St Johnstone have good record against Hamilton

Apr 4 2008

SAINTS boast an extraordinarily good record against seemingly SPL-bound Hamilton.

They've beaten them twice already this season and their 1-0 defeat at New Douglas Park in December was their first reverse at Hamilton's hands since 1996.

However, they go into tomorrow's fixture without a win in three, facing the league-leaders who remain undefeated at home — where they've conceded just three home goals all season. It's an impressive record which has convinced bookies that Hamilton are odds-on favourites to secure maximum points tomorrow.

Indeed the Accies will kick off as the understandably short 4/5 favourites according to Betfred, while St Johnstone, who registered a memorable 4-3 win in the corresponding match last season, start as 3/1 outsiders with VCBet. However, their record against Hamilton does suggest that at that price, they're worthy of further consideration.

The Saints' Achilles heel this term has been their tendency to draw their away fixtures when victory appeared more likely.

It's a run which adds appeal to Betdaq's 11/4 for tomorrow's duel to finish all square. It also makes several of the prices posted against high-scoring draws look considerably more inviting than usual.

Betdirect, for example, offer a mighty 16/1 against it finishing 2-2 and for punters expecting a goalfest comparable with last April's encounter, bet365's mighty 40/1 price, marked in favour of a 3-2 away success, has to be considered.

It is undoubtedly a fixture where goals tend to arrive in abundance, which makes Canbet's 11/10 for the match to yield more than two look outstanding value. Alternatively, Sportingbet chalk 4/6 in favour of the teams producing fewer than three.

Elsewhere, Partybets' 11/10 for it to be level at half time is worth a look, as is the hefty 7/1 (bet365) for the score to be 1-1 at 45 minutes. In other markets, Coral post 5/1 in favour of both halves ending in stalemate, while Blue Square's 6/1 for the teams to settle for a 1-1 outcome looks a little too frothy.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com