Hearts vs St Mirren
9th November 1500hrs
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Marathonbet
Odds: 33/50 odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 8 November)
It may be early in the season but this is already shaping up to be a crucial game in the context of the relegation battle. One goal separates Hearts from bottom club St Mirren and it’s likely to be a tense occasion at Tynecastle.
Scottish Premiership Betting at Marathonbet
Hearts vs St Mirren Live Stats & Betting Odds
Hearts Preview – Are Hearts set to spark into life and being moving clear of the bottom two?
The departure of Craig Levein never had an immediate impact on Hearts’ on the field performances at the first time of asking as they went down with a whimper, losing 3-0 to Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup. As first games go for temporary managers it was a challenging one but, as Austin McPhee has made clear, he wants this job on a permanent basis. To do that, Hearts are going to have to improve significantly and it could well be down to this one game. With the international break looming it’s usually a break where clubs in the market for a new manager do their recruiting. McPhee knows a win on Saturday is the minimum requirement for his name to be in the frame.
There were some strange decisions in relation to the starting line-up last week so it will be interesting to see how Hearts shape up tomorrow. Whoever takes the field will be looking to end what has been a dismal run of form at home. The Jambos’ last win in the league was way back in March. Not only are they long overdue a home victory but the context of this game and playing against the only team below them makes that essential.
St Mirren Preview – Can St Mirren add to their opponent’s woes and take what would be a massive result home with them?
Whilst a relegation battle was not on the agenda for their weekend opponents, St Mirren fully expected to be involved towards the bottom end of the table. It was survival through the playoffs for the Buddies last season and despite a change in manager they are already well entrenched in the battle to avoid the drop under Jim Goodwin. St Mirren were cast adrift in bottom spot 12 months ago so the fact they are level on points with Hearts is something they will see as a positive. And with the chance to go above them with a win on Saturday.
For that to happen, Goodwin’s men have to do something they have not achieved since the final day of last season – win away from home in the Premiership. There’s no doubting they have a well organised team and they showed that once again when frustrating Celtic for long spells of their 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park. That was St Mirren’s last game so they will come into this very fresh. Goodwin would have been well served attempting to find a better balance between his defence and attack. They are a team who are rarely thumped but with just five goals all season it’s evidence where their problems lie.
Key-Facts – Hearts vs St Mirren
- Hearts may have sacked their manager but it was more of the same in last weekend’s loss to Rangers in the League Cup
- St Mirren are coming into this game having not played in 10 games and looking to move off the bottom of the table
- It was a goalless draw when the teams met in Paisley earlier this season and both teams have struggled for goals all season
Hearts v St Mirren Betting Advice
It’s too early to be calling this game a relegation six-pointer but there’s no doubt it’s a very significant game in both team’s seasons. Hearts more so, probably, not least because they are at home but also because this is a position they would not expected to find themselves in. Their need is greater in terms of getting three points here as St Mirren would be happy with a draw and even if they lose they’re not cast adrift.
Tynecastle is not a happy place at the moment so it’s bound to be a fraught atmosphere. St Mirren will look to contain and frustrate, and with nine of their 11 league games going under 2.5 goals, it looks the obvious way to go on Saturday.
