Scottish Challenge Cup 31st July

No odds yet but here are the fixtures.

Alloa Athletic - Elgin City
Airdrie United - Queen of South
Ayr Utd - Falkirk
Arbroath - Peterhead
Dumbarton - Stirling Albion
East Fife - Cowdenbeath
Forfar - Gr. Morton
East Stirling - Berwick
Gretna - Montrose
Partick Thistle - Berwick
Queen's Park - Stenhousemuir
Raith Rovers - Albion Rovers
Ross County - St. Mirren
St. Johnstone - Hamilton

Initial thoughts are Berwick, St Johnsone, Alloa, and Raith.
Await the experts.

[Sker]

early odds from bet365

31 Jul-15:00 Airdrie Utd v Queen of South 2.25 3.40 2.60
31 Jul-15:00 Alloa v Elgin 1.40 4.33 5.50
31 Jul-15:00 Arbroath v Peterhead 2.25 3.40 2.60
31 Jul-15:00 Ayr v Falkirk 3.00 3.40 2.00
31 Jul-15:00 Dumbarton v Stirling 1.90 3.50 3.20
31 Jul-15:00 East Fife v Cowdenbeath 2.10 3.50 2.75
31 Jul-15:00 East Stirling v Berwick 8.00 5.00 1.25
31 Jul-15:00 Forfar v Morton 2.87 3.60 2.00
31 Jul-15:00 Gretna v Montrose 1.57 3.75 4.50
31 Jul-15:00 Partick v Brechin 1.57 3.75 4.50
31 Jul-15:00 Queens Park v Stenhousemuir 2.37 3.50 2.37
31 Jul-15:00 Raith v Albion 1.33 4.33 7.00
31 Jul-15:00 Ross County v St Mirren 2.00 3.60 2.87
31 Jul-15:00 St Johnstone v Hamilton 1.66 3.60 4.00

come on now experts!

Alloa vs. Elgin ... (1) 7/10
Alloa are a decent 2nd Div. side and Tom Hendrie is a manger that I rate at this level. At home they should be able to beat Elgin, who where one of the countries worst sides last year.

Gretna vs. Montrose ... (1) 8/10
Gretna have invested heavily in their squad for a 3rd Div. side but missed out on promotion last season. In the summer they have signed many higher level players, and this season I really fancy them to make it to the 2nd Div.

They have signed experianced defenders Jamie McQuilken (former Hibs and Falkirk) from 1st Div. St Johnstone and Andy Aitken from Queen of the South.

They have also snapped up 3 strikers who are all above 3rd Div. level. Firstly veteran Andy Smith from Clyde, the prolific and sought after Kenny Deucher from East Fife and the jewell in the crown has to be David Bingham ... signed from 1st Div. champions Inverness Caley!!!

Add to this the experiance of Danny Lennon and Derek Townsley in midfield and David Holdsworth in defence and you have the makings of a 1st Div. side!!!

Dont really know enough about Montrose apart from they did well at Gretna last season, but with this Gretna side I just cant see anything other than a home win.

Ross County vs. St Mirren ... (1) 6/10
I hate backing agaisnt my own team, but at the moment I just cant resist the 2.00 on offer for the home win here.

Saints have only signed Mark Reilly and Mixu Paatelinaen for the new season and basically that aint enough to improve the sqaud! ... and it has shown in pre-season as we have been well beaten 3-1 @ Dumbarton and even lost the local derby @ Morton 2-1, although we did play wioth 10 men for half an hour and then lost the winner in extra time!

Ross County are always a tough team at home and they have added good quality with Gary McSwegan, Alex Burke and Sean Kilgannon.

Saints also have a very poor record at Dingwall, and I will be suprised if we get anything from this game.

*** What I would say though is that this is the first game from each team and as such I advise you to keep you stakes low - medium.

GL

[kompressaur]

Worrrrrrrr Bloody great to see. I'm nearly crying here. I'm all whelled up

I promised to go easy at the start of the season but straight away the bookies have gave us a few opportunities of a return and thats even without seeing other odds.

Good to see Andy straight in there with a good informative post to get the ball rolling. I'm scared of your Alloa and Gretna initially Andy as i over-rate Elgin and think Montrose do ok v Gretna. Montrose aint went forard this close season and have lost a couple of player im sure but i'll get into it now its got my blood tingling.

Straight away you gotta take Dumbarton at 10/11 or there abouts. I don't have to mention their home record at The Rock and i don't think any team barr Airdrie picked up more points after xmas. At home you just have to back Dumbarton.

I've been keeping an eye on noticable signings etc throughout the close season and will get all that together later.

Falkirk i know will enjoy their trip down to Ayr as they usually do. Evens aint a great price to chance the away but i can see Falkirk being up for this and the new season and lapaty and moore and dunne could cause the young Ayr team probs. Don't get me wrong Ayr do ok in cups but their a changed team. I think they'll do ok but i can see Falkirk being just too strong for them. I'd still fancy Falkirk to get 2 or 3 goals though.

Just noticed the h2h's werent as good as i thought but Falkirk have beaten Ayr twice within two years in two cup-ties down at Somerset Park in Ayr. I'm gonna take them.

Next one i really like more so than Falkirk now and at double the odds is Cowdenbeath @ 5/2 BLOODY HELL!!!! 5 to bloody 2. Thats great odds I'm just having a nice single on that without even looking at it. 'Beath must have had the best away record v the top sides last year and i fully expect them to finish third behind the top two in Gretna and Peterhead (9/2 somewhere for the league, 10/1 Beath i think)

East Fife imo were lucky to get up last year and after a not bad start they must have had the worst season after xmas. their style of played seemed to be long punted balls up to big Kenny Deaucher to latch onto. Deauchers away to Gretna and i don't see East Fife as being that good a side. 'Beath gave up their once promising title dreams early last year and the manager played some youth and resigned most his players in preperation for this season. I think they could be a very hard side to beat again this year. 5/2 will do for me thank you very much. First touch of the year i reckon.

Just noticed that Beath have beaten east Fife last twice they played. They came down as East Fife went up. Local derby too no doubt. Come on the Beath. I could be saying that alot this season.

Forfar have lost a few good players this close season and the fans seem to be losing patience with Ray Stewart. They always give Morton (spit) a game, well they always seemed to but i think Morton could be ready to do something. They've got a fine attacking line and if the rumours of Harty leaving Clyde for them are true then they will be definate favs for the league again. I could chance them too at 5/4.

Elsewhere i could be interested in Brechin at 11/2 Peterhead @ 7/4 and Stenhousemuir at 11/8. Aye Ross County is nicely priced as Andy says at 11/10 and i expect St Johnstone to get off to a flyer and could be tempted by them at home at just under evens.

Bloody hell im a greedy sod but they all seem like nice prices to me and good bets. I've got complimentries for Ayr Utd this season and should get to see all the teams at least once. Here's looking forward to a new seaon and all the new faces on the Scot's Thread. Get posting.

[kompressaur]

Dumbartons 3rd choice keeper (some youth thats on loan will be playing on Saturday due to injury to the 2 first choice goal-keepers. I'll see how he's been playing in friendlies. Dumbarton drew their first friendly at home to a Royal Navy XI 1-1 I put more importance on friendlies than most tho.

I still like the look af all my selections so far and shouldnt be doing too much trimming. I'll keep it all to inerest stakes at the mo mind as shocks will happen on Saturday. Just hope im on the right side of them.

Maybe try an interest any 3 from 7 in 35 bets for now and take Cowdenbeath in a single to cover the stake.

[MickeyPaul]

If I see 5/2 for Cowdenbeath Komp - nothing will stop me getting on as that would be incredible. I guessed their odds at around 2.10 when you asked me too. Also could be going with Ross County. A team who are capable on their day. Oooh. I need to try and take my time and digest it all. My wee tail has hardly stopped wagging.

31 Jul-15:00 Gretna v Montrose 1.57 3.75 4.50

The big spenders of the 3rd Division should beat Montrose fairly comfortably. Apart from the 4hr drive down, Gretna have a better side and will be there at the end of the season challenging if not walking away with the league. Montrose were pretty good when Henry Hall started but ended the season up and down. 4/7 is a fair price

31 Jul-15:00 Partick v Brechin 1.57 3.75 4.50

This is a very generous price for a team just relegated but looked pretty good under joint managers, Whyte and Britton. I fancy them to start of the season very strongly, after the SPL @#%$ them over and they'll have something to prove

31 Jul-15:00 St Johnstone v Hamilton 1.66 3.60 4.00

St J will have a good season and although Hamilton are no mugs, I fancy St. J to win this one with Micheal Moore spearheading there attack.

*Hopefully the teletext will give team news by the weekend and I'll add anything of interest

Soz i'm logged in as my sister its me though (komp)

Hello and welcome Henchoz,

I am starting to see Gretna as a not bad bet but only at 8/13 i saw somewhere. Nah i wont be chancing them but good luck for all those that do.

I fancy going against your Partick and chance Brechin @ 11/2. Partick have made a few not bad buys but Brechin says value to me and i'll have a wee interest on the away on this one. I couldn't back Partick at odds on on this. Never a 1/2 shot.

[MickeyPaul]

Brechin could be a good 'un Komp. They've been tuning up real nice in their pre-season games, against decent sides too. I'm not all that confident with St Johnstone just yet and would be wary of Hamilton who seem to be a side who enjoy playing away in recent times. Crikey. It's really hard to decide on anything at this stage. I'm gonna meditate a bit yet. :|

[kompressaur]

I'm a little worried about Dumbarton's goal-keeping problems but still will chance them at the 10/11 available due to their home record of last year and their form after Christmas. Stirling i think this year will be glad just to stay up. Dumbarton done ok in the cups last year i think

Still in two minds over Morton but again will probably chance them at the 5/4 with small stakes. Forfar have lost some good players in Byers and Horn and i think Henderson who's now at Ayr used to motivate them when he was fit or not suspended.

St Johnstone have just signed Paul Sheerin from Aberdeen and will play in midfield tomorrow. I think and hope that St Johnstone are ready to get down to business and think that their odds off just under evens could be value as they could be 4/7 by the time these two meet in league. Again i'll echo the chant of last year and chance St Johnstone at home tomorrow.

I dunno if Hughes and Latapy could miss out tomorrow due to suspension and that could have a bearing on my bet. No it wont actually as im backing Falkirk tomorrow to win at Ayr as i just feel that they will and i can't go against that but maybe it could prove decisive to some of you. I aint quite as confident i initially was but ..anyhow.

Andy's and Mickey's Ross County at 11/10 could be the bet of the weekend. I like it. Right about the low stakes mind Andy as we could all be shaking our heads bewildered come 10 to 5 tomorrow. If this was the prices in a normal week with the form i expect i would be rubbing my hands with a manic smile and shouting out things about candy from babies and gambling 9/10ths of a giro only for it all to go tits up due to a bad staking plan.

Anyhow i'll be on this lot (placed on order of fancy)

Ross County
St Johnstone
Morton
Dumbarton
Cowdenbeath
Falkirk
Stenhousemuir
Peterhead
Brechin

Long list but i think they all have worthy merits for a wee interest bet at the start of a season.

[kompressaur]

I'm gonna try a fancy bet this week and try a 3 x 3 x 3 perm. I could split the above into an order of-

Ross County
Cowdenbeath
Brechin

x

St Johnstone
Dumbarton
Peterhead

x

Morton
Falkirk
Stenhousemuir

27 x .5pt trebles. Sod it im gonna keep a bank for my FINAL bets. Team news shouldnt affect my choices so i'll post that as my final bet and see how i get on this year. I aint in the great Tipster Challenge contest but pop along and have a look. I would like to be but after a few years ive ran out of time for posting consistantly all season

good luck whatever you choose tomorrow. Not many posts from the regular or new posters. Be like Henchoz and get stuck into them prices as the bookies have no idea at the mo. Saw one of them tipping ayr to finish bottom this year

[kompressaur]

If your like me and stuck to the high street prices then this could help form yours and my strategy for tomorrow (ignore the above i was just getting over -excited:o )

Airdrie 13/10 (Hills)
QOS 8/5 (Coral, Stanley)

Alloa 4/9 (Corals)
Elgin 11/2 (Hills, Ladbrokes)

Arbroath 13/10 (Hills)
Peterhead 7/4 (Ladbrokes)

Ayr 21/10 (Hills)
Falkirk 6/5 (Coral)

Dumbarton 4/5 (Hills, Coral, Stanley)
Stirling 11/4 (Ladbrokes)

East Fife Evens (Coral)]
Cowdenbeath 5/2 (Ladbrokes)

East Stirling 6/1 (Generally)
Berwick 1/3 (Ladbrokes)

Forfar 9/5 (Coral)
Morton 5/4 (5/4 Ladbrokes)

Gretna 8/13 (Hills, Coral)
Montrose 7/2 (Stanley)

Partick 4/7 (Hills)
Brechin 11/2 (Ladbrokes)

Queens Park 13/8 (Hills)
Stenhousemuir 5/4 (all barr Hills, it was quicker to type, well it was )

Raith 4/9 (Coral)
Albion 6/1 (Ladbrokes, Stanley)

Ross County 11/10 (Hills)
St Mirren 5/2 (Coral)

St Johnstone (they were about 10/11 with a High Street bookie but now are 4/6, 8/13, here's hoping they have 'fixed odds' coupons in shop like hills but i think Corals are still refusing to do a scottish coupon in the shops)

Hamilton 7/2 Ladbrokes.


Bloody typed all that out myself too.

[kompressaur]

Ladbrokes-

Peterhead @ 7/4
Cowdenbeath @ 5/2
Brechin @ 11/2
Berwick @ 1/3
Yankee bet.

HILLS
Ross County @ 11/10
..and i'll chance Andy's Gretna to get their act together @ 8/13 in a Ross single covering the double stake.

CORAL
Dumbarton 4/5
Falkirk 6/5
Stenhousemuir 5/4

2 from 3 and all 3 = 4 bets

Again just interest stakes. Maybe even do a 2 from each section with that lot :o

Just read the team news on the local teletext, Gretna have a full strenght squad, while Montrose have a few players out injuried. So Bingham and Gow will likely make their debuts tomorrow for the home side.

Crickey ... you guys have been busy!

Im still confident about my three picks from above, but think I will give Alloa a miss (que a 5-0 hoem win ) and will go for a Ross County / Gretna double.

I know what you are saying Komp about Gretna letting everyone down last season, but @ 1.60 I just dont want to miss a decent price on them at home ... when they have all these 1st Div. players playing against a 3rd Div. team

Ross County & Saints are pretty much at full strength, and I foresee a tight match. but Saints being Saints will lose at least a goal or two and I doubt we will be able to get anything!

Tomorrow we will find out

GL folks!!!

[kompressaur]

I must say Henchoz and Andy that i had thrown off my chains about Gretna tomorrow before reading on page 488 about Montrose having 2 or 3 key players out. I'll pop by the Montrose site as they have the best links of any site there is. Check out www.montrosefc.co.uk and the links bottom left to the divisions.

Tell us any snippets you pick up as i'll not be on again till about 2 hours before kick off tommorrow and just briefly.

[MickeyPaul]

Well, it's a double for me. Gretna @ 1.57 with Cowdenbeath @ 3.50 (Ladbrokes) - I just couldn't say no to it. 'Beath only conceded 12 away from home last season too. And the head to heads (if you like that sort of thing) are all in favour of Cowdenbeath. The manager is in a positive frame of mind too. Bah! I hate feeling so upbeat about a team.

I'm just going through some team news at the mo for all the sides involved tomorrow. If anything stands out, I'll sit here and type it all up for you. With my fingers.

[OperationRosario]

I was at the recent County v Hartlepool game, which the home side won 2-0, but I didnt think they were that impressive to be honest. They looked very rigid and too often pannicked after giving the ball away, even with a couple of class acts at this level their play was very mediocre. The only reason I'm being put off by a pre-season friendly is the fans who watch them every week thought it was a brilliant performance! Hartlepool looked very unfit, they were well behind County in pre-season training and I would put that down as the reason they lost rather than Countys stuffy play. If the regulars think that the performance was off the highest standard when stumbling over an unprepared away team then I think they have another long disapointing season ahead of them. I would never waste 9/10ths of a giro on a team managed by Alex Smith.

East Stirling V Berwick.

Could the unthinkable happen and the Shire get off to a flying start this season? I have read they have signed TEN new players for this year, though im not too sure how many of them are available today, and of course how good they all are.

They have won their last two pre-season matches 4-0 and 4-2, although they were against the mighty Cumbernauld, and an Arbroath team with a fair few reserves in. Still a win is a win, and could they actually have some confidence ahead of the new season?

The trouble is I kept getting the feeling that they couldnt lose AGAIN quite a lot last season just before they got humped, and Berwick are not only a division higher, they werent a bad team in Div 2, so SURELY they must be able to win today?

The other thing is I am thinking that this might be the only time this year I am going to be able to get 4/11 on any team (except Elgin....) playing against someone who has won the grand total of 4, count em, matches in the last TWO seasons combined

So, mortgage job, or first day watching brief? (or, plan c, just pile in on Alloa at home against the second worst team in Scotland at better odds than Berwick away...?)

[mr chips]

My first pick of the day will be a Gretna and Alloa double. Thinking around the 30pt mark

The reasons for Gretna winning have already been outlined here, so I will concentrate a little on the away team. Montrose has a squad of many inexperienced 18-22 year old. I have a 'mole' in the Montrose playing staff who is actually injured today and the word from him is that they expect a right doing this afternoon. Take that with a pinch of salt if you want, but I will certainly take Gretna at 1.7 if I can get it. I seen Montrose against Aberdeen during the week and they looked ok in first half but ran out losing 4-1 in the end. few injuries for Montrose too. Jim Butter in the goal for them! haha!

As for Alloa then Elgin have done nothing to suggest they will improve. Manager David Robertson was pointing out during the week that despite signing all these new players they rarely get to train together due to them being based so northerly. I expect Elgin to be a bit of a shambles. New faces and a lack of team cohesion.

Both are quite lengthy trips for the away sides, got to be a factor I feel too!

Fancy some singles too, may do trbles covering doubles on Ross County, Dumbarton and Forfar.