THE PARS ended their five-match losing streak in high-scoring style last week and now will be looking to back that result up by beating Ayr at Somerset Park on Saturday.

The Honest Men lie one place and one point above the Pars after accumulating seven points from their last four matches. The bookmakers make the hosts marginal favourites: Ayr are 11/8, a draw 14/5 (Bet365/Betvictor) and Dunfermline 7/4 (Coral). The prices do not give too much away and it is the narrowest of decisions that sways towards the Pars hitherto goalscoring superiority (11 goals to Ayr’s six) proving the difference.

Prediction: Ayr 2 Dunfermline 3.

The Championship gains further television coverage this weekend, with two games being screened. BBC Alba stick with St Mirren and their home game with Falkirk (Saturday, 5.15pm kick-off). The Bairns are 11/10 to inflict another defeat on the winless Buddies, the draw is 27/10 (Ladbrokes) and St Mirren 12/5 (Betvictor).

The two teams that were fancied to dominate the division in the pre-season outright prices clash on Sunday (Sky Sports 2, 12pm). In fact, Hibernian are currently second and Dundee United fifth, however, the Hi-Bees favouritism in the game is perhaps not of the margin expected. Hibs are 13/10 (Stan James), Dundee United 21/10 (Betvictor) and a stalemate 13/5 (Ladbrokes).

The Scottish Premier League also has two live matches courtesy of BT Sport 1. Tomorrow (Friday) night Motherwell entertain Hearts (7.45pm). Some bizarre, arguably penny-pinching, prices are to be had: Hearts are 37/40 (Betvictor), the Well 16/5 (Skybet) and a draw 11/4 (Betway).

Saturday lunchtime (12.15pm) brings together Dundee and Celtic. The Bhoys are 2/7 (Paddy Power), a draw 11/2 (Betvictor/Stan James) and the Dark Blues 14/1. Old Firm rivals Rangers host Partick Thistle in a non-televised Saturday 3pm game. The Gers are 4/11, the Jags 9/1 (Hills) and it is 9/2 (Paddy Power) that honours end even.

Israeli outfit Hapoel Beer Sheva came mightily close to dumping Celtic out of the Champions League but their failure to do so consigned them to the Europa League group stages. Tonight (Thursday) on BT Sport Europe, 6pm, they play at home to Southampton. The Camels are 11/5, a draw 23/10 and the Saints 7/5 (Betfred/Hills).

Manchester United have to recover from a defeat in Holland last time out but are predicted to overwhelm Ukranian opponents Zorya Luhansk at Old Trafford (BT Sport 2, 8.05pm). The Red Devils are 1/6, a draw 7/1 (Bet365) and Zorya 22/1 (Betfred).