RANGERS have reached the Premiership summit and the big question is: How long will they stay there?
Celtic fans will be hoping it’s a short changing of the guard but there’s every chance Steven Gerrard’s side will still be in front before the next Old Firm meeting on December 29.
A home defeat to the Hoops has been Gers’ only blip and they’ve taken maximum points against everyone else.
After a visit to Hearts tomorrow they face Motherwell (h), Ross County (a), Livingston (a), Hamilton (h) and Hearts (h) – and they won’t expect to drop any points in their next six.
I expect a straightforward win for the leaders against a Tynecastle side still suffering from injuries.
Hearts have taken one point from meetings against Killie and St Mirren without scoring so consider Rangers to win to nil at 13-10 with McBookie.
However, Gers have won three in a row at Tynecastle and conceded so if you prefer that option it pays 21-10 at Betfred. Just to win Gers are fine on accas at 4-9 with various firms.
It will be interesting to see if Gerrard goes with Jermain Defoe or Alfredo Morelos up top. Defoe netted a hat-trick last time out while Alfie’s been playing for Colombia against Chile and Algeria – although those games were in Europe so no tough travelling.
Choose the one who starts – Defoe is 3-1 at bet365 with Morelos 10-3.
Celtic, two points behind, can of course return to the top for a few hours if they win at home to Ross County and they are no bigger than 1-6 with boylesports.
Neil Lennon’s men have 3-0, 4-0 and 2-0 in the last three meetings at Parkhead – in fact County have netted just once in seven visits so Celtic to win to nil is the obvious one but pays no bigger than 4-6 at McBookie.
Celtic -2 possibly offers the best value at 7-5 with Paddy Power and I like Odsonne Edouard at 3-1 with bet365 following five goals in two matches last week for France Under-21s.
Motherwell are sailing under the radar just two points behind Celtic after five wins in six and are 6-4 at Betfred at home to an Aberdeen side with one victory in five.
Stevie Robinson’s men have won the last two 3-0 at Fir Park and a third pays a speculative 28-1 at BetVictor. The value’s on the straight win though or take Well draw no bet at 4-5 at Marathonbet.
In the Championship all eyes will be on Scotland new boy Lawrence Shankland whose confidence will be sky high after scoring against San Marino.
Dundee United were rocked by Alloa before the international break and will be looking to bounce back at Queen of the South.
United have won three of their last four at Palmerston and are just 4-6 with McBookie while Shankland will be well backed at 5-2 with bet365 to break the deadlock.
Shankland’s former side Ayr also lost last time out and the managerless side are 13-8 at McBookie to return to winning ways at second-bottom Dunfermline.
Inverness are just two points the top two and 1-2 at McBookie to beat an Alloa side they thrashed 3-0 in the Challenge Cup last weekend.
In League One I like Falkirk and over 2.5 goals at home to Peterhead at 21-20 with Betfred. Peterhead won 5-3 at Falkirk in the previous meeting and have lost three out of four and conceded 10 goals.
No League Two games due to the Scottish Cup with the most intereesting tie Auchinleck v Cove. Talbot knocked out Ayr and Cove at home last season and are always tough to beat at Beechwood.
Cove should be favourites but the junior hosts, who were 10-1 earlier in the week, are still too big and I like Talbot draw no bet at 7-2 with bet365.
There are some mismatches including Cowdenbeath v Broxburn, Albion Rovers v Fort William and BSC Glasgow v Lochee Utd and possibly Elgin at home to Berwick.
Cowdenbeath -2 is my Super Single at 7-4 with BetVictor and -3 also looks doable at 15-4.
Recommended Bets
- Rangers to win to nil
- Celtic -2
- Motherwell
- Shankland to score first
- Ayr United
- Falkirk & over 2.5 goals
- Auchinleck draw no bet
- Cowdenbeath -2
- Cowdenbeath -3
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