Predictions are for a close-run derby

Feb 27 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AS we prepare to enter the equivalent of football's home straight, tomorrow's duel between St Johnstone and Dundee falls squarely into the category marked “six-pointer.”

Perhaps the only certainty is that it will be very tight – only three times in the last 30 league matches between the pair, including their November meeting at Dens Park, has the outcome been settled by more than one goal and 12 of those have finished level.

Betdaq's 13/5 for it to finish with honours even tomorrow has, not surprisingly, been well supported.

Yet although they've dropped points with four draws in their last five league matches, Saints start as Jenningsbet's even money favourites to take all three. By contrast, Dundee, who must win to have any hope of claiming the league title, arrive as Boylesports' rather lengthy 5/2 underdogs.

This fixture has shown a tendency to favour the home side: only once in the last 14 meetings of the pair has the away team managed to win and bookies are generally convinced that St Johnstone can maintain that trend.

While Coral post 11/10 against the scores being level at 45 minutes and Blue Square offer 9/2 against both halves ending in stalemate, bullish punters have turned their attention to Victor Chandler's 15/8 for the Saints to be in front at the end of both halves. In other markets, Stan James chalk an attractive 15/2 against a 2-1 home win and Betfred offer an appealing 6/1 about a 1-0 Saints success.

Elsewhere, Betdirect's 8/1 for it to finish goalless tomorrow cannot be discounted and nor can the 11/2 available at Boylesports for the game to finish 1-1.

The overwhelming majority of St Johnstone's frustrating draws have occurred away from home, a record which adds to the appeal of Sportingbet's 4/1 for them to emerge victorious following a drawn first period. Punters expecting this fixture to revert to type and develop into a tight, low-scoring affair may fancy the same firm's 13/20 for the match to yield fewer than three goals or the 7/4 available at bet365 for the opening period to finish goalless.

*Odds supplied by Betrescue.com