Hearts v Celtic: Title-chasing Bhoys to drop more points

Scottish Football / Michael Lintorn / 30 September 2011 /

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Neil Lennon's Celtic side already find themselves a fair way behind Rangers

"Hearts have triumphed over both Old Firm giants at Tynecastle over the last 12 months and held Rangers to a draw at Ibrox on the opening day of the current campaign."

For the first time this season, Michael Lintorn is opposing one of Old Firm against a non-top two club on Sunday lunchtime...

Hearts v Celtic, KO Sunday 12:45 BST, Sky Sports 4, Match odds: Hearts [5.4], Celtic [1.77], The Draw [3.85]

Celtic were flawless on their travels until a 4-2 defeat last time out on the shortest trip of all to face champions Rangers at Ibrox, having recorded victories without conceding against Hibernian, Aberdeen and St Mirren.

Those are the exact same teams that Hearts have beaten in the same manner at Tynecastle since Paulo Sergio's arrival as manager to ensure that they enter the toughest domestic fixture yet of his stewardship with a perfect home record of three wins in three.

Can it continue against Celtic? Neil Lennon will certainly hope not, given that his side already head into this weekend - in which Rangers host Hibernian - seven points behind the title holders, but there are certainly reasons for the capital club to be optimistic.

The Bhoys have won just four of their last ten away games against the [2.02] favourites to be the division's best of the rest this season and have lost on two of their last four visits.

Hearts have triumphed over both Old Firm giants at Tynecastle over the last 12 months and held Rangers to a draw at Ibrox on the opening day of the current campaign, since when the leaders have recorded eight straight SPL wins.

Those statistics present a case for laying Celtic at [1.79], and there are also a lot of trends indicating that you should oppose both teams to score at [2.0].

All four of the sides' 2010-11 clashes featured only one of the two netting, as has been the case in Hearts' last five SPL matches as hosts and five of Celtic's last six on the road.

Best Bet: Lay Celtic @ [1.79]
Other Recommended Bet: Both teams to score? No @ [2.0]

This column has a 10 in 14 strike rate so far this season for a profit of £67.30 to £10 stakes

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