The Scottish football league returns this weekend and with heavy rain forecast for parts of the country it looks like we have seen the last of summer 2010.
The start of any new season is an event marked on every football fan’s calendar. It’s an exciting day where emotions run high but as punters it is certainly an occasion to keep our feet on the ground and our stakes low.
It's been an intriguing pre-season of change in Greenock as chairman Douglas Rae wielded the axe in an attempt to bring the glory days back to Morton. Ex-manager James Grady made way for the ambitious Allan Moore and a clutch of fresh faces. The new gaffer has been given a simple task in year one, steer clear of relegation, but Moore is a proud man and will want to make an impact from the off. The Ton have struggled with slow starts in each of the last two seasons but after recording an emphatic 7-1 win over Stranraer in the cup last weekend their 5/6 (bet365) price tag makes plenty of appeal. Newly promoted Stirling Albion provide the opposition but after losing their manager and better players to Morton, points should be hard to come by.
Elsewhere, recently relegated Falkirk will be looking to get off on the right foot against bitter rivals Dunfermline. Steven Pressley’s boys suffered a surprise cup exit two weeks ago but fans will demand a perfect start to their league campaign as they aim to bounce back up to the top tier at the first time of asking. The Bairns have a group of players tried and tested at a higher standard of football and can be backed to secure early bragging rights at 21/20 (Paddypower).
In division two Ayr United are fancied to go well after tasting relegation in the summer. Opponents Brechin City will be forced to make do without experienced keeper Craig Nelson for the first month and I think his absence will be the deciding factor here. The Honest Men will be looking to pile the pressure on short term loan signing Scott Morrison and they merit interest at bet365’s 13/10 offering.
Lastly the bet of the day down in division three looks to be in backing Clyde against Stranraer at Broadwood stadium. Clyde coach Stuart Miller has been one of the busiest men in the country over the summer, rebuilding a team from scratch after the Bully Wee released their playing staff last season but the likes of experienced midfielder Kevin Finlayson should aid their promotion cause. After Stranraer leaked 7 goals last weekend, a home win seems the sensible thing to do at 8/11 (bet365).
