Hearts v Rangers: Old Firm double achievable for Jambos

Scottish Football / Michael Lintorn / 20 October 2011 /

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Paulo Sergio has so far looked like a shrewd appointment by Hearts

"Hearts are on quite the role right now, with four straight wins achieved at Tynecastle – each without conceding, and the last against Celtic."

Both Glasgow giants slipped up last week and Michael Lintorn foresees another stumble for table-topping Rangers when they face Hearts...

Hearts v Rangers, Sunday 12:30 BST, ESPN, Match odds: Hearts [5.1], Rangers [1.78], The Draw [3.75]

A quite remarkable game at Rugby Park last week saw this column suffer its first major blip of the season, as where we had Celtic pencilled in to beat Kilmarnock to nil with under 2.5 goals, they found themselves 3-0 down at half-time.

Fortunately for the Bhoys, it didn't turn out to be a catastrophic weekend for their faltering title bid, as they rescued a point and Rangers went on to be held at home to St Mirren. On matchday 12, they will be more confident of victory than their rivals, hosting Aberdeen while the leaders visit Hearts.

Paulo Sergio's [1.76] favourites to be the best of the rest are on quite the role right now, with four straight wins achieved at Tynecastle - each without conceding, and the last against Celtic - and a first travelling triumph of the campaign secured last time out against Dunfermline.

Given that Hearts have already taken a point off the champions at Ibrox in Ally McCoist's first fixture in charge back in July, all signs point to their perfect away record encountering its toughest test yet.

The Gers were defeated 1-0 in their last clash with them in the capital in January, and as this is easily the Jambos' most impressive run of results since then, odds of [1.78] on McCoist's men prevailing appears ripe for laying.

A bet on under 2.5 goals at [1.97] also looks like a route to profit. Hearts have conceded just six times in their 11 SPL games and are consistently improving. Only three of those goals were shipped in their last eight, and none in Edinburgh.

Three of their last four meetings have featured two goals or fewer, as have eight of Rangers' 11 league matches under McCoist.

Best Bet: Lay Rangers @ [1.79]
Other Recommended Bet: Back under 2.5 goals @ [1.97]

This column's suggestions - backed to £10 stakes - have produced a £69.96 profit thus far

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