SPL Betting Preview: Rangers and Accies to serve up another goal feast?

Scottish Football / Editor / 15 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Recommendations:

Hamilton @ [9.4] (1pt);
Hamilton +1.0 @ [2.06] (2pts);
Celtic -2.0 goals @ [1.95] (1pt);
Hibs -0 @ [2.08] (1pt);

Last weekend's Cup tie at New Douglas Park was a thriller. Should we expect an equal amount of drama from Saturday's league match? John Girvan selects the best bets from the weekend's SPL action.

Derby day was a disaster last time out. The first bad call was an away win at Celtic Park where Rangers really missed the pace of Bougherra, Miller and Novo. Kris Boyd didn't get a sniff up front and if Mowbray had started Scott McDonald then it could have been a comfortable home win. In Edinburgh, Hibs were held by a dogged Hearts side in yet another capital derby with less than three goals.

Profit/Loss: - 4.69pts

This weekend's action kicks off at New Douglas Park where Rangers travel to for the second time in a week. Last week's 3-3 draw in the Scottish Cup was a fascinating encounter with Rangers two up after half an hour before going in at the break 3-2 down. Tune into ESPN from noon on Saturday to see if either side can go one better this week.

Red hot favorites to do so are champions Rangers who are [1.43] in the match odds. The Gers were flying in December but the rails could be about to come off with several key players missing.

Madjid Bougherra is in Angola with Algeria whilst Miller and McCulloch are suspended. Top goal scorer Kris Boyd will be out for a month after requiring a hernia operation and joins Mendes, Beasley and Naismith in the treatment room. The positives for Walter Smith are that Davis, who was taken off with a dead leg last week, has returned to full training and Novo looks set to return.

Hamilton sit 10th at present and just four points above bottom club Falkirk. Sunday's match raised a few eyebrows but before this week's home defeat to Dundee United, Accies were actually showing a bit of form. The weather has caused some cancellations but since a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone in late November they can boast a home win over Hearts, an away win at Aberdeen and a respectable 2-0 defeat at Celtic Park where the hosts needed an injury time winner to be sure of the points.

Rangers were awesome in December but were also at full strength and the last two performances could be what we see until they get everyone back. The visitors are down to the bare bones and under the circumstances it makes sense to back the hosts at a massive [9.4] in the match odds at least with a view to trade. I can't see a comfortable away win so this can be covered with a punt on Hamilton +1.0 in the Asian Handicap at [2.08].

Celtic haven't played since the 1-1 draw at home to Rangers on January 3. They should have won that match and if McDonald had been in the starting line-up then this might well have been the case. His goal from the bench should be enough for a start at home to bottom club Falkirk on Saturday and if so I will side with a comfortable Hoops win.

Tony Mowbray's side create plenty of chances, especially at home. Converting these has been a recurring problem but they have scored at least twice in all but two home matches this season. Skip the measly [1.18] on offer in the match odds and head straight for the [1.95] that's up for grabs for Celtic -2.0 goals in the Asian Handicap.

I would be doing the SPL a disservice if I never mentioned the clash at Tannadice where third placed Hibs are the visitors. Both sides were staking an early claim to be in with a chance of splitting the Old Firm but both have suffered setbacks recently. United lost manager Craig Levein to the national side and were on a run of two draws and three defeats in five before Wednesday's 1-0 win at Hamilton.

Hibs meanwhile were unbeaten since September until that heavy home defeat to Rangers which they followed up with a home draw with Hearts. The Hibees got back to winning ways against Irvine Meadow in the Cup last week and siding with John Hughes' men in the Asian Handicap looks the safest bet.

Recommendations:

Hamilton @ [9.4] (1pt)
Hamilton +1.0 @ [2.06] (2pts)
Celtic -2.0 goals @ [1.95] (1pt)
Hibs -0 @ [2.08] (1pt)