St Johnstone vs Dundee Predictions & Betting Tips, Match Previews

St Johnstone were having a relatively successful season until last weekend. They had managed to get decent results from the majority of their games, predictably losing against Celtic and Aberdeen but performing well apart from that. However, they ended up losing 1-0 to an out of form Kilmarnock side at home last weekend, which allowed Rangers to take the 4th position that St Johnstone have become so familiar with over the last couple of seasons.

This failure was bound to happen at some point, because they have simply failed to perform well going forward at home this season. They have scored just three goals at McDiarmid Park in their five league outings there, with top scoring duo Steven MacLean and Danny Swanson scoring more away from home than they do at home.

Generally, this more efficient approach has worked for them due to their strong defence, but once they concede a goal they struggle to pull it back. This was evident against Kilmarnock last weekend.

Fortunately for St Johnstone, Dundee are in a torrid spell of form. They have lost four on the bounce now and are winless since the opening day of the season. Five of their eight games since then have ended in defeat, leaving them rock bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Their troubles lie up front as well, although defensively they aren’t exactly great. They have scored eight goals in their nine games so far, conceding 14 at the other end. Three of their eight goals came in that opening day victory though, and they have netted just three times in their last six Premiership outings, conceding ten at the other end of the pitch.

Rory Loy is the one to watch for them. The striker is joint top scorer along with defender Mark O’Hara, but both of his goals have come away from home. If you’re desperate for a goalscorer tip I’d recommend him at 15/8 to score anytime, but in all honesty I think there is a lot more value to be had betting against the goals.

St Johnstone have averaged under a goal per game at home this season, whilst their visitors have fared marginally better but still averaged just one goal per game away from home. The majority of these came in a single match though, so that’s more of an anomaly. It’s pretty clear that both teams struggle going forward, and whilst Dundee have struggled at the back, they aren’t facing a very prolific attack on Sunday. Backing Under 2.5 Goals at 4/5 looks a very good value bet, so I’m going for that along with a 1-0 win for St Johnstone at 6/1.