While Premiership managers move to finalise their squads for the remainder of 2023, cinch Fantasy Football players can concentrate on the here and now as they tweak their squads ahead of Gameweek 4 this weekend.
Fresh faces will arrive in Scotland’s top flight in the final hours but we’re going to stay focused on the big match-ups taking place as a new month presents a fresh opportunity to score highly.
Kilmarnock v Ross County – Saturday, 3.00pm
Kilmarnock may have lost their admirable defensive record in last weekend’s defeat to Motherwell but the backline still offers the most value to Fantasy players with goalkeeper Will Dennis remaining the team’s top scorer with 54 points.
Brad Lyons has been rewarded for his early-season form with a call-up to the Northern Ireland squad and he may be a smart pick up at £7.8m.
Connor Randall and Ross Laidlaw have been County’s top performers in the first month with the Staggies shot stopper Laidlaw making a league-leading 18 saves to date. If you are searching for further returns within the County squad then defenders James Brown and George Harmon may be ones to select.
Livingston v St. Mirren – Saturday, 3.00pm
Livingston’s win at Easter Road was their first away triumph in the league since January and they’ll be looking to build on that result when they host St. Mirren at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
James Penrice (£11.6m) played a big part in gaining three points in the capital, creating Bruce Anderson’s goal and ensuring that he remains the Lions’ best points scorer with 24.8.
Last week’s preview tipped Greg Kiltie to help fill the void left by Mark O’Hara’s injury and the former Kilmarnock man duly delivered with a goal as Saints continued their excellent start to the campaign. Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is the only midfielder to score more points than Kiltie while the league’s joint top goalscorer, Alex Greive could be a bargain for your team at £9.6m.
St. Johnstone v Dundee – Saturday, 3.00pm
Both sides come into this match in a positive frame of mind after good results to end August.
Saints goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov (9.1m) and Dundee’s Trevor Carson (£10.2m) each earned 28 points for their respective clean sheets in GW3 but can they make it two in a row? Bulgarian Mitov has joined Ross County’s Ross Laidlaw in making 18 saves so far this season.
Luke McCowan (£9.9m) was named Star Man in the SPFL Team of the Week after his match winner against Hearts while Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan also performed well during August.
Rangers v Celtic – Sunday, Live on Sky Sports, 12 noon
It’s Derby Day in Glasgow with one single point separating these rivals heading into Sunday’s match at Ibrox, live on Sky Sports.
Players from both sides of Glasgow make up the top five performers in cinch Premiership Fantasy Football to date with Jack Butland topping the charts with 67 points, and full-back duo Borna Barisic and James Tavernier on 64 and 62 points respectively. Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is just behind Butland on 64.1 points while last season’s top scorer, Kyogo Furuhashi has 57.7 points.
Rangers have registered 64 shots to Celtic’s 53 so far in the league but Brendan Rodgers’ men have landed 27 of those on target compared to the Ibrox outfit’s 22.
Aberdeen v Hibernian – Sunday, 3.00pm
Aberdeen and Hibernian have had European exploits to contend with, as well as domestic duties, but this has all the makings of a thrilling encounter.
Bojan Miovski has two goals in his opening three cinch Premiership appearances while Jonny Hayes’ output has been strong prior to being forced off against St. Mirren last Sunday.
Adam Le Fondre has matched Miovski’s goals total while strike partner Christian Doidge has a goal and two assists to his name so far. It remains to be seen how Lee Johnson’s departure as manager impacts Hibernian’s performances with caretaker boss David Gray searching for results to lift the club from the bottom of the table.
Heart of Midlothian v Motherwell – Sunday, 3.00pm
Sunday’s clash in the capital sees 5th host 3rd to close out Gameweek 4.
After a strong start on the opening weekend, captain Lawrence Shankland will be aiming to get back on the goal trail on league duty after fine performances in European qualifiers. The Scotland international has five goals in seven appearances this season and was on target in two out of three matches against the Steelmen last term.
Motherwell have been beset by injuries in attacking areas with Jon Obika, Conor Wilkinson and Mike Biereth all ruled out through long-term knocks.
It hasn’t halted Stuart Kettlewell’s progress with defender Dan Casey earning an impressive 41 points alongside the rejuvenated Stephen O’Donnell (33 points). Theo Bair has 33.8 points with Blair Spittal also contributing with 31 points of his own to make Motherwell players very popular with Fantasy managers in the season’s first month.
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