Scottish Football Tips | 28th February 2015

AFTER a winner in the Scottish Championship last week, Willie Duncan (@Willie_Duncan) returns with another pick from the Scottish second tier.

Dumbarton v Queen Of The South | Saturday 15:00

I really don’t like Ian Murray very much.

Of course, considering that the 33-year-old Dumbarton manager, who is a dyed-in-the-wool Hibs fan, spent a considerable chunk of his playing career at Easter Road that probably isn’t a great surprise to anyone.

However, it’s not because of Murray’s past relationship with the “other” side of Edinburgh that I’ll be opposing his team when they play host to Queen of the South at the Bet Butler Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Dumbarton are enduring a dreadful run of form at present. The Sons have picked up just one point from their last seven Scottish Championship fixtures and I think that they will endure yet more misery this weekend.

Queens were beaten by Hearts last weekend and from what I could see from the back of the Terregles Street terrace (which at times, to be fair, wasn't much) confirmed a few opinions that I’d already formed of James Fowler’s side from the occasions on which I have watched them this season – Queen of the South are a very good side.

They are currently battling it out with an equally decent Falkirk team for what looks certain to be the final promotion play-off place this season; in normal circumstances, Queens and Falkirk would be battling for the Championship title – but this is an extraordinary season in Scotland’s second tier.

So, when the Doonhamers travel to Dumbarton on Saturday, I fully expect them to win comfortably – indeed, Queens lead 13-1 on aggregate in the last four meetings between these two sides.

With that in mind, I’m struggling to understand why Queen of the South can be backed at odds against to pick up all three points at the Bet Butler Stadium on Saturday afternoon – but I’m more than happy to hoover up the prices on offer.

I'm all over the 11/10 quotes for Queen of the South to beat Dumbarton as my best bet from Scotland this weekend – and, once again, I’ve got everything crossed that a certain Mr Murray is feeling glum when the full-time whistle blows on Saturday afternoon.