Hearts continue their extended spell on the road as they take on St Johnstone at their temporary Murrayfield home in the Scottish Premiership
Delays to construction of a new stand at their Tynecastle home and management upheaval have played a part in Hearts having their worst start to a season since returning to the top flight in 2015.
After nine matches this season, they have won three and sit in seventh place on twelve points. At the same stage last season, they had seventeen points and sat in third after their fifth victory of the campaign.
With their home ground still closed until at least the 5th November, they will play at Murrayfield for a second time this season. Their only previous match played there ended in a 0-0 draw against Aberdeen. Consistency has been a problem this season and Hearts haven’t managed to achieve back-to-back victories yet. That is something they will be hoping to achieve here after beating Ross County last time out. Recent League Form – WLDWDL.
Scottish Premiership – New Murrayfield Park – Saturday 21st October – 15:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 5/2 at Ladbrokes |
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Hearts
St JohnstoneSt Johnstone
St Johnstone started the season in brilliant fashion but their form has worryingly dropped off in recent weeks. After three wins and two draws from their opening five matches, they have lost three of their last four and won just once in their last six. They’ve lost their last two away from home, with the only win on their travels coming on the opening day of the season at Kilmarnock.
The most worrying thing about their recent form is the fact they’ve conceded ten goals in the last four, and have failed to score in their last two.
A 3-0 defeat at home to Rangers last weekend followed a loss by the same score at Aberdeen before the international break. They will be hoping to take advantage of Hearts’ inconsistency and pick up a much-needed morale-boosting victory here. Recent League Form – LLWLDD.
Team News
Hearts are without experienced defender Aaron Hughes, who is suffering from a knee injury, and midfielder Arnaud Djoum, with a ligament injury.
St Johnstone are almost at full-strength, with Ricky Foster their only absentee for this fixture. The defender serves the last match of his suspension.
Head to Head
There isn’t much to choose between these teams with regards overall head to head record, although St Johnstone have a clear advantage in recent meetings. In five meetings in all competition last season, St Johnstone won four and the other was a draw. That takes it to eight meetings without a win for Hearts, who were last victorious over St Johnstone August 2015. That win is their only one in the last twelve meetings. Three of the last four meetings have ended 1-0 to St Johnstone, but the last two with Hearts as the home side have finished 2-2. This has proven to be a somewhat fierce fixture in the past, with six red cards shown in the last ten meetings.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Surprisingly, considering the recent head to head statistics, Hearts are the favourites to pick up the victory here. Ladbrokes have the ‘home’ side priced at 5/6, with St Johnstone fantastic value at odds of 10/3. The draw is priced at 5/2. Because of inconsistency shown by both teams this season, it’s hard to predict an outcome of this match. However, in such a close game, the odds available for a St Johnstone win may be too good to ignore. St Johnstone or Draw in the ‘Double Chance’ market also provides decent value at odds of 5/6.
At least one team has failed to score in five of the last eight, and three of the last four, meetings. Therefore, ‘No’ in the Both teams to Score market looks a solid bet at 1/1. There have been three or less goals in Hearts’ last eight league matches, and six of St Johnstone’s last seven. Add that to the fact there has been only one goal in three of the last four meetings, and Under 3.5 Goals looks a safe bet here. It doesn’t provide much value, at odds of 1/3, but looks to be the best chance of making a profit from this match.
Top Betting Tip
It’s almost impossible to pick a winner here, as both teams are evenly matched and extremely inconsistent.
So, our best hope of making a profit appears to be backing Under 3.5 Goals at odds of 1/3 with Ladbrokes.