Celtic v Kilmarnock: Betting Preview & Tips

Celtic v Kilmarnock

Where do I start? The Tony Mowbray Experiment is over, much to the relief of the Hoops’ fans and a new era may well have begun. 4-0 defeats at St Mirren are unacceptable to any Scottish Premier League club, but when you’re Glasgow Celtic manager there is only one outcome and yesterday Tony Mowbray was relieved – and I use that word advisedly – of his duties at Celtic Park. In steps Neil Lennon to make what he can of a talented but rudderless squad of players and his first task will be to select a team capable of bagging three points at home to Kilmarnock.

As first games go for the interim boss things could have been a lot tougher. A home match against a Killie side that have lost their last 5 offers a gentle easing in to Lennon’s managerial career and I expect a comfortable win for Celtic.

The Northern Irishman will no doubt ring the changes from Wednesday’s debacle and may well demonstrate his own views on how the game should be played via his team selection and formation. Either way we can expect a different mental attitude from the Celtic players as of tomorrow and Killie are likely to bear the brunt.

Odds of 2/9 (Ladbrokes) won’t make you rich though so we’ll need to look elsewhere for value in this one and that may come in the shape of goals. Prior to Wednesday’s defeat Celtic had lost just one goals in their last 5 and actually looked like they were getting somewhere defensively. Couple that with Killie’s inability to make the net bulge in recent weeks (just 1 goal in 5) and a clean sheet for the Hoops looks on the cards albeit not very generous at 8/13 (Paddy Power, SkyBet). Celtic to win to nil is only slightly better priced at 8/11 (Paddy Power, SkyBet).

At the other end of the park Robbie Keane has been prolific since arriving from Spurs. He’s bagged 9 goals already and is 11/4 (SkyBet) to open the scoring. Remember he’s on penalty duties and we’re told that decisions have a happy knack of evening themselves out over a season, so 8/11 (Blue Sq) on the Irishman to score any time looks a decent option too.

Persnoally I think there could be goals in this for Celtic tomorrow and like the look of SkyBet’s 11/10 on Celtic to score 3 or more. If you’re feeling really brave it’s 11/4 that Celtic can really bury the ghost of Tony Mowbray with 4 or more.

• Best bet: Celtic to score 3 or more (11/10 SkyBet)

Best Odds:

• Celtic 2/9 (Ladbrokes)
• Draw 6/1 (Bet365)
• Kilmarnock 18/1 (Betfair)

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