IT'S a one-horse title race in the Premiership and League One – but at least in the top flight second spot is up for grabs.
Take your pick between Motherwell, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee United for the side that finishes closest to Celtic.
In League One Rangers will be first and Dunfermline second as it lies ahead of tonight's live TV showdown (7.45) between the pair.
Eleven points separate the sides while the Pars are five points clear of third-placed Stranraer and 4-9 with McBookie to finish runners-up.
The Ibrox men followed 20 successive wins with a 1-1 Boxing Day draw against Stranraer while the Pars' only defeat in 11 was at Ibrox.
Jim Jefferies's side went down 3-1 but were holding the hosts until being reduced to 10 men.
That display and their current form suggests this should be another tight contest which makes a mockery of best odds on Rangers to win of 1-4 with firms such as McBookie.
Dunfermline are a biggest 11-1 at William Hill while the draw pays 5-1 at Paddy Power. The home prices are so big I'm having a look at Pars plus two at 6-5 with Skybet and plus three at 1-2 with McBookie and Ladbrokes.
Ally McCoist will be demanding a response from his side to the Stranraer shocker and one man he's been able to trust is top scorer Jon Daly who is 11-4 at bet365 to break the deadlock.
Daly is now just 4-7 with McBookie to finish leading marksman in League One ahead of Ayr's Michael Moffat 7-2 and Ibrox hitman Nicky Clark 8-1.
Dangerous centre-half Bilel Mohsni netted against the Pars at Ibrox and is 14-1 at bet365 to score first.
Josh Falkingham bagged the Fifers' goal in Glasgow and is as big as 28-1 with McBookie to bag the opener.
Dunfermline have netted seven goals in their last two outings and I can see both scoring at East End Park at 8-11 with Ladbrokes.
Rangers' away games haven't always produced loads of goals but I fancy over 3.5 goals at 3-4 with Ladbrokes.
Recommended Bets
Daly to score first
(11-4, bet365)
Dunfermline +2
(6-5, Skybet)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
I agree with most of what Mr F says. I think Rangers will win, I think the Pars will score a goal but Rangers are well up for this, particularly after losing their 20 match winning steak on Boxing day.The last match between them was 3-1 to Rangers at home, all the goals were scored in the last 20 minutes and the Pars sending off was probably the instigator. However the Pars are missing their two first choice central defenders and the two new young lads might get nervy with J Daly and the returning Clark up front.
My bets
Daly first scorer 5/2
Rangers -2 hcap draw 16/5
Rangers win 3-1 9/1
all odds from paddypower
well done Max on the big win
Rangers away win + BTTS 11/8 with Ladbrokes looks great
Dunfermline home win and both teams to score looks better especially rangers getting the usual penalty lol c’mon the pars.
Dunfermline sat back at Ibrox even when McCulloch was off for treatment for ten mins so they deserved what they got in the end.Can see Gers getting a pen here and winning 4-1.Daly or McCulloch a/t scorer with that score of 4-1.
High scorer for me.
Im on-
Dunfermline over 1.5 team goals @ 3/1 (bet365)
Both To Score @ 8/11 (bet365)
Rangers over 2.5 team goals 4/5 is my bet today
Might have a go with small stakes on 3-1 4-1 scorelines
Lets not forget the pitch its played on isnt grass just a thought as teams struggle on it at times.
Daly fgs 2-1 rangers
Here is a stat for all to digest for the World Cup in the summer. All of the games from the group stages to the final during the 2002, 2006 & 2010 world cups have produced (within 90 min’s) 74 games that resulted in a BTTS result and an incredible 116 games were NBTTS. One for the future I know but worth keeping in your World Cup file for the summer.
waggy, opening group games are usually the tightest and lowest scoring.
One coin on Dunfermline 1 Rangers 2 and Nicky Clark to score first on the pitch. 35/1
I made this bet like Bruce Lee says ; Dont think, feel.
Yeah the Lee’s are a big family..though id think twice about flied lice
Im impressed that Nicky Clark is making a career of it in football and with the Rangers. All that shampoo he sells and his hair styling must have been too much after a while. Why spend a night in Paris when you can be in the mud in Fife on a cold wet december night. Have to admire that.
Its like Chris Martin at Derby….
Dunfermline Athletic FC
2 hours ago via Mobile
Stadium Manager: Pitch and all surrounding areas of East End Park are fine, no concerns.
I’ve put skybet free £5 on rangers to win 3-1. 10-1 odds. Goodluck everyone.
So nobody thinks this Could go the other way or a draw?
what channel is the game on ?
On Sky Sports 2.
Like Dunf over 1.5goals.
Though think Gers will win.
Bonkers: Gers 4-2 at Hills 25/1
Has anyone actually watched rangers.
They’re not as productive as you may expect them to be. Some sides do generally hold there own against rangers as they have nothing to lose, whereas rangers could lose the impressive unbeaten run, and the one team that can do it are dunfermline @home. I think the super single today is a good bet. If Dunfermline get 1; make create a few shakey bums!
Rangers know Dunfermline are the biggest threat to rangers reputation in that league, how will they cope……
Just looking at the stats, I see all eight of Dunfermline’s home games have been BTTS. Seven of them have been over 2.5 and five have been over 3.5 I think there will be a few goals in this game, and a good value bet for me is BTTS in F/H which I’ve just got on at Sky @ 11/4
I’m still looking for another good value bet of at least 1/1
Was thinking Rangers and BTTS @ 7/5 with Coral? Maybe DRAW H/T RANGERS f/t @ 15/4 with William Hill?
Alan. Betvictor will refund losing correct scores, ht/ft and first goal scorer bets etc if your planning a ht/ft bet if that’s any convenience. A long shot but could happen.
Thanks Des, but I don’t have an account with them.
Des, McBookie doing this as well.
Hi, whats the odds on rangers getting a penalty they seem to get one every second game.
That’s cause they are pens.
Rangers 2-1 @7’s and rangers 3-1 @9’s. I think both will score but rangers will win. The 2 bets still give much better odds than rangers win/btts or rangers win and overs
Thanks to Raaljaca for info yesterday…didnt bother with sporting game so saved my money an will enjiy my birthday that bit more mate. :) liking mr f’s tips for tonight in rangers game thiugh lol
Nice one Jerry, Happy Birthday mate.
Probably the only one who thinks it could happen but had a cheeky go on the draw tonight
cheers james
My three bets on the Rangers game.
BTTS in F/H 11/4 @ Sky Bet
Daley FGS 3/1 @ Bet 365
Rangers win 2-1 8/1 @ Coral
I hope not King mate, I’ve done a Jon Daly Rangers wincast, and I’d be a bit disappointed if it didn’t come in hehe
McCULLOCH 1ST goal ,Gers 4-1, 40/1. Think Gers will get a pen. as Dunfermline tried to kick them off the park at Ibrox.
And the Wincast is out the window already :( oh well…
Tempest, a wincast is anytime scorer and match result so why is your bet down?
MrF…
Depending on circumstances. The bookies offer there win casts as score first and team to win.
Des, fair enough. For me a traditional wincast is result and anytime scorer.
Guys I need 2 more goals in the rangers game ….. if anyone is watching the game …whats the chacnes
robin, not watching at the moment – checking contest entries. But I’m sure someone will let you know how it’s looking.
Yeah I’d prefer to do a ‘traditional Wincast’ Mr F, however bet365 don’t offer that as they know they will lose quite a bit, so had Jon Daly to score first Rangers win. And the Dunfermline +2 not in great shape at the moment it’s 2-0, let’s hope Dunfermline start scoring right about now…
Get in just won 460 pounds
robin, well done but not good news for the super single.
Yeah Mr F, too bad for the SS, let’s hope the new year brings more luck our way… I want 2014 to be THE year that the bookies will not forget for a long time to come hehe!
I’ll second that Tempest.
Over 2.5 rangers goals WIN 4/5
Does anyone know what the odds were rangers -2? I had £20 on it but I left the slip in my car and its a bit nippy to go get it
id assume they were around evens dma
What was the stake/bet Robin?