 34-year-old seems to have set the example taken up by his teammates, with Alloa’s displays this season signalling a battling quality we saw little of at the Indodrill Stadium last year.

Bobby Linn (Arbroath)

When Ladbrokes News spoke to the Red Lichties hitman last month, he was lamenting a series of frustrating draws, but back-to-back victories over Elgin City and Stirling Albion have boosted the Angus’ outfit’s promotion hopes.

Linn has been a huge part of that upturn in form, netting a fantastic hat-trick last weekend as Arbroath came from behind to produce a thunderous 5-3 victory over the Binos.

Having tirelessly led the line at Borough Briggs the previous weekend, the striker has played an integral part in getting those odds of a League 2 title win cut from a pre-season 9/1 to just 7/2.

Kevin Walker (Berwick Rangers)

Edinburgh City were a whisker away from their first points against the Wee Rangers, with only a string of fantastic saves from Walker denying the hosts in a 2-1 victory for the Borderers.

And it’s no surprise Jim Coughlin’s men have the equal best defensive record in Ladbrokes League Two right now, with the talented stopper the first man to keep Annan Athletic from scoring in a league game since December 2015.

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