"8", "name" => "UK & Ireland Football", "category" => "Scottish Football", "path" => "/var/www/vhosts/betting.betfair.com/httpdocs/football/", "url" => "https://betting.betfair.com/football/", "title" => "Border Reiver picks the best bets from North of the Border : Scottish Football : UK & Ireland Football", "desc" => "Celtic are no gimme at Falkirk...", "keywords" => "", "robots" => "index,follow" ); $category_sid = "sid=2070"; ?>

Border Reiver picks the best bets from North of the Border

Scottish Football RSS / / 09 August 2007 /

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Celtic are no gimme at Falkirk

Last weekend's opening fixtures produced several shocks, not least at Celtic Park where Celtic failed to beat Kilmarnock. They created plenty of chances (15 goal attempts to Killie's 6) but only managed to get 6 on target. That's a poor effort for the defending champions and they haven't really played with any consistency at all in any pre-season games either.

Last season they kept winning by the odd goal and their lack of fire-power this year could be their undoing. On Saturday they travel to Falkirk, who had a comfortable first week victory at Gretna. Falkirk manager John Hughes is very astute and has made an excellent signing in goalkeeper Tim Krul from Newcastle. This 19 year old Dutch keeper is a potential star and will make a big impact for Falkirk. I can see Celtic struggling on Saturday and the draw seems like the best bet.

In the Second Division Ayr United have made a bad start. They have conceded 7 goals in 2 games and haven't managed a goal themselves. I know that their supporters were expecting a big season and they are bitterly disappointed with the start. On Saturday they are at home to Queens Park.

After last season's promotion Queens were everybody's favourites to go down but a good victory over a weakened Brechin City last week and a good win over Alloa in the CIS cup midweek proves they can hold their own at this level. Having seen them several times last season I know they can play really good football. If they can get an early goal they should be able to record another win. Ayr are a definite lay for me.

In the Third Division Stenhousemuir got off to a cracking start by beating Arbroath 1- 0. Arbroath are expected to do very well this year. Last year's runners up have strengthened over the summer and should be there abouts at the finish. Stennie are in the process of rebuilding after last years very disappointing performance. Having watched Stennie play Berwick, in the CIS Cup, on Tuesday night they are a much better team than last year and they really held their own against the Third Division Champions.

They matched Berwick in every department and only the sending off of Stennie defender McCulloch in extra time made the difference between the two sides. Stennie face Forfar away this week. Forfar lost to Stranraer last week and to Peterhead in the CIS Cup midweek. They only managed 4 goal attempts (1 on target) and 1 corner in the 90 minutes and when they face Stennie on Saturday they will be up against a very good defence. Forfar are a definite lay for me.

This weeks best bets for me are, Celtic to draw, lay Ayr United and lay Forfar.

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