THERE will be a poignant atmosphere at Celtic Park today as fans pay tribute to club legend Billy McNeill.
The world of football has been mourning the death of the Lisbon Lions skipper but tears can turn to cheers if the Hoops put on a show fit for Cesar today.
Kilmarnock are the visitors with four points needed to guarantee the title and it looks written in the stars Celtic will clinch the treble Treble by lifting the Scottish Cup on May 25 against Hearts – 52 years to the day McNeill raised the European Cup.
First things first though and Killie need to be taken care of with the omens good.
Celtic are unbeaten in 12 against the Rugby Park men, winning 10 of them. The other two were 0-0s – and scoreless draws have been the bane of Neil Lennon’s life since he replaced Brendan Rodgers.
Past wins include a 5-1, 5-0 and 6-1 and today the shackles could be off and fans treated to some entertainment.
Celtic are of course short at 1-4 but I’m taking a chance on them -1 at 4-5 with Ladbrokes against Steve Clarke’s side who crashed to Aberdeen last week with eight men.
James Forrest is favourite to land the Player of the Year award and is 11-2 at bet365 to score first.
If Killie get caught up in the atmosphere there could be another red and that pays 4-1 at bet365.
If Celtic win Rangers must beat Aberdeen at home tomorrow or the title race is over.
The Dons have already won twice at Ibrox this season – league and Scottish Cup – and took care of Steven Gerrard’s side at Hampden in the Betfred Cup semis.
A fourth Dons win against Gers in Glasgow is asking a lot and pays 6-1 with Ladbrokes. In six meetings this season Gerrard has been victorious only once so the Dons not to lose could tempt at 8-5 with William Hill.
Rangers, even without banned top scorer Alfredo Morelos, have been in good form with three successive wins and nine goals netted but 1-2 at Ladbrokes looks short.
Reds and yellows have been a feature of games between the sides this season and even with Morelos out a sending-off has a chance at 7-2 with bet365.
The other top-six game is the final Edinburgh derby as Hibs entertain Hearts. Paul Heckingbottom’s only defeat remains to Celtic and he led his men to victory at Tynecastle earlier in the month.
I’m backing Hibs again at 13-10 with betfair as they bid to move six points clear in the fight for capital bragging rights.
At the other end Dundee look doomed and will be down if they don’t win at Motherwell and St Mirren avoid defeat at home to St Johnstone.
Dundee have lost eight in a row and Well look a good shout at 4-5 with McBookie and I fancy David Turnbull, who picked up five club awards in midweek, to net first at 8-1 at bet365.
The Buddies picked a confidence-boosting victory at Livingston last week and should collect at least a point at home as they hunt down Hamilton and try to avoid a play-off.
In the Championship it’s still interesting at the bottom but it’s all change after Partick Thistle’s two wins in four days against Ayr and Alloa.
Falkirk might need to beat Dundee United away to have a chance of staying up and they’ll hope their hosts are looking ahead to the play-offs. The Bairns were awful against Morton last week but could give themselves hope at 5-2 with McBookie.
Thistle face Ayr again and Ian McCall has admitted his side are already focused on the play-offs so back the home at 11-10 at bet365.
In League One there are two issues to be settled – Montrose or East Fife for the final play-off spot and Stenny or Brechin to finish bottom.
That makes the big game Stenny v East Fife and I’m on the home men at 6-5 with bet365 against a side that’s lost six in a row at the worst time.
In League Two Albion Rovers will save their skins with victory at Berwick. Officially these are Scotland’s two worst teams but Rovers aren’t playing like one of them.
They followed a draw at Peterhead by beating Edinburgh City and I’m backing Kevin Harper’s men at 6-5 with bet365.
At the other end Peterhead should clinch the title by beating Stirling for the fourth time this season. They are 1-3 at bet365.
Recommended Bets
- Celtic -1 (4-5, Ladbrokes)
- Rangers v Aberdeen red card (7-2, bet365)
- Hibs (13-10, betfair)
- Turnbull (Motherwell) to score first (8-1, bet365)
- Partick Thistle (11-10, bet365)
- Albion Rovers (6-5, bet365)
The post Scottish Football Tips: Celts will do it for Billy v Killie appeared first on MrFixitsTips.
