THERE should be routine wins for Celtic and Rangers on Boxing Day but first up is a crucial Edinburgh derby at 12.30pm.
Hearts v Hibs is always edgy but at lunchtime you will be able to cut the tension with a knife.
The Jambos are rock bottom after losing at Hamilton and embroiled in a drop fight whether they like it or not. But don’t tell new boss Daniel Stendel who headed off to enjoy Christmas in Germany.
Hibs have picked up a bit since Jack Ross came in and will take great delight in pushing their rivals deeper into the mire.
First of all I expect a blood-and-thunder battle with little silky football so the market to focus on is cards rather than goals.
Under 2.5 goals looks on at 17-20 with Marathonbet – four of six meetings at Tynecastle have gone under 1.5 – and while the cards market is set at four we should go over that at 4-5 with McBookie.
Ref Don Robertson has flashed seven reds this season – three of them in games involving Hearts and Hibs – and a sending-off today pays 3-1 at McBookie.
If there’s a red it’s more likely to go to Hearts at 13-2 with McBookie while a Hibs sending off pays 5-1.
Hambos centre-half Christophe Berra is back from a ban and looks a good shout at 5-2 with William Hill to be carded.
Stendel’s first three games have been defeats to sides who were bottom at the time – St Johnstone and Hamilton – as well as a battling 2-0 loss to Celtic.
I’m sure the home men will be up for this but they lack confidence and quality and will again be minus talisman Steven Naismith.
I can’t back Hearts who are favourites at 13-8 with betfair and while a draw is possible at 9-4 with Betway the best bet could be Hibs draw no bet at just over evens with Marathonbet. To win Hibs are 7-4 with boyleports.
Martin Boyle’s return has lifted Hibs and the Aussie cap is 7-2 to net at anytime.
With no Naisy and a huge battle expected, Stendel could turn to battering ram Uche Ikpeazu and he is 5-1 to score.
It’s the calm before the storm for Celtic and Rangers with the Old Firm meeting on Sunday.
Both could make changes on Boxing Day and while value is tough to find I don’t expect either to slip up.
St Mirren haven’t had any home hammerings this season and this feels like a 2-0 Celtic win at 11-2 with BetVictor.
A safer bet is Celtic to win to nil at 3-4 with McBookie – the Buddies have netted just nine at home but conceded only 10.
Rangers entertain a Killie side who lost at home to Motherwell under caretaker boss Alex Dyer at the weekend.
Steven Gerrard’s side blew away Hibs on Sunday and with Alfredo Morelos back from suspension I expect more of the same.
The Colombian is 11-4 with Betfred to mark his return with a goal while Rangers -1 at 1-2 with McBookie is one for accas.
Elsewhere Hamilton v St Johnstone has the feel of a draw at 12-5 and Ross County v Motherwell could go the same way.
Recommended Bets
- Hearts red card
- Hearts v Hibs under 2.5 goals
- Hearts v Hibs over 4.5 cards
- Celtic to win to nil
- Rangers -1
- Morelos to score first
- Hamilton v St Johnstone draw
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