Scottish Football Betting: Celtic and Rangers should pick up maximum points

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 03 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Betting.betfair.com's John Girvan reports from north of the border on this weekend's key matches in the Clydesdale Bank Premier where Celtic are expected to recover from the disappointment of yet another away loss in the Champions League.

Celtic need to shake off the disappointment of yet another Champions League away defeat, Dundee United could be on course for three SPL wins on the trot and its top v bottom at Love Street in Sunday's live Setanta clash, says John Girvan.

Dundee United are starting to live up to some of the close season hype. The Taysiders are on course for not only their third SPL win in succession but it could also be their third consecutive clean sheet. Manager Craig Levein can be a hard man to please at times but he was delighted with his players after last Saturday's 3-0 win over Hearts and will be looking for another convincing display against 4th placed Inverness this week.

Craig Brewster's side will be travelling to Tannadice with some confidence on Saturday after a positive start to the season. This was epitomised just last week in the home win over Kilmarnock where they went a goal down before running out 3-1 winners. Having yet to face either of the Old Firm however, their league position can be brought into perspective a touch and on paper this is their toughest game of the season so far. If not the favourites, United are expected to be strong challengers for 3rd place and with three points they can leapfrog a side expected to finish in the bottom six. Dundee United are available in the match odds at a generous [1.9].

It was a big ask but the Scottish Champions returned home from Villarreal in the early hours of Wednesday morning with nothing to show from their visit to Estadio El Madrigal. Domestic duty calls this weekend however and SPL new boys Hamilton travel to the East end of Glasgow on Saturday. Wins at Aberdeen, Inverness and the opening day triumph over Dundee United suggest the Lanarkshire side are capable of testing Celtic but in truth there should only be one winner.

Billy Reid's young, promising squad will arrive full of hunger and desire to show what they can do on the big stage. 20 year old James McArthur is one such player to look out for. He was voted young player of the month for August and has played a big part in Accies' respectable start in the SPL. Captain Alex Neil regards him as an all-rounder and the 27 year old has been quoted as describing McArthur as the best player he has come across in his career. The best players rise to the big occasion and for a Hamilton player it doesn't get much bigger than a trip to Celtic Park so it will be interesting to see how he and his team mates fair.

Celtic are strong favourites at [1.19] in the match odds and it really is difficult to make a case for either the draw at [8.0] or the away win at [18.5] coming in. The value could very well lie in the HT/FT market where Draw/Celtic is trading at [5.0]. It's an outcome that could be on the cards given the combination of the hosts being involved in European action this week and the fact its Hamilton's maiden SPL outing at Parkhead. Celtic won't be tired, it's early in the season and their match with Villarreal took place on Tuesday but they may well have to wait until after the break to carve a dent in Accies' eagerness to show the country that they belong in the SPL.

Rangers of course have no European distractions this season and will be fresh for their match with St Mirren at Love Street on Sunday. The Buddies have five points from their opening seven games this term and sit rock bottom of the table. The home form hasn't been good for Saints with draws against both Kilmarnock and Falkirk and a defeat to Aberdeen. The visitors meanwhile are top of the table having won at Falkirk, Celtic and Hibernian whilst their only blip so far this season came in a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie against Aberdeen.

St. Mirren have hosted Rangers three times since regaining top-flight status in 2006 and they have been defeated on each occasion. Rangers are [1.36] in the match odds and last week's display at Easter Road will scare off many of the layers. When teams at the foot of the table take on those at the other end it is not that often the foregone conclusion everyone expects and if this turns out to be one of those games then backers of the draw at [5.0] or a St Mirren win at [11.0] could be quids in. Rangers are on a good run of form just now however, and should take the three points.