Ladbrokes League 1: Dumfermline among three away wins tipped

The Ladbrokes Premiership may have started with plenty of fanfare last week, but now it’s the turn of the three other leagues to get their moment in the limelight.

League 1 could be a really competitive division, with four teams at 5/1 or shorter, making a good start a necessity.

We’ve cast our eye over the opening five fixtures and picked out the most tempting value Ladbrokes has to offer in each.

Airdrieonians v Forfar Athletic

Defensive recruits could see this one become a low-scoring affair. Forfar have kept clean sheets in all but one match since the end of last season, and have bolstered their backline with the signing of Thomas O’Brien from Cowdenbeath.

The hosts meanwhile have brought in David van Zandan and David Lithgow in what look like inspired signings. This one could be tight one, and while we are finding it hard to split the pair (they are both 29/20 for victory), we’re not expecting a goal-fest.

Best bet: Under 2.5 goals – Evens

Albion Rovers v Ayr United

These two have already met this season with Ayr defeating Albion 3-1 in the Petrofac Cup with real gusto.

And with Rovers following that up with a tame loss to Ross County in the League Cup, they’ve not got the best preparation for a first crack back in League 1.

United have started well and with five different scorers in their two cup victories look to have firepower from all over the park to deliver a better crack of it this season.

Best Bet: Ayr United – 21/20

Brechin City v Dunfermline Athletic

Two very different starts to the campaign for these two with City exiting both the Petrofac Cup and League Cup without so much as scoring a goal, while Athletic have blasted their way through both encounters.

Netting nine goals in their two competitive fixtures this season, four from Fayssal El Bakhtaoui who looks set for a big season, Allan Johnston’s men could be a real handful and are expected to brush aside their hosts without much hassle.

Best Bet: Dunfermline -1 – 11/4

Cowdenbeath v Stranraer

Cowden fans will be hoping a drop down into League 1 will see them more competitive than they were when struggling badly last term.

They haven’t started in any great way though, with two cup defeats. Their home form that has seen them lose 12 of their last 15 competitive fixtures at Central Park cannot be ignored.

A penultimate week defeat of Morton was what denied Stranraer automatic promotion last season, and they can begin their quest to put that right on the opening weekend.

Best Bet: Stranraer – 7/4

Peterhead v Stenhousemuir

Newly promoted Peterhead will be without defender Scott Ross after he received a two match ban for spitting in The Blue Toon’s defeat against Rangers in the League Cup on Sunday.

He will be missed in their backline, but whether he would be required against a side that finished last season so badly is questionable.

Instead it could be the hosts’ attackers that hold the key, with Stenhousemuir conceding two or more in nine of their last 12 competitive away fixtures.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 goals – 8/5

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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