SCOTTISH football aficionado Gerry Taylor (@thefurlongpole) continues his new column, sharing his NAP, next best and long shot ahead of the weekend action.
NAP – Dunfermline Over 1.5 Goals (10/11 Sporting Index)
Alloa's season has petered out now, as they have already been consigned to League One for next season, and their manager Peter Grant oversees things here, for his final match in charge.
Dunfermline, on the other hand, have plenty still to play for, as they gear up for the Championship play-offs.
Stevie Crawford's men are unbeaten in five, and have really hit form in the last couple of games – a 3-1 win against Queen of the South, and a 4-3 victory against Arbroath.
The seven goal-haul in those two games has coincided with Crawford starting with a triple-pronged attack of Craig Wighton, Kevin O'Hara and Declan McManus. All three players are now into double figures for league and cup goals, and will be hungry for more against the hapless Wasps – who have had the worst defence in the league this season, and by some distance.
Alloa's grim stats:
- Conceded a whopping 60 goals in 26 games.
- Peter Grant's charges have only had one clean sheet in their 26 league games.
- The Wasps have gone 16 consecutive games now without a shut-out.
- In 9/11 games recently, the relegated side have conceded 2+ goals.
The Fife visitors will be licking their lips, and will fancy adding to the hosts woes here. They will want to try and finish third, if Dundee slip up in Dumfries. So looking at all the evidence, Dunfermline to score Over 1.5 Goals looks a cracking bet, and at 10/11 with Sporting Index is this weekend's NAP.
Next best – Jack Hamilton to score at anytime (21/10 Bet365)
Arbroath have been banging in the goals of late – 11 goals in their last 4 matches.
On-loan Livingston youngster, Jack Hamilton has been the main man – scoring in each of the last 4 games. He has been prolific this season, approaching a 20 goal haul, primarily in loan spells at East Fife and Arbroath.
A win for the hosts here would guarantee their Championship status for another season, so lets hope the striker can net once again, against a Morton side who are hardly a prolific winning machine.
Bet365’s 21/10 for him to score anytime looks worth an interest.
Next best – Stephen Dobbie to score at anytime (10/3 Skybet)
The end of an era here as the legend that is Stephen Dobbie plays his last game. The prolific goalscorer has been a joy to watch over the years, either north or south of the border.
He has given an interview on the lead up to his last ever game as a player, not surprisingly he has stated that he would love to go out on a high, with a goal.
Dundee are tough opposition, but are always liable to concede a goal this season. Dobbie's team mates will be doing their utmost to assist the Queen of the South hero with a send-off goal.
Yes, it's a sentimental punt, but given that he should be on the penalties, and given the occasion, Skybet's 10/3 is a nice price for Dobbie to net a farewell goal.
Long shot – Over 3.5 Goals multiple (125/1 BetVictor)
It's the last round of league games prior to the play-offs, lets hope the shackles are off a lot of the teams and we get a little bit of a Championship goal-fest in these four games:
- Inverness vs Ayr
- Queen of the South vs Dundee
- Raith vs Hearts
- Alloa vs Dunfermline
Best Bets
Alloa v Dunfermline – Dunfermline to score Over 1.5 Goals (10/11 Sporting Index)
Arbroath v Morton – Jack Hamilton to score at anytime (21/10 Bet365)
Queen of the South vs Dundee – Stephen Dobbie to score at anytime (10/3 Skybet)
Over 3.5 Goals multiple – Inverness vs Ayr, Queen of the South vs Dundee, Raith vs Hearts and Alloa vs Dunfermline (125/1 BetVictor)
