SPL Betting: Old Firm can expect tough tests before the derby

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 22 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

John Girvan tells us why neither Rangers nor Celtic are assured of three points, but both will be desperate to win, as they approach the first derby of the season. In the other big game of the week, St Mirren visit Tynecastle.

Scotland's top flight action gets under way early on Saturday with Rangers heading North for a lunch time tussle with Aberdeen. The match is being screened live on Setanta Sports 1 and there is a bit of history to this fixture. When Celtic visit this ground the home crowd can often be heard chanting "We hate Rangers more than you" and they genuinely believe it. For sure, many Rangers supporters who make the trip regularly will tell you that a visit to Pittodrie can be just as intimidating as one to Celtic Park, if not more.

On the pitch there are defensive worries for Aberdeen as centre back Zander Diamond is out of this one and that's a big blow for the home side. The self confessed Celtic fanatic always puts in the kind of shift that inspires his team mates and the loss will be a difficult void for The Dons to replace. Left-back Charlie Mulgrew, who has started the season strongly, is also rated very doubtful and the hosts have further problems in other areas with new striking recruit Tommy Wright and club captain Scott Severin both facing late fitness tests.

Rangers have two wins from two, turned in a decent performance in the 2-0 win over Hearts at Ibrox last weekend and manager Walter Smith told rangers.co.uk he feels the squad are over the disappointment of crashing out of Europe at the first hurdle. The supporters are still reeling of course but there is definitely more optimism given the recent activity in the transfer market. It was only one game but Pedro Mendes shone on his debut last week and with Steve Davis set to line up along side him and the regular Kevin Thomson the midfield has a much stronger look to it and that the additions will help Rangers retain possession of the ball in such encounters as this one.

On paper [1.81] for an away win looks enticing but Rangers do have a poor recent record at this ground, claiming all three points just once in six visits, spanning three years. They have a little bit of momentum going into this one however and are certainly more confidence they were just a few weeks ago. The visitors also know a victory will give them at least a 2 point cushion going into next weekends Old Firm showdown and with all things considered they look well equipped to get the 3 points here and provide that.

Regardless of what happens in Aberdeen, Celtic's home tie with Falkirk is already an early test of nerve for the reigning champions. Rangers might well have slipped up before this match gets underway but after last Sundays 1-1 draw at Tannadice and next weekend's Old Firm clash on the horizon it's crucial the hosts get back to winning ways. The supporters will be looking for a convincing win and Gordon Strachan he will be keen for at least one of his strikers to get off the mark. McDonald and Vennegoor of Hesselink have both yet to score this season and with Samaras biding his time on the bench it's difficult to envisage both players failing to find the net for a third successive week.

This is a match Celtic should win quite comfortably and [1.24] in the match odds certainly suggests so. The visitors lost 3 goals on the road at Hibernian last week and appear to have problems in converting decent build up play into goal scoring opportunities. Another clean sheet could be on the cards for Celtic here and if they are to get in amongst the goals then Celtic -1.5 on the Asian Handicap is worth backing at [1.83]. A safer value bet however might be Celtic/Celtic at [1.72] on the HT/FT market. Last weeks draw will more than likely make for a high tempo start to the game from Celtic and once they get in front they will be difficult to peg back.

Elsewhere a home win for Hearts over St. Mirren at [1.73] could be the best of the rest where the remainder of the SPL is concerned. The visitors were described as Hearts' bogey team last season, doing very well against the Edinburgh side, and in fact have managed two wins and a draw in four visits to Tynecastle since gaining promotion to the top flight in 2006. This is very much a top 6 at home to bottom 6 type of clash though however and although it's never as straight forward as this the hosts have made a decent start to the season and Saints lack of firepower could leave them empty handed this time around.