Competition: Scottish League Two
Market: Dumbarton win
Odds: 19/20 @ 888sport
Looking to extend their buffer at the top of the League Two table and pick up a Christmas Eve boost, Dumbarton will host East Fife on Saturday lunchtime.
Starting with the hosts, left disappointed last time out on December 3rd as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw away at relegation scrappers Bonnyrigg Rose, Dumbarton will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, with the mood in their camp likely to still be at a real high, Stephen Farrell’s men find themselves tipped as the leading promotion contender this season. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat holding a four-point buffer at the top of the table, the Sons are also enjoying a hugely impressive seven-match unbeaten run across all formats – a run that stems all the way back to October 8th. With that purple patch underlined by a thumping 4-0 romp away at Elgin last month, Dumbarton should be confident of laying down a marker on Christmas Eve. Likewise, it should also be noted, Farrell’s side have not suffered a single defeat in front of their own supporters since the middle of April.
As for the visitors, while East Fife might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with their sights set on clinching an immediate third-tier return, Greig McDonald’s side are in the midst of what has been a worrying rut over recent times. Last seen on December 10th when having to settle for a toothless 0-0 stalemate at home against Bonnyrigg Rose, the ex-Stirling Albion boss has seen his side fail to win any of their last five straight outings. With that run highlighted by back-to-back 3-1 losses against Annan and Stirling, East Fife should also be worried by their most recent showdown against Saturday’s hosts. Suffering a 1-0 loss when they welcomed Dumbarton to the Bayview Stadium on September 3rd, McDonald’s men should face another tough challenge on Christmas Eve. Picking up just a single point from their last three matchups on the road, we’re backing a home win here.
Bet: Dumbarton 19/20 to beat East Fife in Saturday’s League Two contest @ 888sport