William Hill Scottish Cup 5th rd, Friday, 7.30pm, live on BBC1 Scotland
OWEN COYLE reckons bookies are crazy to make Rangers joint second favourites for the Scottish Cup – and we'll see if he's right.
Celtic are a best 4-5 at Ladbrokes while Rangers and Dundee Utd are next in the betting at 8-1.
Former Wigan, Bolton and Burnley boss Coyle says the Ibrox men should be no higher than fifth favourites but they'll be shorter tonight if they beat Dunfermline to reach the last eight.
Next they could meet Celtic or Aberdeen plus the likes of Hibs, Inverness, St Johnstone and Dundee United or St Mirren – and all those teams would expect to beat Ally McCoist's side.
Rangers are no bigger than 1-5 with tournament sponsors William Hill to beat the Pars (14-1) and while it won't be as easy as the price suggests I'm on the home win.
It's been tough for Gers players to raise their game but they should lift themselves for a cup cracker. The Pars lost 3-1 at Ibrox in the league earlier this season and I anticipate a similar sort of result.
Rangers -1 pays 1-2 at McBookie while both teams to score looks decent value at 21-20 with McBookie with Brechin and Arbroath on target in Glasgow in the past two weeks.
Both have netted in the last four meetings between the sides at Ibrox – all Rangers wins – with a total of 20 goals scored. Over 3.5 pays 5-6 at bet365.
Jon Daly and Lee McCulloch both scored against the Pars when they met earlier this season. Daly and McCulloch both to net pays 15-8 at William Hill.
For first scorer I'd have to back Daly at 3-1 with bet365 and for anytime scorer I'm on centre-half Bilel Mohsni at 7-2 with Betfred. He'll be banned after this game for last week's red card against Brechin. McCoist slaughtered the player for his stupidity and what better way to answer than with a goal.
Rangers have scored at least four goals against Dunfermline in four of their last six meetings and a repeat with Hills pays 29-20.
Most likely Fife scorer is Lawrence Shankland who is 11-2 with Coral and Ladbrokes to net at anytime.
McCoist's men to win and both to score on the popular market pays 13-8 at McBookie.
And McBookie will return losing stakes in the form of a free bet (max £25) on all the usual markets if Rangers don't win tonight.
Recommended Bets
Gers v Pars btts
(21-20, McBookie)
Over 3.5 goals
(5-6, bet365)
Mohsni to score
(7-2, Betfred)
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.
GambleAware
Agree with most of that,was looking at rangers,btts but poor odds around 6-4 was 15-8 last week v brechin.on reflection bets65 shiels6-5 anytime prob best
The only team that would really think they could beat rangers is celtic. An aberdeen who will be put out by celtic on Saturday. The rest are rank.
Tony, you’re very predictable. Personally from what I’ve seen the likes of Hibs and Dundee Utd would beat Rangers but that’s just my opinion. Of course they could get an easy draw in the quarters if they beat Dunfermline.
Disagree tony. The rest of the teams you claim are rank would give rangers a game and some. I’m. It sure what rangers team you have been watching but I’ve been watching a distinctly average one scrape by some really below average part-time teams in the 3rd tier this season.
Just finished looking at this Paul, think your right about them raising their game for this! Can’t see anything but a home win! There’s also the small matter of their record against Dunfermline! Just 2 defeats in 50 odd matches!
Market I’ll be on is first half goals, pays a decent 10/11
Gregg, seem to a few goals in the fixture too but it’s not always the case with Rangers these days.
Bonkers bet rangers 3-1 12/1
Rangers would struggle against some first division teams. As a Pars fan I still think they’ll beat us handsomely tonight though, we have a horrible record against rangers. Saying that we did beat Rangers the last time we played them in the cup when super Ally was in charge, 3-2 at East End Park after Le Guen had been sacked.
Who cares what Owen Coyle says as it says above former manager.Heard him on tv last week talks a good game.On the subject of Rangers what a poor excuse not to play the League Cup Final at Ibrox by Neil Doncaster.Hampden is getting used for the CG’s .Any other country would have a new stadium not us we keep tarting up the old girl.Right rant over for me the only value in Gers game is btts or GERS win with btts.
lokti nothing wrong with dreaming
At least u can be honest about the night lokti, an people a think forget how big a scalp it is for the smaller teams to beat rangers,
Don’t think Gers can win it bookies are only going on the name.
What the cup alva its a big ask thats for sure one off games anything can happen. As much as a expect rangers to win the night, it prob wont be easy unless they hit another gear which a hope they do cause am going the night
Tony don’t fret sing along with Broxi am sure you will go home happy.
Probably a rangers win but no value whatsoever in anything . Rangers are so unpredictable . Could beat some team 4-0 one week then draw or barely scrape through the next week.
Rangers fan here so obviously slightly biased. Have been to the last two home games and in all honesty they were sloppy at the back but with so much fire-power from various positions in Daly, Templeton, Law, Little and then again with the height at set pieces with quality deliveries I can see plenty goals. The one problem they seem to have in the league is occasionally a lack of motivation but when you such good players playing against part-timers can you really blame them? Especially when the league was over easily by Christmas. The cup is the one place where Rangers can show the rest of Scotland there SPL quality and I honestly think they will win by 3 but likely to concede. Playing safe Rangers -1
good point Dickson…. when you are competing theres nowt that brings out your adrenaline and competitive edge more than guys you are on par wjth ability wise… Rangers don,t have that in the their league…. btw I,m not a blue nose… just seeing things from the competitive world….
As a Celtic fan ai really hope we meet Rangers in the cup. I’m guessing most Rangers fans would love to avoid Celtic as I could see nothing less than an embarrassing defeat for the gers. I believe Rangers would be in real trouble if they were up against Celtic. Anything can happen in a game although it’s extremely unlikely Rangers would get anything.
Also due to the treatment of Neil Lennon from the Aberdeen fans you can pretty much expect Celtic to hammer Aberdeen in tomorrow’s game and to send a clear message to the minority of Aberdeen fans whilst showing Lennon their continued support.
As a Rangers fan Chris Guy, we have more to worry about than facing Celtic in a cup tie, I’d deff be on Commons 1st 20 mins though. I for one would look forwards to a game against Celtic, we wouldn’t expect to win, but at least we could get a kick at you’s haha, i honestly think Rangers will struggle next year and i don’t have high expectations of getting out of the championship, that said it will be a real good competitive league we’re in which is more than can be said of the premier league right now…
ud think celtic are world beaters with some of the comments on here. not conceding a goal for so many games… who cares, hardly up against much! champs league they certainly conceded a few. 2 goals scored, 1 from penalty spot and other a consolation in nou camp. of course celtic would beat rangers and because of that I don’t want them playing each other for a good while yet. embarrass gers? im not so sure, only good teams would embarass us and celtic are mediocre. commons is by far the best player in SPL id say, pity gers didn’t get him first but what sort of team could he be a regular for in premiership?? not a top half side anyway. a scrappy 3-1 gers victory 2nite although I doubt we will go much further after that.
3 goals scored 2 v Ajax 1 v Barca
Meant to add, throw in a Celtic Rangers post and watch the pathetic Squabbling begin, the trolls will be loving this, before it all kicks off, and we get distracted by the squabbles, the main point for me is.. CELTIC TO WIN SCOTTISH CUP @ 4/5 if your not already on, why not?….
Davie-S, I’m on – can’t see past Celtic.
Some nice EW bets just now too Mr F at a third of the odds to reach the final, You can get 5/2 Dundee Utd.. 3/1 ICT… 7/2 Gregs mob.. 4/1 Hibs.. or how about 13/1 St Mirren, or you could take the 9/4 Rangers..
My preference would be ICT at 3/1 to reach the final, as they showed against Hearts they are battlers..
Davie-S, they’re good each-way bets – as long as they avoid Celtic in the quarters or semis.
wasn’t meant to start an argument in any way. celtic should win the cup comfortably. I thought rangers had a chance in cup and agreed with odds at start of season but cant quite agree with them now as the displays have been poor.
Yeah nobody is fighting, we are all just having a friendly debate. I as a Celtic fan want to have Rangers back in the SPL as it’s boring without you guys. I miss sitting with my mates on old firm matches. This year Celtic have ran away with the league and same with Rangers. I’m not just saying this because I’m a Celtic fan but I really do think Rangers will struggle to win the Championship. I hope they do as they will be in the SPL but are there any Rangers fans out there that would agree with me? The Championship is a tough division, lots of decent teams. It will certainly be entertaining that’s for sure.
Chris Guy i told Raalj to get on Hearts to finish above Rangers next season weeks ago, i only see more turmoil at Ibrox, and more cuts to wages n playing staff, they will do well to get out of the championship..
Davie-S, I wouldn’t back either until the financial positions become clear. Looks like Hearts will be out of administration soon but how much will they have to spend? Not a lot probably. Rangers also need funds but will be in a better place to attract investment if more cuts are made and season tickets sold at the usual level. Also you must take into account that another Premiership team could be relegated in the play-off.
Yeah i’m looking forwards to see who or what we roll out to con us into buying season tickets for next season. It’s all very well attracting funds and investment Mr F, the problem is they are still those in power at Ibrox that are in it to line their own pockets, it’s one thing to look for a return on your investment, it’s another thing to bleed the club and it’s fans dry…
Some people have very short memories. Inverness and Dundee Utd both hammered Rangers in the cups last season. And Dundee Utd are a better side now. I can only think of one team in the SPL that Rangers would expect to beat, and they’re already out of the tournament.
Baldy45, I tend to agree but Ally McCoist doesn’t see it that way – he’s having a dig at Owen Coyle in today’s Record.
Baldy Dundee.U. looked as tho they were goin to be a good side this season but have burnt out.I don’t have a short memory i thought they were better when Russell and Daly were there.
Any neutral who has seen several of the Celtic and Rangers games this season, can only come to one conclusion………..back Celtic with your mortgage, unless of course you’re so well off that you can afford to throw money away!!
Celtic should win the cup this year but Lennon’s record is very poor in this tourney. Aberdeen is the toughest game they can have at this stage.
Rangers will romp the league again next year no prob . They will know that they have to raise the standard and the team will be glued together a bit more.
Its Cup football. Current form can only take you so far. It’s all about who wants it the most on the day.
Anybody thinking of backing Dunfermline tonight here is one for you.Pars win btts 33/1.@ CORAL.
Ted card and penalty kick if the home side conceed first
The bookies rarely get it wrong Mr Fixit. Rangers and Aberdeen have got the two next best squads in Scotland after Celtic that’s why they’re joint second favourites. Think you’ve had one too many beers if you think Hibs, St Johnstone, St Mirren’s or ICT teams are as good or better than Rangers.
Ruby, I’ve had too man Rubys. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks – we’ll only know when they play. But I’ll be betting against Rangers if bookies give good odds on a Premier League side against them.
(Aberdeen would be 2nd fav’s if they didn’t have Celtic) Not sure I would have Dundee Utd as second favourites, good young side but have went off the boil lately. Would be surprised if they got to the final.
Interesting chat here regards rangers having watched them tonight I reckon their first choice eleven is about 4 the best in spfl. They are better than hibs and stjohnstone but fall below motherwell dons dundee utd. Problem for rangers is they have no squad just an overpaid first eleven.
And as for the Celtic 4/5 for the scottish cup that is a gift from above a license to print money!