THE only online bookie that lists SPFL and first-scorer prices for every game are McBookie.
McBookie’s Damian Walker is back with his first-scorer tips and he’s also challenging punters to pick their own.
Every week one person with a correct prediction will be chosen at random to win a £10 bet – and if you backed your tip with McBookie with at least a fiver they’ll double the prize to £20. Last week’s winner was Billy McLean with Rangers’ Jermain Defoe.
You can comment with your pick here and give any reasoning but to enter the contest you have to email mrfixit@dailyrecord.co.uk.
Quote player’s club and first-scorer price with McBookie – Scottish games only – for a chance to win.
Here is Damian with this weekend’s selections.
He says: “It’s the time of the season when you really need to wait until the starting XIs are announced before committing yourself to a football bet. This column doesn’t have that luxury so I’ll have to make a few assumptions.
“The Alloa v Inverness Caley Thistle game is of particular interest as realistically ICT have little to play for. they sit on 50 points in fourth place in the Championship alongside third-placed Ayr who have a better goal difference.
“There is an argument it is an advantage to finish third as this means you get to play the second leg of the play-off in front of your own fans.
“But that scenario has to be balanced against the need to keep your best players fresh and injury-free for the play-off games ahead.
“And make no mistake if either Ayr United or Caley Thistle are to gain promotion to the Premiership they are going to have needed their squad to be firing on all cylinders for the six-game play-off marathon – a run of matches that could also include three sets of games with extra time and penalties.
“Were I in charge of the Caley Jags (1,000,000-1 might not be big enough odds about that happening), then I would take the view it is better to not risk your key players and leave your play-off legs behind on some trip to Alloa.
“For the home side there couldn’t be more riding on this match. The Wasps won four in a row before crashing to Partick Thistle last weekend and they will see this match as a great chance to avoid automatic relegation should results go their way elsewhere.
“The market seems to have taken the same view and Alloa have shortened to 6-4.
“Celtic loanee Jack Aitchison scored what looked like a vital goal last weekend, only for Partick Thistle to hit back with two of their own. Aitchison has been a regular in the starting line-up of late and looks too big at 6-1 to score the opener with McBookie.
“And staying in the Championship I am going to use exactly the same thought process to suggest Partick Thistle will be lining up against a weakened Ayr United side on Saturday.
“A win would guarantee the Jags’ safety from automatic relegation and in all likelihood prevent a relegation play-off scenario too.
“I expected them to be odds on at 4-6 or something for this match, so am pleasantly surprised to see them priced up at evens.
2The Jags have put together a run of three wins and two draws from their last five matches and have just produced the goods in time with back-to-back wins.
2Intriguingly, the last side they beat were Saturday’s opponents Ayr in midweek and this ought to be a case of more of the same.
2Jags striker Scott McDonald has played a huge part in rescuing Thistle’s season with six goals from the 12 games he has played since starting for them in mid-February.
“McDonald is 10-3 with McBookie to open the scoring for Thistle and go some way towards securing their Championship status.
“Finally in League Two, Albion Rovers have done a great job in getting themselves into a position of avoiding finishing bottom with a run of four wins from their last seven games, including a 3-2 win over Edinburgh City last weekend, following a 1-1 draw with champions elect, Peterhead.
“On Saturday they travel to face bottom club, Berwick Rangers, who have won just one of their last 22 games and lost their last five matches – conceding 17 goals in the process without reply. Rovers probably should be odds on, but can be backed at 13-10.
“Smart Osadolor scored twice in last weekend’s defeat of Edinburgh City and also scored in that shock 1-1 draw at Peterhead the previous weekend. He is 4-1 with McBookie to score the game’s first goal.
“Can you find a winner this weekend? Email your entry to mrfixit@dailyrecord.co.uk.”
Recommended Bets
- Aitchison (Alloa) 6-1
- McDonald (Partick) 10-3
- Osadolor (Albion Rovers) 4-1
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