THE top two teams in the Championship meet at East End Park on Saturday when deposed leaders Dunfermline host St Mirren.

The Pars will be hoping to erase the memory of last week’s blown two-goal lead but the bookmakers predict a tight contest. Dunfermline are 7/5, a draw 13/5 and St Mirren 15/8 (Bet365). The layers appear to have nailed this fixture and any value lies in the stalemate option.

Prediction: Dunfermline 1 St Mirren 1.

The television companies have virtually deserted the Scottish football action this weekend with only Rangers’ trip to Partick tomorrow (Friday) night (BT Sport 1, 7.45pm) deemed worthy of attention. The Gers are 6/10 (Hills) to emerge with the three points, the Jags are 6/1 (Bet365) and a draw 16/5.

Celtic will be looking to bounce back after their midweek Champions League humiliation by Paris Saint-Germain as they take on Ross County in a Saturday 3pm fixture. The Bhoys are 2/13 (Hills), a draw 15/2 (Betfred/Bet365) and the Staggies 18/1. As always, there is handicap betting available if you prefer to even up the prices: Celtic off -2 are 11/8 (Betfair Sportsbook, County +2 9/5 (Stan James) and a tie 31/10 (Betvictor).

There is no Scottish interest at present in the Europa League but BT Sport will be screening six matches tonight (Thursday), including the two that feature English sides. Atalanta Bergamo play Everton in a 6pm kick-off (BT Sport 2) and the Italians are 29/20 (Betfred) to send the Toffeemen packing; both a draw and an Everton win are at 23/10.

FC Koln, currently bottom of the Bundesliga, travel to Arsenal (BT Sport 2, 8.05pm) and are 10/1 to produce a shock victory. The Gooners are 1/3 and a draw 9/2.

The Beeb are broadcasting the Championship League of darts over the weekend, starting on BBC1 on Saturday at 1.15pm. The eight best players in the world are contesting the prize with the current dominant force in the game, Michael Van Gerwen, starting off the 10/11 favourite (Hills). Gary Anderson and Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright form a powerful Scottish challenge and are priced up at 5/1 and 15/2 respectively. Phil Taylor is 6/1, Adrian Lewis 28/1, Dave Chisnall and Raymond Van Barneveld are both 33/1 while Mensur Suljovic is the 40/1 outsider.