FOOTBALL BETTING: Live on Sky Sports 3: 15:00
St Johnstone host Celtic in the SPL looking for their first win in this fixture in 13 attempts. Chris Hutcheon previews the action from McDiarmid Park.
Celtic are Betfred’s 4/9 favourites for the points as they lock horns with St Johnstone, Victor Chandler’s 7/1 outsiders, and as Mogga’s men ran out 5-2 winners when the pair met at Parkhead in August, punters might fall into the trap of assuming that they will cruise to victory in this one.
However, this renewal isn’t likely to generate anywhere near as many goals and indeed the Hoops can expect a much sterner test at McDiarmid Park, where Paddy Power quote a generous 10/3 for the spoils to be shared and Partybets chalk a 1-1 scoreline up at 8/1.
Celtic haven’t been in great form of late; they drew at home to bottom club Falkirk last week before huffing and puffing their way past Morton in Tuesdays’ cup clash and their last away match in the SPL ended in defeat at Hearts.
Backing the visitors at such skinny odds doesn’t seem wise then and an alternative, at a similar price is William Hill’s 11/20 for Saints to come out on top aided by a two-goal handicap head start.
Elsewhere, Jaxx.com quote 6/5 for the two sides to conjure up fewer than 2.5 goals between them, 888Sport offer 5/2 for the Hoops to net just once for the fourth match in a row while Niall McGinn is 9/1 (Ladbrokes) to notch his third in four games by firing the opener.
