Dundee might ply their trade in the division below SPL incumbents Kilmarnock but their prospects of making it through to the Scottish Cup fifth round have been talked up by none other than Killie manager Kenny Shiels.
According to Shiels, Dundee’s prospects are significantly boosted by a personnel shortage at Rugby Park, with Kilmarnock unable to call on 13 players who could have been available to them on January 1st.
Significant absentees include Anssi Jaakkola, Alex Pursehouse, Ryan O’Leary, Gary Fisher, Gary Harkins and Danny Buijs through injury, while new signings Ben Gordon and Michael Nelson are ineligible.
Meanwhile, James Dayton and David Silva face late fitness tests and are rated as “rank outsiders” to make it into the starting XI.
Dundee, on the other hand, go into the game full of confidence after winning their last game 3-0 and having forced a replay with Kilmarnock after holding them to a 1-1 draw at Dens Park.
This suggests there could be value in betting on Dundee making to round five at 11/4.
Nevertheless, Kilmarnock are odds-on favourites to progress at 23/100 and are also odds-on to win inside 90 minutes in bwin’s 3Way football betting market at 22/25.
This leaves the draw at 23/10 and a Dundee victory at 31/10.
Further evidence for a Dundee success is provided by their away record in the First Division, which suggests they will not be overawed by a trip to Rugby Park.
Dundee have the best record on their travels in the entire division, with six wins from ten games and only two defeats.
Significantly, they have only been behind once at half time on their travels, making a bet on this evening’s game to be a draw at the interval a good one at 23/20, particularly as Kilmarnock have been level with their opponents at the break in seven of their 11 SPL home matches.
And with Dundee having had a greater share of possession and more shots on target than Kilmarnock when they met ten days ago, back them to frustrate a depleted Killie in the replay.
At odds of 87/100, a successful £25 free bet on Dundee to be winning or drawing with Kilmarnock after 90 minutes is set to return £46.75.
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