Live on ESPN: Sun 13.00: Most top-flight teams have been used to scrapping for third spot behind the Old Firm pair in recent years but with Rangers out of the equation, a realistic aim is now second place and with the carrot of a Champions League qualifier dangling enticingly before them, sides will be keener than ever to be the ‘best of the rest’.
At 15/8 via Skybet, Dundee United were the pre-season favourites to tuck-in behind likely champions Celtic and the Terrors will expect to make a winning start to their bid for the coveted runners-up berth by getting the better of Hibs in their opener today.
Peter Houston’s boys are bet365’s 4/6 favourites to kick-off with a maximum haul against a Hibees outfit whose last campaign was pretty much a disaster from start to finish. Pat Fenlon’s men finished just one place off the foot of the table and although they lifted the gloom momentarily by reaching the cup final, rivals Hearts handed them a Hampden hiding.
Fenlon of course, will consider this a fresh start and an improvement this term is likely but BetVictor’s 9/2 underdogs are nevertheless up against it at Tannadice, where United will be looking to build on Thursday’s positive attacking display against Dinamo Moscow.
The Terrors have enjoyed the upper hand against Hibs recently, losing only once up against eight victories in 13 meetings and they’ve tended to get amongst the goals, banging in 13 in the last five clashes. Bet365 make them a tasty 12/5 to notch another three in this one and it’s 12/1 with Stan James for the hosts to finish on the right side of a 3-1 scoreline.
Staying with goals and William Hill’s 10/11 for the contest to produce at least three stands out, as does BetVictor’s 10/11 for the first to arrive inside 27 minutes and that opener could come from the boot of Jon Daly. The Terrors front man has five in his last four against the Hibees and at 4/1 (Skybet) he’s the obvious candidate to break the deadlock.
Recommended Bets:
Jon Daly to score first – 4/1 (Skybet)
Dundee Utd to score three or more – 12/5 (bet365)
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