Scottish League One Play-Off Preview 2024/25
Craig Jones 
It's a focus on lower down the pyramid here with our exclusive Free Bets Scottish League One Play-Off preview as three League Two sides, plus Annan Athletic, battle it out for a place in League One.
Our resident Scottish expert Kai Watson is our man north of the border, with play-off previews coming thick and fast as he looks at the biggest stories in football betting to deliver his thoughts.
Want more from Kai? Well it's a busy week for him, with two play-off previews already released.
Kai also released his Scottish Championship play-off preview today, which you can read on site.
And yesterday, he released his Scottish Premiership play-off preview on site, looking at sides trying to make it into the top tier.
Scottish League One Play-Off Preview
The Scottish League One Play-Offs work exactly the same as the Scottish Championship Play-Offs. The ninth placed side from League One play the fourth placed side from League Two over two legs whilst third vs second in League Two contest the other Semi-Final.
Then that gives that two finalists who compete for the last available place in the Scottish League One next season.
Annan Athletic were the ninth placed side in League One and they will play Elgin City who finished fourth. The other Semi-Final will be second placed East Fife against third placed Edinburgh City.
Like most of the Play-Offs in Scotland, I would have the club from the league above, Annan in this case, as the favourites with East Fife being a relatively close second. They actually only finished one point behind champions Peterhead after The Blue Toon were hammered by Clyde on the final day.
Again, the Semi-Finals won’t be televised but both legs of the final will be free to watch on BBC Alba if you live in Scotland.
Scottish League One Play-Off Schedule
Let’s have a look at the schedule in full;
Tuesday May 6
William Hill League 1 play-off semi-finals, 1st leg
Elgin City v Annan Athletic
Edinburgh City v East Fife
Saturday May 10
William Hill League 1 play-off semi-finals, 2nd leg
Annan Athletic v Elgin City
East Fife v Edinburgh City
Tuesday May 13
William Hill League 1 play-off final, 1st leg
Lowest-ranked team at home in 1st leg
Live on BBC ALBA, kick-off 7.30pm
Friday May 16
William Hill League 1 play-off final, 2nd leg
Highest-ranked team at home in 2nd leg
Live on BBC ALBA, kick-off 7.30pm
The Contenders
Now we’ve had a look at the schedule, let’s have a look at the sides who will be competing in the League One Play-Offs this season;
Annan Athletic
Wullie Gibson’s side really struggled this season, both in conceding and scoring goals, struggling at both ends of the pitch tends to end in a relegation battle. They scored the third least goals in League One this season and conceded the most, ending on a horrendous -27 goal difference.
If they were as good away from home as they are at home they would have been safe this season. At home they finished seventh in the table, three points clear of ninth place. Away from home they did finish ninth in the table but would be bottom if it wasn’t for Dumbarton’s point deduction.
They conceded the most goals away from home, by seven, and scored the second least just in front of Queen of the South (who somehow feature in the Championship Play-Off article). Their main dangerman up top is Tommy Muir, who’s scored eleven this season but their next top scorers only have four and their highest assister is player-manager Wullie Gibson with five.
They’ve struggled against League One opposition but could be fine against League Two opponents.
East Fife
Dick Campbell’s side were the favourites to win the league for most of the season but a poor spell from the middle of February to the beginning of April scuppered their chances. They found their form again to end the season and finished joint top of the form table to end the season, winning three of their last five.
They had the joint best home record with champions Peterhead, scoring the most and conceding the least at The MGM Timber Bayview Stadium with an incredible +28 goal difference.
Alan Trouten was recently named League Two Player of the Year after 23G/4A in 33 appearances, incredible numbers and well deserved for the 39-year-old. He, alongside Nathan Austin, will cause big problems for Annan.
Dick Campbell is a manager with a plethora of experience in situations like this, I think they’ll face Annan in the final and it will be a very close affair.
Edinburgh City
Many may have thought that Edinburgh City would struggle after selling star striker Connor Young in January. The 20-year-old finished the season as their top goalscorer, by nine goals, but others stepped up in his place. Ouzy See (former Love Island contestant) ended the season very well, as did James Stokes and Innes Lawson.
Michael McIndoe will be heavily relying on those three in their quest for goals. Edinburgh City had the joint best away record in League Two this season with eventual champions Peterhead. However, in the home form table they only finished fifth which is probably why they weren’t closer to a title charge.
They play at home in the first leg so a positive result there would really give them confidence going into the second leg.
Personally, I think they’ll struggle to keep East Fife’s forward line quiet, despite winning the last meeting 5-2 at Meadowbank it was the only meeting they won between the sides this season. Here’s how the other games ended;
August - East Fife 2–0 Edinburgh City
January - Edinburgh City 2-4 East Fife
January - East Fife 4-1 Edinburgh City
As impressive a job as Michael McIndoe has done, I don’t think he’ll get the better of Dick Campbell in this one.
Elgin City
Allan Hale’s side 4-0 thumping of Peterhead on the final day of the season secured their place in the Play-Offs, not many better results you could ask for at that level. However, they are definitely the outsiders here, in my opinion at least.
Their top goalscorer is Russell Dingwall with nine goals and the next top scorers have six goals. They do have three players in double figures for G/A, with Dingwall ending the season with 9G/4A, Dayshonne Golding with 6G/4A and Mark Gallagher with 5G/5A. They play well as a team and have goal contributions coming from all over the pitch but will it be enough?
They had the third best defensive record in the league this season but finished joint sixth in terms of goals scored. Their home form is what led them to the Play-Offs with only the top two having better records at their home grounds. Away from home they were joint fourth in the table but only managed to score 13 goals in 18 matches.
They also enter the Play-Offs in poor form, sitting eight in the form table having won two and lost three of their last five matches.
As previously mentioned, I think they are massive outsiders and would be shocked if they knocked out Annan.
Who is your favourite to take the final League One spot for the 25/26 season?
If you're looking for more Scottish Football then be sure to head over to Kai Watson's Scottish Football Tips page, where he details his best bets throughout the season for us.
He will have more content coming for the second legs of the playoffs, later in the week.
