SCOTTISH football aficionado Gerry Taylor (@thefurlongpole) continues his new column, sharing his NAP, next best and long shot ahead of the weekend action.
NAP – Hibs to win, Hibs to score Over 2 Goals, Over 4 Corners (20/23 Bet365)
Jack Ross will see a good opportunity to get to Hampden in May with his Hibs side. On paper, in the last round, they had a tricky away tie with Championship team Queen of the South. Significantly, the Hibees gaffer played a very strong team in Dumfries, in what was a comfortable 3-1 victory.
On Sunday, they travel to League Two Stranraer. Stevie Farrell's charges have had a testing schedule, having just played Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday. They are in decent form in League 2, having enjoyed back-to-back wins. They will however, find the third best team in the country a totally different prospect.
The visitors will be eyeing up a potential home quarter final against either Motherwell or Morton, so I expect their attitude to be spot on, and I expect them to despatch the hosts, with the minimum of fuss. The bet I like, is on the Bet365 Bet Builder: Hibs to win, Hibs to score Over 2 Goals, Over 4 Corners that pays close to even money at 20/23.
Next best – Brechin 0.0 Alternative Asian First Half Handicap (2.850 Bet365)
Some stats about the hosts:
- Annan have not won a home league match since February 2020 (9 games ago).
- They have not won in their last 11 league games home or away now.
- Peter Murphy's charges have only scored in 3/8 games recently.
Despite the above, the bookmakers have Annan around 8/13 favourites.
Brechin have been perennially the worst team in the league for a few seasons now, but there has been signs of life recently. Especially in midweek, a narrow defeat, where a point would've been more deserving of their efforts. Michael Paton's men have scored in 4/4 of their games recently – significantly netting in the first half of all these games.
So in light of Brechin's decent first half efforts, and the fact that Annan haven't scored in the first half at home since that win in February last year, I’m suggesting an interest in Bet365’s Alternative Asian First Half Handicap for Brechin 0.0 which is 2.850. So effectively if it's level at the break, it's full stake back.
Long shot – Albion and Brechin double (34/1 Betfair)
Elgin have just lost back to back to Stenhousemuir and Cowdenbeath, who are both destined for the bottom half of League 2. Albion Rovers, on the other hand, are unbeaten in 3 on the road, and they have only lost once (to Queens Park) in their last 6 games, home and away.
The 6/1 quotes are too big, so as this weekend's longshot, I'm going to chuck them in a double with Brechin (4/1), that pays around 34/1 with Betfair.
Best Bets
Stranraer v Hibs – Hibs to win, Hibs to score Over 2 Goals, Over 4 Corners (20/23 Bet365)
Annan v Brechin – Brechin 0.0 Alternative Asian First Half Handicap (2.850 Bet365)
Albion Rovers and Brechin both to win (34/1 Betfair)
