Scottish Football Tips | Willie Duncan’s NAP | 15th August 2015

WILLIE Duncan (@Willie_Duncan) likes the look of a Premiership team this weekend in Scotland.

Dundee v St Johnstone | Saturday 15:00

After three Scottish Premiership matches, Dundee have amassed a grand total of four points. However, if Paul Hartley’s men had been a wee bit sharper in front of goal and a wee bit cleverer at the back, it could well have been nine points out of nine.

Being consistently inconsistent seems likely to be Dundee’s biggest handicap this season, but I’m full of confidence that the Dark Blues can bag all three points when they take on an out-of-sorts St Johnstone side at Dens Park on Saturday afternoon.

Saints always seem to start the season slowly and this year has been no exception, having picked up single points at home against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Ross County following an opening-day defeat against Hearts at Tynecastle.

Tommy Wright’s side have been hampered by a number of injuries already this season and, although a few key men are edging closer to a first-team return, their creaky defence will be put to the test by Dundee’s energetic attacking style at Dens Park this weekend.

Paul Hartley’s men showed what they can do when they ripped Kilmarnock to shreds on the opening day of the season, winning 4-0 at Rugby Park and, but for some desperate defending and superb goalkeeping from Neil Alexander last weekend, they could and should have had more than a one-goal lead at half-time against Hearts last weekend.

At Tannadice in midweek, they battered Dundee United before being stung by a Blair Spittal double sucker-punch, but even then, Hartley’s side showed enough character to pick themselves up and claim what looked to be an extremely unlikely point.

Saints don’t often get themselves dragged into high-scoring encounters – indeed, their 4-3 defeat against the Jam Tarts at the start of the season was only the second time in 16 league games that a St Johnstone away-day has featured more than two goals.

My gut feeling is that Dundee will have too much firepower for Tommy Wright’s men this weekend and Rory Loy (if fit), Greg Stewart, Kane Hemmings, Gary Harkins and Paul McGowan all swarming forward is a nightmare combination for a makeshift and ring-rusty Saints defence to line up against.

For that reason, I’m snapping up the 7/5 quotes for Saturday’s Dens Park showdown to be Dee-lightful for Paul Hartley’s hosts. Dundee (7/5) to beat St Johnstone is my best bet from Scotland this weekend.

Best Bets

Dundee v St Johnstone – Dundee to win (7/5 Ladbrokes)

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