Scottish Football Tips: Kai Watson's Best Bets, August 22
It's another busy weekend of Scottish football, with action throughout the SPFL, and our Free Bets Scottish football expert, Kai Watson, runs the rule over five matches north of the border.
Scottish Football Tips
Here are Kai's five top football betting tips for the weekend action, featuring the best odds from the top UK betting sites, ensuring you get maximum value on your bets.
Dundee United vs Dundee - Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals
The first Dundee derby of the season is actually the only Scottish Premiership match taking part this weekend!
With five clubs playing in Europe this week, they have postponed this weekend's matches ahead of MASSIVE second-leg ties next week. So that means the only interest in the top flight this weekend is in Dundee, no pressure.
These tend to either be really tense, boring fixtures or open with plenty of chances and goals. With how each club have started this season, I can see it being the latter. Dundee have really impressed me in both of their league fixtures so far.
They were brave against Celtic at Celtic Park, they pressed high, played out from the back and tried to get forward when they could. It was refreshing to see as not many teams, if any, domestically do that, never mind a team that finished in the bottom half last season!
It’s clear to see that Steven Pressley has instilled belief and confidence in his players and that was even more evident in the 2-0 win against Aberdeen at Dens Park a couple of weeks ago. However, a 3-0 defeat to their last league opponents in the League Cup was a bit of a reality check.
Dundee United were great against Rangers at Tannadice on the opening night, in a change of style they were building from the goalkeeper and were aggressive and brave both on and off the ball. The front three were relentless and didn’t let Rangers defenders or midfielders settle and they’ll feel unlucky that the game only finished 1-1.
Unfortunately though, they have been hammered in the following games since then, 4-0 against Hearts and the same result against Celtic, although they created plenty of chances in both games.
That’s why I think this game will be open and have plenty of goals. Both teams have created chances in their opening matches of the season and Dundee United have conceded goals for fun. It will be a brilliant atmosphere and the pressure will be on from the fans but this should be an exciting game!
Livingston vs Dunfermline - Both teams to score
Neither side have started the season the way they expected but these are still two sides who many predicted will be in and around the race for promotion. Glenn Whelan started the league campaign with a 2-0 win against Queen’s Park, who are expected to struggle this season.
Then they came up against another title favourite in Partick Thistle and were comfortably beaten 2-0 last Friday night, perhaps a reality check for the manager.
Neil Lennon will be disappointed that the Pars haven’t managed to win a game so far this season with an opening day draw to newly promoted Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Then last week they had a tough tie against high flying Ayr where they actually played really well and could have snuck a win.
Two teams looking to climb up the table and two teams that are expected to be near the top come the end of the season. It should be a tense game but I don’t think either will be able to keep the other out.
Raith Rovers vs Ayr United - Ayr United to win
Ayr United have been really impressive under Gary Naysmith in his first few months in charge. They opened the season with a comfortable 2-0 win against Arbroath who had a brilliant season last time out. Then, as mentioned previously, they drew with Dunfermline last time out but, away from home, that is a good result.
Raith currently sit level on points with Ayr because after an opening day 1-1 draw with Stenhousemuir they beat Queen’s Park 2-1 away from home last time out. They haven’t been overly convincing so far but Dougie Imrie has recruited well this summer.
Ayr took Kilmarnock to the wire in their League Cup fixture last time out and will perhaps count themselves unlucky not to at least get to extra-time. Ross Taylor has had a brilliant start to the season after joining from Stenhousemuir and is their main danger man.
Raith won’t make it easy but I think Gary Naysmith’s side have enough quality to win this one.
Queen’s Park vs Stenhousemuir - Over 2.5 goals
Stenhousemuir produced the shock of the round last weekend as they beat Motherwell 1-0 after extra-time. Motherwell did play a weakened side but Stenny showed that they are well organised and won’t be easy to break down.
Queen’s Park have conceded four already and look like every game they play in could have plenty of goals. They do have some decent attacking talent though and will cause teams problems, they just need their strikers to be more clinical.
Stenny won’t make it easy and will be looking to build on that memorable victory last weekend, could be a good game this one.
Montrose vs East Kilbride - East Kilbride to win & over 2.5 Goals
Montrose have had a terrible start to the season, losing all three games, conceding ten goals and only scoring one. East Kilbride have had a good start to the season, winning two and drawing one whilst scoring nine and only conceding two.
East Kilbride’s draw was against recently relegated Airdrie and it was away from home so it’s still a good result. They are also in talks for a co-operation agreement with Celtic which could strengthen their side even further.
They play aggressive attacking football and against a team that has already conceded ten goals in three games they could be in for another high scoring victory. The games they have won this season were 5-1 against Queen of the South and 3-0 against Cove Rangers, I wouldn’t be surprised if this ended up being their highest scoring game so far.
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