The play-off to reach next season’s Scottish Premiership has entered a crucial stage and on Sunday 26 May we’ll see St Mirren and Dundee Utd face off in Paisley in a match shown live on Sky Sports. Here are our top St Mirren v Dundee Utd betting tips.
There’s all to play for here with the winners of this straight shoot-out enjoying the riches that comes from sharing a division with the top teams in the country, including Rangers and Celtic, while the losers are dumped into the second-tier, facing a campaign mixing it with the likes of Greenock Morton, Queen of the South and Dunfermline.
Get Set For an Exciting Match
Tensions and tempers will be at breaking point from the first whistle to the conclusion of this match and we have extra-time and penalties available to settle the score if needed. It’s a bank holiday weekend of play-off matches and although this isn’t the most glamourous of fixtures on the schedule, it will offer followers an exciting match and one well worth following.
You can spice up the occasion with a bet on the outcome and bookmakers have done their bit to help, offering extra coverage than supporters of St Mirren and Dundee Utd will be used to. Have your say on the match winner or take advantage of the to qualify market where you’ll get the benefit of your bet remaining live if this tie goes into extra-time or penalties. The prices will be slightly shorter than the match betting but a punt on the latter will result in a loser if you pick a side and we’re forced into an extra 30 minutes of play.
Too close to call? Perhaps you would prefer to avoid picking sides in a game that really could go either way and one that looks a real 50/50 on paper? Traders have you covered. Get your cash down on over 100 other markets, including first goal scorer, both teams to score, correct score, Asian handicap, half-time/full-time, total goals, corners or cards. There’s also a fascinating list of same game multis which allows you to combine match winner, total goals, assists, passes and plenty more besides. Build a nice price accumulator and give yourself an extra interest.
First Leg Ends Goalless
This will be the second and decisive meeting of these sides following the first leg played at Tannadice on Thursday evening. Both teams went into the match at the city of discovery looking to gain an advantage. Dundee United were at home and wanted to make it count by collecting a lead, St Mirren eager to keep the scores low and ensure things remained competitive as the teams renewed rivalries in Paisley on Sunday.
It was the Premiership side that got their wish with the first leg ending in a frustrating goalless finish. There were chances at both ends of the pitch as the sides involved battled to nick a lead, but neither could find a way through. The emphasis seemed to be on avoiding defeat rather than shooting for the win and that resulted in a nervy contest with the majority of play taking place in the middle of the park. Not a great day for the paying public but St Mirren did come out of the evening with more to smile about and they’ll aim to finish the job with the full backing of their own support.
With over 11,000 packed into Tannadice in midweek, they watched The Saints command the ball, ending the match with 58% of the overall possession, but it was Dundee Utd who did more with it, forcing nine shots at goal and four on target, against the four and two of their opponents. A bad-tempered match halted often by the referee, we saw each side end with 18 fouls and that would suggest betting on over cards in Sunday’s game would keep you on the right track.
Both Managers Take Confidence from Draw
St Mirren manager Oran Kearney seemed content with the first leg draw when speaking to the waiting press at full-time. The under-pressure gaffer thought his men had enough attacking play to get a goal, but they move on from there and look to remedy it in the second leg. Kearney knows his side’s home form is good and they can rely on the backing of a supportive crowd on Sunday, which should make all the difference.
Dundee United leader Robbie Neilson refused to be downbeat on missing the chance to win at Tannadice, acknowledging the first leg of play-off matches are always edgy and this one was no difference. The former MK Dons manager took confidence from the fact his team controlled long periods of the game and had the better chances to break the deadlock. Neilson would’ve taken a 90-minute match in Paisley to gain promotion if offered it before the start, we’re sure.
Bookies Go with Home Comforts
This looks a real pick-em contest, but bookmakers have had their say and are siding with home comforts, pricing St Mirren as favourites to win the match in regulation time. Backers who agree with the money men on that call can get their stake down on the 7/5 offered by Bet365. Another draw will make things interesting and you can take up position on the fence and back a second level finish of the week at 9/4 (Ladbrokes).
There will be more than a few value hunters who see this for what it is, an evenly balanced shoot-out, and that will lead to many having a pop at the bigger priced team of the two, backing Dundee Utd. Do that at Bet365 and you’ll have a cracking 15/8 working in your favour. This will surely be another nerve-shredding match and you can bet on the game producing under 2.5 goals at 23/40 (Bet365) – a bet best suited to weekend accumulators.