Time to get back on track

Mar 20 2009 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AFTER winning their previous seven league matches against Livingston, last week's 1-0 defeat at the Almondvale Stadium came as a shock to the Saints.

It has made matters unexpectedly tight at the top of the First Division.

But bookies are convinced there'll be no upsets tomorrow when St Johnstone entertain Airdrie, a side with whom they've only once shared a goalless draw; the league leaders are Coral's 4/7 favourites to register three points.

Airdrie arrive as Boylesports' 9/2 underdogs having won only once away from home all term.

While the relegation-threatened side forced a 1-1 draw with the Saints in December, it's worth noting that St Johnstone secured a comfortable 3-1 win when they met at McDiarmid Park earlier in the season. Nonetheless, Airdrie's record of seven away draws is second only to that of St Johnstone, a statistic which adds potential value to Jenningsbet's 14/5 price posted against the draw.

Airdrie's penchant for away draws has persuaded a number of punters to consider Betfred's 6/1 odds chalked against a 1-1 outcome more closely, while others have been convinced of the appeal of Jenningsbet's 5/1 for both halves to finish in stalemate.

*Odds supplied by Betrescue.com