St Johnstone odds for Falkirk game

Mar 12 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

FOLLOWING last week's disappointing 2-1 defeat by Motherwell, Saints head to a revitalised Falkirk tomorrow, a team who, while still bottom of the SPL, have won three of their last six league encounters.

Yet with games in hand on every other top flight side, St Johnstone will be keen to take advantage of their underplayed status and to extricate themselves from any suggestion of a relegation battle. Having beaten Falkirk 3-1 back in October, there's every likelihood of them completing a useful double tomorrow.

However, bookies are less certain and Betfred's 8/5 price for Falkirk to secure only their third home league win has attracted considerable support, although bet365's generous-looking 12/5 posted against the draw has also been well backed by more circumspect punters.

Elsewhere, Paddy Power offer a hefty-looking 13/5 against St Johnstone leading at 45 minutes (as they did in October), while Stan James post 4/1 against them maintaining their dominance in the second period and being in front at the end of both halves. It's worth noting that while St Johnstone have gone seven matches without keeping a clean sheet, William Hill's 7/4 for them to keep Falkirk at bay tomorrow cannot be discounted.

In the correct score market, Ladbrokes chalk a handsome-looking 7/1 against a 1-0 away win, while online firm Jaxx.com post a monumental 25/1 about it again finishing 3-1 to St Johnstone. Given this fixture's tendency to produce goals, 888Sport's 6/5 for it to yield more than three looks good.

Punters anticipating a slightly closer encounter than the one in October may be persuaded by Totesport's 5/4 chalked against the opening period ending in stalemate. If that appeals, then Victor Chandler's 5/1 for the away side to win following a drawn first half appears worthy of further consideration.

In other markets, St Johnstone are 4/9 (Betdaq) to win when kicking off with a one goal start, though punters who suspect there'll be no requirement for artificial assistance may prefer Partybets' generous-looking 15/8 for the Saints to secure a maximum points haul.

Odds supplied by Betrescue.com