Another week, another SPL thread.
Ok, will only do Saturdays games just now due to time constraints.
Dundee Utd vs Falkirk
Form (recent L-R oldest): DuU - WDLW ; Fal - LLLW
Home/Away Form: DuU - 1-1-0 (F 1, A 0) ; Fal - 1-0-1 (F 6, A 7)
H2H(Last 6 games) F 2-0 D,
D 1-5 F, F 5-1 D,
D 1-2 F,
D 0-2 F, F 1-0 D
Interesting trends/points to note
* 3/3 OVERS/UNDERS - 2/1 at Dundee Utd.
* Falkirk have won
all of the last 6 matches between the two teams.
Players signed before transfer window closure
Dundee Utd: Youngster Jordan Robertson (loan; Sheff Utd) - played well on debut in CIS cup and scored. Should lead the attack on Saturday due to Utds injury probs up front.
Falkirk: None as yet
Team news;
BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Dundee Utd v Falkirk
Having watched the highlights, Dundee Utd were pretty lucky to take the lead at ICT last week, getting the first goal in the 2nd half after a first half of sustained ICT pressure, and 2 penalties, one of which gained from defender Wilkie playing up front and flicking the ball on to his advancing team-mate. Good record at home, but struggling to score. They will have to work hard to maintain their clean sheet at Tannadice looking at Falkirks good scoring trait on their travels and their superb record in this fixture over the years. Wilkie should be back in defence alongside Dods with the new lad up front. Robson has recovered from a minor knock and should be fine for tomorrow which is a boost for them. Szamotulski in goals has been one of Utds standout players so far this season and a main reason why they haven't conceded at home yet. Falkirk should provide a big test against this though.
Falkirk 1 win and 1 loss away from home this season. Their poor recent form doesn't really tell the whole story as 2 losses were to the Old Firm and the previous one was a very unlucky defeat via an 89th min goal from Mehmet of St Mirren, who had a 2-1-0 record away to Falkirk in their last 3 games there. They have been playing extremely good football in all that time, Arnau Riera has been a good part of that and will be missed tomorrow. Other than that Falkirk appear to be at full strength. Superb record of 6 wins in 6 games over the years and if the fact that St Mirren continued their good trend at Falkirk holds, Falkirk may be a superb value bet at 3/1 or thereabouts with a trend of their own. Leveins team will be well organised and difficult to break down however, something that Latapy may hold the key to if he plays to a high standard.
Betting wise, I do like a good trend
, possibly something to do with the differing styles of teams involved in games that show them, but I do fancy Falkirk to continue theirs and get back to winning ways at Utd, although it won't be easy. 3/1-ish is too hard to pass on given the recent results in this game. Reckon Higdon could play a huge part in this for Falkirk, with Barry Robson as ever the key player for Utd.
Prediction: I'll go for a tight Falkirk win, possibly a 0-1 or 1-2.
Other bets?: Robson To Score is always good value, Higdon too may be worth a punt.
Hibs vs ICT
Form (recent L-R oldest): Hibs - DDWW ; ICT - LLLL
Home/Away Form: Hibs - 1-1-0 (F 7, A 5) ; ICT - 0-0-2 (F 2, A 4)
H2H(Last 6 games) I 3-0 H,
H 2-0 I, I 0-0 H,
H 0-2 I, I 2-0 H,
H 1-2 I
Interesting trends/points to note
* New manager Brewster takes charge in his 2nd spell at ICT. Also plays up front, scoring 2 goals against Hibs for Aberdeen last week.
* ICT record is 2-1-0 at Hibs (will mention this later).
Players signed before transfer window closure
Hibs: Antoine-Curier (F). Signed from Haugesund in Norway. No idea what he is like.
ICT: Malkowski (GK) on loan from Hibs. Has a reputation for making mistakes tbh, may be used as cover for no.1 Fraser only. Manager Brewster still plays up front and has been in good scoring form in his last few games. Niculae (F) was signed a wee while ago but could be a v.good signing for them. Proctor has signed from Dundee Utd, a player who played under Brewster at ICT 1st time round, signed for him when he moved to Utd and has now gone back to ICT with the new manager. A defensive player Brewster clearly trusts.
Team news:
BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Hibernian v Inverness CT
Hibs seemingly continuing where they left off last season, playing good passing football but shooting themselves in the foot with defending. After a good start GK Ma-Kalambay succumbed to the Hibs keeping curse and sold 2 unbelievably easy goals to Aberdeen last weekend, one of which to Brewster coincidentally. If they can keep ICT out and improve their defensive record they should win tomorrow given a far superior looking squad, but Brewster will look to organise ICT as he did before to gain a wonderful ICT record in Edinburgh, so agree with Beanie that a Hibs lay may be a decent wager this weekend. Defenders Jones, Hogg and Murphy being fit will help their cause as will Ma-Kalambay regaining his confidence.
ICT have a great looking record in previous matches at Hibs, but beaten 2-0 last time out and their current 4 loss run shows they aren't the team they used to be. Brewster will look to get that sorted however and regain the tight, organised unit he had from his 1st spell at the club. ICT played well last week in the first half (mentioned above in the Utd match), but seemed to lose faith after they went one goal down. Prior to that though, they seemed to pass well and create good chances. Hastings, Paatelainen and Munro are out and would probably have been 1st team players, so possibly a blow there for ICT.
Prediction: I think I agree with Beanies thoughts on a Hibs lay as I could see ICT gaining a point from this match. A lay or a draw bet for me, although Hibs could run over them if they don't organise themselves well enough.
Other bets?: No interest in Overs/Unders. Brewster to score at Hibs for the 2nd week running?
. Nothing else really of note for me here.
Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen
Form (recent L-R oldest): Kil - LWWD ; Aber - DLDL
Home/Away Form: Kil - 1-0-1 (F 3, A 3) ; Aber - 0-1-1 (F 3, A 4)
H2H(Last 6 games) A 3-0 K,
K 1-2 A, A 3-1 K,
K 1-0 A, A 0-0 K, A 2-2 K
Interesting trends/points to note
* Aberdeen are 3 wins of 3 in the last 3 games at both stadia.
Players signed before transfer window closure
Killie: Ryan Jarvis (21 - Norwich striker). Again, don't know anything about this lad. Seems highly rated by respected Scottish coach Jim Duffy, now working at Norwich.
Aber: Jonathan Smith 19 (forward released by Wigan), and Sone Aluko 18, (on loan from Birmingham) who made his 1st team debut against Hereford midweek and is an England youth International.
Team news:
BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Kilmarnock v Aberdeen
Seems to be a story of injuries for Kilmarnock. Fernandez (F), O'Leary (D - very promising youngster), Locke (D) and Wales (F) are all rated doubtful for this game, with Fowler (M), Invincible (M), Hay, Bryson (D) and Skora (M) are all definitely out. Kilmarnock played well against Rangers last weekend with some nice passing play, which eventually netted them a well-worked counter attacking goal from a Rangers corner. Naismith was integral in the team last week and (as I write this) doesn't appear to be going to Rangers at the end of the transfer window, so should play tomorrow
(AS I WROTE THIS, BBC REPORTING THAT KILLIE HAVE ACCEPTED A RANGERS BID FOR NAISMITH). Bit of an average record at home for Killie so far this year and are conceding as much as they score, something which may allow Aberdeen to get something tomorrow. Of the previous players rated doubtful, Invincible, O'Leary and Locke all played vs Rangers last week, with Invincible getting the goal, and would be a sore loss if they prove to be unfit. Bryson and Skora missing are probably 2 more good players that may affect Killie tomorrow also.
Similar story with Aberdeen and injuries. Mair (D), Byrne (D) and Visscher (M) are all out and considered 1st teamers iirc, Severin (M), Clark and Diamond (D) are rated doubtful and would be considered main players as well. Aberdeen getting a bit of good luck last week in their game against Hibs, but they have lost Brewster up front and replaced him with two seemingly untested youngsters, so will be interesting to see how Calderwood and his team cope with that situation. They will be buoyed by the fact that they have won this fixture 3 times out of the last 3 (at both stadia) and will look to continue that good form.
Don't really fancy a bet on this game tbh. Agree again with Beanie on Killie, they are a difficult team to predict games for. One minute they can be wonderful and the next they can lose when not expected to. Puts enough doubt in my mind to stay away.
Prediction: Too hard to choose on this game. No Bet.
Other Bets?: Don't fancy Overs/Unders in this one either, not much else looks value either.
Rangers vs Gretna
Form (recent L-R oldest): Ran - WWWW ; Gret - LDLL
Home/Away Form: Ran - 2-0-0 (F 9, A 2) ; Gretna - 0-1-1 (F 3, A 5)
H2H(Last 6 games) NO PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Interesting trends/points to note
* None to note, really due to previous lack of meetings.
Players signed before transfer window closure
Ran: Amdy Faye (on loan from Charlton for the season). Will probably add depth to the midfield to cope with Rangers CL commitments and allow a bit of squad rotation.
Gretna: Horwood (21 y.o D, from Sheff Utd.) and Buscher (F) may make their debuts.
Team news:
BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Rangers v Gretna
Smith (D), Buffel (M) and Ehiogu (D) are out but aren't considered first team so otherwise a full squad for Rangers. Can't really say anything other than what everyone will know anyway. Rangers playing well, conceded only 2 goals all season, 4 wins of 4 in the league, 4 games undefeated in Europe (and a bastard of a CL group draw
) and quite frankly should take care of Gretna without much worries, even though they were in Belgrade midweek. Agree with Crowie that -2 should be a steal of a bet as Rangers should put at least 2 past Gretna.
Gretna missing a couple of good players in Grady (F), McGuffie (M) and Canning. They may be starting to get a foothold in the SPL now, played well at "home" to Motherwell last week and unlucky to lose 2-1. Add to that some decent starts in games against Falkirk, Hibs and the draw against Hearts, so may only be a matter of time before they pick up their first win. Should be good odds too if you can time it perfectly. Can't say much else tbh. They shouldn't be a threat to Rangers at home.
Prediction: Rangers win all the way
Other bets?: Rangers HT/FT may be a decent shout if above evens. Crowies -2 AH bet looks to have a lot of value in it, maybe -3 if you feel lucky.
Will post the other games the day before they happen.
gl.
Scottish Premier League: 1/2nd Sept
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