Scottish Football / Michael Lintorn / 22 December 2011 /

Michael Lintorn expects Rangers to ensure that they head to Celtic Park on a high by triumphing away to St Mirren on Christmas Eve...

St Mirren v Rangers, Saturday 12:45 BST, Sky Sports 1, Match odds: St Mirren [8.6], Rangers [1.45], The Draw [4.8]

Rangers will be the SPL's festive leaders regardless of how they fare at St Mirren Park on Christmas Eve, but require a victory to guarantee ending 2011 on top even if they finish the year with a defeat away to rivals Celtic next Wednesday.

There is also a bit of revenge in need of delivering after St Mirren, who have made their best start to a top-flight season since three points for a win was introduced, halted the champions' run of nine straight successes with a 1-1 draw at Ibrox in October.

That was a rare moment of glory for Danny Lennon's men against Rangers, with the six previous clashes between the pair going the way of the favourites and the Buddies failing to triumph in any of their last 13 meetings. It is [1.45] that normal service is resumed.

Chunkier odds are offered in the Asian Handicap market, where a likely price of around [1.8] on St Mirren +1.5 appeals given that they have lost just one of their last 20 home games by more than one goal. Only one of the visitors' last five have been won by a margin of two or more.

A similar pattern has been true of recent encounters between the two teams, with four of the Gers' last six wins against St Mirren coming by one goal and the final scoreline of three of those being 1-0.

That has been an outcome that the hosts have grown accustomed to in 2011, five of their last eight defeats as hosts being decided by just one moment of magic, and it is [6.6] for that to be the case once again.

Best Bet: St Mirren + 1.5 (Asian Handicap) @ [1.8]
Other Recommended Bet: Rangers to win 1-0 @ [6.6]

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