Celtic v Rangers: Betting Preview

Betting, Bookmakers, Fixed Odds, Football, Tipsters | jimmyhillsbeard | April 27, 2008 at 7:59 am

The games are coming thick and fast for Rangers these days and today sees the fourth and final instalment of this season’s Old Firm battles and a game that is must-win for Celtic.

The heat has been turned up another notch following the SPL’s farcical announcement that there may be a league extension should Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final – a move that has angered Celtic who feel it brings into question the league’s integrity by changing the rules mid season to suit one particular team. Rangers too feel hard done by as they expected a longer extension and Walter Smith rounded on Celtic’s Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell by accusing him of acting in Celtic’s best interests – you couldn’t make it up. And I though pantomime season started around December?

All of this comes of on top of the embarrassing fracas at the end of the last fixture 10 days ago that saw Celtic’s Gary Caldwell and David Weir of Rangers both red-carded after the final whistle. So I expect referee Craig Thompson will have his hands full keeping a lid on this one.

Since the two teams last met Celtic struggled to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen to move two points clear at the top of the table. Rangers qualified for the Scottish Cup final by virtue of a penaly shoot-out against First Division St. Johnstone and played out a bore-draw against Fiorentina on Thursday night. That means Rangers have won just 4 games in the last 11 over 90 mins (they’ve won twice on pens) which is a worrying trend going in to the business end of the season.

Despite management and players talking up the energy levels of the Rangers squad there is no doubt that the players are beginning to run on empty. Injuries to key men such as McGregor and McCulloch as well as suspensions to Cuellar and Thomson means that it will be a far from first-choice 11 that lines up at Celtic Park today. Celtic have a few niggling injury worries but Gordon Strachan has a full squad to choose from.

On the betting front, Celtic appear to have been well backed and are now just the right side of evens at 11/10 (888 Sport, BetDirect, Betfred, BlueSq, Coral, Skybet, Stan James), whereas Rangers are on the drift and can be backed at 14/5 (Bet365, Totesport). If you fancy the draw it’s widely available at 9/4 (Bet365, Betfred, Boylesports, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, PartyBets, Sportingbet, Totesport, VCBet).

If pushed I’d go for a home win in this one. Rangers will be content to sit in and soak up the pressure – a draw would do them but for Celtic it’s win or bust and I’d always rather have my money on a team that needs a win against one that doesn’t.

Last time out, Kenny Clark came in for some criticism for failing to book Celtic’s Barry Robson in the first minute after leading with the arm in an aerial challenge. Lots of niggling tackles and incidents ensued and the game ultimately had 3 red cards. It’s expected that the referee will today be keen to stamp his authority on the game and I think there will be an early booking. Both 888 Sport and BlueSq have the time of the first booking in under 25 minutes at 5/6 and this looks an absolute steal.

For either team to see red again it’s just 9/4 (BlueSq). The total crime count is another interesting market; each yellow card equals 10 points and a red 25 – For there to be under 60 points it’s 11/10 (BlueSq), exactly 60 is 6/1 (BlueSq) and the most likely is over 60 at 1/1 (BlueSq).

The game is live on Setanta Sports and should be a cracker. If you’re not already a subscriber click here to sign up.