YOU rarely see both managers under pressure heading into an Old Firm game but that’s the case tomorrow as Brendan Rodgers and Michael Beale bid to silence the snipers.
Rodgers needed to hit the ground running in his second spell as Celtic gaffer with some fans welcoming him back like the parents of a teenage son who has just played a starring role in the latest episode of Banged Up Abroad.
Blowing the Treble inside a few weeks by losing 1-0 at Kilmarnock and following it up with a 0-0 draw at home to St Johnstone has only added to their anger so it’s a bad time to be heading to Ibrox.
The biggest consolation for Rodgers is that Rangers don’t look in good shape either and they go into the derby off the back of a 5-1 pummelling by PSV.
The board backed Beale heavily with his huge summer rebuild but that faith won’t be repaid with Champions League millions after Wednesday’s humbling defeat.
And Rangers still trail their city rivals by a point in the Premiership, having also lost at Rugby Park on the first day of the season.
Beale’s new-look side have yet to convince but I still fancy them for a win tomorrow at 7/5 (McBookie).
Home advantage has become even more important in this fixture since the row over tickets locked out thousands of away supporters.
And with the Hoops likely to field a makeshift defensive pairing yet again I can see Rangers causing them problems at the back. When Gers were going through the slump that cost Giovanni van
Bronckhorst his job last term, one of the biggest reasons for their dip in form was injuries in defence.
Midfielder James Sands and youngster Leon King had to deputise at centre-half in big games and that proved costly for Gers but now it’s Celtic who find themselves in the same situation.
So it could pay to back Beale’s side to score over 1.5 goals tomorrow, with that bet paying evens with William Hill.
Although the Hoops have drawn a blank in their last two outings, they could also get some joy against a defence that was ripped apart by PSV.
That’s why McBookie price BTTS at just 8/15 while over 2.5 goals isn’t much better at 4/7.
So you have to delve a bit deeper to find some value and I like the look of over 1.5 first-half goals at a best 6/4 with Coral.
Card bets are usually the safest option in this fixture and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was another busy day for the match officials.
Todd Cantwell is fast becoming Scottish football’s answer to Robbie Savage and not just because he has a barnet that suggests he’s fronting a Hanson tribute band.
The Englishman has a habit of winding up opponents and steams into plenty of challenges with his high-energy pressing.
That always makes him a good candidate for a card and he looks overpriced at 9/4 (SkyBet) to fall foul of the referee tomorrow.
There’s a Tayside derby today as well as St Johnstone bid to build on their shock Parkhead point with a win over Dundee.
Backing Daniel Phillips for a card backfired on me last weekend as the new Saints skipper kept his nose clean. But the derby atmosphere could get the midfielder riled up and he’s a tempting 7/5 with Bet365 to add to his card collection.
Only a last-gasp Aberdeen leveller stopped St Mirren from making it three wins from three in the Premiership last week.
Stephen Robinson’s men now head for Livi and it has the makings of a tight game.
The half-time draw pays evens with Unibet while McBookie price a one-goal winning margin for either side at 5/4.
Kilmarnock’s clash with Ross County is also a hard one to call with both sides in decent form. I’m going for over 10.5 corners in this one and it pays 5/4 at Paddy Power.
Three successive Premiership defeats led to Lee Johnson getting the sack and Hibs now have a tough trip to Pittodrie tomorrow.
Aberdeen are 23/20 with McBookie and that looks good.
Hearts host Motherwell after a Euro pounding by PAOK and I like over 2.5 goals at 10/11 (Bet365).
Super singles
Rangers to win (7/5, McBookie)
Cantwell card (9/4, SkyBet)
Aberdeen win (23/20, McBookie)
Over 10.5 corners at Killie (5/4, P Power)
I'm a sports journalist, football tipster and author from Dundee, who is now working in Glasgow. I've covered games at every level, from Junior football to internationals, and still love football even though it has clearly sold its soul. I've been in football tipping since 2018 with the MFT site.
