Delving into the lower leagues in Scotland for the first of two bets on Sunday as Ayr United travel to Brechin for the second leg of their play-off final.
The first leg of this match took place on Wednesday at Somerset Park when Ayr dominated for much of the match but were made to pay for a plethora of missed chances as the visitors scored late on to ensure that the clubs head into tomorrow’s match level at 1-1. The teams were nip and tuck for much of the season in the league with two points separating them at the end of the campaign. United have already seen off thrid place Forfar in the semi-final of the play-off’s whilst Brechin got the better of Cowdenbeath, the side who finished second bottom of the First Division.
Brian Reid, Ayr United’s manager, has already guided his side to the First divison during his reign so has the experience of what it takes to get promoted. He has had to work with a small squad all season which is the major reason as to why their challenge for automatic promotion faded in the middle to latter part of the season. Reid has called on for one last big effort from the Ayr United support who have shown themselves to be one of the best travelling sets of fans in the lower divisions, if not all of Scotland. Being one of the largest towns in Scotland, Ayr can call on big numbers for away matches, so much so that they will have nearly double the amount of fans compared to Brechin tomorrow.
Brechin have done well to sustain a challenge for promotion all season considering they are working with even smaller resources than Sunday’s opponents. Jim Weir deserves a lot of credit for churning out more and more from his players which was evidenced in the semi-final as they turned in a fantastic performance in the second leg against Cowdenbeath when they won 2-0 away despite drawing the first leg at home. Weir has experience of the SPL and First division as a player but has never managed in it so Sunday is a massive day for him personally. He will look to his top scorer Rory McAllister for the goals once again as the hitman was the difference when these two sides last met earlier this month. McAllister has been the subject of strong interest from other teams and it’s no surprise as is average for Brechin is much better than a goal every other game – tomorrow could be vital in Brechin’s attempts to keep him at the club.
Brechin have not played in the First Division since 2006 whilst Ayr were relegated two seasons ago. There is not much between the sides as emphasised in the odds for the match tomorrow but there was enough about Ayr on Wednesday night to suggest that they are in the better form and are more threatening going forward to side with them.
My Selections: Ayr United to beat
Best odds available: 9/5
available with Unibet
?
English Premier League
Wolverhampton v Blackburn
It’s survival Sunday in the Premier League this weekend and two sides right in the thick of it are Wolves and Blackburn who clash at Molineaux.
Wolves have put back to back victories together at the exactly right stage of the season after beating both West Brom and Sunderland. To get maximum points from two games at this point in the season makes all the difference and it looks as though it will be enough for them to survive for another season. What has been particularly impressive has been the style of their victories. They haven’t been lucky or negative, they have played excellent football, scored plenty of goals and been thoroughly deserving of both. It’s even more of a feat considering they have been without their best player in Kevin Doyle who was injured on international duty eight weeks ago. Mick McCarthy is a realist and will not be accepting that his side are safe until it is mathematically impossible for sides below them to reach or surpass their point’s total.
Blackburn are level on points with Wolves but have a significantly better goal difference than them and the rest of the teams fighting against relegation. Steve Kean will have been happy with the point they gained last weekend against Manchester United but he know’s there is still some work to do to ensure he leads Rovers to safety. Blackburn have lost just three of their last nine games which is relatively good form for a side so close to the bottom and looks as though it’s making the difference between staying up and going down. They have been slightly less adventurous than tomorrow’s opponents having scored just six goals in eight games but every team’s approach and style is different – if it’s enough for the fans to be able to look forward to another season in the Premier League, nobody will be caring.
If either of these sides win they are guaranteed to stay up whilst defeat would mean they would at the mercy of other sides in the league. It would mean that two out of Blackpool, Wigan and Birmingham would have to win for the defeated side to drop into relegation zone. All three of those sides face difficult away fixtures which increases the chances for both Wolves and Blackburn. Blackpool have to visit the Champions, Birmingham are away to Spurs, chasing fifth placed, whilst Wigan have to travel to Stoke who always provide a stern test no matter what the circumstances are.
The odds seemed stacked in both Wolves and Blackburn’s favour tomorrow for staying up. Chances are that all three of the sides below them could fail to win which would almost ensure safety. We’ve all seen it before in every country when results elsewhere dictate’s what happens in this kind of game. Should two of Blackpool, Birmingham and Wigan be losing with 20 minutes to go then there is very big chance of the game at Molineaux coming to a standstill and the clock running down whilst one of the sides play keep ball. It’s not nice to see but we’re not naive enough to think it doesn’t happen.
With that in mind, the draw looks the safest option on such an important day.
My Selection: Wolves to draw with Blackburn
Best price available: 9/4 available with Totesport
Brechin
Sunday 22nd May
Scottish Division 1 Play-Off
Brechin City v Ayr United
