Partick v Dundee United

Noun: Lawrence Shankland

Definition: A machine designed with the sole intention of terrorising opponent’s defenses in the Scottish League.

Seems fair enough right?

Since catching fire at the start of the 2017/18 season in League One, Lawrence Shankland has been simply unstoppable, and his capture by Dundee United was surely one of the biggest surprises of the summer, simply because he appeared to have the pick of about 20 clubs - most of whom looked more attractive destinations.

At the start of the 2017/18 season, he netted 12 goals in just 10 matches. An impossible rate to maintain – but he went pretty close over the rest of the season. Come the end of that season for Ayr, he had 29 goals in just 33 appearances.

2018/19 was a similar story after stepping up to the Championship. Another fast start saw him grab 19 goals in just 16 (and nine in the first five), before eventually ending the season on 34 goals in 41 matches – a number of which came from the bench. He’s already at it again this year, with six of Dundee United’s ten goals since the start of the season over their opening five matches. He’s going to win them the title isn’t he? Oh, and did we mention he’s only 23 years old?

All in all, he has scored in 46 of his last 79 games (a total of 69 goals) – 58% of them for a total and an average 0.87 goals per game.

Partick have started the season well, with three wins and two draws, but the three wins came against lower league opponents, so they won’t be getting ahead of themselves. For Dundee United, being labelled pre-season Championship favourites doesn’t appear to have troubled them, as they ran out 4-1 winners against Inverness CT on Saturday.

Expect more of the same on Friday night. We’re backing Shankland to net at anytime in the match at 6/5, while odds of 40/1 on him getting a hat-trick look equally silly.

2.5pts Lawrence Shankland to score at anytime at 6/5 (General)

1pt Lawrence Shankland to score a hat-trick at 40/1 (Will Hill)

#Football