ABC Tips

Aberdeen have shown clear signs of improvement in recent weeks and look well placed to continue on an upward curve when they host Dundee United on Saturday. New Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has steadied the ship, steering his side away from relegation trouble with two wins and one draw across their last three matches. Notably, both victories came at home, with Aberdeen getting the better of Hibernian and Kilmarnock in their last two outings at Pittodrie.

As such, the Dons look well placed to pick up another positive result when they face Dundee United this weekend. Jim Goodwin’s side were soundly beaten 3-0 away at relegation-threatened Kilmarnock last week. That latest defeat means Dundee United have won just three of their 17 Scottish Premiership away games this season, coming away empty-handed from three of their last four matches on the road.

With all that in mind, I'm going to back an improving Aberdeen outfit on the Double Chance on Saturday afternoon.

I think Livingston can score at least once away at Dundee on Saturday afternoon. While the Lions’ relegation back to the Scottish Championship was confirmed last weekend, they have certainly not gone down without a fight. In fact, Marvin Bartley’s side have lost just two of their last nine top-flight fixtures, the most recent of which saw them twice come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Aberdeen.

That means Livingston have scored exactly two goals in each of their last four league games, a run which includes a 2-0 away win at St Mirren, as well as a 2-2 draw against league leaders Hearts. With their fate already sealed, the Lions could well play with even more freedom when they come up against Dundee this weekend.

Steven Pressley’s hosts did keep a clean sheet last weekend, but that came against the most shot-shy side in the division in St Mirren. What’s more, the Dark Blues have failed to keep the back door shut in each of their previous three meetings with Livingston this season, conceding 2+ goals in each of those encounters.

I’m keen to back Kilmarnock to score at least once away at St Mirren in what is a huge game at the foot of the Scottish Premiership table on Saturday afternoon. Neil McCann’s visitors will come into this clash in high spirits after brilliantly dismantling Dundee United in a 3-0 victory last weekend. More importantly, that result lifted Kilmarnock out of the relegation play-off spot and moved them above St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership table.

While Killie have struggled on their travels this season, they have still found the net in three of their last five away matches, scoring against Rangers, Dundee United and Falkirk across that run.

As for St Mirren, they come into this crunch clash on the back of three successive Scottish Premiership defeats, including a 2-0 home loss to rock-bottom Livingston. Further encouragement for siding with this selection comes from the fact that the Saints shipped four goals when they last faced relegation rivals Kilmarnock earlier in the campaign.

Falkirk’s game with Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday has taken on added significance following last weekend’s results. With 5th place potentially enough to secure European football next season, this has suddenly become a key fixture for both sides, with just two points separating them in the table. That should lend itself to an entertaining contest, with both teams to score looking worthy of support.

Falkirk’s 1-0 win over Motherwell last weekend bucked their recent BTTS trend, as both teams to score would have been the correct call in each of the Bairns’ previous six league matches before that narrow victory.  It is also worth noting that Falkirk have already hosted Hibs twice in the Scottish Premiership this season, with those encounters finishing 2-2 and 4-1 respectively.

As for Hibs, they arrive off the back of consecutive 2-1 defeats at home to Hearts and Celtic. The case for siding with both teams to score is further strengthened by the fact that 5 of the capital club’s last eight away matches have seen both sides find the net.

Both teams have scored in 5 of Motherwell’s last 7 Scottish Premiership matches, including a 3-1 defeat away at Hearts last month. Meanwhile, BTTS would have been the correct call in each of title-chasing Hearts’ last 4 league matches. It should also be noted that the two sides were involved in a 3-3 draw earlier in the season. 

I’m moving into La Liga for the next selection, where I’m backing both teams to score when Real Sociedad take on Real Betis. Both teams have found the net in 26 of Real Sociedad’s 34 league matches this season, including 13 of their 17 home fixtures.

As for Real Betis, there have been goals at both ends in 13 of their 17 La Liga away games this term.

I’m also keen to back over 2.5 goals in Fulham’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. Over 2.5 goals has landed in 6 of Fulham’s last 8 Premier League home matches, while each of Bournemouth’s last 5 league games has featured at least 3 goals.

4 of Brighton's last 5 Premier League matches have produced over 2.5 goals, including each of their previous 3. The Seagulls' clash with Newcastle last weekend featured over 3.5 goals, as did their recent 2-2 draw away at Tottenham.

They will be coming up against an already-relegated Wolves team that have seen over 2.5 goals in each of their last three Premier League away matches.

Both teams have scored in 6 of Falkirk’s last 7 Scottish Premiership matches, and the same is also true of 5 of Hibs’ last 8 league games away from home. The two previous meetings between the sides this season at the Falkirk Stadium finished 2-2 and 4-1 respectively.

14 of Dundee’s 17 Scottish Premiership matches this season have produced over 1.5 goals, including each of their previous 2 home meetings with Livingston, which finished 3-2 and 2-2 respectively.

As for Livingston, 14 of their last 15 league matches have featured over 1.5 goals, and with their relegation now confirmed, they should be able to play with plenty of freedom this weekend.