Queens can end up being Cup kings

Queen of the South v Dundee United

Scottish Challenge Cup semi-final
BBC Alba, 5.15pm

Queen of the South can add to Dundee United’s woes by winning the Challenge Cup semi-final. United were dire last week in their hefty defeat to Falkirk and they’ve completely lost their way recently after an excellent mid-season run.

Manager Ray McKinnon called his players inept and he was right. In contrast, South look to be a team on the up, which was shown when they demolished promotion-chasing Morton in Dumfries earlier this month.

Gary Naysmith has done a fine job already at Palmerston Park and they will relish the chance to get a fine win against a United side who are struggling for confidence and have defensive issues.

Recommendation
Queen of the South
1pt 21-10 general

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Team news
Queen Of The South
Queens will be without Joe Thomson, John Rankin and Scott Mercer, who are all cup-tied.

Dundee United
United are missing defender Lewis ­Toshney and midfielder Blair Spittal through injury.

Key stat
United have won just once in their last ­seven games

Elgin should heap more woe on Ferguson's boys

Elgin can add to a miserable week for Clyde and keep their Ladbrokes League Two hopes alive.

The Highlanders outplayed runaway leaders Forfar last week on their own patch and should have won – they had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

But they can make amends by defeating Barry Ferguson’s struggling outfit.

It’s been an horrific season for pre-season title favourites Clyde. Instead of challenging for the league, they are languishing in mid-table and are only seven points clear of bottom spot.

They last won a league game in November and they are woefully out of form.

They’ve done better in the cups and twice held Ladbrokes Championship side Ayr to a draw in the William Hill Scottish Cup before eventually losing after extra-time this week in an energy-sapping tie.

The last thing they will want is a long drive north to face an Elgin side who have lost just once in their last eight league games.

And with striker Shane Sutherland looking to add to the 23 goals he’s already netted this season, Elgin look a sound investment.

Stranraer can drag Peterhead right into the relegation mix in Ladbrokes League One by winning at Stair Park.

New manager Stevie Farrell has injected life into what had been a poor season for Stranraer.

They haven’t conceded in three games and have picked up impressive points at high-flying Livingston and East Fife as well as defeated Albion.

Peterhead are inconsistent travellers and conceded four goals in their last match away from home at Airdrie.

Stranraer have enough about them to ensure Peterhead endure a miserable journey home.

Falkirk can end Morton’s long unbeaten run at Cappielow in the Ladbrokes Championship.

Jim Duffy’s men won plenty of plaudits for their plucky display at Ibrox last week against Rangers in the Cup.

But they face a Falkirk side who have sneaked under the radar in the promotion race and are bang in form.

They have won three on the trot including a hugely impressive win against Dundee United last week that could have been even more emphatic than the 3-0 outcome.

The Bairns look solid at the back too and Morton have been struggling to score recently, with key striker Jai Quitongo absent.

Recommendations
Elgin
3pts 3-4 general
Stranraer
2pts 16-11 188Bet
Falkirk
1pt 37-19 188Bet