SPL Betting Preview: Old Firm's title credentials under the spotlight

Scottish Football / John Girvan / 12 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

It's first versus fourth and third versus second in the SPL this weekend - hugely exciting for Old Firm fans but according to John Girvan there is something for everyone....

The action gets underway live on Setanta this Saturday with Rangers looking to take advantage of an early kick-off at Tannadice. The Gers can go within a point of current champions Celtic and this is a huge game that can go a long way to determining whether Walter Smith's men are up to the job of stopping their bitter rival's quest for four-in-a-row.

It's a tough task however as Dundee United managed a 3-3 draw at Ibrox in November and they can back this up with an impressive home record this term. Five wins and two draws from eight home ties is excellent for a provincial club and the 1-1 draw against Celtic also adds to a case book that suggests this is a difficult game for Rangers, especially given the fact that they haven't won at this ground since April 2006.

The Ibrox men were poor at Tynecastle recently and were uncharacteristically caught out at set pieces. They lacked something in midfield but much of this was down to Lafferty and Adam being deployed in the wide areas. We shouldn't see a repeat of this on Tayside and Steve Davis, who returned last week, has an important role to play. Another key for Rangers is the front pairing of Boyd and Miller. The later was absent at Hearts and is a real foil for Boyd who, after last weeks hat-trick, now has 11 goals from the last nine outings.

Rangers have to start well, they didn't a fortnight ago at Hearts but it's more than just the three points at stake here. If Rangers fail to win it gives Celtic another lift and lets them off the hook for last week whilst it also puts Rangers in the last chance saloon for the Old Firm encounter at Ibrox on the 27th. Arabs boss Craig Levein signed a new contract this week and outlined long term plans for toppling the Old Firm. He will be eager for his side to back this up on Saturday and it all makes for a tough call.

United trade at [5.3] in the match odds and that prices Rangers up at [1.83] which, Celtic Park aside is a season long high. With so much at stake there will be a few "loyalty bets" going on Rangers as it really is a massive game and it's not often they get anywhere near Evs in a league match outside an Old Firm tie. The value pick has to be the draw at [3.7] but I'm going to stick my neck out and say Rangers will sneak this one.

Only four points separate fifth placed Aberdeen and eighth placed Falkirk but the gap could easily be lengthened to seven on Saturday. The Bairns are struggling at present, last weeks home defeat to St Mirren was a low point, as was the McNamara sending off and the veteran now misses this one through his subsequent suspension. The visitors also have the worst away record in the league with just one win and three draws from their seven fixtures.

Only Hamilton have conceded more goals than Falkirk so with Dundee Utd and Hearts facing the Old Firm this weekend Jimmy Calderwood is demanding the three points. It hasn't been plain sailing for Aberdeen at Pittodrie this term and it took them a while to get going but they are aiming for a fouth consecutive home win after recent victories over Kilmarnock, St. Mirren and Motherwell. Falkirk are of the same ilk so I fancy them to get it and I'm happy to back at a healthy [1.99].

Hibernian look to build on last weeks success in stopping Celtic in their tracks. It was only the Edinburgh sides third win at Easter Road this term but this time they will be looking to do what they have failed to do twice previously and follow it up with another home win. Opponents Hamilton were on the up but went down 7-1 at Ibrox last week and as much as Billy Reid will be telling them to forget about it and move on, the inevitable self doubt might well carry on into Saturday.

Accies travelled to Ibrox in a confident mood and publicly stated they fancied their chances. Indeed they found themselves 1-0 up within just two minutes of kick-off but the youngsters just couldn't cope with a wounded Rangers and it was embarrassing in the end. I stated last week that Hibernian have been a figure of inconsistency this term but the victory over Celtic shows what they are capable of and I reckon they will back it up with another win this weekend, possibly by a couple of goals.

Backing Hibs at [1.6] in the match odds looks wise but if you fancy this it's hard to ignore the [2.01] on offer for Hibernian -1.0 goal in the Asian Handicap Market.

Finally Celtic face in-form Hearts at Parkhead. The Edinburgh side have won five out of five in the league since Celtic won 2-0 at Tynecastle recently and they will travel with confidence since Rangers have been amongst their scalps. Celtic's long winning run finally came to an end last week and an individual error from Artur Boruc has been fuelling the mid-week debate after the Pole let John Rankin's self defined 45-yard "squiggler" past him to set Hibs on the way to victory.

When players let themselves and their team down most want the chance to put things right as soon as possible so credit has to be given to Gordon Strachan for showing faith in his No.1 by selecting him for the visit of Villarreal on Tuesday night. OK the game was meaningless in terms of European progression but it paid off big style as Boruc produced the kind of performance everyone knows he is capable of, and Celtic got a confidence boosting win over a side who have made it to the last 16 of the Champions League with relative ease.

This should allay fears that the side are about to crumble under the threat of Rangers and I expect Celtic to get all three points from Saturdays encounter. Hearts will make it difficult but they don't score enough goals and for that reason I see no other match odds outcome than a home win at [1.39]. I don't see it being emphatic either however and Hearts +1.5 goals at [1.8] in the Asian Handicap might prove profitable.