Hearts v Rangers
Scottish Premiership, Sunday, December 2, KO. Live on BT Sport 1
IT'S a massive day for the Old Firm for different reasons.
Celtic are out to win a seventh successive trophy against Aberdeen in the Betfred Cup Final but before that they could have been knocked off the top of the Championship by Rangers
No one at Parkhead will get too worried if their fierce rivals beat Hearts at Tynecastle as it's so early in the season but there's no doubt it would be a huge deal for the Ibrox men.
They were down in League 2 after their financial woes and to have fought back through the leagues to top spot will be cause for huge celebration.
Considering where they were last season under Pedro Caixinha it's a good achievement for Steven Gerrard who continues to impress in his first job in the hotseat.
Rangers could be slightly jaded after holding Villarreal 0-0 on Thursday with 10 men but there was no travel involved and Gerrard's getting quite used to handling 10 v 11 games and the loss of a man didn't faze him.
I don't see Rangers missing their chance against a side who are falling down the table after four defeats in a row and even worse is the fact they haven't netted in five. The away wins pays 3-4 at 888sport.
Manager Craig Levein is missing big players at both ends, especially Steven Naismith, and Rangers should edge this.
Hearts were really motoring at the start of the campaign but after losing Christophe Berra they also saw Scotland centre-half John Souttar crocked.
At the other end striker Uche Ikpeazu, who started the season strongly, was sidelined for five months and worse of all was the injury to Naismith.
Without Ikpeazu and Naisy the Jambos have been powderpuff with Steven MacLean struggling on his own and a Rangers win to nil is possible at 21-10.
Alfredo Morelos continues to impress up front and Gerrard has likened him to Luis Suarez who he says was his favourite player to be alongside at Liverpool.
Colombian hitman Morelos will ply the lone role up front, with Kyle Lafferty ready to spring off the bench against his former club, and is 29-20 to score and 21-5 to net at any time.
It could be fiery and a penalty is possible. Rangers' taker hasn't missed any of his eight this season and is 18-5 with 888sport to score. A penalty to be awarded pays 5-2 at 888sport.
A red also has a chance and that pays 14-5 while 888sport go 11-2 a Hearts players is sent off.
Hearts won't hold back and I like the look of over 2.5 team cards at 27-20.
Recommended Bets
- Rangers (3-4, 888sport)
- Tavernier to score (18-5, 888sport)
- Hearts over 2.5 cards (27-20, 888sport)
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.
