Saints will need to up their game when facing Dundee

Sep 26 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

THE final week of September is an ideal time to take stock of where clubs are likely to be – especially in Scotland.

Incredibly, the quartet of teams that headed Scotland’s four leading divisions in the last week of September 2007 went on to clinch their respective titles.

Of those at the bottom, only Second Division Brechin escaped finishing in last place.

If St Johnstone are to have a say in amending last season’s trend, they will need to be at their very best when they take the field to face Dundee at McDiarmid Park tomorrow.

The Saints drew the corresponding fixture 1-1 last season, while their 3-2 defeat at Dens Park in March served to confirm just how far off the promotion pace they were.

It follows that they will be keen to register maximum points if those promotion hopes are not to fade even sooner this term.

Online firm Canbet.com are convinced that St Johnstone will not slip up this time out, pricing them as 5/4 favourites, whereas another internet bookie, Jaxx.com, offer Dundee at 8/5 to repeat their March success; Betfred post an appealing 12/5 against the draw.

Coral offer 11/5 against St Johnstone leading at 45 minutes, while Blue Square post 3/1 against them maintaining their advantage in the second period and being in front at the end of both halves. In other markets, VCBet chalk a hefty 9/1 against a 2-0 home win and Betdaq offer an equally impressive 7/1 about a 1-0 Saints success. In contrast with Dundee, St Johnstone’s matches have tended to yield plenty of goals, so perhaps Betdirect’s massive 25/1 for them to win 3-2 is worthy of further consideration for those interested in a modest wager.

Odds supplied by Betrescue.com