The bookmakers have struggled to split Cove Rangers and Queen of the South ahead of Saturday’s match in Aberdeen, but the hosts look strong value to avoid defeat in this encounter.

Paul Hartley’s home side showed good form in the League Cup. Their only defeat over 90 minutes was against Championship outfit Queen’s Park, while they held Premiership opponents Falkirk to a 0-0 draw at home. That continues a strong home record that has seen Cove lose only twice at home in all competitions since last November.

By contrast, Queen of the South have been hapless on the road. Last season, the Dumfries club picked up only three away wins over the course of the whole season, with each of those coming against opponents who finished in the bottom half of the table.

Queens have started equally badly on their travels this time around. I tipped them to be upset at League Two Stranraer last season and they delivered with a 1-0 defeat – the 3rd successive match in which they have failed to score.

After losing three out of three away to Cove last season, the price on the hosts simply avoiding defeat looks like good value.

I suspect St Johnstone’s clash with Partick Thistle on Saturday will be a lot closer than the pre-match odds suggest. While I can understand why the Saints are odds-on favourites here, I think Thistle are simply too big to ignore at 1.47 to get on the scoresheet on Saturday.

Mark Wilson’s men made the net bulge in 28 of their 36 Scottish Championship matches last season, including 13 of their 18 assignments away from Firhill. Since then, the Jags have emerged victorious from each of their four Scottish League Cup group stage games, wrapping up top spot in the section with a mightily impressive 3-1 win away at Ross County last Saturday. Thistle fired in a combined total of 11 goals across their four group stage victories, striking at least twice in each of those four triumphs. 

While St Johnstone also posted four wins from four en route to top spot in Scottish League Cup Group F, they failed to keep clean sheets in their wins over both East Kilbride and Raith Rovers. In-form Thistle should provide Simo Valakari’s backline with plenty of problems on Saturday, with the visitors more than capable of making their mark at McDiarmid Park. 

Partick Thistle won each of their four Scottish League Cup group games, scoring three times away at Ross County last weekend.

Partick Thistle scored at least once in 28 of their 36 Scottish Championship matches last season.

St Johnstone failed to keep a clean sheet in their Scottish League Cup wins over both East Kilbride and Raith Rovers.