Scottish League One PREVIEW 22 Aug 2026: League One: County Chase Early Pace, Hamilton Set Standard

Airdrieonians host Ross County at the Albert Bartlett Stadium with both clubs still finding their feet after relegation from the Championship last season. The two have already met once this summer, County winning 3-0 at the Excelsior Stadium in the Premier Sports Cup group stage in July. Since then Airdrieonians have also been beaten in the promotion-relegation sense that mattered most, losing the Championship play-off to Alloa Athletic, this weekend's opponents for Queen of the South. On league business so far, County are unbeaten in two with six points and a goal difference of plus two, while Airdrieonians have drawn twice and lost once for two points and a goal difference of minus four. Despite that gap, our model favours Airdrieonians at 39% on home soil.

Cove Rangers welcome Peterhead to Balmoral Stadium in a fixture sharpened by a summer transfer: Mitch Megginson, Cove's leading scorer last season, and Blair Yule both left for Peterhead in June. Cove have made the worse start of the two, taking a single point from three games with a goal difference of minus five, while Peterhead sit fourth with six points from three, including a defeat. Our model gives Cove Rangers a 40% chance of victory.

East Fife against Hamilton at Bayview is the meeting of the table's bottom half with its outright leaders. Hamilton have won all three of their opening fixtures for a goal difference of plus ten and sit top of League One, a striking turnaround after last season's points deductions and a play-off escape from the Championship drop. History is not on East Fife's side in this one: the all-time record between the clubs runs to 69 meetings, with Hamilton winning 31 to East Fife's 20 and 18 drawn. Even so, East Fife have taken four points from their own opening three games, and our model still makes them favourites at home, at 37%.

Montrose have lost all three of their opening games and prop up the table with a goal difference of minus nine when East Kilbride visit Links Park. East Kilbride, playing their first-ever season in League One after winning last season's League Two title, have made a strong start themselves, sitting second with seven points from three games and a goal difference of plus seven. Our model favours the visitors at 45%.

Queen of the South, without a point from their two games so far, host Alloa Athletic at Palmerston Park. Alloa arrive with four points from three games and the distinction of having won this summer's Championship play-off against Airdrieonians to preserve their League One status. Our model favours Queen of the South at 43% despite their winless start.