SPL - Sat 17th Nov Team News & Thoughts

Aberdeen v Celtic



Aberdeen


Injuries - Hughes, Jack, Naysmith, Milsom
Doubtful - Rae

Probable XI - Langfield, Robertson, Considine, Anderson, Reynolds, Clark, Hayes, McGinn, Osbourne, Fraser, Vernon (4-4-2)




Celtic


Injuries - Hooper, Rogne, Forrest, Izaguirre
Doubtful - Ledley, Brown

Probable XI - Forster, Matthews, Wilson, Ambrose, Mulgrew, Commons, Kayal, Wanyama, Samaras, Miku, Watt (4-3-1-2)


Prediction : Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic


Can see this match being an epic battle, Aberdeen are always well up for and relish the old firm visiting Pittodrie. Both teams are a little hampered buy injuries to the 1st team players but that didn't stop the Dons blast 4 goals past St Mirren last week and if this is them now starting to find the goals I have said all season that this was all they needed to add to their game as they have a really well balanced team. Best way to handle Celtic at the moment is to mark Wanyama out of the game, he's not really a playmaker but everything is coming through him at the moment and he is influencing each game massively. Has to be said Aberdeen's record against Celtic is awful but I can see them getting something out of this game or at least not getting a humbling like they have in recent years. Lets not forget that Aberdeen are unbeaten at home this season and will be keen to protect that record. I'm tempted by ABERDEEN +1 ASIAN HANDICAP @ 1.81 (Pinnacle)  as I feel understandably Celtic's focus is on the Champions League at the moment with qualification a genuine prospect now!





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Dundee v Hibs



Dundee


Injuries - Stewart, O'Donnell, Finnigan, McCluskey, Kerr, Easton

Probable XI - Douglas, Irvine, Gallagher, Benedictus, Lookwood, Riley, McBride, Davidson, McAlister, Nish, Milne (4-4-2) 





Hibs


Injuries - Deegan
Doubtful - McPake, Clancy

Probable XI - Williams, Maybury, Hanlon, Taiwo, McGivern, Witherspoon, Stevenson, Claros, Cairney, Doyle, Griffiths (4-4-2)



Prediction : Dundee 1-2 Hibs


Got to say Hibs were looking really good and confident in their play when I watched them beat Dundee Utd last Sunday. They were stroking the ball about with poise and control in an uncanny manner from the team that started the season that looked so fragile. They may well be without McPake & Clancy again for this game but that doesn't both me as their strength is in midfield and Griffiths and Doyles movement up top. Even though I have a stance that players from Leith should not be allowed to represent their nation you have to say that Griffiths has played his way into a weak Scotland B team........lol

Lets face it Dundee are poor but they are actually on the SPL form of their life at the minute with a draw and a win to their name in the last 2 fixtures but this still leaves the 4pts adrift at the bottom of the league. I reckon this Hibs team should see them off, maybe not as comfortably as they did at Easter Rd last month but easily enough. Hibs are nearly averaging 2 goals a game and I think this is a wise bet to place here. HIBS TO SCORE OVER 1.5 GOALS @ 1.91 (CORAL) seems nice if Griffiths and Co can stay to form! I'll have this as my NAP OF THE DAY





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Hearts v St Mirren



Hearts


Injuries - Hamill
Doubtful - Stevenson, Taouil

Probable XI - McDonald, McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Barr, Driver, Novikovas, Stevenson, Sutton, Paterson (4-4-1-1)




St Mirren


Injuries - McGowan, McGregor, Adam


Probable XI - Samson, Van Zanten, Mair, McAusland, Dummett, Robertson, McLean, Goodwin, Imrie, Thompson, Parkin (4-4-2)



Prediction : Hearts 2-1 St Mirren

I'm going to give Hearts the nod in this fixture, with everything that going on at Tynecastle in the last week this game is set to be a sellout as the fans show their support to this fantastic club. Any other team in the league (except Hibs...) and I would not suggest a Hearts victory was forthcoming but St Mirren are in a terrible rut just now and have not won in their last 6 outtings. The only away win they have had all season was against bottom club Dundee but they should be boosted by the return for their captain Goodwin who really does lead by example. Hearts have a couple of doubts in Taouil and Stevenson who are ill but hopefully they can make the match, McGowan has also suggested on twitter that he will be knackered after playing for Australia midweek. Hearts enjoy a good record in this fixture and I just think with the crowd behind them we should really be seeing a home win here at decent odds. HEARTS WIN @ 2.0 (William Hill) appeals to me.





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St Johnstone v Ross County



St Johnstone


Injuries - McCracken, Beattie, Adams, Pawlett

Probable XI - Mannus, Mackay, Miller, Wright, C.Davidson, Millar, M. Davidson, Robertson, Craig, Vine, Tade (4-4-2)





Ross County


Injuries - Duncan, Scott, Corcoran, Lawson
Suspended - Quinn

Probable XI - Fraser, Fitzpatrick, Munro, Boyd, Kovacevic, Vigurs, Brittain, Glen, Kettlewell, Fotheringham, McMenamin (4-4-2)



Prediction : St Johnstone 2-1 Ross County


Apart from their defeat by Motherwell last time out and an early season loss to Aberdeen, Perth has been a stronghold for St Johnstone this season, put this together with Ross County only actually managing one away win (at Dundee) this season and I think this is a good spot to pick a St Johnstone win. Home Win @2.1 (Bet Fred) appeals to me. Also might have a stab at 2-1 correct score @ 9.0 (Coral) as this has been the scoreline on 3 occassions already this season and something tells me County will manage a goal.