St Johnstone began their Scottish League Cup campaign with a comfortable 2-0 away win at Linlithgow Rose on Tuesday evening.
First-half goals from Kai Fotheringham and Ruari Paton were enough to seal the win and more could have followed had the assistant referee not flagged Liam Smith’s second-half effort out for offside
Visitors Greenock Morton have made a terrible start to the season, with a shock 1-0 home defeat to Lowland side Linlithgow followed by a 2-0 loss at League One outfit East Fife.
The Championship side are now in must-win territory if they wish to stay in contention of qualifying from the group phase of the League Cup, however, a trip to a Premiership side might be too big an ask for the Ton.
St Johnstone v Greenock Morton Tips Summary
Best Bet - St Johnstone -2 @ 11/8
Alternative Bet - St Johnstone to win to nil @ 8/11
Bet Builder - St Johnstone to win 3-0, St Johnstone to win both halves & 1st half handicap St Johnstone -1 @ 16/1
St Johnstone v Greenock Morton Prediction
Best Bet: St Johnstone -2 @ 11/8
Following Morton's disastrous start to the competition, it is no shock to see Saints as strong favourites for this tie.
They won their first competitive match of the season comfortably with two first-half goals against Linlithgow Rose and, with that 90 minutes of action in their legs, they are capable of stepping it up a gear in this clash.
The Perth outfit were unfortunate to see a third strike ruled out for a narrow offside call and, after a pre-season filled with goals, the home side can fill their boots against Morton, who have struggled in the competition to date.
The Ton have been turned over by lower-lever opposition twice in two games now and face the daunting task of trying to keep out Premiership quality in this clash.
Take the Saints to win by three or more goals in this clash.
Alternative Bet: St Johnstone to win to nil @ 8/11
The Saints kept a clean sheet in their season opener against Linlithgow Rose and can replicate that in this tie.
The home side finished last season in fine form, winning the Championship title and doing so without conceding a goal in any of their last four fixtures.
Saints only conceded 25 goals all campaign and their defensive solidity can help them to a win in this League Cup clash.
They faced Morton four times last season, winning three and drawing on one occasion, with Simo Valakari's side victorious in the final three encounters by a combined score of 11-0, including two thumping wins of 5-0 and 4-0.
A similar result could be in store this weekend.
St Johnstone v Greenock Morton Bet Builder Tip
St Johnstone to win 3-0
St Johnstone to win both halves
First half handicap St Johnstone -1
Pays 16/1
St Johnstone have a fantastic record against Morton, unbeaten in their last 10 matches, with nine wins to the Saints in that run and they can extend that record in this clash.
The Saints scored twice in the first half of their last match when seeing off Linlithgow Rose and backing the home side to make a fast start once more appeals in this tie.
Valakari's team would have won both halves of their tie with Linlithgow were it not for a tight off-side call and backing the Premiership outfit to keep their foot down in the second period is an attractive proposition.
Having played their first competitive 90 minutes of the season in midweek, the Saints are sure to be closer to full match fitness for this match and expect them to put Morton to the sword.
Backing the hosts to win both halves of this clash and run out 3-0 winners looks a good price.
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Key Match Stats
St Johnstone have not conceded a competitive goal in 482 minutes of play
The Saints scored 19 goals across their last seven matches
Greenock Morton sit bottom of the League Cup group after losing their opening two matches
The Ton have scored just once in their past five matches
St Johnstone won the Championship last season with 77 points from 36 matches
Greenock Morton finished eighth in the Championship last season with 38 points from 36 matches
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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.
