Excitement is unlikely to be on the cards when St Mirren play host to Ross County on Saturday. The Buddies have a strong home record but this is based around winning matches by narrow margins. They have only scored 16 goals at New St Mirren Park this season in 13 league matches but have managed to produce seven victories and four draws from that tally.

The home side may find themselves blunted a little after a midweek match with Motherwell, in which they suffered a 2-1 loss and saw starting wing-back Scott Tanser go off with injury.

Ross County, meanwhile, concede fewer goals than any other club in the bottom half of the Premiership, but have the poorest attack in the whole league, having netted 20 times in 25 matches. They have been particularly feeble away from home, scoring seven times in 12 outings. They did, however, manage to net against Rangers in a 2-1 defeat last weekend.

With St Mirren’s home matches averaging under two goals per game and County’s away matches boasting a similarly lamentable statistic, the probability is that this game will follow that same pattern. Although the last meeting between these clubs in Dingwall finished 3-2 to the hosts, the three matches between these clubs prior to that produced just two goals. That is the type of match that should be anticipated in Paisley on Saturday.

If Falkirk are to continue their hunt for the Scottish League One title, they will have to overcome Alloa on Saturday – and it is an outcome that looks likely based on recent performance.

John McGlynn’s side were frustratingly inconsistent in the first half of the season but appear to have eradicated that problem in recent times. The Bairns have won seven of their last eight matches, with the last five of these coming away from home. Their last home match was a month ago in a 4-0 win over Clyde.

In action on Monday, Falkirk steamed past giantkillers Darvel in the Scottish Cup, easing to a 5-1 victory in what was a dominant performance.

Alloa, meanwhile, have been going through a more complicated period, hampered by injury issues. In particular, Brian Rice’s side are not steady away from home, losing five of 12 road trips. This is in contrast to Falkirk’s eight wins from 12 home games.

Moreover, the recent head-to-head record strongly favours the hosts. Alloa required a late penalty to secure a 1-1 draw when the sides met in the league barely 10 days ago, and under a month ago Falkirk won 2-1 at Recreation Park in the Scottish Cup. Earlier this season, meanwhile, McGlynn’s outfit were convincing 3-1 winners in their previous home encounter.

Momentum strongly favours the home side, who should be well backed in this game and who will boast a strong squad. Don’t expect a slip up from the league’s most reliable home outfit.

Look for Elgin to put their troubles at home behind them and secure a victory against a Stranraer side that does not travel well, and which is entirely out of form at present.

For the visiting side, this represents Scottish football’s longest away day of the season, with the trip from Stranraer to Elgin a five-and-a-half-hour drive. The Blues, who have many players based in the Central Belt, meaning they will not have to travel the full length of the journey, do not travel well at the best of times. With nine defeats from 12 away matches, they have the worst record on the road in the league. Such a lengthy trip, then, will hardly be seen as appetising.

Stranraer also go into this game in wretched form. They have lost six of their last seven matches, including twice against bottom side Bonnyrigg Rose. Last weekend, they were beaten 1-0 at home by the Rosey Posey. Earlier tin the season, they were being saved by their attack, but one goals in four games shows that source of joy has dried up.

Elgin are not in great shape themselves at the moment but should take confidence from a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes against Championship side Ayr in the Scottish Cup last weekend. They also have creditable 1-1 draws against Albion Rovers and Annan in the last month, and crucially they picked up a 3-2 success over the Blues when the sides last tussled in October. This match is likely to produce fewer goals, but Elgin have a good chance snap their poor run of home form by getting the win.

Those looking for some higher stakes might wish to go for Elgin to win, but I am playing it a little safer and taking Double Chance instead.

After making a slow start to the season, Annan are building a case for promotion, with the Borderers having lost only two of their last 12 league matches. Against a Stirling side sitting second in the league but battling to find their form, expect that run to continue.

Annan did suffer a 2-1 reverse against Dumbarton last time out, but only the concession of a late goal in that match denied them a share of the points. Otherwise, their only league defeat since November has come against an in-form Forfar side.

Stirling, meanwhile, may have won four of their last five but are struggling to find the form that they showed prior to a run of postponements in January. The loss of winger Kai Fotheringham, who was arguably the division’s outstanding player, after his loan expired, has contributed to that, while a lack of rhythm and injury problems have hampered the Binos.

Darren Young’s headaches mounted in a 2-1 midweek win over bottom side Bonnyrigg as he saw both starting centre-backs go off with problems that could keep them out of this fixture. It would leave the squad looking threadbare if that is the case, particularly with key creative force Jack Leitch also toiling.

Although Stirling won 2-1 in Annan in August, when the home side were going through their difficult phase, their head-to-head record against Peter Murphy’s side is poor. Indeed, Annan have won four of the last six between the clubs. Backing the home team on a draw-no-bet basis makes a lot of sense here.