Scottish Cup
2025-07-23 - Hearts vs Dumbarton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Wednesday 23rd July 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Preview
They were set as strong favourites to progress from the Group and Hearts have to be given some credit for the professional performances put together in the League Cup.
One more point will ensure Hearts are through to the Second Round, but the fans and Derek McInnes, the manager, will be looking for one more big result before the Scottish Premiership gets underway. All three games have been won in the Group and Hearts have scored four goals in each of those victories against Dunfermline Athletic, Hamilton Academical and Stirling Albion.
It is a daunting task for Dumbarton to end that run, especially after conceding four at home in a heavy loss to Dunfermline Athletic and the best the League Two team may be able to do is to contain the hosts.
This is the first away game of the season for Dumbarton who ended a 4 game winless run on their travels by beating Stenhousemuir in their last away League fixture of last season. That did not prevent the team from being Relegated back into League Two and Dumbarton now have to bridge a big gap to a Hearts team that will be thinking about European qualification at the end of the next several months of action.
Hearts are on a run of 3 successive home wins in all competitions and the momentum that has been picked up through this Group Stage makes them massive favourites to secure another comfortable victory.
These clubs last met in the 2014/15 Scottish Championship season and Hearts managed to score fourteen goals in winning the last 3 League fixtures between them. In the decade that has passed, Hearts have widened that gap to Dumbarton and that is expected to be on display in this League Cup fixture.
Prediction
The layers are taking no chances with the prices on Hearts having seen the team win each of the three League Cup Group games by at least three goal margins. The last two have both ended 4-0 in favour of the Scottish Premiership club and they are expected to have far too much for a Dumbarton team that were just thumped 0-4 at home by Dunfermline Athletic.
Hearts are being asked to lay a big handicap line, but it may pay off to back them to score early.
In each of the wins in the League Cup this month, Hearts have scored inside 13 minutes and it is very difficult to see how Dumbarton can contain the hosts.
In the 'Early Goal' market set by Bet365, the line is 18 minutes for the first goal and Hearts have shown that they can pile on the pressure to score before that mark. This looks the best play to back the home team as they look to secure a perfect ending to the Group Stage and retain momentum to take into the Scottish Premiership opener a week on Saturday.
The Pick :
Hearts 4-0 Dumbarton
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Early Goal- Goal Before 18 Minutes at 1.83 with Bet365
