It was a far from vintage week for the two Scottish sides in Europe on Thursday with both Celtic and Rangers falling to defeats to Real Betis and Lyon respectively but we’ve got plenty of domestic action to play around with in an accumulator this weekend.

The game of the weekend could be the usually-entertaining Dundee Derby on Sunday lunchtime and cards are always worth keeping an eye on when the two neighbours meet. Calum Butcher, Jeando Fuchs, Peter Pawlett, Lee Ashcroft, Paul McGowan and Jordan Marshall are the most likely candidates and I’ll be keeping an eye on them when teams are announced and throughout the 90 on Sunday. But, there’s a stacked set of Saturday games before then, so let’s get stuck into them, starting with the unbeaten Hibees.

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Hibs v St. Mirren

I’ve been a big fan of what Jack Ross has done this season already, and although I was disappointed to not see them make it to the Europa Conference League proper, Hibees can be more than happy with their start to the domestic season.

They’re through to the League Cup quarters and face a winnable tie at Tannadice against Dundee United and are yet to taste defeat in the Premiership. They’ve dropped points just twice, each time on their travels to Dundee and Hearts – and both games could’ve easily been won too. They’ve got a starting XI and bench that’s coursing with options and the welcome return of Chris Cadden allows Ross to flick between three and four at the back in-game.

They shouldn’t have to do anything too unorthodox to get all three points this weekend though, with St. Mirren looking very goal-shy. They’ve managed a paltry three for the season, averaging 1.05xGF in their five games, suggesting that tally is just about fair. They’re haemorrhaging chances though and have conceded the second highest xGA this season, 1.65 (only County have a worse record). The likes of Kevin Nisbet, Martin Boyle and James Scott should be able to breach that St. Mirren backline at Easter Road this weekend.

If you’re looking for a slightly chunkier price on Hibs I think you’re probably better going for them to win to nil, rather than them to rack up loads of goals but just be wary that selection could see your bet over within minutes, even if Hibs pull through and get the win as I predict them to do.

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Queen of the South v Arbroath

The Scottish Championship 🤝 Goals

And these are two of the leading lights for goals in the division with Queens predictably being open at one end and dangerous at the other, with Arbroath’s new-found goal glut being a tad more surprising.

I was intrigued to see how Allan Johnstone’s fledglings would get on this season, with him bringing in youth this summer to replace some important players and it has had mixed results. He favours an attacking set up and with youngsters appearing right through the Doonhamers XI, it’s no surprise to see their games averaging three goals each this term.

Three of their five Championship games and a further four of their five cup games this season have landed Over 2.5 Goals and they could just as easily concede or score all three we need here this weekend on their own.

You’d have been brave predicting Dick Campbell’s Arbroath to be the top scorers in the second tier after the opening five rounds of the season but that’s exactly what they are. The strike partnership of Michael McKenna and Joel Nouble has been highly fruitful, with McKenna set for his most prolific scoring season of his career already.

Four of Arbroath’s five Championship games have seen at least three goals scored (with the inevitable 1-0 loss to Inverness the only exception on the opening day of the new campaign), with the Lichties getting 2, 3, 3 and 4 goals in their last four league games. I can easily see them replicating those numbers at Palmerston against a naïve Queens back three.

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Falkirk v Dumbarton

Now, if you just look at the form tables and then this selection, you might be compelled to question what I’m doing but I fancy Falkirk to pick up all three points this weekend and return to winning ways after a very tricky run of games that brought them down from cloud nine.

Life under new boss Paul Sheerin was going very well until their last three ties, though, with context those three successive defeats don’t look too bad. Queen’s Park are a title rival and had Calumn Morrison not missed his penalty that could’ve changed the outcome of the 1-0 defeat; there’s no shame in a loss to a very decent Killie in the Challenge Cup; and losing at Recreation Park to Alloa is something a lot of teams will do this season. It’s far from ideal form heading into this weekend’s tie to face Dumbarton, but this one should be an easier task than any of those three that they’ve just undertaken.

Dumbarton are coming into this one full of confidence having skelped five past a poor East Fife last weekend and are now level on points with their hosts. I suspect they won’t be able to keep such a lofty position over the season and should, in fact, be leapfrogged by Falkirk this weekend after a loss. They’ve been far from solid at the back this season and Falkirk have plenty of options up top to rack up a couple of goals and all three points.

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Albion Rovers v Kelty Hearts

I did well to avoid Kelty last weekend with them requiring a last minute Kallum Higginbotham goal to rescue a point at home to Elgin but I’m fairly confident they’ll get back to winning ways on their travels this weekend.

Having watched the highlights from the 1-1 draw at the weekend, Kelty could’ve easily got all three points, they should’ve been well ahead before the ‘soft’ penalty was awarded and then scored by Elgin and they had a host of chances to not just equalise before they did but really to win the game. They were profligate with their chances but they have a good chance to extend their lead at the summit of League Two this weekend and really should be putting a few past Albion Rovers.

We’ve yet to see one of Kelty’s forwards really score for fun, but with goals right across a talented front line I’m not too worried that they don’t quite have a single player scoring regularly, with the likes of Joe Cardle, Higginbotham, Alfredo Agyeman, Nathan Austin and Jamie Barjonas all capable scorers.

Albion Rovers are no mugs by any stretch of the imagination and won’t rollover for Kelty but there’s a lot of talent in Kevin Thomson’s side, probably far too much for Rovers to handle, which is no big issue when you consider the budget and quality at the disposal of Kelty in comparison to their hosts this weekend.

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18+ please gamble responsibly. All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.

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