JIM DELAHUNT
Our Bookie Basher’s top tips for Hearts v Aberdeen, Celtic v St Johnstone, SPFL and EPL action plus a Saturday acca
He's going against the favourites in a huge Scottish tie
BRENTFORD have drawn their last two games with bigger London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal and the Bees can get back to winning form at home to Brighton at 29/20.
Thomas Frank's players looked unfortunate to go down 2-1 at Newcastle at the start of this month but they picked themselves up to draw 0-0 at home to Chelsea and Yoane Wissa's equaliser ensured they banked another point at Arsenal last Saturday night.
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Brentford start the weekend 5 points behind today's visitors but the Seagulls have faltered as they chased a possible Champions League place and their last win came at home to Fulham on March 8.
Brighton could only draw 2-2 at home to soon to be relegated Leicester last weekend after losing successive matches to Aston Villa and Crystal Palace and their FA Cup exit to Nottingham Forest on penalties may well have left its mark.
Brentford had won 5 of their last 6 road matches before last week's draw at the Emirates and with a second top 10 finish within reach, punters can be more than hopeful that home comforts can be enjoyed against a Brighton side which seems to have lost its way.
WEST HAM gave the champions-elect plenty to think about last weekend and the Hammers can follow-up that performance at Liverpool by banking 3 points at home to relegated Southampton at a general 4/9.
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The usual provisos about relegated sides playing without the shackles have to apply to Saints but West Ham have played extremely well in some tough fixtures since back-to-back wins over Arsenal (away) and Leicester in February and I reckon they're good for a few goals here at short odds.
Their previous home match against Bournemouth saw them come from behind to lead then lose a late equaliser to the Cherries but they've looked way better than Southampton overall this season and look good to give the fans something to sing about before massive games against Spurs, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in May.
Everton are finishing the season well enough to suggest they can rewards support for the draw against back to form Manchester City at a decent looking 5/2 and the same verdict applies to the Saturday night match between Aston Villa and Newcastle with a point apiece priced up at the same price.
Tomorrow's games feature the midweek European partcipants Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchesyer United and while expectattions might have been raised aheead of the Reds latest outing at Old Trafford against Wolves, I'd have to be siding with the draw at 21/10 with the visitors fresh from a 4-2 win over Spurs.
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Ange Postecoglou's players get a rest until Monday night's match at home to NOTTINGHAM FOREST bit it might well be Europa League or bust for Spurs this season and currently third placed Forest look a bit of Monday night value at 13/8 whatever 4th top Newcastle have done at Villa tonight.
LIVERPOOL can wrap up the title in tomorrow's 4.30pm kick-off at Leicester if Arsenal have lost away to Ipswich at 2pm but I wouldn't be opposing the 2/9 champions-elect whatever the scenario before the line up to face the doomed Foxes.
Hearts look toothless and manager Neil Critchley is under serious pressure, says Kris Boyd
There are full cards in Scotland's Leagues 1 and 2 with just 2 rounds of fixtures left after today and Paul Hartley's COVE RANGERS can virtually cement second place behind champions Arbroath by winning at home to Alloa at 17/20.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH can take advantage of that potential defeat for Alloa by staying in 4th place with a win at Kelty Hearts at 13/10 while MONTROSE can take care of relegated Dumbarton at Evens.
League Two's second top EAST FIFE can make sure there are no title celebrations for PETERHEAD by winning at home to Stirling Albion at a solid 1/2 while the Blue Toon can keep their winning run going away to 4th top Elgin.
The hosts still have work to do to keep their noses ahead of Stirling in the final play-off place but Peterhead can see the title coming into view and 19/20 looks fair after Elgin's 2-0 defeat at third top Edinburgh last weekend.
Saturday SINGLE
PLYMOUTH made it two in a row for the bet with a 9/2 success against Sheffield United last week and on a quieter than usual Saturday, I'm siding with ABERDEEN to beat Hearts at 2/1.
Weekend ACCA
A limited Easter Saturday card for backers but today's top 5 can pay out at 21/1.
Brentford 29/20
West Ham 4/9
Dunfermline 13/10
Falkirk 1/2
Cove 17/20
HEARTS V ABERDEEN 12.30pm BBC Scotland
Hearts are favourites at 5/4 to win today's first semi-final in 90 minutes but I'm struggling to find the logic in that price and Aberdeen look big value here with most firms at 2/1 and 15/8.
Only the 2-up and win punters cashed in on my 5/2 tip for the Dons victory over Rangers last weekend but they still emerged from that 2-2 draw with another improved performance after today's rivals had drawn a blank at Motherwell.
Elton Kabangu's 7 goals have made him Hearts top scorer with Lawrence Shankland firing blanks but the Dons have 13-goal Kevin Nisbet justifying his loan fee at just the right time of the season and I'm taking Aberdeen to win this in 90 minutes.
ST JOHNSTONE V CELTIC Sunday 3pm Premier Sports
Saints head for Hampden with a 1-0 Perth win over Celtic fresh in the memory from just 2 weeks ago but that 18/1 success has been written off as a fluke with Simo Valikari's side at 14/1 and better to repeat the feat in Glasgow.
Treble-chasing Celtic are a best-priced 1/6 and general 1/8 chances to get the job done in regulation time and last weekend's 5-1 win over Kilmarnock suggested that Brendan Rogers had kicked a few backsides.
Extra-time fanciers have nibbled the draw down to 13/2 but Celtic look solid favourites to book their place in the May 24 final and Celtic at 5/4 on the handicap at -2 goals (Bet 365) could be a sporting bet for the full 90 minutes.
FALKIRK V RAITH ROVERS
Last night's result between Livingston against Ayr will have decided whether the Bairns can be officially confirmed as champions today but John McGlynn's players will want the 3 points anyway and the general 1/2 looks banker material.
Sean Mackie's strike looked to have give the league leaders all 3 points at Ayr last Friday but Ethan Walker's late leveller dampened Falkirk spirits and McGlynn will have them ready to go again in front of their own fans.
Rovers are hardly likely to be pushovers with the play-offs still a possibility but main rivals Partick might not win either at Dunfermline and even defeat could leave them with all to play for.
DUNFERMLINE V PARTICK
Neil Lennon says he's been wrapping Chris Kane in cotton wool all week and the striker's presence in the Pars ranks can help them bank another 3 points at home to Thistle.
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Partick are looking over their shoulders at Raith Rovers' late push for the play-offs but they've been lost to Hamilton and Airdrie when the pressure's been on the last twice and the 19/10 chances may have to give best again.
Lennon's brief to keep Dunfermline in the Championship has been simplified by Hamilton's 15 points penalty but I doubt they'll let up against the Jags and the former Celtic boss can engineer another win at 13/10.
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