SPL Betting Preview: Champions League hangover for Celtic

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 19 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

With Celtic and Rangers both on hold until Sunday this weekend the New Firm take centre stage 24 hours earlier, says John Girvan.

Aberdeen and Dundee United meet in the Granite City this Saturday lunch time and the Setanta cameras will be watching closely to see if Jimmy Calderwood's men can get their first home win of the season at the fourth time of asking.

Dons' fans have witnessed frustrating defeats at the hands of Inverness and Hamilton last week fall either side of an encouraging draw with Rangers. The away form has been decent however and two wins from two keeps them in touch with the chasing pack who already trail both Rangers and Celtic.

Winless Dundee United have made a dreadful start to the season and sit rock bottom with two points but in fairness they were handed a tough opening set of fixtures and while one or two results will have been disappointing for them draws at home with Celtic and away to Motherwell are positive outcomes.

August 1997 was the last time this fixture yielded a draw. There have been 19 league meetings since and more recently there have been five league games at Pittodrie in the last three seasons with the home side taking the points on every occasion but once. There is the feeling that neither side have really got going yet this season but both have taken points off the Old Firm and the signs are there to suggest the pair will be top six contenders once again.

On this occasion the form points to a lay of Dundee United at [3.6] but the well overdue draw is available at [3.5] and the most likely home win can be backed at [2.22].

Celtic got back to winning ways at Fir Park last weekend but followed that up with a stalemate in their Champions League opener at home to Aab Aalborg on Wednesday night. Barry Robson missed a first half penalty and on another night he would have perhaps converted and sent his side on their way to a convincing win. The victory at Motherwell was a good reaction from Gordon Strachan's side after the Old Fir defeat and they will be looking to gather some momentum in the championship race as they travel to Rugby Park to face 3rd placed Kilmarnock.

December 2002 is the last time Kilmarnock took anything from this fixture and many will feel another display like the one seen at Fir Park from the visitors, especially in the first half, should be enough to secure their 11th consecutive league win at this ground and their 12th in all competitions. Killy have made a very good start to the season however and their narrow 2-1 loss at Ibrox last week was their first defeat of the season.

The infamous Champions League hangover could be a factor in this one for Celtic. Like so many big clubs around Europe they sometimes find it difficult to get as motivated for the bread and butter domestic ties as they have done a few days earlier when rubbing shoulders with the continent's elite. The hosts will be well rested and despite their poor record in this particular match-up they always usually manage to chip in with a goal having netted a consolation in each of their last four home defeats to the current champions.

All things considered it's fair to say that the most likely outcome is for Kilmarnock to push Celtic hard with the Glasgow giants coming out on top but maybe only by a single goal. To make it interesting those who think differently may feel it's worth backing Kilmarnock in the match odds at [5.9] with a view to a possible trade in-play should the hosts take the lead. The draw is available at [3.95] whilst the most likely away win can be backed at [1.7]. Those looking for value and who go along with the hangover theory will be very interested in Kilmarnock +1.0 in the Asian Handicap at [2.1].

Rangers have what looks like a straight forward home win on Sunday. Ok it's Motherwell but last season's surprise package have had an indifferent start to the season and were also in France on Uefa Cup duty on Thursday night where they battled to narrow 1-0 defeat to AS Nancy. Walter Smith's men have had the luxury of an eight day break since they eventually overcame Kilmarnock, having been a goal down before disposing of the Ayrshire men and are showing enough form to suggest little else than an easy home win.

Backing a home win in the match odds at [1.3] is slightly on the skinny side and value seekers will surely be tempted with the price for Rangers to win by two clear goals. Rangers -1.5 on the Asian Handicap is available at [1.95].