THE PARS’ vital win at home to Morton last week has thrust them back into the play-off race and if they can back it up by beating bottom side Partick Thistle at Firhill this Saturday, then the Christmas period can be approached with much more optimism.

The Pars are 6/4 (Betway/Betvictor), a draw 13/5 (Bet365) and the Jags 15/8 (Hills). Despite a change of manager, there is no immediate signs of a Partick revival and Dunfermline can rack up another three points.

Prediction: Partick 0 Dunfermline 1.

There is also Championship action tomorrow (Friday) night (BT Sport 1, 7.45pm) where Ayr take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Somerset Park. Draw specialists Caley have racked up 10 stalemates in 15 games and it is 5/2 that they make it 11 in this match. The Honest Men are 10/11 (Betfred/Betway) and Thistle 10/3 (Bet365/Hills).

The only live Premier League match is Rangers’ visit to bottom club Dundee on Sunday (Sky Sports Football, 1.30pm). Unfortunately, at the time of writing, the midweek fixtures have not been played so only Skybet have prices up and they are as follows: Rangers 2/7; a draw 4/1 and Dundee 9/1.

Similarly, Celtic’s home game with Kilmarnock on Saturday (3pm) has only the Yorkshire firm’s odds and they are Celtic 1/5, a draw 11/2 and Killie 10/1.

The final round of Champions League fixtures take place next week and as far as the English clubs are concerned, some are in a much stronger position than others. Both Manchester clubs have already qualified but Liverpool must beat Napoli at Anfield (BT Sport, Tuesday, 8pm) and preferably overturn the 0-1 reverse they suffered in Italy in order to join their neighbours in the last 16. The Reds are 4/6 (Skybet), a draw 7/2 (Bet365) and Gli Azzurri 4/1.

Tottenham are in a position where they need to match or better Inter’s result to qualify; the issue is their last match is in the Nou Camp while Inter are at home to whipping boys PSV Eindhoven (both games are on BT Sport, Tuesday 8pm). The Italian giants are 4/7 (Paddy Power) to emerge from the group while Spurs are 6/4 (Boylesports). The match prices for the daunting trip to Catalonia are Barca 23/20 (Betway), a draw 3/1 and Spurs 21/10.

Snooker’s first major, the UK Championship, has reached the last 16 stage at York and all the matches can be followed on the BBC (via the red button if necessary). At the time of writing, the sole Scot left in the tournament, Stephen Maguire is a 33/1 chance with Bet365 to capture the crown. The prices for today's matches (Thursday) are Judd Trump 4/11 against Joe Perry 5/2; Ding Junhui 3/10 versus Martin O'Donnell 11/4 (Boylesports); Stuart Bingham 1/3 against 'Sunny' Akani Songsermsawad 5/2 (Boylesports) and Kyren Wilson 8/11 versus Barry Hawkins 13/10.