Arbroath
- Arbroath have won two of their five home games in the Championship (D2, L1), averaging 1.60 goals conceded per game at Gayfield.
- Arbroath are a direct team with wingers that can run at players and defenders that are quick enough to recover when the ball is turned over.
- It’s a pragmatic and simple system that Colin Hamilton has installed since his appointment in September, and has led to Red Lichties causing opponents problems with their set-piece play and ability to win second balls.
- Findlay Marshall, the team’s best player in front of goal, has four goals in the Championship from ten appearances and has scored half of Arbroath’s goals in their last six games, which is an important factor to consider in any Arbroath vs St. Johnstone betting tips.
St. Johnstone
- St. Johnstone have won all four of their Championship away games so far, conceding just twice (an average of 0.5 per match).
- Saints have won three and drawn two of their last five Championship matches, winning each of their last two away trips.
- Simo Valakari has had a fantastic impact on the club since taking over as manager in October, instilling a systematic, flexible style based on a high-pressing game and ball control, which could influence the Arbroath vs St. Johnstone prediction.
Head-to-Head
The visitors are a class above Arbroath in most areas of the pitch and have a head-to-head advantage from the last game, which they won 3-0 at home seven weeks ago.
Key Players
- St. Johnstone
- He has a player at the top of his game in Joshua McPake, who has seven goals in ten Championship appearances and is the division’s leading marksman.
- Jamie Gullan has three assists in Saints’ last five league games and Kai Fotheringham has added another two in the same sequence.
- Arbroath
- Findlay Marshall, the team’s best player in front of goal, has four goals in the Championship from ten appearances and has scored half of Arbroath’s goals in their last six games.
Betting Insights
- The hosts ended their winless streak in the Championship with a 4-1 home victory over Queen’s Park, three days before this game, which is notable for those considering Arbroath vs St. Johnstone betting tips.
- Saints’ defensive record of 0.5 goals per away game in the Championship, combined with Arbroath’s average of 1.60 conceded at their home ground, makes the odds for Under 2.5 goals (1.98) very attractive.
- Backing the away side at 1.55 is certainly the smart bet here, but the home side are appealing at 5.45.
Prediction
There’s likely to be a lot of the same to this contest as that 3-0 win for St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, with Saints dictating play against an Arbroath side that will be dangerous if they can get through the press.
