Bookies undecided on next Saints outcome

Aug 22 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

OVERSHADOWED by our golden Olympians, the new football season is still in warm-up mode, with expectations at most clubs as high as they now are in Beijing.

Confidence is football’s precious metal, a vital commodity acquired following a run of victories and St Johnstone will be keen to erase memories of last week’s hammering by Dunfermline and resume the winning habit at Partick tomorrow.

The omens are not fantastic: six of the last seven fixtures between the pair have ended in home wins, although the Saints did manage a marvellous 5-1 success at Firhill in September 2006.

Bookies are undecided about tomorrow’s outcome with Betdirect installing Partick at 6/4, the same price that Partybets posts against St Johnstone; internet firm Jaxx.com marks the draw at a generous-looking 5/2.

Given this fixture’s recent record, Saints followers will be encouraged to learn that bookies envisage such a tight duel; accordingly, they may be prompted to consider Coral’s 11/10 for the opening period to end all square, or else opt for bet365’s tasty 17/10 for the match to be goalless at half time. Betfred offer 12/5 against St Johnstone holding a lead at 45 minutes.

Not surprisingly, the draw has been well supported in a variety of markets, which accounts for the popularity of Blue Square’s 6/1 chalked against a 1-1 outcome, while VCBet’s 9/2 odds for both halves to finish in stalemate is ideal for those who prefer to avoid predicting exact scores.

Partick too were on the receiving end of a chastening defeat last week, something upon which the Saints can capitalise in order to restore their confidence. Internet bookie Canbet offers 5/1 against St Johnstone winning following a drawn first half and Sportingbet post 13/2 against a 1-0 away win. Punters who envisage confidence coursing through the visiting side can get 9/1 (Betdaq) against St Johnstone returning home as 2-0 winners; not quite a gold medal, but perfectly acceptable.

Odds supplied by Betrescue.com