It’s a pretty chilled Saturday in the Premiership thanks to the Old Firm’s Europa League exploits and the Hibs covid call-off but there’s plenty of action across the pyramid that looks ripe for an accumulator. As ever, I’ve delved into the 3pm games and found four selections that I’ve combined for a nice acca and written up why I’ve backed it myself. Let’s start with a match up between two sides heading in very much different directions.

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Aberdeen v Motherwell

Little splits these two (just goal difference, in fact) but the moods around the two sides isn’t far from opposite to each other. Two wins and a draw in their last three means Aberdeen and Stephen Glass are very much returning to their early season form and do look a far more complete side than they did prior to the last international break, the same can’t be said of the Steelmen.

Motherwell look well and truly out of sorts after a bright start – they were fortunate to play a lot of poor teams (Aberdeen included in that list) in a row. A run of five games undefeated in the Premiership saw them occupy a lofty position but the fixture list was kind to them in that run. Four defeats and a draw in their last five has meant pressure on Graham Alexander is reaching close to boiling point, particularly after a 6-1 horror show on Halloween last weekend.

As I mentioned though, Aberdeen are moving in the other direction and do have a solid spine that has absorbed something of a defensive injury crisis very well. The experience of Scott Brown – who has flitted between centre half and his more traditional position in the midfield – has been key. Hopes of finishing in the European spots have replaced worries of a relegation battle in the space of a few weeks and just as easily as Glass turned things around at his club, should he secure all three points at Pittodrie this weekend.

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Montrose v Cove Rangers

Though I’ve avoided the Championship on this weekend’s acca, these two sides will have ambitions of being in that very league next season, despite League One being probably the most exciting in Scotland this year. Not only is it the best for goals in the SPFL but just 11 points separate top and bottom heading into this weekend’s games.

These two find themselves at the right end of the table and just one point separates the visitors in 2nd and the hosts in 3rd. Cove are the divisions top scorers and are only off top spot due to their defensive struggles – they’ve shipped 17 goals in their opening 12 games, the worst record of any of the sides in the top five. Rory McAllister’s goal scoring exploits continue to earn his Cove side points, though they do have a lot of attacking talent at their disposal. Each of Cove’s last five games have landed Over 2.5 Goals, with that handful of matches witnessing a goal every 19 minutes or so on average.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see that average kept up as they head to a Montrose side who are far better for goals on home soil than on their travels. Four of Montrose’s six League One games at their Links Park have seen three or more goals – a record that should get even better as they welcome a Cove side as porous at the back as they are lethal up top. Montrose have plenty of attacking talent of their own, none more so than nine-goal Graham Webster and he could easily add to his tally this weekend.

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Stirling Albion v Stenhousemuir

It’s off to League Two for the final two selections of the acca and – gasp – there will be no Kelty Hearts here for a change! With Cowdenbeath appointing Maurice Ross during the week I think I’ll swerve Kelty just in case there’s a new manager bounce for the Blue Brazil, but that hasn’t stopped me finding a couple of selections I fancy in the fourth tier.

Stirling did admirably well to take a point from Kelty last weekend and keep the title race going a wee bit longer but they have looked a tad iffy at the back of late and feel they might struggle to keep out Stenny this weekend, even if they should still fancy themselves to wrap up all three points. They’ve only kept two clean sheets on home soil in the seven games they’ve played at Forthbank across all competitions this season, and have conceded in each of their last three ties.

Stenny have picked up of late too after a dreadful start to the campaign and should come into this one confident of putting up at least a decent fight and getting on the scoresheet. They’ve found the back of the net in six of their last seven league games and seven points from their previous five games has meant things are looking rosier than they did after a bleak opening few rounds of the new campaign. I’m expecting a few goals in this one, with both sides more than capable of getting a couple thanks heading into this one in fine fettle.

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Forfar v Elgin

The final selection on the acca takes us to Forfar as the Loons welcome an Elgin side who do not travel well to Station Park. After relegation from the third tier, Forfar have dealt with League Two life well and though a few too many draws have cost them so far this campaign, they should be able to get the win this time around.

Forfar are on absolute tear just now, unbeaten in their last six and looking genuinely capable of putting some pressure on Stirling and Kelty above them. They’re yet to taste defeat on home soil this season in the league, winning three of the fives games they’ve played at Station Park, with one of those draws coming against Kelty. Gary Irvine has built a really well-balanced side from a League Two promotion push with a midfield duo of Craig Slater and Jamie Ness supporting the goal scoring prowess of Matty Aitken up top extremely well.

As for Elgin, while it’s a bit of a Scottish football cliché that they don’t travel well they’ve done little to prove that stereotype wrong this season. Elgin have been poor this season and their from on the road has offered little solace and they do look in pretty real danger of going down, particularly if Maurice Ross gets a tune out of his Cowdenbeath side. They’ve lost four of their last five and do look a squad lacking in a fair bit of quality, something that will surely be exposed as they head to one of the most difficult places to go in League Two.

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Back my Scottish Accumulator ⬇️

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