Hibs v St Johnstone
Football : Scottish Premier League
Wednesday 28/09/2011 - Kickoff 19.45 (local)

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Hibs

You've got to be a patient person to be a Hibs fan at the moment, but things are just starting to turn for them a little I think. Although they are still searching for their first home league win of the season they will be encouraged by their recent run of 3 games undefeated with 3 straight draws in a row. Is a first win at home in the league since February on the horizon?

The biggest worry for Colin Calderwood will be whether Leigh Griffiths will be fit enough to partner inform striker Gary O'Connor who has scored in each of his last 3 starts. Griffiths is rated as doubtful but surely will be given every chance to play given the impact he has made since is loan signing from Wolves.

Possible Hibs lineup :
Stack, Towell, Hanlon, O'Hanlon, Booth, Palsson, Osbourne, Murray, Sproule, O'Connor, Griffiths (4-4-2)

St Johnstone

I have to hold my hands up and admit St Johnstone have surprised me this season. They were a team I did not really like or rate but the facts are that they have gone on a 5 match unbeaten run in the league and this run started with the coupon busting 1-0 win at Celtic Park.

I watched their last game on Sunday against Hearts where they claimed a comfortable 2-0 win with a very solid performance that limited Hearts to very few chances. The Sandanza and Sheridan strike partnership looks a good one and will certainly ask a lot of questions against the questionable Hibs defence.

St Johnstone Boss, Derek McInnes, will have Calum Davidson available again in defence and midfielder Jody Morris fit again.


Possible St Johnstone lineup :
Enckelman, MacKay, Anderson, McCracken, Davidson, Maybury, Moon, Millar, Morris, Sheridan, Sandaza (4-4-2)

THE BETTING VERDICT

A couple of stats that are hard to ignore are that St Johnstone are yet to concede an away goal this season in 4 matches and have not lost to Hibs on the last 7 occassions. To me this all suggests a LAY of Hibs here.

I'm a little bit surprised at the price available for St Johnstone given the league positions of each club but for an element of double chance I will suggest backing St Johnstone with the +0.25 Asian Handicap.

The Pick :

Hibs 0-1 St Johnstone

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

Hibs 35% - Draw 35% - St Johnstone 30%

HANDICAP BETTING :

Main Bet :
Take St Johnstone with +0.25 Asian Handicap