What a difference a month makes!
Who’d have imagined that Anthony Stokes would be going to Ibrox looking to score for the seventh game running and that Celtic fans would be rubbing their hands at odds of 2/ 1 to win at Ibrox?
Before the January 2 clash between the sides the Celtic Superstore could have did a roaring trade in doom and gloom. It was everywhere.
After five unconvincing home matches chucking points away to Dundee United, Inverness Caley Thistle and Kilmarnock Celtic fans headed to Ibrox in hope rather than expectation.
“I’ll happily take a draw now,” was the common consent as Neil Lennon was left with the bare bones of a squad with the suspended Scott Brown joining Gary Hooper in the Broomloan stand while Ki Sung Yeung and Cha Du-Ri were away on international duty at the Asian Cup.
Lennon’s team selection didn’t raise expectations with the goal-less Georgios Samaras leading a one man forward line and Charlie Mulgrew making a surprise appearance in midfield.
Ninety minutes later Samaras was a goal machine and Lennon a tactical genius!
On the basis of the last derby match all predictions are pointless but that won’t stop punters piling in ahead of Sunday’s kick-off and also throughout the match as well.
Recent form would make Celtic slight favourites to most observers which makes the 2/1 available on a Celtic win much more appealing than the 11/ 8 that a Rangers win is priced at.
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Despite the closeness of the teams draws in these fixtures are fairly rare with the last seven clashes all coming up with a winner.
The last drawn match was also the last cup-tie when the 2009 CIS Cup Final ended goal-less at Hampden before Celtic went on to win 2-0 in extra-time.
A draw on Sunday would be good news for the bet365 who’re offering odds of 9/ 4 on the draw.
With eleven goals from their last four matches Celtic have plenty of goal threats with Anthony Stokes finding the net in his last six matches.
The former Hibs striker is rated at 7/ 4 to score at anytime on Sunday which seems much better value than backing Samaras, Kyle Lafferty or Nikica Jelavic who are priced at the same odds.
Gary Hooper is also a 7/ 4 bet to score at anytime. A £10 bet on Stokes and Murphy to score at anytime will provide a £7.50 profit if one of them scores and a £15 profit if they both find the net.
Elsewhere in the Celtic team it’s hard to predict where the goals could come from with defenders Charlie Mulgrew, Thomas Rogne and Mark Wilson all finding the net in the last two matches.
Midfielder Biram Kayal would be a popular scorer with the Israeli’s reputation sent soaring by his display against Rangers on January 2.
Kayal to score first or last in the match is an attractive 18/ 1 with odds of 6/ 1 for the Israeli to score.
Bet365 are offering Video Celts readers a range of special bets including a £200 credit for opening a new on-line account.
With Celtic striking form it could make for a happy and profitable weekend.
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How do we access the bet 365 offer Joe?
Click on any of the bet365 banners and that will take you straight onto their site Patman