Scottish Football Tips: Forrest fire to roar on Celtic

THERE are no standout Premiership games today but all eyes will be on one player.

James Forrest has been elevated to Tartan Army hero status after two scintillating shows against Albania and Israel.

The Celtic winger fired in five times to lead Alex McLeish's men to the Nations League play-offs.

It's back to the bread and butter for Forrest today with the leaders heading to Hamilton in the lunchtime game.

I tipped Forrest at 4-1 to net against Israel and assuming he's not shattered he'll be tough to stop today.

Forrest is 24-13 at Unibet to net and 11-2 with McBookie to break the deadlock at the HopeCBD Stadium.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers isn't a fan of plastic pitches – last time out they drew 0-0 on Livingston's controversial surface – but his side have a great record in Hamilton having won five out of six and drawn the other.

The champions have netted nine in three visits and are evens at Paddy Power to score 3+ again and hopefully the international players who have been away will be ready to go again – the likes of Mikael Lustig, Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor.

Of course the away win is extremely short at 1-5 with Sky Bet so other bets to consider are Celtic/Celtic HT/FT at 4-6 with Ladbrokes and Celtic -2 at 13-8 with Paddy Power.

Elsewhere in the top flight Rangers will be looking to revenge a defeat they suffered at Livingston.

Steven Gerrard's men are much stronger on home soil and are just 3-10 at bet365 while you can have Gers -1 at 10-11 with Paddy Power and with Livi missing a few key players this should land.

Last time out Rangers hammered seven past Motherwell and have netted 12 in three while Livi have failed to score in three although that includes a 0-0 at home to Celtic.

St Johnstone are the form team with five wins to nil but face a tough test at home to Kilmarnock who have won on their last four visits to McDiarmid Park.

I'm tempted by the home at 9-5 with Betway but have decided to back the draw while Zander Clark is 2-1 at William Hill to keep a sixth clean sheet in a row.

Hearts and Hibs are trying to arrest poor runs at strugglers St Mirren and at home to Dundee respectively.

A couple of weeks ago both would have been regarded as bankers but the goals have dried up – Hearts haven't scored in four and it's three for Hibs.

Neil Lennon will wonder how much a trip Down Under to play for Australia has taken out of Martin Boyle, Mark Milligan and Jamie Maclaren but will expect to get back to winning ways. Hibs are 5-11 at sportingbet.

Hearts have been struggling without Uche Ikpeazu and Stephen Naismith and are 7-10 at Betway to beat a side still searching for a first win under Oran Kearney.

Just one game in the lower leagues and Ross County should beat Dunfermline at 19-20 with William Hill although both sides have been hit hard by injury and are missing some key men.

Elsewhere it’s all about Scottish Cup action and it will be interesting to see how Beith fare at home to Ayr.

It’s a massive day for the junior side but the gulf between the teams is too big and while Ayr are short at 1-6 I’m backing Ayr and over 4.5 match goals at 7-5 with betfair. The Super Single is Ayr -2.5 Asian.

Auchinleck Talbot beat Highland League champions Cove at home after a draw in the Highlands and make the long trip to Fraserburgh. They also won at Wick in round one. I fancy Talbot at 11-5 with McBookie or take Talbot draw no bet at 7-5.

Others I like in the Cup are Raith at Queen’s Park and Falkirk at Stenny and for a shock maybe Peterhead at 5-1 with betfair at Morton.

Elgin should see off Berwick but a good early price has gone and East Klibride at home to Spartans, Alloa at home to Stranraer and Alloa at home to Brechin should also come up trumps.

Recommended Bets

• Forrest to score (24-13, Unibet)
• Celtic to score 3+ (Evens, Paddy Power)
• Rangers -1 (10-11, Paddy Power)
• Ross County (19-20, William Hill)
• Ayr & over 4.5 match goals (7-5, betfair)
• Auchinleck Talbot (11-5, McBookie)

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