
09-05-2008, 13:19
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demented c-u-n-
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Join Date: May 2005
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Re: 10-11 May: SPL
Quote:
The SPL title race looked all-but over just a few weeks ago when Celtic fell to a 1-0 home defeat to Motherwell which left Rangers six points in front with two games in hand.
However, Rangers' failure to win any of their next four fixtures, coupled with Celtic wins, means the title is back in the balance.
If the Gers win their remaining five games they will be champions and they know victories over Motherwell and Dundee United will pile the pressure on Celtic for Sunday's clash at home to Hibs.
The Hoops have won their last five games since the aforementioned defeat to Well, but they face a Hibs side still very much in the hunt for European football following their 0-0 draw with Rangers last weekend.
The Edinburgh outfit earned a 1-1 draw in the east end of Glasgow earlier in the season as well as a 1-0 win at Ibrox so they are more than capable of going away and picking up good results.
They also defeated Celtic 3-2 at Easter Road in September.
Having said that, we would expect Gordon Strachan's side to come out on top, but it is likely to be a tight affair and a look at the half-time/full-time market reveals some decent value.
Celtic have been level at the break in eight of their last 13 games overall (in three others, goals were scored in 42, 45 and 45) and four out of six at home and have gone on to win their last three league games having been held after 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, Hibs have also been level at the break in their last three and have been either winning or level at half-time in six of their nine games against both Old Firm teams this season.
Level terms after the first period can be backed at 37/19, but that seems pretty short so instead we will back draw/Celtic.
Strachan's side have scored 14 goals in the last five minutes of games, ten of which have been result changing, so if the teams are level late on, you would still fancy the hosts to grab the win.
So backing draw/Celtic seems good value at 15/4.
As mentioned earlier, Rangers face two games before Celtic play again, one of which is against Dundee United at Ibrox on Saturday lunchtime.
On paper, it's been a poor spell for Rangers as they've won only twice in their last 10 games over 90 minutes, but that does include a penalty shoot-out win to reach the UEFA Cup final against a very good Fiorentina side and a another shoot-out win to reach the Scottish Cup final.
They struggled in front of goal against Hibs last weekend and it could be another tight and nervy game as United showed they can frustrate during their recent 0-0 draw with Celtic.
So, Rangers may look to set-pieces, their last two goals have both come from corners, while United are suspect at the back in the air.
In their last two meetings with Rangers, 3-3 and 2-2 draws respectively, they conceded from headers from David Weir and Kris Boyd, while Karim Touzani and Chris Porter twice have found the United defence lacking in the air in their last two matches.
It could pay to go for one of Rangers' taller players to net anytime.
Player of the year Carlos Cuellar is a best price of 7/1 and he has netted five times for the Ibrox side, but the last of those came in February, so instead we will look to Weir, available at 11/1.
His first goal for Rangers came against United and he followed that up with another in the 3-2 defeat to Celtic.
And with Walter Smith likely to make changes with the UEFA Cup final in mind, Weir is an almost certainty to start and that makes him to find the net at anytime a decent bet.
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