Bookies brace themselves for the Tayside title scrap

Aug 1 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE period generally known as “summer” is officially over – because the nation’s winter game is back.

This time last year, bookies didn’t give Hamilton a chance, but Billy Reid’s men were worthy First Division champions; this term, they envisage a straight battle between St Johnstone, 9/4 favourites according to Blue Square, and Dundee, currently priced at 11/5 by Betdirect.

Bookies see only Queen of the South (6/1, Betdaq) and Dunfermline (8/1, Partybets) as the other realistic challengers, suggesting that the four sides who finished behind the Accies in May will contest the league title.

The same is true of tomorrow’s opening fixture against Livingston at McDiarmid Park. Bet365 have installed the Saints as their overwhelming 8/11 favourites, with the visitors priced at 3/1 by Sportingbet; Betfred offer the draw at 13/5.

Twice last season, St Johnstone hammered Livi 5-2 and while the chances of a repeat scoreline are rated at 100/1 by Coral, it’s a fixture from which the Saints should harvest three points. While the sides have never shared a goalless draw, bet365’s 7/4 for the opening half to end at 0-0 is worthy of further consideration, although as they shared 18 goals in their four fixtures last term (and 13 the season before), the 13/20 odds posted by Jaxx.com for the match to yield more than two goals looks something of a nap.

Odds supplied by Betrescue.com