Scottish Football Betting: A rare chance to confidently oppose Rangers

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 03 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

John Girvan tells us why he expects the Old Firm to have very contrasting fortunes this weekend as internal suspensions to Barry Ferguson and Allan MacGregor could hamper Rangers' title chances.

There's a double helping of SPL action on Setanta Sports this weekend. First up it's Hibs at Tannadice on Saturday where Mixu Paatelainen's men can get to within a single point of The Terrors and put themselves right in the mix for a European place. It would also signify a huge turnaround in fortunes for both sides as earlier in the season Hibs looked as though they would struggle to make the top six whilst United looked certs to finish 3rd.

It's changed days however and Hibernian are on a respectable run with only one defeat in their last seven. The recovery has been based on a sound defensive unit that has shipped a miserly three goals in that time and the Leith side have racked up four clean sheets in a row. The goal average of just 0.57 per game is poor however and unlikely to yield three points on Saturday.

Craig Levein's men need to improve if they are to fulfil the early season promise. The home side have just one win from their last seven and have conceded 12 goals in that time. They have scored almost as many however and Sandaza will be full of confidence since bagging a brace in the last outing versus Celtic. Warren Feeney was also in amongst the goals for Northern Ireland so they definitely possess an attacking threat.

With this in mind [1.32] for "No" in the Hibernian Clean Sheet Market looks a stick on. The Tangerines put in a good display against Celtic recently and the draw will probably be enough to lift the confidence that was lacking so the [2.12] on a home win seems reasonable. Both sides have racked up a few draws recently, at least three in both their last six, so a share of the spoils may appeal at [3.35].

Rangers don't play until Sunday this weekend so Celtic can open up a six point gap on them with a home win over Hamilton on Saturday. Billy Reid's men haven't coped well when travelling to the Old Firm and lost 4-0 on their last visit to Celtic Park in October. One win and one draw in their last six isn't great but has been enough to keep them in eighth place and there is no real panic as yet in terms of their SPL status.

Just four wins in ten games is dreadful for Celtic but Rangers have been just as poor and the current champions remain favourites for the title at [1.51]. Regrouping after an international break is never easy so a home fixture with Accies is quite kind and I see Gordon Strachan's side taking full advantage. It could be another comfortable victory and I don't see many with sense opposing Celtic -1.5 & 2.0 in the Asian Handicap at [1.92].

Setanta's SPL coverage continues on Sunday when Rangers visit the Falkirk Stadium. Here the focus will surely be on how Rangers cope without both Barry Ferguson and Allan MacGregor. The pair were involved in an on campus booze-up whilst on International duty and when they returned to Murray Park on Friday, they received a two week ban with Ferguson being stripped of the Ibrox captaincy.

Rangers might well cope without the pair. Neil Alexander was in the thick of it this time last year when Gers were chasing silverware on four fronts. He was unfairly dropped back in September after keeping a clean sheet at Easter Road and this is a big opportunity to prove a point. Ferguson meanwhile remains a decent player but he hasn't quite hit the heights he once did on a regular basis under Dick Advocaat and then Alex McLeish.

Nonetheless it certainly puts unnecessary strain on Rangers' title bid to be without Ferguson and Falkirk could be ready to capitalise. The Bairns got their safety bid back on track with an emphatic 4-0 home win over relegation rivals Inverness recently and when it comes to the Old Firm they are famous for having a go. It's shaping up almost like a cup tie on Sunday and John Hughes' side have proved excellent in the knock-out scenario this season making the last four of the League and now Scottish Cups.

Despite languishing at the foot of the table Falkirk are a difficult side to beat and have lost only two of their last nine. Rangers have only won half of their last 10 league matches so statistically [1.54] in the Match Odds is awfully short, especially when you consider Rangers have dropped points in seven of their 14 away games this season. It's not an exact science however and this is definitely a must win tie for Walter Smith's side.

With Falkirk as big as [8.6] and the draw trading at [4.1] the value definitely lies in opposing Rangers so get laying at [1.54] while you can. They are still strong favourites however and Neil Alexander may well open with a Clean Sheet priced at [2.26] so any large punt on the visitors should be sided with a small saver on the 0-0 Correct Score at [15].