Scottish Football Tips: Kai Watson's Best Bets, February 21
It's another busy weekend of action in the SPFL with a full round of fixtures to enjoy, and Kai Watson, our Free Bets Scottish football expert, is back looking at five games north of the border.
Scottish Football Tips
Here are Kai's five standout football betting tips for the weekend, featuring the best odds from top UK betting sites to help you get maximum value on your bets.
Hearts vs Falkirk - Both teams to score
Just over a month ago this exact fixture took place in the Scottish Cup. It was an excellent cup tie which many would have anticipated given the style and confidence both sides were playing with. It was Falkirk who took the lead through new signing Ben Parkinson who came off of the bench to score an excellent poacher's finish.
John McGlynn’s side looked like they were going through until, just four minutes from time, Hearts won a penalty and, as expected, Lawrence Shankland slotted it home to equalise. There were no further goals in extra time so on to penalties it went! Both teams scored their first three before Elton Kabangu stepped up for Hearts fourth but he couldn’t hold his nerve and missed.
Falkirk’s goalscorer had the chance to become a hero as he stepped up to take their fifth penalty and he duly dispatched it and out went the league leaders. Hearts have won both of the previous league meetings with an aggregate score of 5-0 with the latest being a controversial 2-0 win at the Falkirk Stadium in December.
Falkirk play aesthetically pleasing football but, in recent months, they’ve managed to start getting good results to go along with their impressive style of play. They create a lot of chances from wide areas and Barney Stewart looks like a player that has always played in the Premiership.
The last two meetings between the two have been good games and I expect more of the same on Saturday, I’m looking forward to this one!
Dundee United vs Kilmarnock - Draw or Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock were excellent in the first half against Celtic like Sunday and fully deserved the 2-0 lead that they had. Neil McCann had them playing aggressively and full of confidence, their play in the first 45 resembled the early days of Motherwell under Jens Berthel Askou, which is a positive sign.
The second half collapse was predictable, especially with Celtic scoring so early into the half but McCann will be massively disappointed with their defence efforts for all three goals considering how well they defended in the first half.
Tyreece John-Jules has been in excellent form, scoring five goals in the last two games and constantly looks a threat every time Kilmarnock move forward.
Dundee United had lost their last four league games in a row before winning against Falkirk last weekend. It was a win marred in controversy due to the Falkirk red card but Jim Goodwin won’t care about that and they also won their cup replay against Spartans, despite another controversial red card, this time for Dundee United.
They’ll be looking to build on those two wins but I think with how good Kilmarnock look going forward and how many goals Dundee United are conceding, thirteen in the last five league games, that they’ll struggle to keep Killie out.
Given the amount of goals in both teams' games recently, this could be an exciting one.
St Mirren vs Motherwell - Motherwell to win
Motherwell comfortably beat St. Mirren 2-0 in the last meeting at Fir Park which was revenge for their 4-1 hammering at Hampden in the League Cup Semi-Final. After an impressive win against ten man Hearts, St. Mirren have lost their last two and are in real danger of falling into the relegation play-off spot.
Motherwell are unbeaten in the league since defeat at Ibrox at the end of December and have won three of the last five. Jens Berthel Askou’s side also have the best defensive record in the league, only conceding 18 goals in their 26 matches so far.
They play the best football in the league, are really aggressive on and off the ball and will constantly put pressure on a St. Mirren defence who struggle to keep the opposition out. St. Mirren are also the joint lowest scorers in the league, only scoring 21 in 26, the same as Dundee.
Even with Motherwell playing away from home, I can’t see them coming away from Paisley with anything other than a win.
Queen’s Park vs Morton - Morton to win
Morton have been slowly climbing up the table under Ian Murray and now find themselves in fifth place, although sixth place Dunfermline have two games in hand. Queen’s Park had a huge victory against Ross County to take them off the bottom of the table, a brilliant recovery after losing 8-0 at Ibrox the previous week.
Morton are unbeaten in their last four and have only conceded two in those games with their last victory coming on Tuesday with an impressive 2-0 home win against Dunfermline. Queen’s Park are hitting better form at a great time in the season but I think Morton have enough in forward areas to cause them a lot of problems.
Curtis Main is a great Championship level striker and Eamonn Brophy has really picked up his form since the turn of the year. It will be a tight game at The City Stadium but I think Morton will continue their good form and make it three wins in their last five.
Stranraer vs Spartans - Both teams to score
This one could be a cracker and there’s massive pressure on Spartans for this one. East Kilbride have overtaken them at the top of the table even though they have two games in hand, Mick Kennedy’s side have won four in a row whereas Spartans have drawn their last two and only won two of their last five.
Stranraer are unbeaten in their last five but have only won one of those fixtures but looked comfortable in that last promotion play-off spot. Pressure is on them too considering both Forfar and Annan are only three points behind so a lot rides on this one for both teams!
It should be an exciting game at Stair Park and hopefully with plenty of goals!
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