There’s the small matter of a World Cup semi-final between France and Spain on Tuesday night, but Links Park joins the party when Montrose get their Scottish League Cup campaign under way with a tie against Dundee United.
The Gable Endies will be hoping to build on last season’s effort in League One, but last term’s group stage saw Stewart Petrie’s men collect only three points from four matches.
Dundee United will be targeting progress from last season’s positive Premiership campaign and cup competitions could offer Jim Goodwin’s men an opportunity for success.
Montrose v Dundee United Tips Summary
Best Bet - Dundee United to win to nil @ 11/8
Alternative Bet - Dundee United to win 1-0 @ 8/1
Bet Builder - Dundee United & under 2.5 goals @ 15/4
Montrose v Dundee United Prediction
Best Bet: Dundee United to win to nil @ 11/8
Scottish Premiership side Dundee United are well fancied to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Scottish League Cup and the Terrors are among the best sides in the group stage of this season’s competition.
Goodwin has been extremely busy in the transfer market and Mehdi Merghem, who signed on a free transfer after leaving Bastia, recently became their ninth signing of the summer.
Goodwin has suggested that there will be one or two more to come as the club continue to strengthen.
Jack Walton started in goal in Saturday’s 1-0 League Cup success at Stirling, while fellow new arrivals Joshua Rawlins and Michael Forbes featured in defence, and Lachlan Rose started up front.
There may well be more debuts against Montrose as the Terrors look to get up to speed ahead of the start of the Premiership season.
Goodwin selected Dylan Tait, Zachary Sapsford and Julius Eskesen alongside a selection of new signings at Stirling last weekend and it’s likely he will go pretty strong once again.
It took United until the 93rd minute to break down the Binos, but the Tangerines hit 20 efforts on goal, took 11 corners and recorded 67 per cent possession at Forthbank Stadium.
Stirling are a League Two side, but their level isn’t a mile off that of Montrose and a repeat success is anticipated at Links Park.
Petrie’s side lost seven players in the summer and as with many lower league Scottish sides, the replacements will be slow in arriving.
The Gable Endies have beefed up their squad, with the signing of Jamie Barjonas from Airdrie, but they are unlikely to trouble Dundee United.
Montrose won only one of their four group stage games in the League Cup last term and the first phase of the competition saw the Gable Endies lose 5-0 to Dundee United’s city rivals Dundee.
The Terrors may not be up to the task of matching that five-goal hammering, but they are fancied to win and keep a clean sheet, available at an attractive at 11/8.
Alternative Bet - Dundee United to win 1-0 @ 8/1
A small play on Dundee United to win 1-0 on the correct score market could also pay dividends.
The Terrors secured a last-gasp 1-0 win at Stirling and a repeat could be on the cards.
Goodwin’s men have a clear class edge on their League One opponents, but there are bigger tests and prizes to follow this season and the visitors may well have eyes on the start of the Scottish Premiership season.
Montrose will look to dig in and keep United at bay at Links Park and the Gable Endies may be able to stay in the contest long enough to stop the Terrors running up a high-scoring success.
Montrose v Dundee United Bet Builder Tip
Dundee United to win
Under 3 goals
Pays 15/4
Montrose scored only 48 goals in 36 Scottish League One matches last season and the Gable Endies may struggle to reach even that modest total this term.
Callum Sandilands, who scored 10 league goals on loan from Hearts, has signed for third-tier Morton, while Taylor Sutherland, who was next best with eight League One strikes has joined Hamilton.
That’s a big chunk of goals missing from a side who were not free-scoring last season and now they face a Premiership side in the League Cup.
The danger to a bet builder containing a Dundee United success and under three goals is that the Terrors run away with the Links Park contest, but Goodwin’s men are unlikely to be at peak motivation with the top flight campaign a clear priority.
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Key Match Stats
Montrose won only one of their four Scottish League Cup matches last season
Montrose scored just 48 goals in 36 league games last term
Montrose failed to win any of their final five matches last season
Dundee United have lost only one of their last nine games against Montrose
Dundee United have seen all of their last four competitive games go under 2.5 goals
Three of Dundee United’s last four wins have come without conceding
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
