Scottish Football Betting: Low-scoring affairs for Rangers and Celtic

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 22 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Scott McDonald is out of action this weekend after recovering from a hernia operation and that's another reason to side with under 2.5 goals in the Celtic match

"McDiarmid Park was the place for goals earlier in the season with Saints’ first five league matches ending Over 2.5 goals and four of these with at least four goals or more. They were scoring freely and were leaky at the back but have taken a more prudent approach recently and the last three home ties have all finished in the Under 2.5 goals category."

Betting.betfair.com's Scottish football correspondent John Girvan goes through this weekend's action and the best value bets out there....

2pts on Hamilton +1.0 was looking good with quarter of an hour to play last week but Rangers played a get out of jail free card and the 1pt on Hamilton in the match odds disappeared. This meant Celtic had to win at home to Falkirk in the afternoon but the hoops missed Scott McDonald, could only draw and the 1pt on Celtic -2.0 proved a bad call. Hibs -0 was another with manager less Dundee United sneaking it 1-0.

Profit/Loss: - 7.69pts

With Celtic at St Johnstone on Sunday, Rangers can go 12 points clear in the title race with a home win over Hearts on Saturday. The Gers are [1.41] in the match odds but this is anything but a formality for Walter Smith's men, who are seriously depleted and especially in terms of strikers.

Boyd and Miller have 31 SPL goals between them this season but both are definitely out. Novo has an ankle knock and Lafferty could remain on the sidelines because of flu. Bougherra, Mendes, Beasley and Naysmith are all still missing and altogether it leaves Rangers short on quality, pace and goals.

Hearts have striking issues of their own but that's nothing new and Csaba Laszlo has got his side to fifth in the table by giving little away and nicking what they can up front. They have netted just six times in their last seven matches, three of which were penalties, and all but one of these encounters ended Under 2.5 goals. Back Under 2.5 goals in this one at a very generous [2.14].

There is pressure on Celtic at the moment and that will increase slightly if Rangers take the points at Ibrox. They have a game in hand remember so the gap is really only six. When you consider there are still two Old Firm games to come then it could pay to back Celtic at [3.2] in the title race. It might not materialise but Celtic should spend money during the transfer window and if they cut the gap even slightly, you can trade for a profit.

Moving onto Sunday, they travel to McDiarmid Park desperately needing a win after that 1-1 draw with Falkirk. St Johnstone won 3-0 at Forfar in the Active Nation Scottish Cup on Monday night but it was their first game since Boxing Day so they won't be at their sharpest.

Like Rangers, Celtic aren't at full strength at the moment. First team regulars Caldwell and Robson have left for England whilst new defensive recruits Jos Hooiveld and Thomas Rogne aren't fully match fit. NGuemo is in Angola with Cameroon whilst Brown remains a long term absentee. Leading marksman McDonald is also out as he is recovering from a hernia operation.

McDiarmid Park was the place for goals earlier in the season with Saints' first five league matches ending Over 2.5 goals and four of these with at least four goals or more. They were scoring freely and were leaky at the back but have taken a more prudent approach recently and the last three home ties have all finished in the Under 2.5 goals category.

Celtic are [1.45] in the match odds but this seems short. They are struggling for goals at the moment and this was perhaps highlighted in the narrow 1-0 win at 2nd Division Morton on Tuesday night. It looks as though this could be heading the same way as the tie at Ibrox and on this basis the [1.7] on St Johnstone +1.5 goals and Under 2.5 goals at [2.23] both appeal.

Elsewhere Motherwell will be looking to get Monday's Cup defeat at Inverness out of their system by condemning St Mirren to a sixth straight defeat on the road. Saturday's early kick off is live on ESPN, which is on freeview this weekend.

St Mirren's run of away games won't last forever of course and with the hosts out at odds against ([2.06]) the market isn't so sure either. The run itself reads badly but includes defeats at Tannadice, Celtic Park and Ibrox and they have managed a consolation goal in all three. Best bet here is Both Teams To Score at [1.96].

Recommendations:

Rangers v Hearts: Under 2.5 goals @ [2.14] (2pts)

St Johnstone v Celtic: Under 2.5 goals @ [2.23] (1pt)

St Johnstone +1.5 goals @ [1.7] (1pt)

Motherwell v St Mirren: Both Teams To Score @ [1.96] (1pt)