- Bonnyrigg Rose come into this cup tie in mixed form after three defeats in their last five.
- Annan have lost their last three in the League Cup.
- Head-to-head meetings have been cagey, but BTTS is priced at 11/25 and Over 2.5 goals at 12/25.
Tactical chess and match fitness
Bonnyrigg Rose are 123/50 to cause an upset in the Challenge Cup when they host League Two side Annan Athletic on Tuesday. The visitors are favourites at 41/50, which looks about right as they come into this game in mixed form.
Jonny Stewart's team come into this cup game in mixed form after a 3-0 win at Gala Fairydean Rovers last time out was followed by three defeats in their previous five matches across pre-season friendlies and the League Cup.
The hosts' gameplan is to stay compact and transition quickly, while Annan's is to keep it compact and strike quickly on the break. That has created some cagey encounters in previous meetings, but we're siding with goals on Tuesday.
A tale of two attackers
Bonny's best outlet is Bradley Barrett, who looks to be their sharpest player at the moment, so he'll be the first player Annan looks to silence. Stewart has set Bonnyrigg up in a 4-2-3-1 shape that is compact and pragmatic, perfect for playing on the front foot and effective in transition.
Wullie Gibson's team will try to get bodies back to keep it tight in the middle third and then strike when they get chances on the counter attack. Annan are versatile tactically, using a back four in some games and wing-backs in others, but their gameplan remains the same - get men behind the ball and catch the opposition on the break.
Aidan Smith is the one man that can light up a game for Annan, but it's worth noting that Bonnyrigg can also pack a punch in this fixture. A 0-0 draw in April 2023 was followed by a 2-2 stalemate at Galabank in July, and they ran out 4-0 winners when these sides met in League Two in January 2023.
Sides have similar gameplan
Tommy Goss offers Annan a real target-man outlet up front, while Greg Fleming's experience between the sticks will be key if this tie becomes a scrap. Neil Martyniuk adds bite and experience in midfield, while Tom Ritchie is solid in goal and his shot-stopping may be crucial if Annan put a load of balls into the box.
There's no league table to rely on in this cup clash as neither side has a meaningful league table position yet, but Annan are the better team, which is why they are favourites. It will be a close, cagey game and the value lies in siding with the visitors to nick it or at least avoid defeat.
